Regalia 2026

The tradition of academic regalia and its use in American graduation ceremonies dates back well more than a century. It is a University policy that students wishing to participate in the morning ceremonies in the Yard must wear regalia, and it is a policy we have extended to the HGSE exercises. In addition, all students must wear the regalia appropriate for their degree program and that adheres to university guidelines.  If your religious beliefs or traditional customs prohibit you from wearing academic regalia, please contact the Office of Student Affairs. 

Students must pre-order their regalia.

Orders will be placed online when the ordering portal opens in the spring.

Please note the following information: 

Regalia is available for rental or for purchase (the majority of HGSE students will choose to rent regalia).

If purchasing your regalia

Manufacturing takes about 6-8 weeks — plan accordingly!  

If renting your regalia

All orders must be placed by April 10th for free delivery to the Coop or April 28th for orders to ship-to-home (at an additional cost) to avoid any additional fees.

The rental fees are as follows:

  • For Ph.D.: $162 for rental of gown, hood, and tam; $208 for rental of gown and hood (tam is yours to keep); $304 for rental of gown (hood and tam are yours to keep)
  • For Ed.L.D.: $133 for rental of gown, hood, and tam; $229 for rental of gown and tam (hood is yours to keep)
  • For Ed.M.: There is no additional cost to rent regalia, as the rental cost is included in the "graduation fee" that is charged directly to your term bill.
  1. Students can opt to have the regalia shipped to the Coop at no additional charge or can choose to have the regalia shipped directly to another address for an additional charge of $18.10. The Office of Student Affairs strongly encourages students to have regalia shipped to the Coop to avoid shipping and delivery complications.
  2. All rented regalia must be returned either to the Coop or directly to Herff-Jones by the deadline.
Place Your Rental Order for Regalia Place Your Purchase Order for Regalia

Regalia Pick Up Information

Harvard Square COOP

Begins Thursday, May 21 through Wednesday, May 27 between 10 a.m. and 6 p.m. (Note that there will be no regalia pickup on Saturday, May 23 and Sunday, May 24)

Brattle Street Store

Begins Thursday, May 28 at 6 a.m.

*The last day for returns is Thursday, June 4.

Economic Hardship

Assistance with Academic Regalia

Our policy in the past has been to ensure that students for whom renting regalia is a genuine economic hardship that would otherwise make participation in Commencement a challenge have access to caps and gowns at no cost. We are committed to that policy continuing this year. The Office of Student Affairs has a limited number of sets of regalia available for students with economic hardship. If you would like to request assistance with your academic regalia we ask that you be in touch directly with Kevin Boehm (kevin_boehm@gse.harvard.edu), Assistant Dean of Student Affairs and Student Life.