Carnegie Mellon University

Carnegie Mellon University, located in Pittsburgh, hosts its formal commencement ceremonies each May, where students, faculty, and academic leaders process in full academic regalia. CMU’s regalia policy is detailed on the University Store and in its commencement guides, emphasizing tradition and discipline-specific academic costume.

In CMU’s regalia system, bachelor’s graduates wear plain black gowns and mortarboard caps, and their tassels are red until the degree is conferred, after which they are moved from the right to the left. Master’s students wear black gowns with distinct sleeve designs, master’s hoods, and a black tassel, while doctoral graduates don velvet-faced gowns, gold tassels, and doctoral hoods.

CMU’s hoods are especially distinctive: they feature colored velvet trim to denote academic discipline (for instance, orange for Engineering, dark brown for Fine Arts, white for Humanities, etc.). The lining of all hoods uses CMU’s tartan plaid, representing the university’s Scottish heritage and symbolizing school pride.

Regarding honor cords and stoles, CMU restricts medallions and cords to represent college or university honors only. According to its May diploma information, cords should not be used for every student organization — only for recognized academic honors. Stoles are permitted to mark study-abroad, international membership, or organizational affiliation, and such stoles can be ordered through the University Store or via the relevant group.

For faculty regalia, CMU requires academic dress for its commencement ceremonies. Faculty order gowns, hoods, and tams (or mortarboards) via the University Store. Doctoral-degree faculty typically wear full doctoral robes and hoods, but CMU does not publish a single color chart for hood linings; instead, the velvet trim reflects the faculty member’s field, and the lining reflects the institution from which they earned their highest degree.

Given CMU’s mix of tradition, discipline-based hood colors, and limited use of cords, students and buyers planning to purchase “graduation gown, cap, tassel, academic regalia” sets should reference CMU’s University Store, follow the guidance in the official commencement PDF, and confirm their hood color and any honors regalia before ordering.

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