Concordia University Chicago

At Concordia University Chicago, commencement is a formal and structured event held several times a year, typically for undergraduate, master’s (EdS/M.A.), and doctoral graduates. All participants are required to wear academic regalia: this includes the graduation gown, cap (or tam for doctoral students), tassel, and for master’s and doctoral students, the academic hood.

Regalia is ordered via Jostens, the university’s official partner. Undergraduates pay for a gown, cap, and tassel package (approx US$ 69.99), while master’s students pay more for the gown, hood, and cap (starting around US$ 102.99), and doctoral students use a velvet tam + hood. Alterations or customizations are not allowed for gowns or hoods. Only university‑approved accessories may be worn during the ceremony, such as cords, stoles, and medallions.

CUChicago’s policy clearly defines which honor cords and stoles are permitted: undergraduates with Latin honors (cum laude, magna, summa) wear Latin Honors Cords provided by the university. Other approved regalia items include NSLS (National Society of Leadership & Success) stoles/cords/medallions, Alpha Kappa Delta (sociology) teal cords, a silver Psi Chi (psychology) stole, blue & white Psi Chi cords, a gold Computer Science stole, and a Concordia Scholar Medallion for eligible undergraduates.

Tassel colors at CUChicago are discipline‑based for undergraduates: for example, Business uses drab (light brown), Communication uses crimson, Education uses light blue, Psychology uses gold, Theology uses scarlet, and other majors have their own colors. For master’s graduates, the tassel is plain black, since their hood indicates their discipline, and for doctoral graduates, the tam tassel is gold.

When it comes to faculty regalia, CUChicago’s commencement FAQ notes that hoods have a maroon lining (the university’s primary color) with a gold chevron stripe, and the velvet “trim” (facing) color of the hood denotes the graduate’s discipline (e.g., purple for law, dark blue for political science, scarlet for theology).

In short, Concordia University Chicago’s commencement regalia policy is very structured: students must wear standard gowns and caps, tassel color is discipline‑specific, honors students wear specific cords or stoles, and faculty hoods reflect academic disciplines — all while maintaining a unified institutional appearance.

Academic Regalia Set Inspired by Concordia University Chicago

This cap, gown & tassel set is tailored for CUChicago students and aligns with the school’s formal commencement attire requirements.

Academic Gown: Black robe required for all students to participate in commencement.
Cap / Tam: Mortarboard for bachelor’s and master’s; velvet tam for doctoral graduates.
Undergraduate Tassel Options: Major‑specific tassels (Business = drab; Education = light blue; Theology = scarlet; Psychology = gold, and more).
Master’s Tassel: Black tassel — discipline indicated by hood instead of tassel.
Doctoral Tassel: Gold tassel for doctoral tams.
Approved Honor Regalia: Worn cords or stoles include Latin Honors, NSLS, Alpha Kappa Delta (teal), Psi Chi (silver or blue/white), Gold Computer Science Stole, and Concordia Scholar Medallion.
Faculty Hood Trim: Maroon hood lining with gold chevron, velvet facing reflects discipline (e.g., Fine Arts = brown, Science = golden yellow, Theology = scarlet).

A refined, institution‑aligned regalia set for Concordia University Chicago graduates — perfect for your special day.

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