Haverford College

Haverford College holds its annual commencement on campus; for example, the class of 2026 ceremony is scheduled for May 16 at Alumni Field House. Graduates are required to wear academic regalia — cap, gown, and hood (as applicable) — provided by the College.

According to the 2025 Commencement Program, Haverford follows traditional academic‑regalia conventions: bachelor’s gowns are the simple cut with open pointed sleeves; master’s gowns have oblong, square-cut sleeves; doctoral gowns are full‑cut, often with velvet panels and bell‑shaped sleeves.

Hoods are used to indicate the field of the degree and the conferring institution. The interior lining shows the institution’s colors; the velvet border indicates the academic discipline (e.g., golden yellow for science, white for arts and humanities, etc.) per traditional academic‑regalia coding.

As for additional regalia items like stoles or cords: Haverford allows students to wear optional stoles and cords that “represent the student’s commitment to a campus organization or express an identity meaningful to their Haverford experience.” This suggests there is no standardized color‑chart for cords or stoles tied to academic disciplines — instead, those colors reflect personal affiliations or group memberships.

Thus — publicly — Haverford does not appear to issue discipline‑specific tassel/stole color schemes for all graduates. The degree‑level distinction (bachelor, master, doctor) is shown via gown style and hood; discipline/major is shown via hood border color; cords/stoles (if worn) reflect organizational or personal identity rather than academic major.

In summary: Haverford’s commencement regalia is rooted in the traditional academic‑regalia system — standard cap, gown, and hood, with hood‑lining and velvet border signifying institution and field. Honor cords and stoles are optional and individualized, not part of a public discipline‑based color coding.

Haverford College Academic Regalia – Cap, Gown, Hood & Optional Cord/Stole

Official commencement attire for Haverford College graduates — includes mortarboard cap, academic gown, hood (for graduate degree recipients), with optional cords or stoles for personal identity or campus affiliations.

• Academic Graduation Gown & Cap: Provided to all graduates — available in bachelor’s, master’s, or doctoral-style gowns depending on degree level. ([haverford.edu Commencement Schedule])
• Academic Hood (for graduate/doctoral degrees): Lined with institutional colors and edged with velvet trim indicating the field of the earned degree (Arts, Sciences, etc.) — following traditional academic‑regalia color symbolism. ([Haverford Commencement Program])
• Mortarboard Cap & Tassel: Classic mortarboard cap included with tassel — standard for all bachelor's degree recipients. ([Haverford Commencement Info])
• Optional Cords / Stoles for Organization & Identity Representation: Graduates are free to wear cords or stoles representing campus organizations, identity, or affiliations — color and style vary by group, not by academic major. ([Haverford Commencement Program])
• Official Regalia Package + Personal Customization Options: Base regalia is institution‑provided; optional cords/stoles allow personalization without conflicting with Haverford’s traditional academic‑regalia structure.

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