Western Kentucky University’s commencement ceremonies require all graduating students to wear approved academic regalia, including the graduation gown, graduation cap (typically a mortarboard), and coordinated tassel set. According to WKU’s commencement FAQ, graduates must order their regalia through the approved vendor (Herff Jones) by the posted deadline to ensure availability and proper attire.

The standard graduation gown color for bachelor’s and associate degrees is black; master’s and doctoral candidates also wear black gowns, but incorporate a hood and may have velvet panels or other distinctions per the American Council on Education academic costume code.

Tassels may be black or the color of the scholarly field of the degree, and the short gold tassel is reserved for doctoral degrees.

WKU also uses discipline-specific colors for hoods and gown trimmings representing academic fields like Engineering (orange), Nursing (apricot), Science (golden yellow), and others, following widely accepted academic dress tradition.

Honor cords are worn by graduates meeting honors criteria (for example, red and white cords are recognized at WKU).

Faculty and university officials participating in the commencement event wear full academic regalia consistent with their highest earned degrees—with gowns, hoods, and caps reflecting their discipline and credential level. WKU emphasizes that only graduates wearing the full cap, gown, and tassel set—properly styled and ordered—are eligible to participate in their commencement ceremony. These requirements ensure a uniform, professional, and dignified appearance across the platform.

Emphasizing keywords like graduation gown, graduation gown color, graduation cap, academic regalia, cap & gown tassel sets, honor cord, and stoles aligns with WKU’s regalia policy and supports students and vendors preparing for the formal ceremony.

Official Western Kentucky University Cap, Gown & Tassel Set

Be ceremony‑ready with the official cap, gown and tassel set tailored for Western Kentucky University graduates. Includes graduation gown, matching cap, and approved tassel.

Highlights

• Graduation gown colour: Black – standard for WKU commencement ceremonies.
• Graduation cap: Matching black cap – completes the academic regalia set.
• Tassel: Included – part of your cap & gown and tassel set.
• Academic regalia set: One purchase bundle covers gown, cap and tassel – simplifies your graduation preparation.
• Honor cords & stoles: Available for eligible graduates under WKU policy.

Technical Specifications

• Gown Colour: Black
• Cap Colour: Black
• Tassel Colour: Institution‑approved (standard or discipline‑based)
• Material: Durable, lightweight polyester blend suitable for ceremony wear
• Sizes Available: S, M, L, XL

Note: To confirm the exact colors of the graduation gown, cap, tassel, honor cords, and stoles for your specific program at Western Kentucky University , 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.