Commencement Details for 2026
Find Commencement 2026 details on: tickets, graduation eligibility, regalia, speakers, and photos.
- For questions regarding the Commencement ceremonies, regalia, tickets or other general questions, please contact the Commencement Committee via email at: commencement@stthomas.edu.
- For questions regarding your academic eligibility, please contact the Student Data and Registrar Office via email at: registrar@stthomas.edu.
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Ensuring a Joyful Experience for All
The University of St Thomas Commencement ceremonies are special events for all involved. To help ensure the commencement experience is a joyful one for our graduates and guests, please review these helpful guidelines.
All graduates, faculty, staff, and guests must refrain from any misconduct, distracting behavior or disrespect for all persons involved in the ceremony. Individuals who engage in inappropriate or disruptive behavior may be removed from the event.
Please make sure to review carefully the . This will include a list of items that are prohibited to bring including balloons.
Picture-taking near or on the stage by the graduates, family members or friends is prohibited. A professional photographer is hired by the university to provide high quality images as the graduate receives their diploma.
More information regarding photos will be available closer to commencement.
Alcohol is not to be brought to and/or consumed at the ceremony.
Intoxication or other signs of impairment related to alcohol consumption is not permitted.
St. Thomas is a tobacco-free campus and smoking, or vaping, is not permitted.
Tickets
All graduating students participating in commencement through the Commencement RSVP found in by the deadline will receive five (5) tickets for their specific ceremony.
Everyone the age of 2 and older requires a ticket for admittance. If a child under the age of 2 does not have a ticket, they will be required to sit on an adult's lap for the duration of the ceremony.
Opportunities for additional tickets via a lottery will be available after March 1, 2026.
Commencement Eligibility
All students who are eligible to participate in the ceremony will receive an email in November with information on how to RSVP via .
A single commencement ceremony is held in May for all students earning an undergraduate degree each year. Students who complete degree requirements at the end of summer, fall, January, and spring terms participate in the May ceremony following the term in which requirements are completed.
Undergraduate students with senior status who are in good academic standing may choose to participate in a commencement ceremony prior to or after completing all degree requirements. Students may only participate in one commencement ceremony, and that ceremony must be within one academic year of their graduation.
Important deadlines below for RSVP'ing for your commencement:
March 16, 2026 - Priority Deadline to RSVP for Commencement
- To be guaranteed cap and gown size (and pick up at Grad Fest/April 28)
- To be able to choose ceremony if double major (April 1st deadline for any changes)
- To receive 5 guest tickets
April 3, 2026 - Final Deadline to RSVP for Commencement
- To be guaranteed regalia (sizing based on availability)
- To receive 5 guest tickets
All students who are eligible to participate in the ceremony will receive an email with information on how to RSVP via .
Students should connect with their academic programs if they have any questions regarding their eligibility. Students may only participate in one commencement ceremony, and that ceremony must be within one academic year of their graduation.
Important deadlines below for RSVP'ing for your commencement:
March 16, 2026 - Priority Deadline to RSVP for Commencement
- All doctoral regalia must be ordered by March 16th - there are no extended deadlines for this regalia
- To be guaranteed regalia size (will be notified when/where to pick up)
- To receive 5 guest tickets
April 3, 2026 - Final Deadline to RSVP for Commencement
- To be guaranteed regalia (sizing based on availability)
NOTE: Doctoral regalia not available for order after March 16th - To receive 5 guest tickets
Regalia (Attire and Etiquette)
Ordering Regalia
Make sure you have ordered your free regalia!
All students participating in commencement must RSVP via . As part of your RSVP you will provide information for ordering your regalia. Please be aware of the following important deadlines and how they relate to your regalia.
Undergraduate students
- March 16, 2026 - Priority deadline to order and be guaranteed your requested size for cap and gown. Your regalia will be available for pick up at Grad Fest.
- April 3, 2026 - Guaranteed cap and gown (sizes will be based on availability)
Graduate students
- March 16, 2026 - Priority deadline to order and be guaranteed your requested size for regalia (except doctoral regalia)
- March 16, 2026 - FINAL deadline for doctoral regalia. No orders for doctoral regalia will be accepted after March 16th
- April 3, 2026 - Guaranteed regalia (sizes will be based on availability)
General Standards
In keeping with the significance of the occasion, graduates must wear university-issued academic regalia, including cap, gown and purple St Thomas stole.
Regalia for undergraduate students is a black gown and mortar board (cap) and a purple stole. Regalia for graduate students is a black gown and mortar board or tam (cap) and a hood that indicates the student’s discipline. Only University-issued honor cords and medallions are approved for wear during the ceremony.
Only university-issued honor cords and medalions are approved to wear during the ceremony. Honors cords indicate academic accomplishment and are issued for participation in the Aquinas Scholars program or a national honor society (e.g. Delta Epsilon Sigma). For a list of honor societies that are active at St. Thomas, see this link in the undergraduate catalog. Medallions are issued to undergraduate students who are graduating with Latin honors (baccalaureate students) or with distinction (DFC students).
Students are permitted to decorate their cap and, for undergraduates, their purple St. Thomas stole to positively represent their St. Thomas experience. All decorated content must represent the values and convictions of the University of St Thomas. Stoles, pins and commencement caps are prohibited from including any images, symbols or words that represent/show the following:
- Profanity, Nudity, Sexual Innuendos, or Rude Comments
- Alcohol and/or Drug related references
- Political References
- Content that advocates drug use, violence, or disruptive behavior that is detrimental to the safety and welfare of other students
- Any symbols or content that are reasonably viewed as hate speech or otherwise promote discrimination
- Any symbols, words, etc. that represents any group/organizational affiliations external to St Thomas
Students may also wear their own stole as long as the stole is consistent with the standards for other decorations noted above.
St. Thomas curricular and co-curricular organizations may provide to their undergraduate students a patch or pin to put on their stole indicating participation in the organization. Graduate students may wear a pin on their robe from a St. Thomas curricular or co-curricular organization.
Other personal adornments, such as hats, signs, ribbons, or scarves, noise makers, and battery operated, or blinking lights are not acceptable.
Students who attend commencement with any adornment that does not meet the standards above will be required to remove it in order to participate. No additional caps or stoles will be available to replace any caps or stoles removed.
Additionally:
- Jeans and flip-flops are not acceptable
- Wear comfortable shoes with low heels
- Do not leave your valuables unattended. St. Thomas cannot take any responsibility for lost, stolen, or damaged items
Tassels on Mortarboard
Tassels are included with your cap and gown. Additional tassels are available for purchase from the St. Thomas Campus Stores.
The student's major(s) determines the tassel color. Colors can be confirmed by contacting Campus Stores.
How to Wear Your Cap (UG)
The cap should be worn with the mortarboard parallel to the ground. Undergraduate candidates should wear their tassel on the right side. It is moved to the left side at the designated time during the ceremony.
Undergraduate Honors
Eligible students will receive an email with information from Latin Honors, Aquinas Scholars or their department with details about pick-up date and location.
Ordering Regalia
Ordering Regalia
Make sure you have ordered your free regalia!
All students participating in commencement must RSVP via . As part of your RSVP you will provide information for ordering your regalia. Please be aware of the following important deadlines and how they relate to your regalia.
Undergraduate students
- March 16, 2026 - Priority deadline to order and be guaranteed your requested size for cap and gown. Your regalia will be available for pick up at Grad Fest.
- April 3, 2026 - Guaranteed cap and gown (sizes will be based on availability)
Graduate students
- March 16, 2026 - Priority deadline to order and be guaranteed your requested size for regalia (except doctoral regalia)
- March 16, 2026 - FINAL deadline for doctoral regalia. No orders for doctoral regalia will be accepted after March 16th
- April 3, 2026 - Guaranteed regalia (sizes will be based on availability)
General Standards
General Standards
In keeping with the significance of the occasion, graduates must wear university-issued academic regalia, including cap, gown and purple St Thomas stole.
Regalia for undergraduate students is a black gown and mortar board (cap) and a purple stole. Regalia for graduate students is a black gown and mortar board or tam (cap) and a hood that indicates the student’s discipline. Only University-issued honor cords and medallions are approved for wear during the ceremony.
Only university-issued honor cords and medalions are approved to wear during the ceremony. Honors cords indicate academic accomplishment and are issued for participation in the Aquinas Scholars program or a national honor society (e.g. Delta Epsilon Sigma). For a list of honor societies that are active at St. Thomas, see this link in the undergraduate catalog. Medallions are issued to undergraduate students who are graduating with Latin honors (baccalaureate students) or with distinction (DFC students).
Students are permitted to decorate their cap and, for undergraduates, their purple St. Thomas stole to positively represent their St. Thomas experience. All decorated content must represent the values and convictions of the University of St Thomas. Stoles, pins and commencement caps are prohibited from including any images, symbols or words that represent/show the following:
- Profanity, Nudity, Sexual Innuendos, or Rude Comments
- Alcohol and/or Drug related references
- Political References
- Content that advocates drug use, violence, or disruptive behavior that is detrimental to the safety and welfare of other students
- Any symbols or content that are reasonably viewed as hate speech or otherwise promote discrimination
- Any symbols, words, etc. that represents any group/organizational affiliations external to St Thomas
Students may also wear their own stole as long as the stole is consistent with the standards for other decorations noted above.
St. Thomas curricular and co-curricular organizations may provide to their undergraduate students a patch or pin to put on their stole indicating participation in the organization. Graduate students may wear a pin on their robe from a St. Thomas curricular or co-curricular organization.
Other personal adornments, such as hats, signs, ribbons, or scarves, noise makers, and battery operated, or blinking lights are not acceptable.
Students who attend commencement with any adornment that does not meet the standards above will be required to remove it in order to participate. No additional caps or stoles will be available to replace any caps or stoles removed.
Additionally:
- Jeans and flip-flops are not acceptable
- Wear comfortable shoes with low heels
- Do not leave your valuables unattended. St. Thomas cannot take any responsibility for lost, stolen, or damaged items
Tassels on Mortarboard
Tassels on Mortarboard
Tassels are included with your cap and gown. Additional tassels are available for purchase from the St. Thomas Campus Stores.
The student's major(s) determines the tassel color. Colors can be confirmed by contacting Campus Stores.
How to Wear Your Cap (UG)
How to Wear Your Cap (UG)
The cap should be worn with the mortarboard parallel to the ground. Undergraduate candidates should wear their tassel on the right side. It is moved to the left side at the designated time during the ceremony.
Undergraduate Honors
Undergraduate Honors
Eligible students will receive an email with information from Latin Honors, Aquinas Scholars or their department with details about pick-up date and location.
Speakers
A student speaker will be selected for each commencement ceremony.
Information on how to apply will be available early Spring 2026.
Any graduate who is eligible and participating in the 2026 commencement ceremonies is eligible to apply.
Photos
A professional photographer is retained by the university to provide high quality images as each graduate receives their diploma.
Photo information will be available closer to commencement.