The Graduate School of Arts & Sciences
The Graduate School of Arts & Sciences

Academic Regalia (Caps and Gowns)

For All Students

Academic regalia is required for all students participating in Commencement and Doctoral Hooding ceremonies.

The Bookstore will host a Grad Fair in late March. During the three-day Grad Fair, the Bookstore will have a range of sizes of Master’s robes. It’s a good idea to get your cap and gown in advance of the rush in May.

The Bookstore will also have caps and gowns for sale in the week of May 12. Be sure that you have your cap and gown in hand before the day of your Commencement Ceremony.

They recommend that doctoral students wanting to purchase a basic doctoral package not wait until the week of May 12th, but place an order as soon as possible for either shipping or pick up in the Bookstore.

Fine Quality Doctoral robes must be ordered from Jostens online or by phone, well in advance of May (order by late March in order to have it available for May). Ordering details appear below.

Master’s Regalia

Master’s Regalia is available from the Bookstore website in addition to certain periods (March and May) in the campus Bookstore.

Both packages below are customized for Georgetown University graduates. They consist of a black mortarboard style cap and tassel, a black gown with sleeves indicating graduate-level Master’s work, and an over-the-head hood with a velvet-like border indicating the degree awarded (see the Hood Degree Color Chart, below). Bookstore staff will contact you for sizing information after you place your order on the website.

Please note: The Georgetown Bookstore will not be open early enough on Thursday, May 15 (Doctoral Hooding Ceremony) or on Friday, May 16 (Graduate School of Arts & Sciences Commencement Ceremony) for you to purchase academic robes for that same day (both Ceremonies begin at 9 a.m. with lineup at approx. 8 a.m. – the Bookstore doesn’t open until 9 a.m.).

Please make sure that you have your robes on hand no later than Wednesday, May 14 if participating in the Doctoral Hooding Ceremony, or by Thursday, May 15 for the main Graduate School Commencement Ceremony.

Explore other Georgetown-branded merchandise and memorabilia .

Doctoral Regalia

Doctoral Regalia are available for order on the Jostens website. The packages below are customized for Georgetown University graduates. The basic package consists of a black mortarboard style cap and tassel, a black gown with sleeves indicating doctoral work, and an over-the-head hood with a velvet-like border indicating the degree awarded.

These “fine quality” robes are available only by special order online and take approx. five (5) weeks for delivery.  Place your order by late March.

Follow these instructions to order the above regalia packages:

  1. Supply the university name (Georgetown University), City (Washington), and State (District of Columbia)
  2. Supply your Degree name and size of the Cap/Tam on the second screen. Please note that all Ph.D. degrees should select Ph.D. as the degree name to receive royal blue velvet band color
  3. Fill out the required measurements on the next screen after which you will be able to see the final order in your cart
  4. Please verify all the details before selecting the Checkout option
  5. Follow the on-screen instructions to complete your order

Please note: The Georgetown Bookstore will not be open early enough on Thursday, May 15 (Doctoral Hooding Ceremony) or on Friday, May 16 (Graduate School of Arts & Sciences Commencement Ceremony) for you to purchase academic robes for that same day (both Ceremonies begin at 9 a.m. with lineup at approx. 8 a.m. – the Bookstore doesn’t open until 9 a.m.).

Please make sure that you have your robes on hand no later than Wednesday, May 14 if participating in the Doctoral Hooding Ceremony, or by Thursday, May 15 for the main Graduate School Commencement Ceremony.

Explore other Georgetown-branded merchandise and memorabilia .

Official Georgetown Doctoral Regalia

The “Georgetown Official” doctoral regalia is the highest quality (and most expensive) academic regalia option. It has extensive embroidery and stitching and is a durable, long-lasting formal regalia. It is worn by Georgetown University President John DeGioia and members of the faculty who graduated from Georgetown University.

This higher quality regalia is available only by special advance order through Jostens. It takes approximately eight (8) weeks for delivery (at least), so it should be ordered no later than mid-February. This regalia is not available on Jostens website and must be ordered by phone (see instructions below).

Orders must be placed by mid-February to be delivered in time for the Doctoral Hooding and main Commencement ceremonies.

Follow these instructions to order the above regalia package (phone order only):

  1. Call Jostens Customer Service Center: 1-800-854-7464
  2. Follow the prompts for Language (1-Espanol, #-English)
  3. Select 3-College Customers
  4. Select 3-Cap and Gown
  5. Select 2-All Other Question: This will connect you to the customer service agent
  6. Ask for the Georgetown University (Washington, DC) “Georgetown Official” doctoral regalia package

Explore other Georgetown-branded merchandise and memorabilia .

Hood Lining – Degree Colors

Note: When ordering your regalia, especially via telephone, please use ONLY the following degree names to ensure that you get the correctly colored hood velvet and lining. For example, there is a difference in stating that you are getting a “Doctorate in Physics” versus correctly saying you are being awarded the “Doctor of Philosophy.”

All Georgetown graduate students are awarded only the following degrees (the specialty field, e.g., Physics, Government, Biochemistry, etc., is not part of the standardized graduate degree hood lining color):