Rio Hondo College

Río Hondo College Commencement & Academic Regalia Overview

Río Hondo College holds an annual commencement ceremony for eligible graduates — including associate and bachelor degree recipients — typically on the main campus. According to the 2025 “Grad Letter,” graduates must wear approved academic regalia (cap and gown) to be allowed on stage for the ceremony.

All participating graduates are required to purchase their mortarboard cap and academic gown from the RHC Bookstore before the deadline.The college’s commencement notice explicitly states that “ONLY those wearing the appropriate CAP and GOWN will be allowed to participate.” This requirement applies uniformly — regardless of major or degree type.

Regarding tassels, honor cords, stoles or hoods: RHC’s publicly‑released commencement letter clarifies that the department of Student Life nor the President’s Office provides stoles to students, and not all programs provide stoles. There is no publicly available color‑chart or formal policy linking gown/tassel/stole colors to specific academic disciplines, degrees, or honors status. As such, graduation attire appears to be uniform, with no institution‑wide discipline‑based variation published.

Given the lack of public documentation about hoods, special tassel colors, or official honor cords/stoles, it appears that Río Hondo College relies on a simple, standardized academic regalia system: a black gown, a mortarboard cap, and a tassel (likely standard color) for all graduates. Optional adornments — such as stoles or cords — are only available at the discretion of individual programs, and are not guaranteed or institution‑issued centrally.

In summary: Río Hondo College’s commencement and academic‑regalia protocol emphasize uniformity and compliance. Graduates must wear a college‑issued cap and gown to walk the stage. There is no publicly documented variation in gown or tassel color by discipline, degree level, or honors status. Extra adornments such as stoles or cords are program‑specific, optional, and not centrally supplied, meaning the core regalia remains standard for all graduates.

• Mortarboard cap, academic gown, and tassel — the standard regalia required for Río Hondo College commencement graduates.
• Simple, neutral gown and cap design — universal across all majors and credentials, as no discipline‑based color coding is publicly specified.
• One‑size kit for any graduate — suitable for associate, certificate, or bachelor’s degree recipients without need for special hood or color variation.
• Cap/gown/tassel set ensures full compliance with commencement dress code and stage‑walk eligibility.
• Clean academic‑regalia style — ideal for commencement ceremony, diploma presentation, graduation photos, and lifelong keepsakes.
• Compatible with optional program‑issued stoles or cords (if applicable).

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