Frequently Asked Questions (FAQs)

December (fall) 2025 graduates and students who will have enough credits to graduate in summer 2026 are eligible to attend the Commencement ceremony on May 16, 2026.

No—Commencement is held once annually for students who graduate in the fall, spring, or summer of that academic year.

No—Commencement participation is only open to students who graduate in the fall, spring, or summer of that academic year.

Students who submit the online Commencement Ceremony Response Form by March 5, 2026, 11:59 p.m. (CST) may receive additional guest tickets if any become available beginning the week of May 4, 2026. Only students who submitted the form are eligible, and any extra tickets are limited and distributed based on availability at the discretion of the college ceremony planner.

This year, each student will order their own academic attire for the Commencement ceremony through Herff Jones. To order your academic attire, please click this link and fill out the necessary information.

In mid-April, Herff Jones will ship your attire to the address you provided. If your order is being delivered to a campus mailbox, please allow a few additional days for processing by the campus mailroom after you receive the delivery notification from the shipping carrier. Students ordering internationally and/or Coursera students must contact their college ceremony planner for further instructions on picking up regalia prior to Commencement. Please note: If you’re an international student and have a campus address, please list the campus address as the delivery address.

All graduates are required to have a cap, gown, tassel, and hood, if applicable, to participate in the Commencement ceremony. There will NOT be an opportunity to order or pick up regalia on the day of Commencement. All regalia orders must be placed by 11 p.m. (CDT) on March 31 (no exceptions).

Graduates will receive an email to accept their diploma, which initiates the shipping request. Diplomas are mailed about four to six weeks after Commencement, once the Office of the Registrar receives the request form. For questions, contact registrar@illinoistech.edu or visit the website. 

Names in the program match those on your diploma. Click this link to update your personal information.

If you are an undergraduate student who is graduating with honors, you will receive an honor cord on the day of Commencement. View the university’s Academic Policies and Procedures webpage to learn more about the requirements for undergraduate graduation with honors. For further information, please contact aa@illinoistech.edu.

For guests who are wheelchair users or have an impairment, such as a visual or hearing impairment, and require an accommodation, please contact the Center for Disability Resources at web.iit.edu/cdr or 312.567.5744 as soon as possible to arrange for an accommodation.

Students graduating from Chicago-Kent College of Law may attend the Saturday, May 16 Commencement ceremonies and should email commencement@illinoistech.edu.

Invitation letters issued by Illinois Tech are not required by the United States Embassy or Consulate to issue a B-2 tourist visa. If you have family or friends that would like to visit you in the U.S., you may provide them with your own invitation letter. The letter should include your name, identify the person you are inviting, their relationship to you, and state the duration and purpose of the trip. For more information, please visit the Letter Requests webpage or contact the Office of Global Services (global@illinoistech.edu).

• Graduate and undergraduate student application and graduation eligibility: aa@illinoistech.edu
• Coursera questions: coursera@illinoistech.edu
• Chicago-Kent Commencement: ckcommencement@illinoistech.edu  
• Diplomas: registrar@illinoistech.edu  
• Disability services: disabilities@illinoistech.edu
• International students: global@illinoistech.edu
• Ph.D. Hooding Ceremony: jharmon@illinoistech.edu  
• Commencement ceremony: commencement@illinoistech.edu