Luther College’s commencement ceremony celebrates the academic achievements of graduating students each spring with a formal procession, conferral of degrees, and academic recognition at Carlson Stadium. Candidates in bachelor’s, master’s, and doctoral programs participate in the ceremony wearing traditional academic regalia, including a graduation gown and graduation cap (mortarboard) with coordinating tassel sets.

For most graduates at Luther College, the graduation gown and graduation cap are black, consistent with longstanding academic dress tradition in U.S. higher education. Bachelor’s and master’s degree candidates wear black mortarboards with black tassels, while doctoral graduates and institutional leaders may have gold tassels that signify the highest level of academic accomplishment. The cut and style of the gown vary by degree level, with bachelor’s gowns typically featuring long, pointed sleeves, master’s gowns with oblong sleeves, and doctoral gowns including velvet panels and elaborations symbolizing advanced scholarship.

Academic distinction is recognized through honor cords and stoles that graduating students may wear with their regalia. Luther College hosts chapters of many national honor societies in disciplines ranging from liberal arts and sciences to economics and psychology, each with distinctive cord or stole colors — for example, Phi Beta Kappa’s pink and sky blue or Sigma Tau Delta’s cardinal and black — marking scholarly excellence and membership. Some students also wear special stoles reflecting global learning experiences or participation in service and student organizations.

Faculty members participating in the commencement procession also don academic regalia, featuring robes and hoods that reflect their highest degrees and academic fields, adhering to traditional academic dress codes. Although Luther College’s base graduation gown is uniformly black, discipline-specific accents in hoods and society regalia — including vibrant honor cords and stoles — visually enrich the commencement experience.

Overall, Luther College’s academic regalia and commencement traditions showcase a cohesive blend of classic ceremony, scholarly recognition, and institutional pride through the visual symbolism of gowns, caps, tassels, honor cords, and stoles.

Luther College Official Academic Regalia – Graduation Cap, Gown & Accessories

• Black Graduation Gown & Cap – Essential academic regalia for Luther College commencement participants.
• Bachelor’s Tassel & Honor Cords – Black tassel on graduation cap; honor cords from national and campus honor societies in colors like pink & sky blue (Phi Beta Kappa) or cardinal & black (Sigma Tau Delta).
• Master’s Tassel & Academic Dress – Includes black gown and cap with black tassel; hoods and honor stoles add discipline recognition.
• Honor Stoles & Cords – Approved stoles and cords reflect academic achievement in honor societies and special programs.
• Faculty Regalia – Faculty robes with academic hoods display discipline colors during commencement.
• Discipline Colors & Accents – Hood velvet trim and lining in discipline specific colors like science gold or education light blue.

Secure your official Luther College commencement regalia set for graduation today!

Note: To confirm the exact colors of the graduation gown, cap, tassel, honor cords, and stoles for your specific program at Luther College, you can reach out directly to the college's administration or the office responsible for commencement and student services. They can provide you with the most accurate and up-to-date information regarding academic regalia.