Commencement Schedule
Commencement Photo Opportunities
Regalia Information
Regalia reflects the pride and tradition of commencement. Official UCF regalia is required for all graduates participating in commencement ceremonies and is available exclusively through the UCF Bookstore and online via the Herff Jones website. These caps and gowns were created specifically for UCF; thus, you may not wear borrowed regalia or regalia purchased from alternative vendors. Our regalia is available for rent. If you wish to purchase, please contact the bookstore at SM190@bncollege.com for more information.
Important: Because of recent enhancements and redesigns to UCF’s gowns to elevate your special day, regalia delivery timelines may be longer than usual. Graduates should order caps and gowns early to help ensure the earliest possible home delivery. We appreciate your understanding as we work to provide an even more memorable graduation experience.
- In-store cap and gown ordering:
- Will take place at the UCF Bookstore, John T. Washington Center location on the following dates:
- September 28 – September 30, 2026, from 11 a.m. to 3 p.m.
- Online cap and gown ordering:
- is available at the Herff Jones website.
After November 6th, 2026, regalia cannot be ordered online and must be purchased at the UCF Bookstore in person. All rental orders placed after October 30th, 2026, will be assessed a rush fee. Graduates are encouraged to order their cap and gowns sooner rather than later to allow ample time for them to be delivered to their home. If you have any questions, please contact the UCF Bookstore at SM190@bncollege.com.
Graduates who ordered their official academic regalia on or before November 6th, 2026, may pick up their reader cards and tickets at the UCF FAIRWINDS Alumni Center from November 30 – December 3, 2026, from 9 a.m. to 5 p.m.
Graduates who did NOT preorder their official academic regalia through Herff Jones before the deadline can still rent regalia onsite, along with picking up their reader card from November 30 – December 12, 2026, at the Barnes & Noble at UCF Bookstore on East Plaza Drive. Because the deadline has passed, guest tickets are not guaranteed. Graduates who are unable to receive guest tickets may prefer to participate in Grad Walk and can pre-register at https://foundation.ucf.edu/GradWalk. Regalia and guest tickets are not required to participate in Grad Walk.
Note: Guest tickets and reader cards will only be distributed to graduates with current semester (Fall 2026) regalia rental orders and who filed an approved intent-to-graduate application on time. Availability of sizes for official regalia cannot be guaranteed after December 4, 2026. Contact the Barnes & Noble at UCF Bookstore for any regalia request after December 4, 2026.
Herff Jones also offers other commencement products — like graduation announcements, class rings and nursing pins — that can be viewed and purchased online.
The tassel on a graduate’s cap must be their college tassel and not the black and gold souvenir tassel. Note: Baccalaureate degree candidates wear tassels on the right; graduate degree candidates wear tassels on the left.
Returning Regalia
All rental regalia orders will include a pre-paid return shipping label. Rental items must be returned within 7 days of the commencement date.
Items that are rented and must be returned:
- Bachelor’s degree: gown
- Master’s degree: gown and hood
- Doctoral degree: gown, hood, and tam
Bachelor’s and master’s graduates may keep the cap (mortarboard) and tassel.
If the return label is misplaced, additional labels can be created at hjreturns.flatworldsc.com.
Baccalaureate Honors
The university shall confer baccalaureate honors recognition on those students who have completed a minimum of 48 credit hours at UCF. Baccalaureate honors awarded will be based on the overall cumulative GPA, including transfer credit at the start of the term in which they will graduate. Students can see their overall cumulative GPA in MyUCF under Other Academic Information, then Grades, then at the bottom of the Overall Cumulative column.
- summa cum laude — 3.950-4.000
- magna cum laude — 3.900-3.949
- cum laude — 3.800-3.899
In addition, students with a record of academic dishonesty appearing on any transcripts may graduate from a degree program after meeting all degree requirements, but will not be eligible for honors at graduation, including the honor of graduating from the Burnett Honors College or a departmental honors program.
Records for the term of graduation are incomplete at the time the commencement program is printed. Identification of these students at commencement, therefore, is presumptive of honors and not conclusive, since final term grades may result in changes in relative rankings.
Questions regarding honors eligibility should be directed to the Registrar’s Office prior to commencement at graduation@ucf.edu.
Honor Cords
All baccalaureate graduates potentially earning baccalaureate honors will be notified to their UCF email by the Registrar’s Office after the withdrawal deadline of the term the intent-to-graduate application is filed. For students who earn baccalaureate honors, the honor cords will only be available for purchase at the time of ticket pickup during the designated ticket-pickup week at the Barnes & Noble Bookstore on East Plaza Drive. At that time, a reader card for use at the ceremony is also issued indicating honors.
Because records for the final term are incomplete when the commencement program is printed, and final term grades may affect relative rankings and overall GPA, the notification of graduation with honors is presumptive rather than conclusive.
Honor cords from various honor societies may be worn if they are the designation of an officially recognized group.
Ticket Information
Commencement Rules & Tips
Grad cap decorations
- Graduation cap decorations must lay flat against the cap and extend no higher than the cap button.
- Stagnant LED lights are permitted.
- Moving or flashing lights are not permitted.
- Language on decorated caps must be appropriate for a family-friendly event.
- The tassel on a graduate’s cap must be their college tassel and not the black and gold souvenir tassel.
- Doctoral tams must be returned in original condition, or a fee will be charged.
important venue info
- Please anticipate a longer than expected travel time to the Addition Financial Arena due to traffic.
- Graduates should be at the Addition Financial Arena 90 minutes prior to their commencement ceremony.
- Graduates who arrive after the procession begins will not be guaranteed a seat.
- All graduates should park in Garage D. View a map of the location of Garage D .
- Graduates must stay for the entire duration of the commencement ceremony.
important ticket info
- Please check to make sure all guest tickets have the correct commencement ceremony date and time listed on them.
- There is no ticket lottery for additional tickets.
- Graduation announcements cannot be used for admission.
Prohibited items
- The use of iPads and GoPros is prohibited. Cell phones can be used for taking pictures but should be on silent.
- Selfie sticks are not permitted.
- Graduates and their guests are prohibited from entering the ceremony with the following items: balloons, bottles, cans, containers, glass vases, alcoholic beverages, noisemakers, air horns, laser pens, silly string, confetti, flags, banners, signs or posters larger than 8½x 11.
- Backpacks of any kind or bags larger than 12” x 6” x 12” are not permitted inside the arena for security reason. Graduates are discouraged from bringing any bag into the Arena as storage is not available and items cannot be taken into the ceremony. Those who bring backpacks or large bags will be asked to return them to their car before entering the building.
Appropriate Attire
- Graduates participating in the commencement ceremonies are required to wear official UCF regalia available exclusively through the UCF Bookstore.
- Honor cords, honor society cords, and academic stoles may be worn if they are the authorized designation of an officially recognized group.
- Graduates should wear comfortable shoes and be wearing them upon entry into the arena. Do not plan to change shoes or any clothing once you have entered the arena.
- Temperature in the arena can be cold during the ceremony.
- The university reserves the right to request that graduates change inappropriate attire before they will be allowed to participate in the commencement ceremony.