Penn State University Commencement — Cap, Gown & Regalia Overview

At Penn State University, all degree‑candidates participating in commencement must wear approved academic regalia or, for qualified students, a U.S. Armed Forces uniform. For baccalaureate and associate degrees, approved attire is a blue cap and gown with white tassel, with the tassel positioned on the right front edge of the mortarboard cap until degrees are officially conferred.

Caps and gowns (and hoods for graduate degrees) must be purchased via the official PSU Bookstore or authorized vendor before the ceremony. No regalia is provided at the venue on ceremony day.

For master’s and doctoral candidates, academic dress includes a black gown (or gown style appropriate to degree), mortarboard or doctoral cap/tam, and an academic hood. The hood lining uses the official colors of Penn State (blue and white), while the velvet trim or border reflects the academic discipline of the degree—consistent with the standard U.S. academic‑regalia colour code adopted by PSU.

Regarding honor cords, stoles, and other ornamentation: PSU permits only officially recognized adornments such as honor cords for academic distinction or military service, or regalia issued by recognized university honor societies. Additional stoles, sashes, ribbons, or unapproved decorations are not permitted under the university’s commencement regalia guidelines.

In summary: Penn State University enforces a formal academic‑regalia requirement for commencement — blue cap, gown, white tassel for undergraduates; black gown + hood + appropriate cap/tam for graduate‑level degrees — with hoods’ velvet trim denoting discipline. Official honor cords or veteran/military cords may be worn if issued by the University. Any retail or product listing claiming “official PSU stoles, cords or custom tassel colors by major” should be considered speculative unless verified by PSU Bookstore or the Registrar.

• Undergraduate regalia: blue gown + mortarboard cap + white tassel on right until degree conferral.
• Graduate/Doctoral regalia: black gown, mortarboard or tam, with velvet‑trimmed academic hood — hood lining in Penn State blue and white, velvet border indicates discipline.
• Regalia must be purchased via the official Penn State Bookstore or authorized vendor; no distribution on ceremony day.
• Only University‑recognized honor cords, veteran/military cords, or cords from recognized honor societies are permitted as adornments. Extra stoles, sashes, ribbons or unapproved decorations are not allowed.
• Cap tassel starts on the right (undergraduates) or left (if hood/wearing doctoral regalia) — dependent on degree level.
• Hood trim color varies by academic discipline — following standard academic‑regalia color code adopted by PSU.
• Official academic dress or U.S. Armed Forces uniform required for commencement procession and degree conferral.
• Any product listings claiming “PSU official tassel/hood/cord/stole colors by major or honor” should be verified — only what’s documented in PSU regalia policy is official.

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