Commencement at UC Santa Cruz is more than a milestone—it is the embodiment of the Banana Slug spirit. It’s the culmination of redwood walks through Porter Meadow, afternoons overlooking the Monterey Bay, late nights in McHenry Library, and cheering on the Slugs in the West Field House. As you walk across the stage in your cap and gown, the ocean breeze across Upper East Field and the roar of your family and classmates filling the air, it is not just about receiving a degree—it is about stepping fully into the blue and gold legacy that unites generations of Banana Slugs.

Master’s Regalia Set for UC Santa Cruz
UC Santa Cruz master’s graduates are distinguished by gowns with oblong sleeves and academic hoods lined in luminous gold satin with a blue chevron signifying UCSC colors. Each hood is finished with a velvet trim representing disciplines across UC Santa Cruz schools. Sustainably crafted from recycled fibers and paired with a mortarboard cap and black tassel featuring a year charm, the set embodies both Banana Slug pride and the rigor of graduate study. Designed to be lightweight and breathable, the gown celebrates graduates from Cowell College, Stevenson College, Crown College, Merrill College, Porter College, Kresge College, Oakes College, College Nine, College Ten, and Rachel Carson College—all while reflecting UC Santa Cruz’s enduring commitment to sustainability.

Doctoral Regalia for UC Santa Cruz
Doctoral graduates step into UC Santa Cruz’s most prestigious attire: tailored crepe blue gowns accented with gold piping, plush blue velvet front panels, and three blue velvet chevrons on each bell sleeve. The doctoral hood, lined in UCSC’s signature colors of luminous gold satin with a bold UC blue chevron, is trimmed in velvet to denote each discipline—Ph.D. blue, JD purple, and MD green. The ensemble is completed with an eight-sided blue velvet tam, adjustable for fit, and a gold bullion tassel for an added touch of prestige. Each regalia set includes a garment bag and carrying case, supporting not just commencement but a lifetime of ceremonial use, from Hooding in Humanities Lecture Hall to future convocations and commencements.

Why CAPGOWN Over the Bay Tree Bookstore?
Unlike the Bay Tree Bookstore, where regalia can be costly and take weeks to be delivered, CAPGOWN fulfills master’s and doctoral regalia in just one business day—at about half the Bay Tree Bookstore price. Backed by thousands of verified 5-star reviews from Banana Slugs nationwide, our regalia are praised for craftsmanship, comfort, and durability that last well beyond the ceremony. Each regalia set adheres to the strict standards of the UC Santa Cruz commencement committee, making CAPGOWN the trusted alternative source of regalia for UCSC grads. When you wear your regalia from CAPGOWN you can be sure that you will be amongst fellow Banana Slugs who have had a photoshoot against UC Santa Cruz’s picturesque campus and walked across the graduation stage with family and friends cheering you on.

Banana Slugs can also extend their milestone with diploma frames embossed with the UC Santa Cruz seal—the perfect way to showcase years of dedication. Many Banana Slugs choose custom tote bags, alumni keepsakes, and memorabilia from Santa Cruz that carry the spirit of UCSC after commencement into their professional careers.

Each spring UC Santa Cruz Banana Slugs ask the same questions on r/UCSC: “Where’s the best place to get my cap and gown?” or “Is there a cheaper, faster option than the Bay Tree Bookstore?” The answer is here. This page is your Commencement Central, built for Banana Slugs and their families. At CAPGOWN, we don’t just provide regalia for UC Santa Cruz—we help you wear your Banana Slug achievement, carry your blue and gold into the future, and walk out of Upper East Field not only as a graduate, but as a living legacy of the University of California, Santa Cruz.

Regalia is suitable for all programs within the following colleges:
Cowell College, Stevenson College, Crown College, Merrill College, Porter College, Kresge College, Oakes College, Rachel Carson College, College Nine, and College Ten. It also includes the Arts Division, Division of Humanities, Division of Physical and Biological Sciences, Division of Social Sciences, Jack Baskin School of Engineering, and Graduate Division.