Dickinson State University (DSU) conducts formal, campus commencement ceremonies each term that emphasize traditional academic regalia and clear logistics for participating graduates. Students order their cap, gown, sash, and tassel through DSU’s authorized vendor (Balfour); regalia orders are placed online and mailed to candidates prior to the ceremony. DSU specifies gown color by degree level: bachelor’s and associate gowns are navy (with matching caps), while master’s gowns are black; sashes and tassel accents commonly include silver and navy combinations.

The university’s commencement guidance highlights standard academic-dress practices: wear breathable professional clothing under the gown, keep the mortarboard level, and steam gowns rather than iron them. Honor recognition is visible in regalia—gold honor cords are distributed to bachelor’s candidates earning a cumulative GPA of 3.50 or higher, while associate candidates achieving similar distinction may wear a gold tassel. Candidates receive honor cords or tassels during assembly before the ceremony.

For graduate and faculty regalia, DSU follows Intercollegiate academic dress conventions: doctoral and master’s hoods are lined with the institution’s colors and trimmed with velvet in discipline-specific shades. The university publishes a discipline color guide used for hood velvet — for example, golden yellow (science), dark blue (philosophy), light blue (education), brown (fine arts), pink (music), green (medicine), orange (engineering), and many others — enabling accurate matching of academic hoods, faculty regalia, and tassel sets. Graduates and departments should verify stole and cord colors with Academic Records or the Balfour ordering portal before purchasing specialty items.

DSU Cap, Gown & Academic Regalia

Get your official Dickinson State University commencement regalia — designed to the university’s standards for graduation gown, cap, tassel, and honor pieces.

• Gown Color: Navy for undergraduate; black for master’s.
• Cap Style: Traditional mortarboard — navy or black.
• Tassel Options: Navy-silver tassel for standard graduates; gold honor cord or tassel for qualifying honors.
• Sash / Stole: Silver sash included; departmental or club stoles may be added.
• Honor Cords / Tassels: Gold honor cord for bachelor’s, gold honor tassel for associate with 3.50+ GPA.
• Hood & Faculty Regalia: Velvet-trimmed hood for graduate/faculty regalia — discipline-based colors (education, science, fine arts, etc.).
• Purchase Info: Order official DSU regalia through Balfour via Build-A-Grad site.

Note: Honor cords and specialty stoles depend on your academic department — verify color with your school or Balfour before buying.

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