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Ceremony Details

ATTENTION: Graduation Application Due: April 1!

May 14, 2026: Important Information Regarding the Ramapo College Commencement Ceremony

Commencement will take place at the Prudential Center in Newark, New Jersey on Thursday, May 14, 2026. Doors will open 7:30 a.m. and the processional will begin at 8:40 a.m.

The ceremony is expected to last 2.5 hours and will be live streamed on ramapo.edu/commencement.

More Information on Celebrating Together

ANNOUNCEMENTS: CLASS OF 2026

Email Announcement Archive

November 13, 2025: 2026 Arching & Commencement Announcement

January 28, 2026: 2026 Commencement & Graduation Deadlines/Info

February 12, 2026: Checking In: 2026 Commencement Deadlines

March 5, 2026: Cap & Gown Order Deadline: March 13

Ordering Regalia (Cap & Gown): Deadline April 17

Online ordering for your academic regalia (cap & gown) is now available! You should wear your regalia at both the Arching Ceremony on campus on Wednesday, May 13, 2026 and the Commencement Ceremony at Prudential Center on Thursday, May 14, 2026.
- The Bachelor’s package (for undergraduates) is $86.00 and includes a black cap & gown, degree color tassel, zipper pull, and Ramapo stole*. * Note the stole does not ship to home and can be picked up at Grad Fair on 4/16 or from the Bookstore starting on 4/17.
- The Master’s package (for graduate students) is $98.00 and includes a maroon cap & gown, degree color tassel, zipper pull, and hood.
- There are two Doctoral package options. For more information and to place your order, email tking@ramapo.edu.
This year you have the choice of ordering your regalia with free shipping to campus to pick up at the Grad Fair on Thursday, April 16, 2026. Or you may have it shipped directly to your home (S&H fees apply).

Order Dates:

January 28 through March 13 – Accepting regalia orders for in-person pick-up at the Grad Fair on April 16 or Bookstore after April 16. Accepting Doctoral regalia orders to be shipped home

Now through April 17 – Accepting regalia orders to be shipped home (Masters & Bachelors)

Order your Regalia today

* Note the stole does not ship to home and can be picked up at Grad Fair on 4/16 or from the Bookstore starting on 4/17.

For questions related to regalia (cap & gown), please email bookstore@ramapo.edu.

Graduation Application Due April 1

In order for your name to be listed in the Commencement program you must submit your graduation application by Wednesday, April 1, 2026*.

The online graduation application is accessible after you meet with your advisor for a degree audit and access to the application is approved. View instructions on the application process. A graduation application is required to earn your Ramapo degree regardless of participation in Commencement and related events. Participating in Commencement does not guarantee graduation.

We strongly advise that you schedule your degree audit meeting with your advisor before Spring Break!

*Graduates submitting their application after April 1st will not be listed in the Commencement Program.

For questions related to your eligibility to graduate, your graduation application, and/or the processing of your diploma, please contact the Office of the Registrar directly at grad@ramapo.edu.

Grad45: 45 Days to Commencement Celebration: March 30

On March 30, we celebrate the RCNJ Class of 2026 and the eve of our countdown: Grad45-Forty Five Days Until Commencement! Join your peers from 7 – 9 p.m. in Friends Hall as we start the official countdown clock to commencement, record a video message for the JumboTron at the Prudential Center, enjoy food, build the official class playlist and more. The first 100 graduates in attendance will enter into a raffle for free Ramapo swag.Questions? Email commencement@ramapo.edu.

Grad Fair: April 16

Stop by the Grad Fair any time from 11 a.m. – 4:30 p.m at the Alumni Lounges (SC 156-158).

Class of 2026, Grad Fair is the one day only, one-stop shop to get everything you need for Arching & the Commencement ceremony.

At the Grad Fair you can pick up your cap, gown and stole. You will also be able to obtain ceremony information, take a picture and record a greeting for the JumboTron, get entered to win multiple raffle prizes (graduation photo package, diploma frame, and more)!

The following are some of the resources available at Grad Fair 2026: Regalia Pick-up (pre-ordered) and Stoles, RSVP to Arching & Hooding, Photos and Video Recordings (see below for more), Take your Senior Survey, Support the Senior Legacy Drive, Pick Up your Reader Card, Financial Aid Office, Ramapo Bookstore, Balfour Class Rings, etc.

Pre-Ceremony JumboTron Photos & Videos: March 30 and April 16

Is there a club, a program, or a professor that made a difference for you? Did you take a class that changed your career path? Tell us what RCNJ memory will stay with you 10, 20, or 30 years from now. Or thank a family member or friend for helping you through your journey at Ramapo. Record a brief message to be displayed on the Jumbotron at this year’s Commencement Ceremony at Prudential Center. Recordings will play for guests seated in the arena prior to the processional. You can record messages individually or as part of a group.

Or, smile for the camera and tell us about your plans for after Ramapo. “After Ramapo I will…” photos will be displayed on the Jumbotron at Prudential Center. Both video recordings and photos will take place at Grad45 and Grad Fair.

Class of 2026 Legacy

We’re not just leaving Ramapo College; we’re leaving a legacy! As graduating seniors, you can unite to leave your legacy at RCNJ. With your gift of $20.26 or greater to the Fund for Ramapo College, you will receive this year’s commemorative senior t-shirt or you can choose your very own legacy package.

Parents and friends, if you would like to make a gift in your graduate’s name, a portion of the gift will benefit the 2025-26 Fund for Ramapo College. Parents are also welcome to purchase a graduating senior parent shirt this year.

Get a head start and pre-order your legacy package today!

For more information, contact: Andrea Buser ’06, andreab@ramapo.edu, (201) 684-6819, www.ramapo.edu/giving/senior-legacy-drive/

Cap Decorating: April 29

Join your class at the annual Village Senior Night/Cap Decorating event on April 29th from 8pm-10pm in Thomases Commons in The Village Apartments.

Prudential Center: Graduate Information

ARRIVAL TIME: Graduates must report to Prudential Center at 7:30 a.m. and proceed to the M&M Tower entrance to the building. The M&M Tower is located at southeast corner of the building at Mulberry Street and Lafayette Street.
REGALIA & READER CARDS: Undergraduates should put their cap with tassel (on the right) and gown with stole on before leaving their car and bring their reader cards with them.
SEATING: Seating by school, graduates may sit with their friends and classmates within these programs/schools. Friends should stand behind or in front of each other when lining up.
COURTESY & SAFETY: All participants and attendees are to remain seated until the conclusion of the ceremony. Banners/flags, signs, balloons, beach balls and noisemakers are prohibited and will be confiscated. A full list of prohibited items is available on the Pru Center website.
DURATION & EXIT: The ceremony is expected to last 2.5 hours. After the ceremony, graduates will be directed to exit Prudential Center via the M&M Tower. Please plan to meet your families outside of the arena on Mulberry Street.

Prudential Center: Guest Information

Doors to Prudential Center will open at 7:30 a.m. Guests may enter the building through any of the following 3 entrances:

Citizens Tower entrance– northeast corner of the building at Mulberry Street and Edison Place
M&M Tower entrance*– southeast corner of the building at Mulberry and Lafayette Streets
Lafayette Street entrance*– located on Lafayette Street

*Guests should refer to the Bag Policy above when selecting their building entrance

Prudential Center is ADA compliant. Both the Citizens and M&M Towers have elevators. If you need to drop off a guest, we recommend you do so outside the Citizens Tower. Handicap accessible seating is available in sections 3, 8, 19 and 22 and is on a first-come, first-served basis. Visit the Prudential Center ADA guide for more information on ADA services.

Concession stands will have food and beverages available for purchase. Cash will NOT be accepted at concession stands or retail locations. Pay with a debit or credit card using tap to pay, chip or swipe, or mobile payment, including Apple Pay and Google Pay.

The ceremony is expected to last 2.5 hours. All participants and attendees are to remain seated until the conclusion of the ceremony. After the ceremony, guests will be directed to exit Prudential Center via the Citizens Tower or Lafayette Street entrance. Please plan to meet your graduates outside of the arena on Mulberry Street.

Prudential Center: Entry Information & Policies

TICKETS: Tickets are NOT required for entry. Graduates may bring an unlimited number of guests, and seating is on a first-come, first-served basis.
ENTRANCES: Arrive early! Doors open at 7:30 a.m.
- All graduates must use the M&M Tower entrance located at southeast corner of the building at Mulberry Street and Lafayette Street.
- Guests may use:
  - M&M Tower
  - Citizens Tower
  - Lafayette Street entrance
SCREENING: All graduates and guests will be subject to a screening upon entry into the building.
BAG POLICY: Bags up to 12″x14″ are permitted inside Prudential Center. Anything larger, including backpacks, are not permitted, with the exception of childcare or medical bags. Permissible larger bags will be X-rayed. All bags are subject to search by Prudential Center security team members at each point of entry. Bags that do not meet these expectations must be returned to the guest’s vehicle or stored in a Prudential Center supplied locker at the guest’s expense. Lockers are located outside the M&M Tower and Lafayette Street entrances.
PROHIBITED ITEMS: Banners/flags, signs, balloons, beach balls and noisemakers are prohibited and will be confiscated. A full list of prohibited items is available on the Prudential Center website.
A-Z GUIDE: A full FAQ page for the venue is available on the Prudential Center website.

Prudential Center: Directions & Parking

Directions: Information on driving directions to Prudential Center, public transportation, Uber pick-up and drop off can be found on the Prudential Center’s website.
Reserved Parking Options (this is just a few of the many options):
- To reserve your parking spot for the Ramapo College Commencement using SpotHero, visit SpotHero’s Prudential Center Parking Page or click below:

- To reserve your parking spot for the Ramapo College Commencement using LAZGo, visit LAZ Parking’s ‘Find Parking’ Page.
- To reserve your parking spot for the Ramapo College Commencement using ParkMobile, visit Park Mobile’s Prudential Center Parking Page.

Live Stream

Can’t attend the Ceremony but want to cheer on your graduate? The entire ceremony will be streamed live. On the morning of commencement, there will be a link for viewing on the Ramapo College Commencement webpage: www.ramapo.edu/commencement

Graduation vs. Commencement

Graduation and Commencement are often confused for one another.

Graduation is the completion of all degree requirements as certified and recorded on a student’s official transcript. To graduate from Ramapo College, you must submit an online graduation application by the required deadline. Visit Registrar’s Graduation page for more information on the graduation requirement, the online graduation application and deadline dates.

Commencement is the ceremony that celebrates the completion (or anticipated completion) of your degree. All January graduates and June & August graduation candidates are invited to participate. Commencement marks the conclusion of your academic career; a time for the Ramapo College community, along with your family and friends, to celebrate you. Participation in this ceremony does not guarantee graduation.