Santa Monica College

Santa Monica College – Graduation & Academic Regalia Summary

Santa Monica College annually hosts a Commencement ceremony for eligible graduates of associate‑degree, certificate, or bachelor’s‑in‑science programs. Participation requires students to obtain approved academic apparel. Regalia including cap, gown, tassel, stoles, and cords are explicitly listed in the college’s “2025 Grad Program” and “Commencement Program.”

SMC uses a dual‑gown‑color system to denote degree type: graduates receiving a Bachelor of Science wear a black gown and cap, while those earning an Associate Degree or Certificate wear a blue gown and cap. Tassels, stoles, and cords are used to indicate honors status or special program / society membership.

For honors graduates, SMC issues stoles according to GPA — gold stole for Highest Honors (4.0 GPA), silver stole for High Honors (3.7–3.99 GPA), and light‑blue stole for Honors.

SMC also supports program or society‑specific regalia: for example, a black stole with blue trim for the “RISING Program,” a blue‑and‑white cord for the “Scholars Program,” a blue stole with Kente outline for “Black Collegians,” special stoles/cords for honor societies such as Phi Theta Kappa and Alpha Gamma Sigma, a lavender stole for Pride Center graduates, and other distinctive adornments tied to participation in those programs.

Faculty and staff participating in the Commencement processional are also required to wear academic regalia. SMC provides rental regalia for faculty/staff; orders must be placed by the announced deadline and returned after the ceremony.

In summary: SMC maintains a structured and publicly documented academic‑regalia system. Graduation attire includes degree‑level color‑coded gowns (black for bachelor’s, blue for associate/certificate), cap and tassel, and optional stoles or cords to denote honors, student programs or membership in societies. This clearly defined system allows both students and third‑party sellers to create compliant “cap and gown, tassel, stole/cord” sets that reflect SMC’s requirements for commencement.

Santa Monica College Academic Regalia – Cap, Gown & Tassel (Plus Optional Stoles & Cords)

• Graduation cap (mortarboard), gown, and tassel — required attire for SMC Commencement. Gown/cap color depends on degree: black for Bachelor of Science, blue for Associate Degree or Certificate.
• Standard tassel included — part of the core regalia set.
• Optional honor stoles: gold (Highest Honors), silver (High Honors), light blue (Honors) — for graduates meeting GPA criteria.
• Optional program or society cords/stoles for recognized student programs and honor societies — e.g. Scholars Program, Black Collegians, Pride Center, Phi Theta Kappa, etc.
• Faculty/staff rental regalia available for non‑student participants in commencement ceremonies.
• Appropriate for undergraduate certificate/associate grads and bachelor’s students, with clear options for honors or program-based additions.
• Important: This listing aligns with SMC’s official regalia policy. Additional cords or stoles must comply with the approved list of regalia items under SMC Student Academic Apparel guidelines.

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