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Caps and Gowns

All Indiana University degree candidates are required to wear academic apparel (often referred to as academic regalia) to participate in Commencement. 

Indiana University Custom Apparel
In 2006, IU introduced distinctive custom apparel featuring a lightweight black gabardine robe piped with crimson braid along the trim. Candidates for bachelor’s and associate’s degrees (top, right) also receive a crimson stole of gratitude, which they wear during the ceremony. Afterward, grads may keep the stoles as a memento of the day or present them as a token of thanks to anyone who guided them on their path to graduation.  Graduates may also keep their caps and tassels.	All Apparel	Bachelor's or Associate's Candidate
Candidates for master’s degrees (bottom, left) wear gowns with unique long sleeves and a velvet-lined hood.  Their gowns feature the university seal on the left yoke. Ph.D. and doctoral candidates (bottom, right) wear gowns embellished with velvet trim and a fuller satin- and velvet-lined hood.  Their gowns feature the seal on both sides of the yoke.	Master's Degree Candidate	Ph.D. or Doctoral Candidate

FRIDAY IS THE DEADLINE TO ORDER CAPS AND GOWNS IN ADVANCE

Candidates for associate’s, bachelor’s, master’s, and doctoral degrees have until 5:00 p.m. Friday, May 1, to order apparel at the IU Bookstore. Orders must be placed in person.

Candidates who fail to order caps and gowns by May 1 may be able to rent apparel on Friday, May 8, at the fieldhouse. Such apparel will be rented on a first-come, first-served basis only on May 8. Availability is not guaranteed.

APPAREL PICK-UP

Apparel for May Commencement 2009 will be available at Gladstein Fieldhouse from 9:00 a.m. to 5:00 p.m. Tuesday-Thursday, May 5-7, and from 9:00 a.m. to 6:00 p.m. on Friday, May 8.

Whether you order your attire at the fair or online, your credit card will guarantee your attire reservation but will not be charged. You must pay for your apparel when you pick it up at the IU Bookstore

Rental charges for academic apparel are as follows:

• Bachelor's and Associate degree apparel -- $69.98 (includes one stole of gratitude).
• Master’s -- $79.98.
• Doctoral/Ph.D. -- $93.98.
• Indiana’s 7 percent sales tax will be added to these charges.
• Associate and bachelor’s degree candidates have the option of purchasing additional stoles of gratitude for $20.98 each plus Indiana sales tax of 7 percent.

Purchasing Apparel

Bachelor's, master's and doctoral robes may also be purchased from Herff Jones. Further information is available here. Faculty wishing to purchase apparel should contact the IU Bookstore (812) 855-6823.

Honor Cords

Qualified students interested in purchasing honor cords from approved academic honor  societies may do so. Follow this link for details.

Tassels

Candidates for degrees wear the regulation cap with the tassel color appropriate to the school or division from which they are being graduated.

Arts and Sciences—White
Business—Drab
Continuing Studies—Silver Gray
Education—Light Blue
Graduate—Royal Blue
Health, Physical Education, and Recreation—Sage Green
Informatics—Copper
Journalism—Cardinal
Labor Studies—Nile Green
Law—Royal Purple
Library and Information Science—Lemon Yellow
Medicine—Kelly Green
Music—Pink
Nursing—Apricot
Optometry—Aqua
Public and Environmental Affairs—Peacock Blue
Social Work—Citron

The History of Academic Apparel

Academic regalia has a long and colorful history, dating back hundreds of years.  The full story is available at the American Council of Education website.

Candidates for bachelor’s and associate’s degrees wear black gowns with unadorned, wrist-length sleeves.  They do not wear hoods, but they do wear stoles of gratitude, as shown.  This graduate also wears the fourragère pinned to his left shoulder, indicating that he is graduating with distinction.  His cap, or mortarboard, is adorned with a tassel, whose color indicates his area of study. He will keep both after the ceremony, along with his diploma cover.

Candidates for master’s degrees wear black gowns with elongated sleeves and the University Seal affixed to the yoke.  They wear a velvet-lined hood whose color indicates the area of study.  The cream and crimson stripes inside the hood are Indiana University’s colors.

Candidates for doctoral and Ph.D. degrees wear elaborate gowns that are embellished with velvet and feature full, bell-shaped sleeves.  The doctoral hood is long and full, and it features a wide swath of velvet around the neck down the back.  Doctoral hoods also bear cream and crimson stripes representing Indiana University.