Choosing the Right Diploma Frame: A Comprehensive Guide

Finding the right diploma frame can be a challenge, whether you’re shopping for yourself or looking for a gift for a graduate. Although diplomas and certificates were once printed on stock-size vellum, those days are long gone. Today, diplomas come in different sizes, printed on different types of paper and in different colors. You must also consider the difference between a college diploma size and a master’s degree diploma size. So, there is no simple answer when it comes to a “standard” diploma size. While you may be asking, “what size diploma frame do I need?”, it's important to understand the nuances of diploma dimensions.

Understanding Standard Diploma Frame Sizes

Unfortunately, there’s no universal diploma size, and there’s no one-size-fits-all frame size for a college diploma. However, some average diploma sizes depend on your degree type. The most common diploma size is 8.5”x11”, but always double-check the size your respective institution uses before purchasing a frame. You can choose a size that works best for you, depending on your personal preferences. Or you can opt for a standard certificate frame size that correlates to the type of your degree.

For quick reference, here are some standard sizes based on the diploma type:

Doctoral degrees (except MD): 11″ x 14″
Medical School (MD): 15 3/4″ x 22″
Bachelor’s, associate’s, and other types of diplomas: 8.5″ x 11″
High school diploma: 8.5″ x 11″

Diploma Sizes from Various Universities

Diploma sizes can vary significantly depending on your educational institution, so it’s important to know the dimensions of your degree before purchasing a frame. How big is a diploma? Here are a few diploma sizes from top universities for reference:

Columbia University - 12.5″w x 10.5″h
Western Governors University - 8.5”w x 11”h
Georgetown University - 17”w x 14”h
The University of Tennessee Knoxville - 15″w x 12″h

The Pitfalls of Local Hobby Shops

Unless you’re prepared to measure your diploma with painstaking precision, there isn’t much going to your local hobby or craft store can accomplish. Yes, some of them do custom framing, but the amount of effort involved can be taxing. While you could drop off your diploma to be measured by their workers, do you really want to leave something so valuable at a craft store? And what are the chances that a hobby shop has a certified picture framer on staff? Not very likely. After the thousands of dollars and years of hard work you put into completing your education, you want to guard and protect your degree for all it’s worth.

Read also: Frame Size for 11x14 Diplomas

Measuring Your Diploma: A Step-by-Step Guide

If you find yourself needing to measure your degree for another reason, here’s a list of steps to follow:

Lay your diploma or certificate on a clean, dry, flat surface.
Using a ruler or flexible measuring tape, measure the width (horizontal length) and the height (vertical length) of your document.
Record your measurements by width, then height (w x h) in inches. This is the standard format companies use when calculating frame sizes.

Custom Frames by University

Custom frames feature exclusive college insignias like mascots, logos, and school seals. It’s amazing what a difference a custom frame can make when it offers official emblems to highlight the pride you take in your university, something you can’t find at your local hobby shop! Whether you’re looking for a double diploma frame, a diploma frame with a tassel, or a modern diploma frame, there is an assortment of carefully handcrafted degree frames to choose from for each school. And, if you have different-sized degrees you want to display, you can easily coordinate frame styles from different schools for a unified look. Whether it’s an associate’s, bachelor’s, master’s, or even a Doctoral degree, it is possible to display your accomplishments to perfection.

The Benefits of Online Custom Framing

Nothing is in stock, every frame is made-to-order, which means your frame build doesn’t start until your order is placed. This is why customization options are available to make your frame uniquely your own. Online custom framing tools let you mix and match moulding styles and mat colors and textures and visualize the final product before you buy. Every frame is created by a team of highly skilled artisans, and each frame is a labor of love. You design it; it will be handcrafted, no matter what college degree frame size you require.

If you’d prefer customizing a graduation frame with no school name or logo, check out the Create-A-Frame page. Select a single certificate frame, double diploma frame, diploma frame with tassel holder, or even a diploma picture frame and choose your wood moulding, mat colors, and embossing options. It’s amazing all the combinations you can choose between with just a few clicks of the mouse.

One of the custom Create-A-Frame features offered is the inclusion of an engraved nameplate to add a classy finishing touch to any frame. Engraved nameplates are customizable, so you can add your name, your university, class year, school motto, or even a special sentiment.

Read also: Diploma Frame Dimensions Explained

High-quality certificate frames can be created for any occasion and any field. For example, looking for special gifts for medical students? Honor their healthcare profession by framing their medical school application, their medical education degree, or internal medicine license.

Mounting and Hanging Your Diploma Frame

Another question frequently asked is whether mounting the document will present any issues. Complete step-by-step instructions are provided for easily inserting and displaying your degree with precision. Best of all, each frame contains a Level-Lock® Hanging System to prevent crooked results and unnecessary holes in your wall. You’ll have your custom diploma frame hung on the wall in your home or office in no time!

Ensuring Safe Shipping

Special effort and great precautions are taken to ensure the safe delivery of your frame. All frames are insured and will be shipped via standard FedEx ground shipping unless other shipping methods are required. Each frame is shipped in a state-of-the-art SMARTbox, which is designed to protect your handcrafted frame in transit. This added safety measure gives you peace of mind that your frame will arrive intact and ready to be displayed upon opening.

Displaying Your Achievements

Like you and your loved ones, great pride is taken in your academic accomplishments. You’ve worked long and hard to obtain that diploma, and we want to help you proudly display your achievements. For this reason, efforts go above and beyond to make sure you’re 100% happy with the custom frame you’ve chosen. Your complete satisfaction is the goal, so you are guaranteed to love your frame.

Rice University Diploma Information

Rice University formally confers degrees to students in degree-granting programs a total of three times a year, at the end of the Fall, Spring and Summer semesters. It is urged to inspect your diploma immediately upon receipt to confirm that all information is correct.

Read also: Diploma Frame Sizes Guide

Please Note: The Office of the Registrar will store and keep diplomas for one year after the issue date / date the diploma was printed.

Rice University diplomas are large in size and generally require framing by a professional framer. The change in diploma size was due to a change in printing methods by the diploma vendor.

The diploma will list your name, degree, and any applicable university honors (Latin and/or Distinction in Research and Creative Work). The diploma name, printed in all capital letters, will be the name that was included on the submitted "Application for Degree" form.

Please Note: Only awarded degrees appear on the diploma. Completed majors, major concentrations, minors, certificates, and/or areas of specialization do not appear on the diploma.

Rice takes great pride in being able to offer those who graduated in December 2013-or-later a free, certified, electronic copy of your Rice Diploma whenever needed. If you graduated before December 2013, you may order a CeDiploma for $50 using the Replacement Diploma form.

For many decades, Rice was one of a small group of schools in the United States that offered sheepskin diplomas. Diminished demand for sheepskin diplomas, coupled with an expensive and antiquated printing process dramatically affected our diploma printer's ability to continue offering sheepskin diploma printing services, and in 2012 we were advised that sheepskin diplomas would no longer be available.

Before ordering a paper copy of your diploma, please check to ensure that the diploma can be delivered. Occasionally a Rice University degree recipient may require an official document on letter-sized paper confirming their Rice degree. In these instances, the degree recipient may request a miniature Facsimile Diploma. If you graduated December 2013 or later: before ordering a Facsimile Diploma, you should first check with the recipient to see if a Certified Electronic Diploma (CeDiploma) would suffice instead.

Rice University diplomas are unique in size and dimension. Occasionally, things happen and Rice alumni find that their original diploma(s) have been damaged or lost. To request a replacement diploma, previous Rice degree recipients and alumni may do so via the Replacement Diploma Request.

Orders for replacement diplomas are submitted to the vendor on the 15th of each month. Requests received after the order has been submitted for the current month will be processed on the 15th of the following month.

On occasion, students have a need to request an apostille/authentication of certain documents. Information regarding apostilles in the state of Texas can be found here. If you graduated December 2013 or later, you should check with the recipient to see if a Certified Electronic Diploma (CeDiploma) would suffice instead of an apostille on a Facsimile Diploma. The Office of the Registrar will notarize documents for use in apostille as necessary.

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