Samford University Commencement & Academic Regalia Summary

Samford University holds commencement ceremonies for eligible graduates each spring (and as needed), organized by the Registrar’s Office. Graduates must order their cap and gown in advance, and each student receives a regalia kit that includes cap, gown and a tassel.

Samford has adopted environmentally friendly regalia: since 2016, all gowns (including hoods for graduate and doctoral students) have been made from 100 % post‑consumer recycled plastic bottles — reducing waste while maintaining traditional academic dress standards.

Tassel colors at Samford vary by college, school or academic department, allowing graduates to wear a tassel that corresponds to their degree program. For example, Arts & Sciences uses Gold; Business uses Light Brown; Nursing uses Apricot; Law uses Purple; Education and Continuing Studies use Light Blue; Health Professions uses Kelly Green; and other departments have specified colors. Graduates are instructed to enter the ceremony with tassels on the right and move them to the left upon degree conferral.

Samford allows honor cords and approved stoles or pins for students who belong to recognized honor organizations or societies. Honor‑society cords — awarded by the societies themselves — and class honors cords (for Cum Laude, Magna, etc.) may be worn. Organizations with official status and a faculty advisor may petition to have their stoles or pins approved for commencement.

Graduate (master’s, professional, doctoral) students have distinct academic‑regalia requirements: master’s and doctoral gowns include hoods appropriate to degree level. On the hood, the velvet trim indicates academic discipline, while the lining reflects Samford University’s institutional colors. Graduate tassels and hoods are part of their regalia set, and must be worn properly during the ceremony.

In summary: Samford University’s commencement regalia policy provides a full academic dress framework — cap, gown, tassel (color‑coded by department), optional honor cords or stoles for eligible students, and hoods for graduate students. With an eco‑friendly gown fabric and a flexible yet structured tassel/hood color system, Samford ensures a traditional, dignified, and customizable graduation experience for all degree levels.

Samford University Academic Regalia – Cap, Gown, Tassel & Hood (Undergrad to Doctoral)

Get ready for graduation day with this comprehensive Samford University academic‑regalia set — cap, gown, tassel, and optional hood and honor accessories included or supported.

• Official Regalia Kit: Mortarboard cap, recycled‑material gown, and department-colored tassel as specified by Samford Registrar guidelines.
• Department/College Tassel Colors: Graduates receive tassels in Samford’s approved colors per college — e.g. Gold (Arts & Sciences), Light Brown (Business), Apricot (Nursing), Purple (Law), Light Blue (Education), Kelly Green (Health Professions), etc.
• Hood for Graduate Degrees: For master’s, professional, and doctoral graduates — includes hood with velvet trim and lining to signal discipline and institution during commencement.
• Honor Cords & Stole Compatibility: Official‑recognized honor‑society cords and approved stoles or pins can be worn if you qualify — perfect for academic honors or organizational recognition.
• Sustainable & Lightweight Fabric: Gown produced from recycled plastic bottles — comfortable in warm weather and easy to store or preserve as keepsake.
• Graduation Ceremony Ready: Designed to meet Samford’s commencement standards — tassel on right pre‑conferral, hooding for graduate students, and clean, uniform look for photos and stage walk.

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