Iowa State University holds commencement ceremonies for bachelor, master’s, and doctoral degree candidates, requiring all participants to wear official academic regalia. The standard ensemble includes a graduation gown, mortarboard cap, tassel, and — for graduate level — an academic hood. Regalia must be purchased or rented through the university bookstore by the Regency deadlines to be allowed to participate.
Bachelor’s graduates wear a black bachelor’s gown and a black mortarboard cap. Tassel colors correspond to the graduate’s academic college or major — for example: maize for Agriculture & Life Sciences, nugget for Business, orange for Engineering, maroon for Human Sciences, white for Bachelor of Arts, golden yellow for Bachelor of Science, pink for Bachelor of Music, etc. Optional honor cords, stoles or medallions may be worn to recognize academic honors, organizational memberships, or special achievements when permitted.
Master’s graduates wear master‑style gowns, mortarboard caps, black tassels, and academic hoods. The hood’s satin lining reflects Iowa State’s institutional colors (cardinal and gold), while the velvet trim indicates academic discipline based on a defined color code. Honor cords or stoles remain optional for recognized honors or affiliations.
Doctoral graduates wear distinctive doctoral‑level regalia: a cardinal‑red gown with black velvet panels and sleeve chevrons edged in gold, a black velvet tam (instead of a mortarboard), and a hood lined with institutional colors plus discipline-specific velvet trim. Tassels for doctoral candidates follow standard graduate-level guidelines. This doctoral regalia visually distinguishes advanced degree holders from other graduates.
Faculty and staff regalia adhere to traditional academic dress codes: robes, hoods, and caps (or tams) reflect the wearer’s highest earned degree and academic discipline. Velvet trim, hood lining, and cap style distinguish faculty from student graduates while maintaining a cohesive, formal appearance across the commencement procession.
Overall, Iowa State’s academic regalia policy — combining graduation gown, graduation cap, tassel, hood (when required), and optional honor cords or stoles — ensures a dignified, visually coherent, and historically rooted commencement ceremony. The use of discipline‑specific tassel and hood colors helps recognize academic achievements and fields of study, while the uniform gown sets uphold tradition and unity.
Note: To confirm the exact colors of the graduation gown, cap, tassel, honor cords, and stoles for your specific program at State University of Iowa , 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.