Diploma Framing in Somerset, NJ
Local Frame Shop for Academic Credentials and Professional Certifications
Diploma framing at our Somerset, NJ frame shop for graduates of every NJ college plus out-of-state and international universities. We frame diplomas from Princeton, Rutgers, Seton Hall, NJIT, Stevens, Drew, Rowan, Monmouth, Rider, William Paterson, and others, plus medical board certifications, law school diplomas, military commissions, continuing education credentials, and professional certifications.
Materials are archival quality across every diploma project: acid-free mat board prevents yellowing over time, non-glare acrylic cuts glare and reflections, kiln-dried hardwood moulding lasts decades, archival mounting uses T-hinges that allow the diploma to be removed without damage if needed for restoration or rehousing. Most diploma framing orders finish in 3-5 business days. Rush service available for graduation ceremonies, alumni reunions, and gift deadlines. Our shop at 6 Shirley Avenue is 5 minutes from Franklin Township, 15 minutes from New Brunswick, and easily accessible for residents across Somerset and Middlesex counties.
Somerset graduates trust CustomPictureFrames.com for diploma framing. Located in Somerset, NJ, we serve Somerset and surrounding areas with custom-cut frames in any size, non-glare acrylic glazing, and 3-5 business days turnaround on standard orders. We size diploma frames to standard certificate dimensions (8.5x11, 11x14, and 14x17) with single, double, and triple openings for tassels, photos, or honor cords. Acid-free matting and archival mounting protect ink and paper for decades, and non-glare acrylic glazing cuts reflections. Local pickup at our frame shop is available by appointment for customers who prefer to skip shipping. Open the frame designer to enter your exact dimensions.
Start your diploma frame design here. Walk in to finish at our Somerset showroom.
The live frame designer with real-time pricing is ready. It covers every configuration this page describes:
Diploma Frames
Custom Picture Frames
Shadow Boxes
Canvas Frames
What Makes Diploma Framing Different
Diplomas are not posters. They carry embossed seals, signature ink, gold foil, and decades-long display expectations. Four things matter most when framing them properly.
Mat configuration and school colors
Different schools have different color traditions. Princeton's orange-and-black, Rutgers' scarlet-and-black, Seton Hall's blue-and-white, NJIT's red-and-blue. We carry archival mat board in the specific shades that match each school's tradition. Double mat configurations with a thin inner border in school color and a broader black outer border are the most common alumni preference. Triple mat with V-groove accents available for honors graduates and doctoral degrees.
Seal clearance and diploma layout
Diplomas feature embossed seals that standard mat cutting compresses or crushes, damaging the document over time. Our mat cutting builds in seal clearance so the embossing sits flush within the mat opening. The diploma's formal layout (typography, signature placement, seal position) also requires careful framing that respects the document without cropping critical elements.
Archival materials as standard
Diplomas are heirloom documents intended to last decades. Acid-free, lignin-free mat board prevents yellowing. Non-glare acrylic reduces glare on signature ink and seal foil under bright lighting. Archival mounting uses T-hinges so the diploma can be removed for restoration if needed years later. Standard frame shop materials degrade within 10 to 15 years; archival materials maintain integrity for the document's full lifetime.
Configuration options
Single diploma framing for undergraduate degrees. Double diploma framing for stacked degrees (BA plus MA, BS plus PhD, BA plus JD from NJ law schools). Dissertation hood framing for doctoral graduates pairs diploma with academic hood in a deep shadow box format. Engraved nameplate options in brass or silver. Multi-generation family displays for families with multiple graduates across decades.
What Somerset Customers Bring for Diploma Framing
A representative sample of the credentials walking through the door each week, from undergraduate diplomas to multi-generation family displays.
Undergraduate diplomas
Bachelor's degrees from Rutgers, Princeton, NJIT, Seton Hall, Stevens, Drew, Rowan, Monmouth, Rider, TCNJ, Montclair State, William Paterson, and out-of-state universities. Standard single-mat or double-mat configurations in school colors with framer's grade acrylic.
Graduate and professional degrees
MBA, MS, MEd, MPH, MSW, MFA, MPA, and other master's degrees. Often paired with the undergraduate diploma in a double-stack configuration so both credentials display together. Graduate-school accent colors available for the inner mat where the program has a distinct identity.
Doctoral diplomas and dissertation displays
PhD, JD, MD, DDS, PsyD, EdD, DNP, DPT, and other doctoral degrees. Dissertation hood displays in deep shadow boxes pair the diploma with the academic hood (PhD blue, MD green, JD purple, EdD light blue, others). Triple-mat configurations with V-groove accents common for doctoral pieces.
Professional certifications
CPA certifications, bar admission certificates (NJ, NY, PA, and federal), medical board specialty certifications, fellowship credentials, PE (Professional Engineer) licenses, state teaching credentials, real estate licenses, financial planning credentials (CFP, CFA), and continuing education completions.
Honorary degrees
Honorary doctorates and recognition awards from NJ colleges, professional societies, and civic organizations. Often paired with the recipient's earned credentials in a multi-document configuration.
Multi-generation family displays
Grandparent, parent, and child diplomas across decades. Configuration depends on diploma sizes and school traditions to respect. Some families ask for matching mouldings across all pieces; others prefer each generation framed in the school's traditional style with consistent wall arrangement.
Reunion and commemorative framing
Class reunion commemorative pieces, alumni association recognition, and milestone-year graduation gifts. Common 5-year, 10-year, and 25-year reunion projects include diploma rehousing into a fresh frame as a gift to honor the milestone.
Why Choose Our Somerset Shop for Diploma Framing
Diploma framing is what we do every week. The Somerset shop sits in the middle of Central NJ's college-and-professional corridor. Rutgers New Brunswick is 15 minutes away, Princeton is 25, and Seton Hall, Stevens, NJIT, and Rider all send graduates and alumni through the door regularly.
On-site manufacturing
Every diploma frame is built at our Somerset address. No outsourcing to a wholesaler, no waiting on a chopper service for standard sizes. Mat cutting is done on-site so seal clearance and double-mat alignment match the specific diploma rather than approximating with a stock opening.
Multi-school experience
We frame Rutgers diplomas, Princeton diplomas, NJIT, Seton Hall, Stevens, Drew, Rowan, Monmouth, and others weekly. The mat shade library is set up for school-color matching, the common configurations are dialed in, and the alumni-tradition specifics for the highest-volume schools are familiar to the team rather than something we look up.
Archival materials as standard
Acid-free mat board, non-glare acrylic, and T-hinge mounting are the default on every diploma project, not an upcharge for an upgrade tier. The standard configuration is the conservation configuration because diplomas are documents that need to last decades.
Graduation season rush capability
May/June commencement and December graduation windows fill quickly, but we hold capacity for rush projects for graduation ceremonies, alumni reunions, and gift deadlines. Book or call ahead during the rush windows to secure a slot.
Pricing without metro markup
Our Somerset location is outside the Princeton, New Brunswick, and NYC-adjacent retail corridors where frame shops carry metro-area pricing. The same archival diploma framing typically costs less here than at comparable shops in Princeton or along the Route 1 corridor.
How Diploma Framing Works at Our Somerset Shop
Bring the diploma in (or send a high-resolution scan with dimensions if you would rather discuss the project first). At the design counter, we look at the document's size, the position of the embossed seal, the signature placement, and any school-tradition specifics. We hold mat colors against the diploma in natural light to test how each shade reads against the parchment or fine-paper background.
We talk through configuration: single mat, double mat with school-color inner, triple mat with V-groove accent. Moulding selection from over 200 samples on the wall: classic black wood, walnut, mahogany, gold leaf for honors and doctoral pieces. Glazing tier: framer's grade acrylic standard or non-glare acrylic for pieces displayed in bright rooms. You approve the design and receive a written quote and turnaround estimate. Archival materials are standard. Standard turnaround is 3-5 business days.
Process & timing
Walk in weekdays 9am to 4pm or book an evening or Saturday slot. Standard turnaround is 3-5 business days. Rush service available for standard work when booked ahead.
Payment
Cash, check, and all major credit cards. Apple Pay and Google Pay accepted. 50% deposit on larger orders. Balance due when you pick up the finished piece.
Drive Times to Our Somerset Shop
6 Shirley Avenue sits in the Somerset section of Franklin Township, just off Easton Avenue (Route 527). Easy access from Route 287 and Route 27 puts most of Central New Jersey within a 30-minute drive. Below are typical drive times from the towns we serve most.
For Rutgers New Brunswick graduates, the route to our Shirley Avenue location is a 15-minute drive via Route 27 or Easton Avenue. For Princeton graduates, we are typically among the closest custom frame shops with on-site manufacturing and dedicated diploma framing experience that does not carry Princeton-area retail pricing.
Common Questions About Diploma Framing in Somerset
Do you frame diplomas from any NJ college?
How long does diploma framing take?
Can you handle Princeton or Rutgers specific traditions?
Do you offer rush service for graduation deadlines?
Can you frame doctoral diplomas with academic hoods?
What's the difference between standard and archival framing?
Can you frame multiple diplomas together?
Do you frame professional certifications and medical credentials?
Frame Your Diploma at Our Somerset Shop
Walk in any weekday between 9am and 4pm at 6 Shirley Avenue, or book an evening or Saturday slot for a dedicated consultation. Bring the diploma, the academic hood (if framing a doctoral display), and any other credentials you want included. For Rutgers- or Princeton-specific traditions, the dedicated university pages linked below cover the orange-and-black and scarlet-and-black specifics. For everything else, we are your shop.