Graduation Preparation

Caps, gowns, and hoods may be purchased online from Jostens.  Please click the button below for purchasing information. Announcements can be ordered online from Jostens.

Important Dates

Order by 10/25/26.  Regalia will be shipped to your home.

Please note: If you order your academic regalia from a different vendor, Jostens will not be able to assist you with missing or replacement items.

Deadline for undergraduate students to apply for Fall 2026 graduation is October 1st.

Undergraduate students who have applied to graduate for Fall 2026 in Athena will be eligible to register for tickets during the ticket registration period. Their graduation status will be validated with their UGA 81X number. SEE ELIGIBILTY.

Ticket Registration will open October 26 and close November 6. Updated ticket registration information will be added to the commencement website at that time.

A minimum of 4 guest tickets per graduate will be allocated. The final number of guest tickets allotted per graduate will be determined by the final number of eligible undergraduate students who apply for graduation by the October 1 graduation application deadline.

Additional guest tickets will be allocated on a first-come, first-served basis based upon availability after registration closes. When completing their initial ticket registration, graduates will be able to mark whether they are interested in an additional one or two guest tickets. Additional guest tickets cannot be guaranteed but will be sent after registration closes for all graduates if availability allows.

Please note tickets are digital and must be transferred to graduates’ guests.  See transfer instructions here.

For questions about applying to graduate, please contact the Office of the Registrar at reghelp@uga.edu.

For questions regarding digital tickets, please contact the UGA Ticket Office at 706-542-1231.

Undergraduates who apply to graduate for the Fall 2026 semesters by the October 1st deadline will be allowed to participate in the Fall Undergraduate Commencement ceremony.  Students who have not applied for graduation, or who graduated in a different semester are not eligible to participate.

For general information regarding graduation requirements, consult the UGA Bulletin. To ensure that you have met all the requirements for graduation, check with a degree program specialist in the dean’s office of your school or college. You should also be checking your progress via DegreeWorks. All undergraduates must apply to graduate for the semester in which they will take their last course(s) toward their graduation requirements using the graduation application in Athena.

Graduate Recognition

Undergraduate degree candidates will rise with their school or college when degrees are conferred.

Degree candidates earning Latin honors will be recognized during the ceremony. Degree candidates who meet the following GPA criteria and who do not have a FERPA restriction will be noted in the commencement program. Latin honors distinctions effective for Spring and Summer 2026 undergraduates are found below:

Latin Honors Distinction	GPA Requirement
Cum Laude	3.60-3.74
Magna Cum Laude	3.75-3.89
Summa Cum Laude	3.90-4.00

First Honor Graduates have maintained a perfect 4.0 cumulative grade point average on all work attempted at the University of Georgia as well as all college-level transfer work attempted prior to or following enrollment at the University. These students are celebrated for their high standards of academic excellence and their outstanding achievements. Their regalia includes a fourragère, a braided cord, worn on the shoulder.

For the purposes of the commencement program, Latin honors recognition is based on the student’s overall undergraduate GPA going into the student’s last semester. Final Latin honors will be determined following the conclusion of the student’s last semester.

• Please follow the Clear Bag Policy.
• Weapons Detection Nuisances 
• On-site wheelchairs are NOT available. If a guest has difficulty walking, they are strongly encouraged to bring their own wheelchair. 
• Graduates should leave purses, coats, and other belongings with family members.
• In advance of the ceremony, graduates should pick a place to meet family and friends once the ceremony is completed.
• Once graduates have found their seat on Stegeman Coliseum floor, they should remain in the seat and not stand in the aisles.
• Please be respectful of those around you and the fact that this is a formal academic ceremony. Beach balls, air horns, and other similar distractions may be confiscated.
• Alcoholic beverages are not permitted at any UGA Commencement ceremony.

Visitors with disability concerns are strongly encouraged to arrive early at Stegeman Coliseum. Doors open 2 hours prior to the start of the ceremony.

Main entrances to Stegeman Coliseum along Sanford Drive and Carlton Street are wheelchair- accessible. 

On-site wheelchairs are NOT available. If a guests has difficulty walking, they are strongly encouraged to bring their own wheelchair. Wheelchairs are commonly available for short-term rental from medical supply stores and some pharmacies.

Disability Parking and Transportation

Parking for guests with disabilities is available in the Hoke Smith Annex Lot (S12) adjacent to Stegeman Coliseum. The main entrances to Stegeman Coliseum along Sanford Drive and Carlton Street are wheelchair-accessible.

Disability Seating

Seating for guests in wheelchairs is very limited in Stegeman Coliseum. Disability and companion seating is located along the top row of the lower level. Disability seating allows access for one person in a wheelchair and one companion. Additional family members will need to sit separately in general seating. Please plan accordingly.

The Arch

For University of Georgia alumni with mobility impairments who choose to pass through the Arch after graduation, the University will have a temporary platform in place on Saturday, December 12 from 8:00 a.m. to 8:00 p.m.

For related questions, contact Jean Lorrain, in director of the Equal Opportunity Office, at 706-542‑7912 or ugaeoo@uga.edu.