Monterey Peninsula College holds its annual commencement ceremony each May at Pappas‑Phillips Community Stadium to honor graduates from associate degree and certificate programs in a celebratory academic procession. The commencement event includes degree recognition, faculty participation, and photo opportunities for graduates and guests. MPC’s formal ceremony recognizes academic achievement and provides a memorable culminating experience for students completing their educational goals.

MPC requires participating graduates to wear official academic regalia consisting of a mortarboard graduation cap with a coordinating tassel and a traditional black graduation gown. The regalia must be ordered in advance through the MPC Bookstore or through the GradFest sale held on campus prior to commencement. Students may decorate their graduation caps to reflect their degree program or future plans, as allowed by MPC guidelines.

While Monterey Peninsula College’s public commencement page does not provide a detailed list of official honor cord or stole colors, students frequently wear additional academic accessories, such as honor cords or stoles, to recognize academic honors, leadership roles and participation in approved clubs or honor societies during the ceremony. Colors for cords and stoles may be determined by affiliated honor societies, academic distinctions, or cultural recognition in line with academic traditions.

Faculty and administrators participating in MPC commencement wear full academic regalia with gowns, hoods and mortarboard caps that reflect their highest academic achievements. Faculty regalia color accents and hoods indicate scholarly discipline and contribute to the ceremony’s academic tradition and visual distinction.

Whether ordering your cap and gown set, coordinating tassels with academic attire, or wearing honor cords and stoles, MPC commencement regalia embodies tradition and celebrates student accomplishment with dignity on graduation day.