The University of Delaware (UD) holds its formal commencement ceremonies with full academic pageantry. During commencement, degree candidates wear traditional academic dress, underscoring the symbolic importance of their achievement. According to UD’s official regalia page, all graduates must obtain their cap, gown, hood, and tassel from the B&N UD Bookstore, which is the only approved vendor. Financially limited students may borrow cleaned gowns donated through UD’s Office of Sustainability.
For bachelor’s and master’s graduates, UD requires the standard black graduation gown and mortarboard-style cap. According to UD’s academic-dress tradition, bachelor’s tassels start on the right and are moved to the left after the degree is conferred. Master’s gowns have a distinctive sleeve design, while doctoral gowns feature bell-shaped sleeves with velvet panels and may include a velvet cap (tam).
UD’s academic hoods signify the graduate’s discipline and degree level. The hood is lined with the university’s colors — **blue and gold** — and the velvet border indicates the field of study. While UD does not use cords to denote Latin honors, each academic college has its own **tassel color** that reflects its discipline.For example, during the Doctoral Hooding Ceremony, the new doctors receive their hoods in blue and gold lining.
As for **honor cords or stoles**, UD’s regalia site explicitly states that the university does *not* use cords for Latin honors. Some affiliates (such as international or cultural organizations) may provide **sashes** (e.g., dual‑country or international stoles) via the bookstore.
Faculty regalia at UD aligns with academic tradition: professors and academic staff wear black robes trimmed with velvet (color reflecting their field), and their hoods display the university or institution from which they earned their highest degree.
In summary, the University of Delaware commencement emphasizes unity, tradition, and scholarly identity. Graduates wear black gowns, and discipline‑specific tassels, and advanced students add velvet-trimmed hoods in UD’s blue and gold. The regalia policy ensures visual consistency while highlighting students’ fields of study — making for a dignified and meaningful academic celebration.
Be ceremony-ready for your UD commencement. This academic regalia set gives you cap, gown, tassel, hood (if needed), and sash options aligned with University of Delaware’s tradition and visual standards.
Note: To confirm the exact colors of the graduation gown, cap, tassel, honor cords, and stoles for your specific program at University of Delaware , 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.