Undergraduate Student Information

The 2024 Undergraduate Commencement will be celebrated in six ceremonies on May 22 and 23 at Rumsey Playfield in New York City′s Central Park.

• Find the date and time of your ceremony on the Undergraduate Ceremony Schedules page.
Note: The May 22, 10 am: Fashion Business Management ceremony has reached capacity; Fashion Business Management graduates will also be recognized at the May 22, 1:15 pm ceremony. 

Student Checklist

Graduating students, to attend your ceremony, you need to do the following: 

Students completing their course requirements should apply for graduation by March 31 to attend the ceremony and to ensure your name is listed in the printed program.

Opt in to receive timely text reminders about the commencement deadlines listed here and other helpful details. Use this form to sign up.

Order your regalia online directly from our cap and gown provider, Herff Jones, by March 31.

Academic attire—the traditional cap, gown, and tassel—is required for all students participating in commencement exercises. ALL graduates are required to purchase academic attire.

  • Order your regalia directly from Herff Jones now through March 31 to be delivered directly to you or to the Campus Store at FIT for pickup.
  • The cost of an associate's or bachelor's degree cap, gown, and tassel is $50.98, plus shipping and handling. The standard domestic shipping charge for each order is $7.95; international shipping is $29.95.

All academic attire is made from sustainable materials, supporting the continued efforts of FIT in environmental sustainability. 

The 2024 Commencement Ticket Request Form opens March 1 and closes on March 31. 

RESERVE YOUR TICKET(S)

Note: The May 22, 10 am: Fashion Business Management ceremony has reached capacity; Fashion Business Management graduates will also be recognized at the May 22, 1:15 pm ceremony. 

Everyone attending commencement must have a ticket. 

Each graduate may request up to four (4) guest tickets. All guests age 2 and up require a ticket for admission. All graduates and guests attending commencement must have a ticket to enter the venue.

NOTE: You will receive the number of requested guest tickets PLUS ONE ticket for yourself, the graduating student. 

You will receive an email confirming your ceremony information and the number of guest tickets reserved. Please review this information. If there is an error in your ceremony information or ticket reservation, please contact [email protected] immediately. The reservation system will not accept duplicate entries or edits after submission. 

Additional Guest Ticket

Graduates who need an additional guest ticket must select the check box option on the reservation form. Students who request additional guest tickets will be placed on a waitlist and notified via email by May 15. 

The deadline to reserve guest tickets is March 31. 

Ticket Delivery

Electronic tickets will be sent to your FIT email address from See Tickets one week prior to the commencement ceremony for your school and program.

Transfer of tickets is not allowed for any event.

Statement on Sale and Misuse of Commencement Tickets

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.

Please contact [email protected] with any questions or concerns.

You may schedule a commencement portrait session online with Thornton Studios or by calling (212) 647-1966. Please use code: studio.

Thornton Studios will also be on campus taking portraits on the following dates: 

Click on the links above to schedule an appointment. 

Visit our Getting to FIT 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.  

Commencement Day Details

Wednesday and Thursday, May 22 and 23, 2024 
Full schedule of ceremonies by school/major
Rumsey Playfield, Central Park

To help ensure a pleasant experience for all attendees, FIT is pleased to provide information regarding access, logistics, and general instructions for the 2024 Commencement Ceremonies at Central Park’s Rumsey Playfield.

FIT commencement 2024 will be streamed live on this website, fitnyc.edu/commencement, and on Vimeo, and can be viewed from any location with internet access.  

FIT will be commemorating your milestone at the ceremonies and invite you and your guests to participate in the graduation celebration by stopping by the celebration tents by the entrance gate to enjoy some light refreshments, pick up FIT mementos and gifts, pose for portrait photos with your family, purchase a floral bouquet or T-shirt, and more. 
 
Alumni Relations and other FIT departments will join the celebration and will share information about future events and exciting networking and career opportunities. 

Among the vendors that will also be present are FIT's Campus Store with FIT merchandise, Island Photography with portrait photography packages, and The Commencement Group, a local floral provider, with flowers and other items available for purchase before and after the ceremony. To browse the selection and preorder, please visit thecommencementgroup.com/fit.

The Celebration in the Park tents will be available when the gates of the venue open (one hour in advance of each ceremony) and will close 15 minutes prior to the start of the ceremony.

The tents will reopen for a brief period following each ceremony.

Rumsey Playfield is an accessible venue. 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. 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. 

Limited accessibility seating is available for individuals needing accommodations and is available on a first-come, first-served basis.

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

Use the Central Park entrance at Fifth Avenue at 69th Street; the path at this entrance leads directly to Rumsey Playfield. Visit the Rumsey Playfield website for specific directions.

Gates open to graduates and guests one hour prior to each ceremony. All electronic tickets will be scanned at the entrance. Graduates and their guests must enter together since no one will be admitted without an electronic ticket. 

It is strongly suggested that students and guests arrive at least 15–30 minutes before gates open to allow sufficient time to get through security, visit the Celebration in the Park tents, and secure seats. 

We estimate that each program will last 90 minutes from the start of the procession. As a reminder, multiple ceremonies are planned and setup for the next ceremony begins shortly after one ends. Venue staff will direct all attendees to exit the seating area to help accommodate the next ceremony’s graduates and guests.

All graduating students are required to wear academic regalia (cap, gown, and tassel). Order your regalia from Herff Jones. 

Rumsey Playfield is a large, grassy lawn and the ground may be uneven in many places. Commencement also often involves a good deal of standing and walking for both guests and graduates. For this reason, we strongly recommend wearing comfortable shoes and discourage high heels. 

Tickets* will be emailed directly to the graduates one week prior to the ceremony selected online from See Tickets. Graduates and their guests must arrive together to enter the venue since no one will be admitted without an electronic ticket. Transfer of tickets is not allowed for any event.

*Please note that 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.

Graduate Seating

Ushers will direct students to the graduates’ seating area near the stage. Seating among the graduates is not assigned and will be available on a first-come, first-seated basis. 

Guest Seating

Guests will be directed to the seating area directly behind the students or to the bleachers at the back of the venue. Seating is first come, first seated, and seats may not be reserved. If all members of your party have not yet arrived, please delay entering the venue until your party is together to ensure you will all be seated together.

All events held at Central Park’s Rumsey Playfield are required to comply with the venue’s security regulations.

Note: There is no storage for personal belongings. We recommend that graduates bring only their caps, gowns, and essential personal items or a small handbag that they can keep with them during the ceremony.

All ceremonies will take place rain or shine. Ponchos will be provided if it rains. The only cause for cancellation of an event is due to lightning within a 15-mile radius and/or winds over 75 mph. The venue will be monitoring the weather for each ceremony and the general manager will make the decision, if necessary, to cancel the event. The venue will communicate a cancellation on their website and social media channels and FIT will also communicate any cancellation(s) via the college’s communication channels.

Restrooms will be available for use by all attendees. There will also be an ADA-compliant restroom unit.

Graduates, please remember at this event you will be held to the same expectations and standards outlined in the Code of Student Conduct. Any individuals who violate these policies will be asked to leave the ceremony.

Also note that the commencement ceremonies are a smoke-free event covered under FIT's Tobacco-Free Campus policy. Smoking and vaping is also illegal throughout Central Park.

No flammable materials—such as bunting, tissue paper, helium balloons, crepe paper, etc.—will be permitted.

No use of confetti is permitted at the venue.

The following items are also not permitted:

  • bags over 16” tall x 16” wide x 8” deep in size
  • glass bottles
  • cans
  • coolers
  • alcoholic beverages
  • controlled substances
  • weapons
  • folding chairs
  • bikes
  • scooters
  • rollerblades
  • skateboards
  • beach umbrellas
  • balloons
  • laser pointers
  • professional camera and video camera equipment 
  • selfie sticks
  • pets
  • drones
  • professional audio recording equipment

Island Photography will provide professional photo coverage during the event. They will be taking portraits of all graduates who attend the commencement ceremonies and will capture all students twice.

In addition to having the option to purchase photo packages from Island, graduates can also order a complimentary 5"x7" photo as a gift from FIT. Island will contact graduates via text and email within two to three days after the event, students will receive a link and PIN by email with instructions to view and order photos. There is no obligation to purchase. Additionally, within five days after the ceremony, students will receive complimentary hard copy proofs and an order form from Island Photography via U.S. mail.   

overhead view of Commencement at Central Park


Commencement 2024 Communications Archive—Undergraduate Ceremonies

Need Help?

Head over to our Frequently Asked Questions page. There's a chance we've answered your query there.

If not, reach out to [email protected].

Further details will be posted when available. This page last updated: March 6, 2024.