Academic Regalia Caps (Commencement Etiquette)
Wear the cap and gown approved by your institution, and follow its directions for tassel placement, cap decorations, and when to keep your cap on or remove it. Customs differ among schools and degree programs. Check the commencement website and graduate messages before ceremony day, then follow the marshal’s instructions during the event.
Have you heard that every graduate moves a tassel from right to left, or that everyone removes a cap for the national anthem? Those customs are common at some ceremonies, but they are not universal. The safest approach is to check your school’s rules and treat the ceremony program and staff directions as final.
Commencement Regalia: Institutional Rules and Ceremony Overview
Commencement regalia is the clothing and headwear worn for a graduation ceremony. Schools set the required style, color, and rules for wearing it. There is no single national rule for every cap, tassel, degree, or ceremony, so use your institution’s current instructions as your guide.
Your first task is to find the right directions. Look on the commencement website, in messages sent to graduates, and in any ceremony guide. Check whether your instructions apply to your specific ceremony, since undergraduate, graduate, doctoral, and professional ceremonies may follow different customs.
Which ceremony rules should I follow?
Ceremony protocol means the set of directions for how graduates take part in the event. It may cover regalia, procession, seating, standing, tassels, photos, and when to remove a cap. The published directions for your ceremony take priority over habits you have seen at another school.
Read the full instructions rather than relying on a friend’s memory or a video from another campus. If you cannot find an answer, contact the commencement office or your school’s designated staff. Ask before buying or changing your regalia.
Check these points:
- Which cap and gown are approved for your degree?
- Are there different instructions for your school, program, or ceremony?
- Where should the tassel sit before and after the degree is conferred?
- Are decorations allowed? If so, what limits apply?
- Should you keep your cap on during formal observances and photos?
- What directions should you follow during the procession and recessional?
As a college adviser, I encourage students to settle these details early, while there is still time to correct a cap or ask a question. A few minutes spent checking the rules can prevent a last-minute problem at check-in.
Cap, Tassel, and Degree-Specific Requirements
The correct regalia depends on your school and degree. A mortarboard is the familiar cap with a flat, square top; some doctoral programs use a soft, rounded tam instead. Tassel position and other details can also vary, so do not assume that a rule for one degree applies to another.
How should I wear a mortarboard?
A mortarboard is conventionally worn level, with its flat board horizontal rather than tilted. Follow your institution’s directions if they specify another position or provide a different style of headwear. Secure the cap so it stays in place while you walk, stand, and sit.
Try it on before ceremony day. Check that it rests comfortably and does not slip when you move your head. Use only a fastening method your school or regalia provider permits. Avoid adding pins, clips, or other items that might damage the cap or go against school rules.
If your program requires a doctoral tam or other headwear, wear that approved item instead of substituting a mortarboard. Degree level alone may not tell you what is required; the institution’s instructions do.
When does the tassel move?
A tassel is the cord attached to a graduation cap. At many U.S. undergraduate ceremonies, graduates wear it on the right before the degree is conferred and move it to the left afterward. This is a common custom, not a rule for every school or degree.
Wait for the announced cue. The speaker, presiding official, or marshal may tell graduates when to move the tassel. Graduate and professional ceremonies may use a different practice, or may not include a tassel change at all.
| Ceremony situation | Safe action |
|---|---|
| Your instructions give a tassel position | Follow that position and wait for the stated cue to change it. |
| You have seen a different custom elsewhere | Do not assume it applies to your ceremony. Check your school’s directions. |
| No tassel guidance is available | Ask the commencement office before the event. |
| Your degree uses a tam or other headwear | Wear the approved item and follow the instructions for that program. |
Can I decorate my cap?
Only decorate your cap if your institution allows it. Decoration rules may limit height, materials, wording, or the part of the cap that can be covered. Some schools do not allow decorations, so check the policy before you buy supplies or begin customizing your cap.
A tall or raised design may block the view of graduates seated behind you. Messages or materials may also violate school rules, even if they appear acceptable to you. If the policy is unclear, ask for approval and describe the decoration before making it.
An unapproved cap, gown, or decoration may distract from the ceremony or conflict with event policy. Do not assume staff will make an exception on the day. Confirm what is permitted in advance.
Ceremony Etiquette, Preparation, and Graduate Experience
Good ceremony etiquette means following the event’s directions and allowing others to take part without distraction. Prepare your regalia before the event, listen for cues, and follow staff guidance. Small choices, such as keeping your cap level or waiting to move your tassel, help the ceremony run smoothly.
What should I do before ceremony day?
Use this simple preparation sequence:
- Read: Review the commencement website and the latest messages for graduates. Note rules for your specific ceremony.
- Confirm: Check the approved cap, gown, colors, tassel position, and decoration policy.
- Acquire: Get your regalia through the source named by your institution or its approved supplier.
- Fit: Try on the cap and gown early. Make sure the cap sits securely and the gown fits as instructed.
- Ask: Contact the commencement office if the guidance is missing or unclear.
- Rehearse: Review the procession, seating, and degree-conferral cues if your school provides them.
Do not wait until you arrive to learn whether your cap is permitted. If your regalia seems different from the approved style, contact the school before the ceremony.
What if the ceremony directions differ from what I expect?
Follow the current directions for your event. For example, you may know the right-to-left tassel custom, while your school gives a different instruction or announces the change at another point. The announced cue is more reliable than a custom from a different campus.
If the instructions are unclear during the ceremony, watch the marshal or other designated staff member and follow their directions. Avoid making a change simply because nearby graduates do. They may be in a different degree group or responding to another cue.
| Example situation | What to do |
|---|---|
| The program says to keep caps on during an observance | Keep yours on, even if you have seen another practice elsewhere. |
| The tassel cue has not been given | Wait rather than moving it early. |
| Your cap slips during the procession | Adjust it discreetly when safe, without blocking others. |
| A staff member gives a direction that differs from your assumption | Follow the staff member’s direction for the event. |
| You are unsure whether a decoration is allowed | Remove it or seek approval before the ceremony, rather than risk a policy issue. |
These are practical examples, not reports of specific schools or students. The right action depends on the instructions for your own ceremony.
Should I remove my cap for the anthem, prayer, or photos?
There is no universal rule that graduates must remove their caps for an anthem, prayer, or photograph. Ceremony customs differ by institution and event. Check the written directions, listen to the presiding official, and follow the marshal’s instructions.
The same care applies to photos. Your institution may ask graduates to keep regalia on for official pictures or may give a specific direction for a group photo. If no instruction is given, avoid making a change that draws attention or blocks another person’s view.
During the procession and ceremony, keep your cap on or remove it only when directed. If you do take it off, hold it in a way that does not obstruct the person beside or behind you.
Post-Ceremony Traditions, Photography, and Alumni Transition
The ceremony does not end when your name is called. Graduates may take part in photos, a recessional, or other school traditions, each with its own directions. Keep your regalia in place until staff explain what comes next, and follow any instructions about handling or returning borrowed items.
How should I handle the cap after the degree is conferred?
Move the tassel only at the cue given by your ceremony. Keep your cap on for the rest of the event unless staff direct graduates to remove it. If the school has a recessional, follow the route and pace set by staff rather than stopping in the aisle for photos.
After the ceremony, check whether any regalia must be returned. If you own the cap, store it carefully if you want to keep it as a memento. Do not assume that a rental cap can be kept.
What should I check before leaving?
Before you depart, make sure you have your own cap, tassel, and personal items. If you borrowed or rented regalia, follow the provider’s return instructions. Take photos in places where graduates and guests can gather without blocking exits or ceremony staff.
I recommend treating commencement as part of your transition from student to graduate: celebrate, but stay attentive to the people around you and to the school’s directions. That keeps the focus on the achievement and respects the ceremony shared by your classmates.
Key steps to remember
- Confirm the approved regalia and ceremony rules before customizing or purchasing a cap.
- Wear a mortarboard level and secure, unless your school gives different instructions.
- Treat tassel placement and cap removal as ceremony-specific.
- Follow the marshal and presiding official during the event.
- Keep decorations within the written policy, or leave them off.
Frequently Asked Questions
These answers cover common questions about graduation caps and ceremony etiquette. Your school’s current directions still come first, especially when they differ from a general custom. If a rule is unclear, ask the commencement office before the ceremony rather than relying on an assumption.
Which side should the tassel start on?
At many U.S. undergraduate ceremonies, the tassel starts on the right and moves to the left after the degree is conferred. This custom is not universal. Follow the instructions or announced cue for your ceremony.
Do all graduates wear a mortarboard?
No. Many graduates wear a mortarboard, but some programs require a doctoral tam or other headwear. Check the approved regalia for your degree and institution.
Should I wear my cap straight or tilted?
A mortarboard is conventionally worn level, with its flat board horizontal. Wear it securely and follow any different directions from your school.
Can I decorate my graduation cap?
Only if your institution permits it. Check rules for materials, height, messages, and placement before decorating. If the policy is unclear, ask the commencement office.
Should I remove my cap for the anthem or prayer?
Not automatically. Practices differ among ceremonies. Follow the event’s written directions and staff cues.
When should I move my tassel?
Wait until the ceremony’s announced cue. Do not move it early based on a custom from another school.
What if my cap will not stay on?
Try it on before ceremony day and ask your regalia provider or school about approved ways to secure it. Avoid unapproved pins or clips that could damage the cap or violate rules.
What if my program’s rules are unclear?
Contact the commencement office or the staff member named in your graduate instructions. Give your degree or ceremony name so you receive guidance that applies to your event.
Can I take off my cap after crossing the stage?
Do so only if your ceremony instructions or staff say it is appropriate. Many ceremonies continue with photos or a recessional, so wait for directions.
Who has the final say during commencement?
The institution’s current ceremony instructions and the directions of its designated staff apply to the event. If a general custom conflicts with those instructions, follow the school’s protocol.
(This article was written by one of our staff writers, Christopher Langston. Visit our Meet the Team page.)
