Thomas Edison State University Commencement & Academic Regalia

Thomas Edison State University (TESU) in Trenton, New Jersey, holds its annual commencement ceremony each September at the CURE Insurance Arena. The ceremony celebrates adult and non-traditional learners who have completed their academic programs. Graduates participate in a formal procession wearing traditional academic regalia, including caps and gowns, and perform the ceremonial tassel flip on their mortarboard graduation cap to signify completion of their degrees.

TESU uses degree-specific academic gowns: associate degree graduates wear a burgundy gown, while bachelor’s and master’s graduates wear black graduation gowns. Graduate students and doctoral candidates wear an academic hood with the doctoral gown featuring velvet facings and three velvet sleeve bars in discipline-specific colors. Doctoral graduates also wear a black tam cap with a gold tassel.

TESU also offers a variety of honor cords reflecting academic achievement and society membership. Common colors include burgundy & gold for Alpha Sigma Lambda, purple & gold for Delta Mu Delta, green & gold for Sigma Beta Delta, purple & white for Sigma Theta Tau Nursing, red-white-blue for military service, and green for philanthropy recognition. Veteran graduates may also wear a red, white & blue cord or stole.

Faculty participate in the ceremony in traditional faculty regalia, including robes and hoods. While specific discipline colors are not publicly documented, faculty gowns follow standard academic conventions. Overall, TESU emphasizes a dignified, formal appearance through the combination of graduation gown, cap, tassel, honor cords, and optional hoods for graduate-level students, reflecting both tradition and the recognition of student accomplishments.

Thomas Edison State University Academic Regalia – Cap, Gown & Tassel

• Burgundy associate gown or black bachelor’s/master’s gown, crafted for TESU graduates.
• Mortarboard cap included – color matches the gown (burgundy or black).
• Tassel choices: burgundy for associate, black or burgundy for bachelor’s/master’s, gold for doctoral.
• Graduate (Master’s) and Doctoral sets include a degree-appropriate academic hood.
• Doctoral gown features velvet facings, three velvet sleeve bars, and black tam cap.
• Honor cords available in multiple colors: burgundy & gold, purple & gold, violet/jade/gold, green, blue & gold, red/white/blue.
• Veteran stole: red, white & blue available for military service graduates.

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