Commencement

Columbia University Commencement

Wednesday, May 15, 2024
9:00am – 10:30am (Graduates Line-Up at 7:30am)
Morningside Campus
Low Plaza

Columbia University holds University Commencement annually in May for all graduates. The university-wide ceremony is held on the Morningside campus in the quad. All Columbia Nursing degree candidates are invited and encouraged to participate in University Commencement. Academic regalia (cap and gown) is required for all degree candidates. All graduating students are required to register online to participate in University Commencement and to obtain guest tickets (2 guests tickets allowed per graduate). Registration will open on Wednesday, April 3. Outdoor seating for guests is limited, so make sure your application to graduate is submitted and you register for your tickets early. Once outdoor capacity is reached, indoor locations will be available. Graduating students will receive further registration and guest ticketing information in March.

Visit the Columbia University Commencement site.

Columbia Nursing Graduation Ceremony

Tuesday, May 14, 2024
10:00am – 12:30pm (Graduates Line-Up at 8:45am)
The Armory
216 Fort Washington Avenue at West 168th St

Columbia Nursing holds a ceremony for nursing graduates each May. February, May and October 2024 graduates are invited to attend the 2024 Columbia Nursing Graduation Ceremony. Academic regalia is required for all MS and Doctoral degree candidates.

All graduating students are required to register online to participate in the Nursing Graduation Ceremony. Additionally, tickets will be required for guests to enter the ceremony (8 guests tickets allowed per graduate). Graduating students will receive further registration and guest ticketing information in March.

For directions, view The New Balance Track & Field website: Map and Directions

Important Information for Graduates and Guests

Graduating Students Communications and Ticketing Information

Graduating students will be sent information via email. As a reminder, graduating students must register to attend both ceremonies, and will need to request guest tickets for the University Commencement and the Columbia Nursing Graduation Ceremony. 

*Registration for University Commencement tickets will open on Wednesday, April 3. Outdoor seating for guests is limited, so make sure your application to graduate is submitted and you register for your tickets early. Once outdoor capacity is reached, indoor locations will be available. Graduating students will receive further registration and guest ticketing information in March. 

Doctoral Degree Candidates: Gown, Velvet Tam, Hood

Doctoral graduates wear a gown, velvet tam, and hood. Gowns and hoods can be rented or purchased. Velvet tams must be purchased. Students will need to indicate which program they are graduating from when ordering regalia since this determines the color of the hood:

  • Doctor of Philosophy (PhD): Standard PhD blue hoods
  • Doctor of Nursing Practice (DNP): Apricot hoods with green cord lining

There are two ways to receive your regalia:

  1. On-Site at Columbia Morningside Bookstore: Doctoral students can be measured for their gown and place their rental doctoral gown order at the Morningside Bookstore starting February 27, 2024 and at the CUIMC Bookstore  starting March 1, 2024. Doctoral Regalia may be reserved in-store by April 11.Gowns can be picked up at the Columbia Morningside Bookstore (2292 Broadway). Rental gowns must be returned to the Morningside bookstore. *Rental Gowns can be reserved in-store by April 11 to avoid incurring a late fee. 
  2. Online Ordering: Doctoral students can rent or purchase their regalia online.
    1. To purchase your doctoral regalia online, please note the following short timeline (online ordering accepted from 2/27-3/8): The recommended date to purchase doctoral regalia and receive order by the 2024 Graduation Ceremonies is by March 8.  Visit https://oakhallcg.com/pages/columbiafinequality for information including deadlines, cost, and to place an order. *Note: It takes 6-8 weeks for delivery if you are purchasing your doctoral regalia.
    2. To rent your doctoral regalia online (online ordering accepted from 3/4-4/11): The recommended date to order rental doctoral regalia online and receive order by the 2024 Graduation Ceremonies is by April 11Visit https://columbia.shopoakhalli.com/purchasewizard/Welcome for information including deadlines, cost, and to place an order. Please reserve your gown by April 11 to avoid incurring a late fee. Doctoral rental regalia will be available for pickup in-store at the Morningside Campus bookstore beginning April 22. If graduates don't receive a notification on 4/22, please call the bookstore to check on the status of your regalia, prior to making a trip to the bookstore. A ship-to-home option is not available online.  

For Assistance Purchasing Regalia, call the Columbia University Bookstore at 212-854-4131 or visit the Columbia University Bookstore website.

Master’s Degree Candidates: Gown, Cap, Tassel

Master’s candidates at Columbia University and its affiliated institutions wear a cap (mortarboard) with tassel and gown. No hood is worn. Master’s degree candidates purchase souvenir student regalia (items are yours to keep) and you do not need to pre-order your gown.

There are two ways to receive your regalia:

  1. On-Site at Columbia Morningside and CUIMC Bookstores: Students can purchase their regalia on site at the Morningside Bookstore starting February 27, 2024 and at the CUIMC Bookstore starting March 1, 2024. Pre-ordering is not necessary for Master’s gowns. Gowns can be picked up at the Columbia Morningside and CUIMC Bookstores until Commencement day (though students are encouraged to pick up their regalia early).
  2. Order Online to be shipped (online ordering accepted from 3/4-3/22): Out-of-town students can have their gown shipped to them (for a fee) through the Morningside Bookstore starting March 4. Visit https://columbia.shopoakhalli.com/purchasewizard/Welcome for information including deadlines, cost, and to place an order. *Note: Online ordering ends March 22. To place an order after March 22, please visit the Columbia Morningside and CUIMC Bookstores.

For Assistance Purchasing Regalia, call the Columbia University Bookstore at 212-854-4131 or visit the Columbia University Bookstore website.

Disability Services

Guests with disabilities, limited mobility, or the elderly needing assistance should enter the New Balance Track and Field Center (Armory) at 216 Fort Washington Avenue. Event Host staff will have wheelchairs available to help escort guests needing assistance to the seating area. No reservation is required for assistance or for seating.

If you haven't already, students, and their guests, requiring accommodations during University Commencement or school graduation ceremonies, including graduates whose disabilities limit their ability to walk or negotiate stairs, should contact Disability Services at access@columbia.edu or at 212-854-2388.

Directions, Parking Information, and Travel Resource

Columbia University Irving Medical Center (CUIMC) is located west of Broadway on 168th Street. The School of Nursing Graduation Ceremony is held at the Armory (216 Fort Washington Avenue at West 168th Street).

Parking on campus is extremely limited on campus. This is especially compounded during Commencement like events when thousands of additional guests visit our campus. Guests are encouraged to take public transportation; information on alternative transportation (instead of driving) is available here. Including but not limited to:

  • Public Transportation such as the MTA Bus and Subway system
  • Bicycle
  • Train or Interstate Bus

Visitors and Personal Travel Resource

https://www.worldtravelinc.com/columbia.visitors.portal

Columbia University offers negotiated car and hotel rates for campus visitors. To book a car or hotel reservation new users must create an account to access the Visitors Online Booking Tool. Registered users may sign in to the Visitors Online Booking Tool to book Columbia negotiated rates or to change/cancel an existing reservation. Visitor and personal travel may only be booked online and users must carefully review details, rules and cancellation policies of each hotel and car rental supplier prior to completing a booking as some rates selected may be completely non-refundable and non-changeable.