Penn State York – Graduation Cap, Gown, Tassel & Regalia Overview

Penn State York’s commencement ceremony requires all degree-candidates to wear official academic regalia. Undergraduate (baccalaureate or associate) students wear a blue gown with wide sleeves along with a blue mortarboard cap and tassel. Graduate students (master’s or higher) wear a black gown with pointed sleeves plus hood and cap.

The tassel for undergraduates is worn on the right front edge of the cap until the degree is formally conferred. The only other apparel officially permitted (besides regalia) is U.S. Armed Forces uniform.

Regalia — caps, gowns, tassels, and hoods — may be purchased via the Penn State York Bookstore, located in the M.S. Grumbacher Information Sciences and Technology Center. Gowns are available in regular and plus sizes. Graduates are advised to inspect their regalia for correct size and completeness prior to commencement day.

Ornamentation such as additional stoles, cords, sashes, ribbons or other accessories representing honorary societies, nationalities or personal decoration is not approved for commencement. Only the official regalia is permitted.

There is no publicly available detailed handbook or PDF on the website listing specific “honor cord colors,” “stole colors,” or “discipline-based tassel/hood colors” for Penn State York. Official instructions explicitly state that only the standard blue (undergraduate) or black (graduate) gown and cap with matching tassel and hood (for graduates) are permitted, without additional ornamentation.

In summary: Penn State York’s commencement emphasizes uniform, conservative academic dress. Undergraduates wear blue gowns and caps; graduates wear black gowns with hood; tassels on right until conferral; no extra stoles, cords or decorative items allowed. Regalia must come from the official bookstore and be properly fitted.

Penn State York Commencement — Cap, Gown, Tassel & Regalia Guide

Penn State York requires all degree candidates to wear approved academic regalia for commencement. Undergraduate students wear a blue gown with wide sleeves and a matching blue mortarboard cap with tassel. Graduate candidates wear a black gown with pointed sleeves, hood, and cap. Academic dress or a U.S. Armed Forces uniform are the only permitted alternatives.

The cap tassel for bachelor’s and associate degree recipients should be worn on the right front edge of the mortarboard until the degree is formally conferred. Penn State York’s official guidance explicitly prohibits ornamentation representing honorary societies, nationalities, or personal decoration on gowns or caps — that means no unofficial stoles, cords, sashes, or ribbons are permitted at commencement.

Caps, gowns, tassels, and hoods are available for purchase at the Penn State York Bookstore (located in the M.S. Grumbacher Information Sciences & Technology Center), with regular and plus-size options. Graduates are urged to check the regalia for size and completeness before the ceremony.

Important to note: there is **no publicly available** Penn State York handbook or PDF describing discipline-based tassel colors, honor cord or stole colors, or doctoral-level regalia color schemes. The university’s “Ready to Graduate” instructions only reference blue gowns for undergraduates and black gowns for graduates, without details about cords, stoles, or special colors. As such, any listing that claims specific “honor cord colors”, “stole colors,” or “discipline-based tassel/hood colors” for Penn State York beyond the official blue/black gown and tassel/hood should be treated as speculative.

In summary: Penn State York’s commencement dress code emphasizes uniformity and simplicity. Blue gowns and caps for undergraduates; black gowns with hoods for graduate students; tassels on the right until degree conferred; and no unofficial cords, stoles, or decorative additions permitted. Regalia must be purchased through the campus bookstore and correctly fitted.

• Undergraduate academic regalia: blue gown (wide sleeves), blue mortarboard cap, tassel on the right until degree conferral.
• Graduate academic regalia: black gown (pointed sleeves), hood, academic cap — purchased from campus bookstore.
• Caps, gowns, tassels, and hoods available in regular and plus sizes; check for fit and completeness before ceremony.
• Official academic dress or approved military uniform only; no unauthorized cords, stoles, sashes, or decorations allowed.
• Tassels only; ornamentation representing honorary societies or personal decoration is not permitted.
• No publicly documented discipline-based tassel/hood colors, honor-cord colors, or stole colors — only standard blue (undergrad) / black (grad) regalia is specified.
• Approved regalia must be worn to participate in the ceremony; otherwise attendance may be denied.
• Appropriate footwear required — avoid flip-flops or unsafe shoes, especially given stairs at the venue.

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