Academic Regalia

Your Commencement Attire, Piece by Piece

Do You Qualify for Honor Cords?

Check to see if you meet the criteria for honor cords.

The ceremonial clothing for your big day. A custom fit to mark the occasion. This outfit means celebrating you and the biggest academic milestone you’ve reached yet.

Your outfit consists of custom IU or Purdue apparel including a robe, cap, tassel, cords (if applicable), and a stole, if you’re an undergraduate. Together, they tell the story about your personal journey and achievements. The gown you’ll wear is a lightweight black gabardine robe, with braided crimson or gold piping. You will also wear a cap adorned with the tassel from the school you are graduating from.

Two male Purdue and IU graduates pose together and smile wearing their graduation robes, stoles, and honor cords.

Bachelor’s and Associate Gowns

The bachelor’s and associate gowns have a closed front and open sleeves.

Candidates for bachelor’s and associate degrees also receive a crimson or gold Stole of Gratitude, embellished with a university seal, which they wear during the ceremony.

A male graduate in master's commencement attire smiles and waves from the stage.

Master’s Gowns

The master’s gown has extra-long, closed sleeves, with a small opening at each wrist. The end of each sleeve is square, with an arc cut away just above the bottom.

Five female graduates smile wearing their doctoral graduation robes.

Doctoral Gowns

The doctoral gown has velvet panels down the front and voluminous, bell-shaped sleeves. Each sleeve has three velvet bars. The velvet is usually black, but may reflect the color of the discipline.

Learn About Doctoral Hooding

Honor Cords & Criteria

Qualifying graduates may wear special recognition apparel on Commencement Day.

History & Traditions Behind Regalia

Tassels and Hoods: Show Your Colors

Candidates for degrees wear tassels in colors that indicate the schools from which they are graduating. In addition, master’s and doctoral students wear hoods in colors that match their tassels. Those who have not yet received a degree wear their tassels on the right of their caps, moving them to the left upon the conferral of their degrees.