Graduation is here and one of the rituals of graduating is wearing the traditional cap and gown during commencement. Wearing your cap and gown marks your entry into the world as a proud college graduate. Academic regalia is a ceremonial tradition -- and UNT brings its own flourish to this tradition.

To participate in commencement, UNT graduates are required to wear regalia featuring UNT's green school color to clearly distinguish them as graduates of UNT, home of the Mean Green, and proud UNT alumni. Graduates should not carry any items in their hands into their ceremony, however, wearing a belt bag or cross-body bag (that meets the requirements of the Clear Bag Policy) is permitted under your regalia. Graduates should only carry their name card and then their diploma cover in their hands as they cross the stage.

UNT's regalia differs by the type of degree a graduate earns -- bachelor's, master's or doctoral. And there are different colored tassels for baccalaureate candidates to distinguish graduates by college. Learn more about the different regalia below and about how to order your regalia.

How to Order Regalia

Official UNT regalia may be purchased at the Barnes & Noble Bookstore on campus or on the Josten's website. Online purchase orders will be shipped to the student's address. Doctoral student rentals and faculty rentals are shipped to the bookstore for pick up prior to commencement ceremonies. Payment is due at that time.

We know some students are not able to afford the price of a cap and gown and therefore do not walk across the stage to celebrate this huge academic accomplishment. The Dean of Students office has created the “Mean Green Gowns for Grads” program to support our low income and first generation University of North Texas students with a free rental of graduation caps and gowns. In addition to a cap and gown, recipients will also have the option to participate in a free photo session to provide them with graduation pictures. Learn more about the program and how to apply.

graduates in robes

Regalia Descriptions

Baccalaureate Candidate Regalia

Master's Candidate Regalia

  • Official black gown with UNT green panels and pointed sleeves
  • Black mortarboard (Master's of Fine Arts candidates wear a tam instead of mortarboard)
  • Black tassel with a silver year date drop (Master's of Fine Arts candidates wear an old gold-colored tassel with their tam)
  • Master's hood lined in the official UNT green and white satin school colors, trimmed with a velvet degree color band according to discipline, and a black shell

Doctoral Candidate Regalia

  • Official UNT green gown, lined with black velvet panels on the front and three chevrons on the sleeves
  • Black velvet six-pointed tam
  • Gold bullion tassel
  • Doctoral hood lined in the official UNT green and white satin school colors, trimmed with a degree color band according to discipline, and a green shell
 

Tassel Colors

Colors of bachelor's degree tassels according to college:

  • College of Business: Light brown/drab
  • College of Education: Light blue
  • College of Engineering: Orange
  • College of Health and Public Service: Peacock blue
  • College of Information: Lemon yellow
  • College of Liberal Arts and Social Sciences: Gold
  • College of Merchandising, Hospitality, Tourism: White*
  • College of Music: Pink
  • College of Science: Gold & Emerald
  • College of Visual Arts and Design: White*
  • Mayborn School of Journalism: Red
  • College of Applied and Collaborative Studies: White*

*The College of Merchandising, Hospitality, Tourism, College of Visual Arts and Design and College of Applied and Collaborative Studies all have white tassels.

Hood trims

The colorful hoods worn by master's and doctoral graduates represent the specific degree earned and the degree granting institution. Hoods for UNT are distinguished by a kelly green and white chevron lining. The outside edge of the hood is bordered in a band of velvet that signifies the degree received.

  • Master of Arts: White
  • Master of Business Administration: Light brown/drab
  • Master of Education: Light blue
  • Master of Fine Arts: Brown
  • Master of Journalism: Red
  • Master of Music: Pink
  • Master of Public Administration: Peacock blue
  • Master of Science: Gold
  • Master of Social Work: Citron
  • Doctor of Audiology: Dark green
  • Doctor of Education: Light blue
  • Doctor of Musical Arts: Pink
  • Doctor of Philosophy: Royal blue

Graduation Accessories

Students are welcome to wear cords, stoles, medallions and other graduation accessories representing their achievements and organizations they've participated in. The following is a list of some, but not all, common graduation accessories.

  • Alumni Legacy Scholarship Fund, Philanthropy cord, recognizing a gift in celebration of the graduate's class year. Learn more.
  • Center for Leadership and Service, Gold Community Engagement Cord. Learn more.
  • Emerald Eagle Scholars stole. Contact 940-369-5251 or email emeraldeaglescholars@unt.edu.
  • Environmental Volunteerism/Stewardship cord. Learn more.
  • First Generation stole. Learn more.
  • Honors stole that denotes undergraduate Latin honors based on a student's GPA. It is purchased at the Barnes & Noble at UNT bookstore with an approval email from the Registrar. Learn more information on graduating with honors.
  • Honors College medallion earned by completing an award in the UNT Honors College. Learn more.
  • Student Athlete stole. Contact 940-565-2789.
  • UNT Career Center platinum cord for completing an internship. Learn more.
  • UNT Study Abroad graduation cord. Learn more.
  • UNT Veterans Medallion and Veterans cord from Student Veteran Services. Contact 940-565-3813.
  • Cords, stoles, and other accessories from fraternities and sororities, academic groups, student organizations, and honor societies.

Contact your organizations to see if they offer adornments for the commencement ceremonies.

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