Master's Hooding Ceremony
CONGRATULATIONS TO August 2026 and December 2026 GRADUATES!
The Fall 2026 Master's Hooding Ceremony will be held on Tuesday, December 8, 2026 at 7 p.m. in the Northeastern Illinois University Auditorium
In late September, an invitation will be sent to your NEIU email address from MastersHooding@neiu.edu with an RSVP link. The RSVP deadline is Tuesday, November 10, 2026, but we ask that you RSVP as soon as you receive the invitation. It will help us with our planning for the celebration.
REGALIA (Cap, Gown and Hood)
All graduates participating in the Master's Hooding Ceremony must attend in the appropriate regalia. In keeping with the formal nature of academic regalia, gowns and hoods must be fully visible; caps may be decorated; and graduates may wear stoles, cords or medallions, University clubs/organizations and veteran status with their regalia.
Ordering Deadline: Friday, October 30, 2026. (This is a strict deadline set by our manufacturer, Jostens, to guarantee delivery before the ceremony.)
Delivery: All orders will be mailed directly to your shipping address (not to Northeastern). ORDER YOUR REGALIA TODAY!
Questions? Contact Jostens at (800) 854-7464 or through their online customer service help center.
GUEST TICKETS
Due to limited seating, tickets are distributed on a first-come, first-served basis. Guest Ticket pickup deadline is Wednesday, November 18, 2026
Guest Ticket Request: Graduating students participating in the Hooding Ceremony may request up to 2 (two) guest tickets each when they RSVP.
Waitlist Ticket Request: You can request to be placed on a waitlist for additional tickets when you RSVP.
Guest Ticket Pickup: Tickets can be picked up at the Master’s Hooding Ceremony Resource Fair on the Main Campus in Golden Eagles (Student Union Rm #103, next to Alumni Hall) during these times:
- Wednesday, November 11, 2026: 11:00 a.m. – 3:00 p.m.
- Thursday, November 12, 2026: 3:00 p.m. – 7:00 p.m.
Guest Ticket Pickup Deadline: Wednesday, November 18, 2026. If you are unable to pick up your guest tickets at the Resource Fair or by the November 18, 2026 deadline, please email us at MastersHooding@neiu.edu or call (773) 442-6011 to request other arrangements.
Note: If Auditorium seating capacity has not been reached, we will distribute remaining tickets to our wait list and cannot guarantee the availability of your guest tickets if they have not been picked up.
THE DAY OF THE MASTER'S HOODING CEREMONY
Parking: Complimentary parking is available on the 3rd and 4th floors of the Parking Facility, which is marked as Building 16 on the NEIU Campus Map.
Attire: Wear your gown and cap and bring your hood. Leave personal belongings in your vehicle or with your guests; the University is not responsible for lost or stolen items.
Check-In: Go to the check-in table located outside of the Auditorium to obtain your reader card which will feature your name and program. It will be used to announce your name as you walk across the stage.
Seating: An usher will be available to escort you and your guests to the appropriate seating area. Your guest(s) will not sit with you during the ceremony.
Prohibited items: No food or balloons will be allowed inside the Auditorium.
SOCIAL MEDIA
We encourage graduates, friends, and family to use the hashtag #NEIUgrad on Facebook, Twitter and Instagram. Don't forget to follow NEIU on Facebook and Instagram (@neiulife) and Twitter (@neiu)!
HAVE QUESTIONS?
Contact the College of Graduate Studies and Research at (773) 442-6011.