Cap and Gown

NIU commencement is a traditional graduation ceremony. If you're participating in the ceremony:

• Undergraduates: you are required to wear a black gown and a black mortarboard (cap) with a degree tassel.
• Graduates: you are required to wear a black gown and a black mortarboard (cap) with a degree tassel.
  • Doctoral (Ph.D., Ed.D., DPT, DNP, Au.D.) and Master of Fine Arts (MFA) students are also required to wear a hood in order to participate in the ceremony.
  • Hoods are recommended for master’s students.
  • Hoods come with the cap and gown purchase from Oak Hall.
  • Note: most master’s students will wear hoods, so be mindful when ordering from Amazon or other sites.

Please bring your regalia with you as there will not be any available to purchase on-site.

• Please order the package of your choice through Oak Hall Cap & Gown.
• The package will be mailed from Oak Hall to the address you provide, and they do not have to be returned.
• The deadline to place orders for the December ceremony is November 19, 2025. 

Order today

You're also allowed to wear the following in the ceremony:

• Academic honor pins
• Ribbons
• Insignias
• Cords and academic sashes
• Mortar Board Senior Honor Society Medallions

The university does not provide any cords or sashes for GPA. Specific departments or organizations may offer cords or sashes. Please contact those departments to receive those items.

If you missed the deadline to order from Oak Hall, you can borrow a black gown from a previous graduate or place an order on Amazon. Gowns are required to participate in the ceremony.