Mission College in Santa Clara, California celebrates the achievements of its graduates with a formal commencement ceremony each spring at the San Jose Civic Center. The commencement event honors students completing degrees and certificates, inviting graduates, families, faculty, and the community to join in recognizing academic success and milestone achievement. Mission College requires that all participating graduates wear approved academic regalia, including a graduation gown, graduation cap, and tassel set, to ensure a traditional and cohesive appearance during the ceremony. The college provides guidance on regalia orders through Herff Jones and supports on‑campus pickup of caps, gowns, and tassels prior to the ceremony.

At Mission College, standard academic regalia for commencement includes a classic black graduation gown and a black mortarboard graduation cap with a coordinating tassel. Graduates are instructed to wear the tassel on the right side before degree conferral and then move it to the left upon completion — a symbolic academic tradition that visually marks the transition from candidate to graduate. Tassel sets are typically included with the cap and gown package ordered through the bookstore or vendor, and graduates keep the tassel as a keepsake after the ceremony.

In addition to the core regalia, Mission College offers optional adornments like LGBTQIA+ Pride stoles at no cost, representing inclusivity and community pride. Honor cords and other stoles may also be available to recognize academic distinction, student leadership, or participation in campus organizations — though specific honor cord and stole colors vary by program and are often distributed at regalia pickup or designated college events. Furthermore, faculty members participating in commencement wear traditional faculty regalia that includes robes and hoods reflecting their academic degrees and fields of expertise. This complete set of cap, gown, tassels, and optional honor accessories creates a unified yet personalized academic ensemble that enhances commencement photos, procession visuals, and ceremonial tradition.

Mission College Academic Regalia — Cap, Gown & Tassels

Prepare for your Mission College commencement with a complete academic regalia set including cap, gown, tassels, and optional honor accessories designed for ceremony procession and lasting memories.

• Graduation Gown – Black academic robe for degree recipients.
• Graduation Cap – Mortarboard cap included with tassel.
• Tassel Sets – Traditional tassels worn right → left at conferral.
• Bachelor & Master Honors – Honor cords and stoles available to recognize achievement.
• LGBTQIA+ Pride Stoles – Free stoles reflecting student identity.
• Faculty Regalia – Traditional faculty gowns and discipline‑specific hoods.
• Discipline & Honor Colors – Optional stoles and cords representing student organizations and academic honors.

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