Professors may participate in commencement dozens of times throughout an academic career. For faculty members who regularly attend graduation ceremonies, convocations, doctoral hooding events and other formal academic occasions, owning academic regalia can provide a convenient alternative to arranging a rental every year.
But buying faculty regalia online requires more than searching for a professor cap and gown.
The correct ensemble may depend on the academic degree being represented, the institution that awarded that degree, the host university’s commencement policies and the type of ceremony in which the faculty member will participate.
This guide explains where to buy faculty academic regalia online, what professors should verify before ordering and how to compare faculty gowns, academic hoods, doctoral tams, mortarboards, tassels and complete academic regalia packages.
Where Can Professors Buy Academic Regalia?
Depending on institutional policies and the type of academic dress required, faculty may obtain regalia through several channels.
Potential sources include:
- University bookstores
- Commencement offices
- Academic regalia manufacturers
- Specialty academic apparel retailers
- Online graduation regalia stores
- Institution-authorized rental programs
Before ordering from any source, determine whether the institution hosting the ceremony has specific requirements for participating faculty.
Can Faculty Buy Academic Regalia From an Independent Online Retailer?
In some situations, yes. However, professors should first determine whether independently purchased academic dress is appropriate for the ceremony.
Some universities permit faculty members to wear degree-appropriate academic regalia they already own. Other institutions coordinate rentals, require particular designs or maintain institution-specific academic-dress traditions.
Always verify the applicable requirements before purchasing.
Do Not Start With the Retailer—Start With Your Academic Credentials
Before comparing online regalia stores, write down the academic information needed to identify your ensemble.
Start with:
- Highest earned degree being represented
- Degree type
- Degree-granting institution
- Academic field or discipline when relevant
- Host institution
- Faculty role during commencement
These details are more useful than simply searching for “professor gown.”
Professor Is Not an Academic Regalia Level
One of the most important points for first-time faculty buyers is that a faculty title does not automatically determine gown level.
Titles such as professor, assistant professor, associate professor, lecturer, department chair or dean are professional roles.
Academic regalia is generally associated with earned academic credentials and institutional traditions.
A professor should therefore identify the degree being represented before selecting a bachelor’s, master’s or doctoral gown.
What Should You Buy for Faculty Commencement?
A complete faculty ensemble may include:
- Degree-appropriate academic gown
- Academic hood when appropriate
- Mortarboard, doctoral tam or other approved headwear
- Tassel
- Institution-authorized ceremonial accessories
Not every faculty member will need the same combination.
Step 1: Choose the Correct Faculty Gown
When shopping online, make sure the product description clearly identifies the gown’s academic level.
Bachelor’s Gown
Bachelor’s gowns typically have relatively simple construction and characteristic bachelor-style sleeves.
Master’s Gown
Master’s gowns use different sleeve construction and should not be confused with bachelor’s gowns.
Doctoral Gown
Many traditional doctoral gowns feature:
- Full doctoral sleeves
- Velvet or velvet-like front facings
- Three velvet or velvet-like bars on each sleeve
Institution-specific doctoral designs can differ, so these features should not be treated as a universal specification.
Standard Doctoral Gown vs. Custom University Gown
Professors with doctoral degrees may encounter both standard and custom doctoral gowns online.
Standard Doctoral Gown
A standard gown can be appropriate where the institution permits traditional doctoral academic dress without requiring a distinctive university design.
Custom Doctoral Gown
Custom university regalia may incorporate:
- Institution-specific gown colors
- Custom velvet
- Contrasting panels
- Piping
- Embroidery
- University-specific sleeve treatments
- Other distinctive construction
Do not purchase a generic doctoral gown as a substitute for required custom academic dress without confirming that it is permitted.
Step 2: Verify the Academic Hood Before Ordering
The academic hood is one of the pieces most likely to require careful specification.
Do not select a hood simply because its colors look appropriate.
Depending on the academic-dress tradition involved, hood construction may incorporate information associated with:
- Degree level
- Degree-granting institution
- Academic discipline
Faculty Hood Lining
Under traditional U.S. academic-dress conventions, the hood lining can represent the institution that granted the degree.
The lining may contain:
- One institutional color
- Two or more colors
- A chevron
- Multiple chevrons
- Another specified arrangement
The arrangement can matter just as much as the colors.
Do Not Order a Hood Based Only on Your Current Employer
A professor may teach at one university while holding a doctorate from another.
The professor should not automatically purchase a hood using the current employer’s colors.
Verify the academic hood associated with the degree being represented.
Faculty Hood Edging
Traditional academic-dress conventions also associate hood edging colors with fields of learning.
Frequently referenced examples include:
- Arts, Letters and Humanities — White
- Business, Commerce and Accountancy — Drab
- Education — Light Blue
- Engineering — Orange
- Fine Arts — Brown
- Law — Purple
- Library Science — Lemon
- Medicine — Green
- Music — Pink
- Nursing — Apricot
- Philosophy — Dark Blue
- Public Administration — Peacock Blue
- Public Health — Salmon Pink
- Science — Golden Yellow
- Social Science — Citron
- Theology and Divinity — Scarlet
This list should be used as general educational information rather than a universal ordering chart.
Institutions may implement academic-dress traditions differently. Obtain the correct hood specification before purchasing.
PhD Faculty Should Be Especially Careful When Ordering Hoods
Do not assume that every professor holding a PhD can simply select “dark blue PhD hood” and complete the order.
Institutional lining, degree-level construction and other specifications still need to be correct.
Interdisciplinary and institution-specific programs may require additional verification.
Step 3: Choose a Doctoral Tam or Mortarboard
Academic headwear varies by degree and institution.
Faculty options may include:
- Traditional mortarboard
- Four-sided doctoral tam
- Six-sided doctoral tam
- Eight-sided doctoral tam
- Institution-specific academic headwear
Doctoral faculty are often seen wearing velvet tams, but a tam is not universally required.
Four-Sided vs. Six-Sided vs. Eight-Sided Doctoral Tams
The number of sides primarily describes the construction and appearance of the tam.
It should not automatically be interpreted as an indication of:
- Faculty rank
- Academic prestige
- Tenure
- Administrative authority
If several designs are acceptable, compare comfort, material, sizing, appearance and price.
Step 4: Check the Tassel
When comparing faculty headwear online, determine whether the tassel is included.
Check:
- Tassel color
- Material
- Attachment style
- Compatibility with the selected cap or tam
Gold-colored tassels are commonly associated with doctoral academic dress, but requirements and traditions vary.
Step 5: Decide Between a Complete Package and Individual Pieces
Faculty academic regalia can sometimes be purchased as a complete package or assembled piece by piece.
A Complete Package May Be Convenient If:
- You are purchasing faculty regalia for the first time
- You need every major component
- The included hood can be configured correctly
- The gown meets your requirements
- The headwear is appropriate
Individual Pieces May Be Better If:
- You already own a gown
- You already have the correct academic hood
- You only need a replacement tam
- Your hood requires a specialized configuration
- You are upgrading one component of existing regalia
Never Assume “Complete Faculty Regalia” Means Everything You Need
Package contents vary among retailers.
One package might contain:
- Gown
- Hood
- Tam
- Tassel
Another may contain only the gown and headwear.
Read the complete product description before comparing prices.
Step 6: Compare Faculty Regalia Fabrics
Faculty members may wear their academic dress much more frequently than graduates who purchase regalia primarily for one commencement.
Fabric therefore deserves special consideration.
Compare:
- Material
- Weight
- Drape
- Breathability
- Durability
- Wrinkle resistance
- Care requirements
Lightweight Faculty Regalia
A lighter gown may be useful for professors who frequently participate in:
- Outdoor commencement
- Warm-weather ceremonies
- Academic travel
- Long processions
Premium Faculty Regalia
Higher-grade fabrics and construction may appeal to professors who expect many years of repeated academic use.
However, higher price alone does not guarantee that a gown is appropriate for a particular institution or degree.
Step 7: Compare Faculty Gown Sizing
Do not assume your old graduation-gown size will automatically transfer to a new manufacturer’s faculty gown.
Follow the retailer’s current size chart.
Depending on the product, sizing may consider:
- Height
- Chest measurement
- Weight range
- Other body measurements
Faculty Members Should Prioritize Mobility
A professor may need to:
- Walk in a long academic procession
- Climb stage stairs
- Sit for extended periods
- Stand repeatedly
- Hood doctoral graduates
- Present awards or diplomas
A gown should allow safe and comfortable movement for the faculty member’s ceremony role.
Step 8: Measure for the Doctoral Tam
Faculty members purchasing fitted or sized academic headwear should measure carefully.
A tam that is too tight can become uncomfortable during a long ceremony.
A loose tam can shift during walking, outdoor commencement or doctoral hooding.
Follow the seller’s specific measuring instructions.
Step 9: Compare Total Delivered Price
Do not compare online faculty regalia using only the gown’s advertised price.
Calculate:
Gown + hood + headwear + tassel + required customization + shipping = estimated delivered cost.
This provides a more meaningful comparison between retailers and packages.
Watch for Low Starting Prices
An advertised price may apply only to the basic gown.
The final configuration can change after adding:
- Academic hood
- Doctoral tam
- Tassel
- Custom colors
- Embroidery
- Special sizing
- Shipping
Complete the configuration before deciding which option is less expensive.
Step 10: Check Processing Time
Processing time is particularly important for faculty ordering custom or premium academic dress.
Determine whether the product is:
- Stocked
- Configured after ordering
- Made to order
- Fully customized
Production time can differ substantially among these options.
Processing Time Is Not Shipping Time
A product offering expedited shipping may still require production or processing before it leaves the seller.
When planning for commencement, consider:
Processing time + transit time + fitting time = practical ordering timeline.
Custom Faculty Regalia Should Be Ordered Early
Custom gowns and hoods can require substantially more preparation than stocked academic apparel.
Ordering early also provides time to inspect the completed ensemble and address any permitted corrections.
Step 11: Review the Return and Exchange Policy
Before purchasing faculty academic regalia online, review the seller’s policies carefully.
Look for information about:
- Return period
- Exchange procedure
- Condition requirements
- Restocking terms, if applicable
- Return shipping
- Customized merchandise
- Made-to-order products
Custom Academic Regalia May Have Different Return Conditions
Regalia produced or configured specifically for an individual may have more restrictive return or exchange conditions than standard stocked products.
Verify those terms before ordering.
Step 12: Decide Whether Buying or Renting Makes More Sense
Faculty members should consider how frequently they expect to participate in academic ceremonies.
Rental May Be Practical When:
- You participate infrequently
- Your institution coordinates faculty rentals
- You need specialized regalia for one ceremony
- You do not want to store academic apparel
Ownership May Be Practical When:
- You attend commencement every year
- You participate in multiple ceremonies annually
- You frequently attend academic events at different institutions
- You want consistent sizing and fit
- You prefer to keep your regalia ready for use
Calculate Faculty Regalia Cost Per Wear
Professors expecting repeated use can estimate:
Total purchase cost ÷ expected number of uses = approximate purchase cost per wear.
This calculation does not determine whether purchasing is preferable, but it can make ownership and repeated rental easier to compare.
Step 13: Look for Clear Product Information
A useful online academic regalia listing should provide enough information to help the buyer understand what is being purchased.
Look for details about:
- Academic level
- Fabric
- Gown construction
- Velvet or velvet-like trim
- Sleeve design
- Available colors
- Size chart
- Hood options
- Headwear
- Package contents
- Processing expectations
Online Faculty Regalia Red Flags
Use additional caution when a product listing:
- Does not identify the gown’s degree level
- Provides no sizing information
- Calls every advanced-degree gown “doctoral”
- Offers one generic hood as correct for every degree
- Does not explain package contents
- Provides unclear fabric information
- Does not distinguish processing from shipping
- Provides unclear return conditions
- Claims one tam style is universally required
Step 14: Confirm the Regalia Before Removing Tags or Discarding Packaging
When the order arrives, inspect everything promptly and follow the seller’s return-policy requirements.
Check the Gown
- Correct academic level
- Correct design
- Correct color
- Correct size
- Expected fabric
- Expected sleeve treatment
- No obvious damage
Check the Hood
- Correct degree level
- Correct institutional lining
- Correct lining arrangement
- Correct edging specification
- No obvious defects
Check the Headwear
- Correct type
- Correct size
- Comfortable fit
- Tassel included when expected
Step 15: Conduct a Faculty Commencement Dress Rehearsal
Faculty members should try on the complete ensemble before the ceremony.
Wear:
- Planned commencement clothing
- Ceremony shoes
- Academic gown
- Academic hood
- Tam or mortarboard
- Tassel
- Any institution-authorized accessories
Then practice walking, sitting and standing.
Faculty Hooders Should Test Arm Movement
If you will hood doctoral graduates, raise your arms while wearing the complete gown.
Confirm that:
- Sleeves allow comfortable movement
- Your own hood remains stable
- Your headwear stays secure
- The gown does not restrict the hooding motion
Buying Faculty Regalia for Multiple Ceremonies
Professors who participate at several institutions should choose carefully.
Your academic dress may represent your earned credential, but each host institution can establish its own commencement procedures and expectations.
Verify the host’s requirements before each ceremony rather than assuming one institution’s rules apply everywhere.
Faculty Regalia for New Professors
New faculty members purchasing their first academic ensemble should consider future use.
Ask:
- How many commencements will I attend each year?
- Will I participate in doctoral hooding?
- Will I attend ceremonies at other universities?
- Will I travel with the regalia?
- Do I want standard or premium construction?
- Where will I store the ensemble?
Faculty Regalia for Experienced Professors
Experienced faculty may not need a complete new package.
Instead, inspect existing regalia and determine whether you need to replace:
- Gown
- Hood
- Tam
- Mortarboard
- Tassel
Buying only the needed component may be more practical than replacing the entire ensemble.
Faculty Academic Regalia Comparison Worksheet
Use this worksheet when comparing online options.
- Retailer: __________________________
- Degree level: ______________________
- Gown included: Yes / No
- Hood included: Yes / No
- Correct hood configuration available: Yes / No / Verify
- Tam or cap included: Yes / No
- Tassel included: Yes / No
- Correct size available: Yes / No
- Fabric: ___________________________
- Customization: ____________________
- Processing time: __________________
- Shipping: $_______________________
- Total delivered cost: $____________
- Return policy reviewed: Yes / No
Questions to Ask Before Buying Faculty Academic Regalia Online
- Is this gown appropriate for the degree I am representing?
- Does my host institution permit this style?
- Is the gown standard or institution-specific?
- What fabric is used?
- How is the gown sized?
- Is an academic hood included?
- Can the hood be configured correctly for my degree?
- What academic headwear is included?
- Is the tassel included?
- What exactly is included in the package?
- How long does processing take?
- How long does shipping take?
- Can standard items be exchanged for another size?
- Are customized products returnable?
- What will the complete delivered order cost?
Where to Buy Faculty Academic Regalia Online From Cap and Gown Outlet
Cap and Gown Outlet is an independent academic regalia retailer serving individual graduates, professors, faculty members and qualifying group and institutional customers.
Depending on current inventory and available configurations, academic-regalia selections may include:
- Doctoral gowns
- Doctoral academic hoods
- Doctoral tams
- Master’s gowns
- Master’s academic hoods
- Bachelor’s gowns
- Graduation caps
- Academic tassels
- Faculty academic regalia packages
- Graduation stoles
- Honor and recognition cords
- Diploma covers
Products may differ in materials, colors, construction, sizes, hood configurations, headwear options and package contents.
Faculty members purchasing academic dress independently should verify the specifications associated with the degree they intend to represent and the current requirements of the institution hosting the ceremony.
Independent Retailer Disclosure
Cap and Gown Outlet is an independent academic regalia retailer and is not affiliated with, sponsored by, endorsed by or officially authorized by any college or university unless an actual relationship has been established.
The availability of a faculty gown, academic hood, doctoral tam, mortarboard, tassel or academic regalia package does not establish that the product is approved for a particular university, degree or commencement ceremony.
Frequently Asked Questions About Buying Faculty Academic Regalia Online
Where can professors buy academic regalia online?
Faculty may be able to purchase academic regalia through university bookstores, academic apparel manufacturers and independent specialty graduation-regalia retailers. Check the host institution’s requirements before ordering.
Can professors buy their own graduation gowns?
In many situations faculty own academic regalia, particularly when they participate regularly in commencement. However, institutional requirements vary.
What gown should a professor buy?
The appropriate gown generally depends on the academic degree being represented and the applicable institutional academic-dress requirements rather than faculty rank alone.
Does every professor need a doctoral gown?
No. Professor is a professional title, not an academic degree level. Faculty should not purchase doctoral regalia solely because they hold a faculty position.
What should a professor with a PhD buy?
When doctoral academic dress is appropriate, an ensemble may include a doctoral gown, doctoral academic hood, appropriate headwear and tassel. Exact specifications vary by institution.
Should professors buy black or university-colored doctoral gowns?
That depends on the academic-dress requirements associated with the degree and ceremony. Some institutions have distinctive custom doctoral gowns, while standard black doctoral regalia may be appropriate in other situations.
What hood should faculty order?
The hood should be appropriate to the degree being represented and should follow the applicable degree-level, institutional-lining and discipline-related specifications.
Should my faculty hood match the university where I teach?
Not automatically. Under traditional U.S. academic-dress conventions, hood lining can represent the institution that granted the degree being represented.
Do PhD professors wear tams?
Doctoral faculty commonly wear tams, but headwear practices vary by institution and academic-dress tradition.
Should I buy a four-, six- or eight-sided doctoral tam?
Follow institutional requirements first. When several styles are permitted, compare fit, material, construction, appearance and price rather than assuming more sides indicate higher academic status.
Is it better for faculty to buy or rent regalia?
Frequent participants may find ownership practical, while professors who rarely attend commencement may prefer a suitable rental program. Compare costs, convenience and expected future use.
Can faculty reuse their doctoral graduation regalia?
Potentially. Faculty members often retain academic regalia for future academic ceremonies when it remains appropriate for the degree and event.
Can I buy only a replacement faculty hood or tam?
Many academic-regalia components may be available separately. Verify compatibility with your existing ensemble before purchasing.
How early should faculty order academic regalia?
Allow enough time for processing, shipping, fitting and any permitted corrections or exchanges. Custom academic regalia can require substantially more preparation than stocked products.
What should I check before ordering faculty regalia online?
Verify the degree level, institution requirements, gown construction, hood specification, headwear, sizing, package contents, processing timeline, shipping and return conditions.
Choose Faculty Regalia for an Academic Career, Not Just One Ceremony
When deciding where to buy faculty academic regalia online, price is only one consideration.
Start with the credential you intend to represent. Determine whether the host institution has specific faculty-regalia requirements. Then verify the gown, academic hood, headwear and tassel before comparing retailers.
Faculty members should also think differently from graduates purchasing regalia primarily for one commencement. Professors may use the same ensemble repeatedly for commencements, convocations, doctoral hooding ceremonies and other formal academic events.
That makes fit, comfort, construction, durability and ease of storage especially important.
A well-selected faculty academic regalia ensemble should satisfy the applicable academic-dress requirements, fit comfortably and remain practical for the professor’s expected ceremonial use.
