For Students
Information for All Graduating Students
Return of Library Materials
Graduating students should return borrowed library materials before Commencement. Failure to resolve outstanding issues, fines, or fees owed may result in diplomas being withheld.
Please direct disputres to the billing library. You may check your library account online or contact Sterling Memorial Library Information Services Desk at 203-432-1775.
Graduating students are eligible for free borrowing privileges through the summer and may later continue those privliges at the alumni rate. Visit the Alumni Borrowing Guide for more information or contact the SML Information Desk.
Cap & Gown General Information
The Cap & Gown Agency provides academic apparel for those who plan to participate in Commencement exercises. Custom Yale regalia is available by special order. Keepsake caps and gowns are made of 100% post-consumer recycled plastic bottles. “Greenweaver” technology, which debuted more than five years ago, was developed by Oak Hall Industries of Salem, Virginia. Caps, gowns, and hoods will be yours to keep and need not be returned at the end of the day. For more information please see the regalia page.
Payment of Bills
Students with unpaid charges will not receive diplomas until charges are paid. All amounts due which appear on April bills from the Office of Student Financial Services must be paid in full by May 1 before diplomas are released.
During the spring term, all degree candidates with outstanding loans will be asked by email to complete an online exit interview. This interview is required before diplomas are released.
Contact Student Financial Services at 203-432-2700.
Ticket Information
Baccalaureate, Class Day, and the University Commencement Ceremony are ticketed events in 2024. All guests will need a ticket to enter Old Campus on Sunday and Monday. Graduates in regalia do not need a ticket to enter Old Campus.
Please see below for more detailed information for each ceremony.
Baccalaureate & Class Day
Families and guests will need a ticket to enter both the baccalaureate ceremony on Sunday morning, and the Class Day ceremony on Sunday afternoon. Graduates will receive paper tickets from their residential colleges to distribute to their guests. One ticket will be used for both ceremonies, so please be sure to keep it in a safe spot between ceremonies.
Graduates are not limited in the number of tickets they receive for the baccalaureate and Class Day ceremonies.
University Commencement Ceremony
Tickets will be required for entry to Old Campus for Yale’s 323rd Commencement Ceremony on Monday, May 20, 2024. Graduating degree candidates do not need tickets to attend Commencement. Graduating students are required to wear academic regalia to participate.
Children ages 3 and under do not require a ticket. However, they cannot occupy a seat and must sit in the lap of a ticketed guest.
Guests must present their QR code ticket to enter Old Campus. Tickets can be presented on mobile phones, as screenshots, or as printouts.
Please ensure that you and your guests receive ticket confirmations and QR codes for each registered guest. If QR codes have not been received, please contact us at university.events@yale.edu for further assistance.