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 2025, January 2026, May 2026, or August 2026 are all eligible to participate in the May 2026 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.

The dates for the 2026 ceremonies have yet to be announced. 

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. The form is not available at this time.    

No. You must fill out the Commencement Ticket Request Form. The form will be published closer to the event.   

Fill out the ticket request form. The form will be published closer to the event.     

Each student participating in commencement may request up to four (4) guest tickets. 

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.

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. 

Information about purchasing regalia will be be published later in the semester. 

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.

No. Pets and emotional support animals are not allowed.

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. 

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.