How to Wear a Graduation Cap Correctly: A Step-by-Step Guide
Your
graduation high school cap may look simple, but wearing it correctly can make a noticeable difference in your commencement appearance and photographs. Whether you are graduating from high school, college, or university, this guide explains
how to wear a graduation cap correctly, position your tassel, and keep your mortarboard comfortable throughout the ceremony.
What Is a Graduation Cap?
The traditional graduation cap is called a
mortarboard. It consists of a fitted headpiece attached to a flat square board, with a tassel fastened at the center. Mortarboards are commonly worn with high school and college graduation gowns, although academic headwear varies by degree and institution.
Which Way Does a Graduation Cap Go?
Place the cap on your head so the mortarboard sits flat and level rather than tilted dramatically forward or backward. The square board should appear approximately parallel to the ground.
Find the Front of the Cap
Many graduation
high school caps are shaped so one side of the headpiece fits naturally toward the front of your forehead. If your cap includes an interior label or manufacturer’s markings, check them for additional guidance.
How Far Down Should a Graduation Cap Sit?
The cap should sit securely on your head without covering your eyes. Position the front portion comfortably above your eyebrows and adjust it until the mortarboard feels balanced.
Keep the Mortarboard Level
A common mistake is pushing the cap too far toward the back of the head. This can make it unstable and create an awkward angle in graduation photographs.
Instead, aim for a
flat, balanced graduation cap that stays securely in position while you walk and move.
How Should the Graduation Cap Fit?
Your cap should feel secure but not painfully tight. If your graduation set offers different cap sizes, follow the product’s sizing information and measure your head when required.
Test the Fit Before Graduation Day
Wear your cap at home before commencement. Walk around, turn your head, and gently look up and down to make sure it remains comfortable and stable.
What Side Does the Graduation Tassel Go On?
At many U.S. commencement ceremonies, graduates traditionally begin with the
tassel on the right side of the mortarboard. After degrees or diplomas are conferred, graduates may be instructed to move the tassel to the left.
Follow Your School’s Tassel Instructions
Not every ceremony follows exactly the same tradition. Your school or university’s commencement instructions should always take priority.
How to Attach the Tassel
Most mortarboards have a button or attachment point in the center of the square board. Place the tassel loop securely around this point and allow the tassel to hang naturally over the required side.
Check Your Graduation-Year Charm
If your tassel includes a year charm, make sure it hangs properly and is not tangled before leaving for the ceremony.
How to Keep Your Graduation Cap From Falling Off
A properly fitted cap should remain relatively secure, but hairstyles, movement, and outdoor weather can affect the fit.
Helpful Graduation Cap Tips
- Choose your graduation hairstyle before testing the cap.
- Make sure the mortarboard sits level.
- Avoid positioning the cap too far back.
- Test the cap while walking before commencement.
- Use discreet hairpins or clips if appropriate and permitted.
- Check the cap again before graduation photographs.
Graduation Cap Tips for Different Hairstyles
Try your planned hairstyle with the mortarboard several days before graduation. Hairstyles that add substantial height at the crown can change how the cap sits.
If you have long, curly, textured, braided, or styled hair, experiment with placement early enough to find a comfortable and secure position without changing your preferred graduation look unnecessarily.
Can You Decorate Your Graduation Cap?
Decorated graduation caps are popular at some ceremonies, but policies vary considerably. Some institutions encourage cap decorations, while others restrict or prohibit them.
Check Before Decorating
Review your school’s commencement rules before adding lettering, flowers, rhinestones, photos, artwork, or other decorations to your mortarboard.
Common Graduation Cap Mistakes to Avoid
- Wearing the mortarboard at a steep angle
- Positioning the cap too far back
- Starting the tassel on the wrong side for your ceremony
- Forgetting to secure the tassel
- Trying the cap on for the first time at commencement
- Using decorations that violate school requirements
- Choosing a hairstyle without testing it with the cap
Do Master’s and Doctoral Graduates Wear the Same Cap?
Not always. Many master’s graduates wear mortarboards, while doctoral graduates may wear a
doctoral tam or another form of institution-approved academic headwear.
Graduate students should verify their university’s requirements before ordering academic regalia.
Graduation Cap Checklist
- Confirm the correct cap style
- Check the fit before commencement
- Position the mortarboard level
- Attach the tassel securely
- Confirm the correct tassel side
- Check the graduation-year charm
- Test your hairstyle with the cap
- Review cap-decoration rules
- Take a final mirror check before the ceremony
Wear Your Graduation Cap With Confidence
Knowing
how to properly wear a graduation cap is a small detail that can help complete your graduation-day appearance. Position the mortarboard securely and level, attach your tassel correctly, and test everything with your planned hairstyle before commencement.
Most importantly, follow your school’s official ceremony instructions. Once your cap, tassel, and gown are ready, you can focus on walking across the stage and celebrating the achievement behind them.
