University of California Merced

The University of California, Merced (UC Merced) commencement ceremony follows rich academic tradition. Graduates wear formal academic regalia: gowns, mortarboard caps (or tams for doctoral candidates), tassels, and hoods where applicable. At UCM, these elements symbolize scholarly achievement and institutional identity.

Undergraduate students typically don the standard black gown with a mortarboard and tassel. The tassel color aligns with the academic discipline, using the traditional “hood‑color” scheme defined by UCM’s regalia tradition — for example, Engineering is orange, Science is golden‑yellow, Education light‑blue, and other fields follow the same classic academic color codes.

For master’s degree graduates, their regalia includes a draped‑sleeve gown and a hood trimmed in velvet that reflects their field of study. The hood’s interior lining features UC Merced’s signature blue and gold chevron, emphasizing the campus’s identity in the academic regalia.

Doctoral candidates wear a distinctive blue doctoral gown and an eight‑sided blue tam. Their hood is lined in luminous gold satin with a bold UC Merced blue chevron, and the velvet trim denotes their discipline: Ph.D. blue for doctor of philosophy, purple for JD, or green for MD, depending on their program. The cherry on top: their tassel is a refined gold bullion style, symbolizing high academic distinction.

Regarding honor cords and stoles, publicly available UC Merced commencement materials do not list a standardized color scheme for Latin honors cords or stoles. The Traditions & Symbols page focuses primarily on hood and tassel colors for degree fields, suggesting that honors regalia may be handled at the college or departmental level rather than campus-wide.

Faculty participating in commencement wear full academic robes and hoods consistent with UCM’s regalia policy. The hood velvet trim reflects their academic discipline, and the hood lining displays UC Merced’s blue chevron, underscoring the shared institutional identity.

Graduating students must order their regalia — cap, gown, tassel, and hood — through approved vendors or the UC Merced Bookstore well before commencement. By combining discipline‑specific tassels and hood trim with the institution’s signature colors, UC Merced’s regalia system offers a dignified and visually unified commencement experience.

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UC Merced Graduation Regalia – Official Bobcat Cap & Gown Set

Celebrate your UC Merced graduation with the official academic regalia package — gown, cap or tam, tassel, and hood (for graduate students).

Undergraduate Set: Black gown + mortarboard + tassel in your field’s color (orange, gold, light blue, etc.).
Master’s Set: Draped-sleeve gown + hood with discipline-colored velvet + UC Merced blue/ gold lining + tassel.
Doctoral Set: Blue doctoral gown + eight‑sided tam + gold bullion tassel + hood trimmed by discipline.
Faculty Regalia: Professors wear robes + hoods color-coded to their academic field.
Ordering Info: Purchase your regalia via the UC Merced Bookstore or from approved vendors before the deadline.

This official UC Merced regalia set honors your academic achievement and celebrates your connection to the Bobcat community.

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