Rhode Island College

Rhode Island College Commencement & Academic Regalia Overview

Rhode Island College holds its annual commencement ceremony for baccalaureate and advanced‑degree candidates. For 2025, the undergraduate commencement is scheduled at the Amica Mutual Pavilion in Providence, while graduate‑level ceremonies occur in the college’s Murray Center.

All participating graduates are required to wear academic regalia — cap and gown — to participate in the stage walk and diploma conferral. Regalia must be ordered by the published deadline. If missed, students may still purchase a cap and gown from the RIC Official Bookstore starting April 3.

For undergraduate (baccalaureate) students who qualify for Latin honors, RIC issues honor cords in specific colors: White for Cum Laude (GPA 3.25–3.59), Burgundy for Magna Cum Laude (3.60–3.84), and Gold for Summa Cum Laude (3.85–4.0). These cords are picked up at the Senior Brunch or held for issuance at the ceremony venue.

Students may also wear additional cords or approved stoles for honor societies or organizational recognition, as long as they meet RIC’s guidelines. There is no widely publicized discipline‑based color scheme for tassels, hoods, or stoles, indicating that such items are standardized or optional rather than varied by major.

RIC hosts a “Grad Fest” each spring — a one‑stop event where graduates collect their cap and gown, guest tickets, and other commencement essentials.

In summary: Rhode Island College follows a conventional academic‑regalia process. All participants must wear a cap and gown; honor cords are assigned based on GPA for Latin honors; additional stoles or cords for societies are allowed if approved. There is no public discipline‑color code for tassels or gowns. This ensures a uniform, dignified commencement presentation while still allowing students to display individual honors or affiliations.

• Mortarboard cap and academic gown — required attire for RIC commencement participants.
• Neutral black gown and cap design — standard across all majors and degree levels at RIC.
• Supports official Latin‑honor cords (White, Burgundy, Gold) for Cum, Magna, Summa graduates.
• Compatibility with approved honor‑society stoles or cords for eligible students.
• Single kit works for undergraduate and graduate degree candidates — simplifying procurement.
• Clean academic‑regalia style — ideal for commencement walk, diploma conferral, graduation photos, and keepsake memorabilia.

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