United States Merchant Marine Academy (USMMA) — Commencement & Academic Regalia

The United States Merchant Marine Academy (USMMA) hosts its annual commencement ceremony each June on Tomb Field, celebrating the academic achievements of midshipmen. The ceremony follows a formal Colors Formation and may be simulcast indoors if required by weather conditions.

Graduates wear traditional academic regalia, including a black graduation gown and a black mortarboard graduation cap. The tassel, part of the cap and tassel set, is typically worn on the right before the degree is conferred and moved to the left during the tassel turn. This represents the official transition from candidate to graduate.

Faculty members participate in faculty regalia, wearing standard academic gowns and hoods in accordance with U.S. regimental-style commencement traditions. While specific honor cords and stoles are not detailed in publicly available USMMA documents, a distinctive Honor Ribbon recognizes midshipmen for exceptional "Sea Year" academic performance.

USMMA’s commencement emphasizes discipline and tradition, relying on classic graduation gown and cap sets rather than ornate ornamentation. Midshipmen celebrate their achievement with the formal academic attire that has been a hallmark of the Academy for decades.

• Graduation Gown: Black traditional gown
• Graduation Cap: Black mortarboard cap with tassel
• Tassel: Standard right-to-left movement at graduation
• Faculty Regalia: Standard academic gowns and hoods
• Honor Ribbon: Blue and gray/white for Sea Year excellence
• Cap and Gown Sets: Standardized midshipman academic regalia

USMMA’s commencement ceremony combines formal military precision with academic tradition, ensuring each graduate is honored in classic cap, gown, and tassels sets.

USMMA Regalia Package

Honor your USMMA graduation with a regalia package that reflects the academy’s values and traditions. Though USMMA does not publish a formal academic-color guide for tassels, cords, or stoles, this set is designed with clean lines and classic academic style.

• Graduation Gown: Solid black gown, simple but formal — ideal for midshipmen’s commencement.
• Graduation Cap: Black mortarboard cap, traditional design.
• Tassel Style: Standard tassel with right-to-left movement following degree conferment.
• Honor Recognition: While there’s no confirmed color‑coding for cords or stoles, USMMA’s academic and sea-year honor is often signified by a blue-and-gray ribbon.
• Faculty Regalia: Subdued design with plain gowns; no verified discipline-based velvet trim publicly documented.
• Academy Colors: The blue and gray of USMMA are highlighted subtly, aligning with its regimental and academic heritage.

Note: To confirm the exact colors of the graduation gown, cap, tassel, honor cords, and stoles for your specific program at United States Merchant Marine Academy , 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.