Academic Attire is mandatory for all ceremonies. Masters degree recipients wear a cap and robe (no hood) and Doctoral degree recipients wear a robe, hood and a tam.
You’re All Set If You Know This
MASTERS DEGREES
2025 PRICING
Masters regalia is $72.
ORDERING INFORMATION
- In-store: Attire may be purchased beginning February 18th.
- Online: Orders may be placed online beginning February 22nd - March 21st to be directly shipped to the student by visiting columbia.shopoakhalli.com
- Online: After March 21st, you can order at columbiabookstore.com.
Academic Attire Lottery for Masters Grads
GSLD Academic Attire Lottery
Graduate Student Life and Development conducts a lottery for its limited supply of academic attire for Masters graduates.
Program Timeline
2/17/25 Academic attire lottery opens
3/7/25 Academic attire lottery closes
3/10/25 Results announced
4/21/25 Lottery attire distribution (Monday-Thursday)
4/28/25 Lottery attire distribution (Monday-Thursday)
LOTTERY FORM
DOCTORAL DEGREES
2025 PRICING
A full set of doctoral regalia is $198: Gown Rental, Hood Rental, Tam Purchase.
- Hood = $40
- Robe = $78
- Tam = $80
PURCHASE ORDERING INFORMATION
- Orders take up to 8 weeks to process and deliver.
- Grads may purchase attire anytime before March 14, 2025 to receive in time for Convocation.
- Email the bookstore for details.
RENTAL ORDERING INFORMATION
- Bookstore In-Store: Attire may be reserved February 18th through April 10th without incurring a late fee. In-store pickup and ship-to-home options are available.
- Online: Orders may be placed from February 22nd through April 10th by visiting columbia.shopoakhalli.com.
- PickUp: Doctoral rental attire will be available for pickup in-store beginning April 28th, if ordered by April 10th. A ship-to-home option is not available online.
Email the bookstore at bkscolumbia@bncollege.com if you would like your order to be shipped.
Honor Cords
Teachers College provides the honor cords below to eligible graduates at no cost.
Diversity and First Generation Scholars
Cords will be distributed from Monday, April 14-Friday, May 9, 2025 from the Office of the Vice President for Diversity and Community Affairs located at 128 Zankel Hall.
Military Cords
Cords for active and retired members of the United States Armed Forces are available for pick up from the Office of College Events located at ZB23A from Monday, April 14-Friday, May 9, 2025, 10:00 a.m.-4:00 p.m.
TC Student Senate and other Student Leaders
The Office of Graduate Student Life and Development (GSLD) will distribute cords directly to student leaders in April from the GSLD Office located 528 Building, suite 155.
In addition, GSLD provides specially decorated white stoles are worn by TC parent graduates as symbols of the dual journey of our parent graduates and their children. For more information please email gsld@tc.edu.
N.B. Unfortunately, given the number of qualifying graduates, cords will not be mailed to grads.
Bookstore Location & Contact Information
COLUMBIA UNIVERSITY IN THE CITY OF NEW YORK OFFICIAL BOOKSTORE
2922 Broadway @ 115th Street
New York, NY 10027-7004
bkscolumbia@bncollege.com
STORE HOURS
Tue: 10am - 7pm
Wed: 10am - 7pm
Thu: 10am - 7pm
Fri: 10am - 7pm
Sat: 12pm - 5pm
Sun: 12pm - 5pm
Pro Tips
- Your Masters robe is made up of approximately 25 recycled plastic water bottles (!!) and as a result, we highly advise against ironing it as it can easily burn the gowns. If you do still choose to iron it and damage the gown you will not be able to exchange it. We recommend hanging the gown in your bathroom before taking a shower or using a steamer to get out any creases or wrinkles.
- Grads are welcome to wear stoles, cords and decorate their caps and tams.
- For Masters and doctoral degree recipients, the tassel is worn on the left. It does not move at any time during the ceremony.
FAQs from the CU Bookstore
The Grad Fair on Morningside Campus will be 2/18 – 2/21 from 11am – 7pm. At the Grad Fair, we will assist you in taking your measurements and answering any questions.
Masters degree recipients wear souvenir gowns that are available for purchase and are in-stock through to 5/21/25. Doctoral attire needs to be ordered in advance and can be done as early as 2/18 at the Morningside Campus Bookstore. Masters attire can be purchased at the CU Bookstore.
Velvet colors on the hood are standardized and based on your degree. When filling out the degree field on your order form please list the exact degree that you will be earning. TC’s doctoral grads earn either a PhD or an EdD. PhD hoods have royal blue velvet and EdD hoods have light blue velvet.
Yes! Please reach out to the CU bookstore ASAP. It can take up to 8 weeks to receive custom attire. Pricing for custom attire is: robe= $776 tam = $80 hood= $184. You can buy each item separately as well.
Rental attire must be returned to the Morningside Bookstore by 5/30/25. Only Gowns and Hoods are to be returned. Tams are souvenir keepsakes and should not be returned. Please do not dry clean your gowns or hoods as they are going to be cleaned anyway. Gowns and hoods may also be mailed/shipped back to us at Columbia University Bookstore; 2922 Broadway; New York, NY 10027 at your own expense.
Attire can be purchased or rented in the bookstore up until 5/21/25. Email bkscolumbia@bncollege.com and we will provide assistance.
All regalia will be available for pickup at the Morningside Campus Bookstore unless otherwise noted on the order. If your order is to be shipped to a different address, there is an additional fee of $24.
Any Doctoral rentals that are placed by April 11th will be ready for pick up on April 28th.
Yes! The cost is the same as a bachelors combo pack ($65) and the information we need is: 1) How tall? 2) How old will the baby be on the day of your ceremony? We will be able to take orders up to 4 weeks prior to your ceremony.
Visit www.columbia.bncollege.com for diploma frames and visit www.Balfour.com for class rings and announcements.
As per the University, hoods are reserved and included in academic attire for only terminal degree holders.
Email sm707@bncollege.com your needs and we will assist you.