Franklin Pierce University holds its annual Commencement each May on the Rindge, NH campus. Graduates line up early for the outdoor, “rain-or-shine” ceremony and wear full academic regalia — cap, gown, and hood (for degree‑bearing students). According to the University’s commencement regalia page, baccalaureate and graduate students wear a black gown with a mortarboard-style cap. The cost of regalia is covered in the graduation fee, and regalia must be ordered by a set deadline and picked up from campus (or shipped for a small fee).

Franklin Pierce’s commencement program clarifies the color logic: the tassel may be black, or a color representing the graduate’s field of study; for doctoral graduates, the tassel is gold. The hood worn by master’s and doctoral students is lined in crimson and gray satin (the institution’s colors), while the velvet border (trim) reflects the academic discipline — e.g., Engineering = Orange; Education = Light Blue; Psychology = Gold; Nursing = Apricot; Public Health = Salmon Pink.

On honor cords, Franklin Pierce uses gold cords for Latin honors (Cum Laude, Magna, Summa) as documented in its commencement program. For honor societies or other distinction cords, the Registrar FAQ notes that society or club-provided cords are worn—as long as they are provided by that society or organization.

Faculty participating in the ceremony wear traditional academic regalia. In doctoral gowns, the velvet bars and panels may use black or a color distinctive to the degree (e.g., Ph.D. = blue).

In summary, Franklin Pierce University’s commencement features a classic black graduation gown, tassels that reflect either black or degree/discipline‑specific colors, crimson‑and‑gray lined hoods with velvet trim by academic field, and gold honor cords for Latin honors. Students should order their cap, gown, hood, and any honor accessories through the regalia process to match the officially recognized academic regalia.

Franklin Pierce University Cap, Gown & Tassel Regalia

Official academic regalia set for Franklin Pierce University commencement: includes black gown, mortarboard cap, tassel (discipline or gold), plus optional hood and honor cord.

• Black academic graduation gown (bachelor’s/master’s/doctoral)
• Classic black mortarboard cap
• Tassel colors: black or field-specific; gold for doctoral
• Hood: Crimson & gray lining, velvet trim by major (e.g., orange, light blue, apricot)
• Honor Cord: Gold for Latin honors (Cum / Magna / Summa)
• Durable regalia fabric for ceremony or keepsake use
• Order via FPU's official regalia portal to ensure correct hood, tassel, and cord colors

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