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.
  • Graduatesyou 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.

NIU Philanthropy Cord

By giving $10 or more to the Northern Fund, you will receive an honorary red, black and white philanthropy cord to celebrate your outstanding support of NIU.

Make Your Senior Class Gift today

Tassel and Hood Colors

Degree Tassel Color Master/Doctoral Hood Color
B.A., M.A. white white
B.S., M.S. golden yellow golden yellow
B.S.Ed., M.S.Ed. M.A.T., M.S.TCH., Eds., SSP light blue light blue
B.M, M.M. PC pink pink
B.F.A., M.F.A. brown brown
M.A.C., M.A.S., M.B.A., M.S.T. light brown light brown
M.P.A. peacock blue peacock blue
M.P.H. salmon salmon
J.D. purple purple
Au.D. gold green
Ed.D. gold light blue
D.N.P. gold apricot orange
Ph.D. gold dark blue
D.P.T. gold teal

Contact Us

Convocation Center
1525 West Lincoln Highway
DeKalb, IL 60115
815-752-6800
commencement@niu.edu