Northwest–Shoals Community College

Northwest–Shoals Community College holds annual commencement ceremonies for eligible graduates who complete required program and GPA requirements.

The 2025 ceremony was scheduled at the school’s Shoals Campus Patriot Center (gym), with separate sessions for Academic Programs, Health Sciences, and Career/Technical & Dual Enrollment graduates.

Graduates must register for commencement participation in advance (e.g. by May 5 for the 2025 ceremony) so the college can plan regalia distribution and seating.

For cap and gown, NWSCC instructs graduates to purchase regalia from the campus bookstore on the Shoals Campus (operated by a college‑bookstore vendor).

The cost is approximately US $70 (as of 2025) for the cap and gown.

Regarding appearance and dress code: NWSCC requires graduates to wear a black commencement robe and the “2025 tassel” (i.e. a standard tassel provided).

Under the gown, graduates are expected to wear appropriate attire (e.g. dresses or dark pants; blue jeans are prohibited).

Importantly, NWSCC’s publicly available graduation and student‑handbook materials note that “honor cords and graduation stolls” are allowed.

However — and this is key — I found no publicly available documentation from NWSCC that defines standard colors for tassels, honor cords, graduation stoles, academic hoods, or any variation in gown color or style based on degree type or discipline. The college’s student handbook and graduation pages do not include a “regalia color chart,” and there is no specification for what color honor cords/stoles should be for honors, program distinctions, or disciplines.

In short: NWSCC provides a basic, standardized graduation regalia set (black gown, cap, tassel) for graduates participating in commencement; it permits honor cords / stoles, but does not publicly define standardized colors for tassels, cords, or stoles — nor discipline‑based regalia colors. Anyone seeking to supply or market “NWSCC regalia sets” should treat color and accessory standards as unspecified or variable, and confirm directly with the NWSCC Bookstore or Registrar prior to ordering.

Northwest–Shoals Community College – Graduation Regalia Overview

Essential information for cap, gown, and academic regalia for NWSCC graduates — useful for students and vendors sourcing commencement apparel.

• Cap & Gown Required: Graduates must purchase their cap and gown from the NWSCC Shoals Campus bookstore to participate in commencement ceremonies.
• Graduation Gown & Cap Basics: The official regalia consists of a black commencement robe and cap, paired with the standard tassel for the graduation year.
• Tassels, Honor Cords & Stoles: NWSCC allows honor cords and graduation stoles to be worn at commencement.
• Graduation Gown Color / Style / Degree Variations: Publicly available documents do not specify any variation in gown color or style by degree type or academic discipline. No public “regalia‑color chart” exists.
• Accessory Colors (Tassels / Cords / Stoles): There is no publicly documented standard for tassel color, cord color, or stole color — colors are unspecified or variable.
• Custom Regalia & Verification Advisory: Because NWSCC does not publish formal color standards or discipline‑based regalia guidance, anyone ordering, supplying, or marketing cap/gown/cord/stole sets should confirm required colors and accessories directly with NWSCC Bookstore or Registrar.

Note: To confirm the exact colors of the graduation gown, cap, tassel, honor cords, and stoles for your specific program at Northwest–Shoals Community 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.