Frequently Asked Questions

The virtual Commencement will be an online event broadcast on Wednesday, May 19, 2021 at 11:00 a.m. (Eastern time). A link to view the ceremony will be posted on the NYU Commencement website. The Class of 2021 will be invited to return for an in-person ceremony when public health guidelines permit us to do so.

The virtual celebration can be viewed through the Commencement website beginning Wednesday, May 19, 2021 at 11:00 a.m. (Eastern time). Further details will be posted when available.

A video recording of the ceremony will remain on the Commencement website for later viewing.

The virtual Commencement is an all-university event to salute the 19,000 members of the Class of 2021. As such, this ceremony does not individually recognize each of the graduates.

The Class of 2021 will be invited to return for an in-person Commencement when safe to do so. We are not yet able to schedule the postponed ceremony.

The in-person 2020 All-University Commencement was postponed and will be rescheduled. The date of the postponed Commencement ceremony will be determined once health and government restrictions are loosened and we are advised that it is safe to gather in large groups. As of February 2021, we are not yet able to reschedule the ceremony; it will not take place in Spring 2021.

Once a new date is determined for the Class of 2020’s All-University Commencement, we will create a schedule for reserving tickets.

Beginning in late spring 2021, the Class of 2020 will have the opportunity to purchase keepsake academic attire should they wish to purchase it at this time. Details about how the Class of 2020 can order keepsake academic attire will be posted at a later date.

School ceremonies will be scheduled by each school. Information will be sent out to each school’s graduating class. Details will also be posted here as they are confirmed.

NYU Cultural and Identity-Based Graduation Celebrations were established to acknowledge and celebrate the accomplishments of graduating students of color and LGBTQ+ students. The Office of Global Inclusion will share information once available.

Details about academic attire will be announced in late February/early March.

Graduation accessories can be ordered through the Herff Jones website (link to come) or the NYU Bookstore. These additional accessories are at the graduate’s own expense.

Baccalaureate candidates and graduates, whose cumulative GPA places them in the top 40 percent of their school's graduating class, are named University Honors Scholars, earning them the NYU Founders’ Day Award. University Honors Scholars will be notified on or around April 21. They will receive a gold tassel and a personalized certificate, both of which will be mailed in the late spring.

Details about Latin honors, including the GPA cutoffs, are on the University Registrar's website. The University does not distribute tassels or cords for Latin honors.

Some schools might distribute cords for certain internal honors. Please reach out to your school with questions about departmental honors.

Students who have only one to two courses remaining to complete their degree requirements during the summer term may request permission to participate in commencement-related activities from their school’s designated academic officer (list will be posted shortly).

Diplomas are mailed to graduates 6-8 weeks after graduation. Be sure to update your mailing address in Albert. For further information, visit the Registrar’s website.

NYU is working with our photography partners to provide virtual portraits. More details will be posted once available.