The City College of New York (CCNY) holds its main commencement ceremony annually (for example, the 172^nd Commencement was on May 30, 2025). Graduates must wear traditional academic regalia: a black graduation gown and mortarboard cap. Undergraduates do not wear hoods. For master’s and doctoral students, hoods with colored velvet trim are worn, indicating degree and academic discipline.

The graduation cap (mortarboard) must be worn flat and centered on the head. The tassel is initially placed on the right side; at a designated moment during the ceremony (typically when degrees are conferred), graduates move the tassel to the left. For students of the Colin Powell School, CCNY uses a deep red (maroon) tassel.

Regarding honor cords and stoles, CCNY’s commencement page notes that honor cords are distributed via the student’s academic division, and graduates should reach out to their division for details. Latin honors at CCNY are awarded based on GPA (cum laude, magna cum laude, summa cum laude), and students must meet specific credit and grade thresholds. However, the publicly available CCNY materials do not specify a fixed color‑scheme (i.e., the precise hue for cum laude, magna, etc.) in their regalia guidelines.

The faculty regalia follow standard academic dress traditions: faculty wear gowns and hoods appropriate to their highest degree. The hood’s lining reflects the awarding institution (i.e. CCNY), while the velvet border indicates the faculty’s discipline.

CCNY’s commencement rules emphasize decorum: graduates should dress in a dignified manner, follow staff instructions, and wear comfortable footwear due to prolonged standing. Caps may be decorated, but in a way that does not disrupt visibility or the ceremony’s flow.

Overall, CCNY’s commencement embraces the classic academic regalia tradition—black gown, mortarboard cap, tassel in school color (especially for certain divisions), hoods for graduate levels, and honor cords or stoles reflecting academic achievement — creating a formal and meaningful graduation ceremony for students, faculty, and families.

CCNY Graduation Regalia – Caps, Gowns & Academic Dress

Celebrate your milestone graduation from The City College of New York with authentic academic regalia. Whether you're earning your bachelor’s, master’s, or PhD, CCNY’s classic black gown and cap set aligns with official commencement traditions.

Key Features:

• Classic Black Graduation Gown: Standard black robe for undergraduate students, formal academic gown for graduate / doctoral.
• Mortarboard Cap: Traditional black cap, centrally placed and flat‑topped for a polished academic look.
• School‑Color Tassel: CCNY’s tassel reflects school identity: e.g. deep red (maroon) for the Colin Powell School.
• Tassel Movement Ritual: Starts on the right, and graduates switch it to the left when conferred—symbolizing degree conferral.
• Honor Cords: Supplied by academic divisions—eligible students (Latin honors) receive cords from their division.
• Stoles / Sashes: Not officially standardized—many divisions or groups issue their own stoles for graduating students.
• Latin Honors Recognized:
  • Cum Laude (GPA ≥ 3.2)
  • Magna Cum Laude (GPA ≥ 3.5)
  • Summa Cum Laude (GPA ≥ 3.8)
• Graduate Hoods: For master’s / doctoral grads, CCNY regalia includes a hood with velvet trim and lining representing the degree and discipline.
• Faculty Regalia Rental: CCNY faculty can rent cap, gown, hood through the formal order form.

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