Gustavus Adolphus College

Gustavus Adolphus College maintains a long‑standing tradition of academic regalia: students, faculty, and graduates don base gowns and appropriate accessories to mark commencement. According to the official Commencement program, Gustavus has issued caps and gowns for graduating classes since 1903.

For graduation, Gustavus provides each graduate — at no cost — with a cap and gown during the annual “Grad Finale” in April. Gowns, caps, hoods (if applicable), and standard tassels are available for pick‑up in the campus bookstore or by mail. Tassels lost before commencement can be replaced at no extra charge.

Gustavus does not grant honor cords based solely on GPA; instead, honor cords, stoles, and other adornments are distributed by academic departments or student organizations. For example, membership in national or campus honor societies results in colored honor cords (e.g., light‑pink and pale‑blue cords for Phi Beta Kappa), while leadership in diversity initiatives may be recognized by a horizontally striped kente cloth stole. International graduates may wear sashes bearing their home‑country flag, and military service or ROTC veterans may wear red‑white‑blue cords.

Thus, Gustavus’s system blends traditional academic dress (black or standard gowns, cap, tassel, and hood for applicable degrees) with a flexible, community‑driven approach to honor cords and stoles — each color/signifier tied to a specific society, program, or honor rather than blanket GPA thresholds. Faculty participating in Commencement wear standard academic regalia appropriate to their position.

In sum: Gustavus emphasizes a standard cap, gown & tassel set, provided free for graduates, while recognition of honors, leadership, identity, or society membership comes through honor cords, stoles, pins, or sashes — managed at the department or organization level, not via a universal color chart tied to degree or GPA. For vendors or listing services, it’s important to highlight “official cap and gown set,” “department‑issued honor cords or stoles,” and note that no universal honors‑by‑GPA cord/color scheme exists at Gustavus.

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