Ohio Northern University Commencement & Academic Regalia

Ohio Northern University holds its commencement ceremonies each May, typically in the ONU Sports Center Field House. All students who have completed degree requirements and met graduation clearance are eligible to participate; the schedule is posted annually.

For undergraduates, as well as master’s or doctoral candidates, academic regalia — gown, cap, and (for advanced degrees) hood/tassel — is required. The official regalia provider is Herff Jones, which supplies caps, gowns, hoods, and all graduation-related attire.

Academic Regalia Styles at ONU

• Bachelor’s Gowns: Closed at the throat with long pointed sleeves.
• Master’s Gowns: Worn open or closed with long, oblong sleeves.
• Doctoral Gowns: Open or closed, faced with velvet, and with full bell-shaped sleeves adorned with three velvet chevrons — distinguishing doctoral candidates.
• Academic Caps: Usually black mortarboards (or soft caps in some cases). Tassels may be black or the color appropriate to the discipline or field of study; doctoral caps often use a gold tassel.
• Hoods: Add academic colors; the lining identifies ONU, while velvet trim indicates the field of study (discipline).

Discipline Color Guide

The publicly available “Colors of Fields of Learning” list on ONU’s site shows standard field-to-color mappings, for example:

• Engineering = Orange
• Education = Light Blue
• Science = Golden Yellow
• Business/Commerce = Drab (Tan)

Ohio Northern University maintains a structured academic-regalia system: black gowns and caps with discipline-appropriate tassels for undergraduates; hoods with discipline-colored velvet trim for advanced degrees; and formal academic-dress differentiation by degree level. Honor cords or stoles — if awarded — are not described on the public commencement page, suggesting they are handled on a case-by-case basis by departments or societies, rather than via a uniform public color chart.

Ohio Northern University Academic Regalia – Cap, Gown, Tassel & Hood (Graduation Essentials)

• Institution: Ohio Northern University (ONU)
• Included Essentials: Graduation gown, cap (mortarboard or soft cap), tassel; hood included for eligible Master’s/Doctoral graduates.
• Degree & Discipline Color Coding: Tassel color corresponds to academic discipline; hood velvet trim reflects the graduate’s field of study (e.g., Engineering = Orange, Business = Drab, Science = Golden Yellow, Education = Light Blue, Arts & Humanities = White, etc.). ([ONU Colors of Fields Guide])
• Regalia Styles by Degree Level: Bachelor’s gowns (pointed sleeves), Master’s gowns (long oblong sleeves), Doctoral gowns (velvet‑faced with bell sleeves & chevrons).
• Who It’s For: Undergraduate, graduate, or doctoral students; alumni; family‑members ordering regalia as gifts; or anyone needing formal academic regalia for events or photos.
• Regalia Compliance Note: Only authentic ONU/Herff Jones‑provided regalia is approved for commencement participation — ensure purchase or rental through the official ordering system before the April deadline.

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