FAQ: Undergraduate Ceremonies

Graduation is the completion of your studies and earning of diploma.

Commencement is the ceremony and celebration! Commencement exercises are ceremonial and symbolic; participation in this event should not be confused with actual graduation from the college.

You do not officially graduate until you have successfully completed all degree requirements as outlined by your major and submitted your graduation application. Once you have met these requirements, your diploma will be mailed to you, regardless of whether you participate in commencement.

Yes. Students must apply for graduation by March 31 to be eligible to attend commencement and have their name appear in the printed program. Any questions regarding your graduation application and/or diploma should be addressed to the Office of the Registrar.

Yes. Students who graduate in December 2024, January 2025, May 2025, or August 2025 are all eligible to participate in the May 2025 commencement ceremonies.

Rumsey Playfield, Central Park, New York City. You can find a map and get personalized directions to the venue on the Central Park website.

There are six separate ceremonies scheduled over two days: May 21 and 22, 2025.  Please click here for the full list of commencement ceremony dates and times by school and major.

Commencement events are held rain or shine. Cancellations will only occur if conditions are dangerous—lightning, high winds or flooding, for example. In the event of a cancellation, we will inform you via the commencement website (fitnyc.edu/commencement), through our text message platform, and through Google messages. Rain ponchos will be available on site if necessary.

Each ceremony is approximately 90 minutes long.

Yes! All graduating students attending commencement will walk across the stage and be greeted by the president of the college and the dean of their school. They will also receive a folder for their diploma. Diplomas will be mailed to students.

Yes! Every person attending commencement will require a ticket, including the graduating student. Each student must complete the ticket request form to receive a ticket for themselves; however, the deadline to request tickets was March 31 and the form is now closed.     

No. You must fill out the Commencement Ticket Request Form; however, the deadline to request tickets was March 31 and the form is now closed.   

Fill out the ticket request form; however, the deadline to request tickets was March 31 and the form is now closed.   

Each student participating in commencement may request up to four (4) guest tickets. Note: The deadline to request tickets was March 31 and the form is now closed.

Students who are interested in an additional guest ticket above the four alloted on the ticket request form may choose to be added to a waitlist for one (1) additional guest ticket; the option to join the waitlist is provided on the form. The ticket request form will not accept requests for additional tickets after it is closed. Note: The deadline to request tickets was March 31 and the form is now closed.

Note: Additional tickets are allocated on a first-come, first-served basis after all initial requests for tickets have been honored; additional tickets are not guaranteed.

If a student is granted an additional guest ticket, a notification email will be sent by mid- to late April. 

Note: Additional tickets are allocated on a first-come, first-served basis after all initial requests for tickets have been honored.

No. Please read the college’s Statement on Sale and Misuse of Commencement Tickets below: 

FIT prohibits the sale or purchase of commencement tickets and the posting of advertisements offering tickets for sale or requesting tickets for purchase. FIT also prohibits the duplication of tickets as well as the production and use of counterfeit tickets.

Any student who the college has reason to believe is selling tickets, has purchased tickets, has posted an advertisement offering to buy or sell tickets, or who is found to have produced or attempted to use a duplicated or counterfeit ticket will be subject to disciplinary action in accordance with the Code of Student Conduct. Penalties may include denial of permission to participate in commencement. Any guest found to be using such tickets will be refused admission to the ceremony.

Tickets will be emailed to your FIT email address from See Tickets one week prior to your ceremony.

No. Tickets are non-transferable.

Yes. All guests 2 years and older require a ticket for entry.

Academic regalia (cap, gown, and tassel) is required attire for students participating in commencement. 

All students should order their regalia directly from Herff Jones. You may choose to have it sent to the FIT Campus Store for pickup during cap and gown pickup days in May or, for an extra charge, you may have it mailed directly to your home.

Regalia can be picked up at the FIT Campus Store on the following dates:  

For those who ordered and pre-paid for regalia online only: Begins May 5

For those making in-store purchases: Begins May 7

FIT Campus Store hours are Monday–Friday, 11 am–6 pm.

Anyone still needing to purchase regalia may stop by the FIT Campus Store during general pickup to inquire about availability. 

The FIT Campus Store entrance is located on the Breezeway between the Dubinsky Student Center and the Business and Liberal Arts Center.

Stop by the FIT Campus Store beginning May 7 to purchase a tassel or anything else you may need for your regalia.   

• Your gown should be worn closed. It should sit comfortably on your shoulders, and it should fall below your knees, but not so low that it is a tripping hazard.
• Place the cap so that the front point is aligned with the center of your forehead. The top of the mortarboard should be parallel to the ground. You may need hair clips to secure the cap to your head.
• Tassels start on the right side of your mortarboard. The president will instruct you to move your tassel to the left side during the ceremony after your degrees are conferred. 
• You may be asked to remove any inappropriate embellishments of mortarboards or gowns by event staff and/or college officials.

We recommend you use the park entrance at 69th Street and Fifth Avenue; the path at this entrance leads directly to Rumsey Playfield. It's approximately a four-minute walk to the gate.

The nearest subway stations are 68th St/Hunter College on the 6 train on the east side; 72nd Street on the B and C trains on the west side. (Note: There are no elevators at either station.)

The closest bus routes are the M1, M2, M3, M4, M66, and M72.

Access Central Park's map for getting to Rumsey Playfield. 

This venue is ADA accessible for the mobility-impaired. Anyone requiring assistance should fill out the Request for Accommodations at Commencement form to be escorted into the venue. The ADA entrance is located at East 72nd and Fifth Avenue.

Accommodation requests for graduates and their guests may be directed to the Office of Disability Support Services (FIT-ABLE). Attendees with special needs (wheelchair assistance, FM systems, etc.) may submit their request via the Request for Accommodations at Commencement form. All requests must be made in advance. Limited accessibility seating is available for individuals needing accommodations and is available on a first-come, first-served basis.

Closed captioning of the ceremonies can be accessed by selecting the captioning option on the commencement livestream—which will be available at fitnyc.edu/commencement and on Vimeo—on your own device.

People who will require assistance at the venue should use the Accessibility and Special Accommodations entrance on Fifth Avenue at 72nd Street.

Anyone requiring assistance must fill out the Request for Accommodations at Commencement form in advance to be escorted into the venue. The ADA entrance is located at East 72nd and FIfth Avenue. 

At each ceremony, you will find FIT’s Celebration in the Park tents where you can find light refreshments, FIT mementos and gifts, take pictures and more! Vendors include FIT's Campus Store and The Commencement Group, with flowers and other items available for purchase before and after the ceremony. To browse The Commencement Group's selection of floral bouquets and other items in advance, go to thecommencementgroup.com/fit.

Stop by the Alumni Relations hospitality tent to pick up a gift and information about future events and exciting networking opportunities. 

The tents will be open one hour in advance of each ceremony and will close 15 minutes prior to the start of the ceremony.

Doors open one hour prior to each ceremony. Keep in mind that guest seating is first come, first served.

There will be no ceremony rehearsal.

We recommend public transportation. There is no public parking in Central Park. 

There is no parking in Central Park. To find parking nearby, you can use a parking app, or try these parking lots that are close to the venue, which offer daily and hourly rates:

• iPark: East 67th Street between Fifth Avenue and Madison Avenue
• MGP: Parking: East 73rd Street between Fifth Avenue and Madison Avenue
• iPark: East 67th Street between Park Avenue and Madison Avenue

No. Pets and emotional support animals are not allowed.

You are allowed to bring:

• Food (although snacks and water will be provided)
• Strollers
• Hats, sunglasses, your phone—basic things you need to enjoy your time at Central Park!

The following are not permitted at the venue in Central Park:

• Large bags (over 16”x16”x8”)
• Glass bottles
• Cans
• Coolers
• Alcoholic beverages
• Controlled substances
• Weapons
• Folding chairs
• Bikes
• Scooters
• Rollerblades
• Skateboards
• Beach umbrellas
• Balloons, confetti, streamers
• Laser pointers
• Professional camera and video camera equipment
• Selfie sticks
• Pets
• Drones
• Professional audio recording equipment

Smoking and vaping of any kind is not allowed at Rumsey Playfield and throughout Central Park under the city’s Smoke-Free Air Act. Also, commencement is a college activity and is covered under FIT’s Tobacco Free Policy, which prohibits smoking.

No. There are chairs on the field and bleacher-style seating that are available on a first-come, first-seated basis.

No. Your diploma will be mailed to you. You will be handed a folder for your diploma when you walk across the stage at your ceremony.

Any questions regarding your graduation application and/or diploma should be addressed to the Office of the Registrar.

You must apply for graduation by March 31 for it to appear in the printed commencement program. Please be sure you have followed all the steps in the undergraduate student checklist so that you meet all of the appropriate deadlines and can attend the ceremonies. 

Island Photography, FIT's official photo vendor, will offer on-campus portait photo appointments May 5-7 in the Dubinsky Student Center, Room A734. You must schedule an appointment in advance. 

Schedule a Commencement Portrait

The sitting fee is $10; the fee will be subtracted from any photo package you end up purchasing from Island. At the sitting, students receive 10 poses from the waist up. Business dress is recommended; a cap and gown will be available for poses as well.

Yes! You will be able to tune in live on the commencement website, fitnyc.edu/commencement, and on Vimeo. The video from each ceremony will also be available on demand after the ceremony is completed. 

Each graduate will be given a card to fill out when they arrive at the Central Park venue. On the card, the grad will write their preferred name—legal or chosen—and its pronunciation. This card will be given to and read out by a presenter just before the graduate crosses the stage. We do this to ensure accuracy and respect for each individual's name. 

You can visit our Hotels with Preferred Rates page page for a list of hotels near campus if overnight accommodations are needed for friends or family who plan to celebrate your graduation with you.