Boston College’s Commencement ceremony is an important annual event where graduates wear full academic regalia including the graduation gown, graduation cap (mortarboard or tam for doctoral), and tassels. According to the university’s “Graduation Information” page, the main University Commencement Exercises take place outdoors at Alumni Stadium on a specified date (for example Monday, May 19, 2025).

Boston College Graduates must order and pick up their academic regalia (cap and gown, tassel and hood where applicable) in advance; for example BC’s vendor via Jostens is listed for official caps & gowns.

For undergraduate candidates, the traditional mortarboard and gown are worn, often in black or the school’s approved color, with the tassel worn on the left before the degree is conferred and moved to the right afterward. The university handbook instructs that graduates arrive early, robe in academic dress, and keep alphabetical order for procession.

Graduate and doctoral candidates follow academic regalia traditions of hoods and velvet trims; while BC’s public handbook does not list detailed tassel, honor cord or stole color charts by discipline, the standard practice is that honor cords (for academic or departmental honors) and stoles (for societies or ministries) are worn in addition to the gown and cap. Faculty regalia likewise adhere to the code of academic dress, wearing doctoral gowns with velvet panels, distinctive hoods, and tassels according to faculty rank. Because BC does not publish a fully detailed public color chart for tassels, honor cords and stoles by discipline, it’s recommended to confirm with the BC Bookstore or approved regalia vendor when selecting a cap and gown tassel set, honor cord and stole bundle. By ensuring correct academic regalia — the graduation gown, graduation cap, tassel, honor cord and stole — every graduate appears uniform, professional and adheres to BC’s commencement tradition while maximizing ceremony-day photo readiness and interpretation by family, faculty and guests.

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