Kent State University’s Columbiana County Campuses (serving East Liverpool and surrounding areas) hosts an annual commencement in May for eligible graduates, typically held at an off‑campus auditorium, such as the 2025 ceremony at Beaver Local High School Auditorium. Graduates must RSVP via the university system and order or rent their academic regalia before deadlines.

For commencement attire, all graduating students are required to wear the standard academic dress: a black graduation gown and a black mortarboard cap. Tassels (or hoods for advanced degrees) are determined by the college or academic unit that awards the degree. Caps should be worn flat on the head; under the gown, graduates are expected to wear professional attire (no jeans, shorts or sneakers) to maintain the dignity of the ceremony.

Honor cords are distributed to graduates who meet institutional honours criteria (like GPA thresholds) and are notified by email. These cords are optional but may be worn during the ceremony to signify academic distinction or membership in honor societies.

For bachelor’s degree recipients, the simple black gown, cap and discipline‑specific tassel visually represent academic achievement. For master’s or doctoral degree recipients, a hood (with a velvet border and lining reflecting the institution’s official colours) is worn — the border colour denotes the discipline, and the hood’s lining shows the university’s colours.

The colour coding of tassels/hood borders follows the standard used across the university, tied to the graduate’s college or field — e.g. architecture uses Blue‑Violet, arts/fine arts uses Brown, sciences Golden Yellow, business Drab, education Light Blue, communication Crimson, nursing Apricot, public health Salmon, technology Orange, and more.

Graduates may purchase their cap, gown, and tassel at the designated bookstore or authorized vendor; tassels are sold separately, and honor cords are distributed via the Academic Affairs office for eligible students.

Kent State Columbiana Campus – Commencement & Academic Regalia

Kent State University Columbiana County Campuses host a formal commencement ceremony each year. All graduates must wear official academic attire — a bold black graduation gown and black graduation cap (mortarboard). The tassel or academic hood colour reflects the college or department that confers the degree.

Regalia by Degree Level

Bachelor’s Degree

• Black graduation gown
• Black mortarboard cap
• Discipline‑specific tassel (available separately at bookstore or vendor)

Master’s / Doctoral Degree

• Black graduation gown
• Academic hood with velvet edging to signify discipline
• Hood lining in institutional colours of Kent State
• Standard cap or tam and appropriate tassel as per degree guidelines

Academic Discipline Regalia Colour Guide*

• Architecture & Environmental Design: Blue‑Violet
• Fine Arts / Art / Design: Brown; Music: Pink
• Arts & Humanities: White; Sciences: Golden Yellow
• Business / Commerce: Drab
• Communication / Journalism: Crimson; Library Science: Lemon
• Education / Health & Human Services: Light Blue
• Nursing: Apricot; Public Health: Salmon
• Technology / Engineering: Orange

Honor Cords & Stoles

Graduates who earn Latin honours or belong to recognised honour societies are awarded optional honor cords or stoles. These may be worn in addition to the standard cap, gown, hood/tassel — symbolizing academic distinction or membership in honour societies.

Ordering & Logistics

Students may purchase or rent their cap, gown, tassel, hood and additional regalia from the official campus bookstore or approved external vendors. Tassels are sold separately; honour cords/stoles are distributed by the campus once honours eligibility is confirmed. Graduates are strongly encouraged to order ahead of deadline to ensure availability.

*Exact tassel or hood colour depends on your degree level and academic college — check the official Kent State commencement or academic‑regalia chart for confirmation before ordering.*

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