West Virginia University Commencement Ceremony & Academic Regalia

West Virginia University’s commencement ceremony ensures that every graduating student participates in full academic attire. All degree candidates are required to wear approved academic regalia, including the graduation gown, graduation cap (mortarboard or tam where appropriate), and a coordinated tassel set. The official color guide outlines discipline-specific hood and tassel colors; for example, orange for Engineering, apricot for Nursing, and dark blue for Doctoral level.

Undergraduate gowns are generally the standard institution color, and graduates must purchase their caps, gowns, tassels, and hoods prior to the ceremony through the University Bookstore or an authorized vendor. Honor cords and stoles are permitted for students earning Latin honors or approved organizational distinctions; these are distributed by the respective colleges or departments in advance of Commencement.

Faculty and university officials participating in the platform procession must wear full academic regalia consistent with their highest earned degree, including gowns, hoods, and caps reflecting their credential and discipline. WVU emphasizes that only candidates wearing the complete cap, gown, and tassel set—and any authorized honor cords or stoles—are eligible to participate in the ceremonial procession.

These guidelines reinforce key search terms like graduation gown, graduation gown color, graduation cap, academic regalia, and cap & gown tassel sets, helping students, families, and vendors locate and order appropriate regalia for WVU commencement with clarity and consistency.

West Virginia University Graduation Gown & Academic Regalia

West Virginia University (WVU) provides a distinguished and formal commencement experience for all graduates, ensuring that every student participates in a professional and uniform academic ceremony. All degree candidates must wear the approved graduation gown, graduation cap, and cap & gown tassel sets. The standard graduation gown color for Bachelor’s, Master’s, and Doctoral students is black, with Master’s and Doctoral gowns featuring hoods and velvet panels to signify academic achievement and discipline.

Tassel colors at WVU vary by degree and field of study. Undergraduate students wear tassels matching their academic discipline, such as orange for Engineering, apricot for Nursing, and citrine for Social Work. Master’s candidates typically wear black tassels, while Doctoral tassels are gold, representing the highest academic achievement. Honor cords and stoles are permitted for students graduating with honors or as members of approved organizations, providing additional visual distinction during the ceremony.

Faculty and university officials participating in the commencement ceremony wear full academic regalia corresponding to their highest earned degree, including gowns, hoods, and caps that reflect their discipline and credential level. WVU emphasizes that only graduates wearing the complete cap, gown, and tassel set—ordered through the University Bookstore or approved vendors—are eligible to participate in the formal procession, ensuring a consistent, dignified appearance across all ceremonies.

WVU Academic Regalia Highlights

• Bachelor Cap & Gown: Black gown, tassel in discipline color, honor cord, stoles in approved colors.
• Master Cap & Gown: Black gown with hood, black tassel, honor cords and stoles as authorized.
• Doctoral Cap & Gown: Black gown with hood and velvet panels, gold tassel, honor cords and stoles.
• Cap & Gown Tassel: Discipline-specific colors for Bachelor, black for Master, gold for Doctoral.
• Faculty Regalia Color: Full academic regalia reflecting highest earned degree and discipline.
• Other Discipline Regalia Colors: Follow standard academic costume code for hoods and gown trim per field.

This comprehensive academic regalia policy aligns with search-friendly keywords such as graduation gown, graduation gown color, graduation cap, academic regalia, cap & gown tassel sets, honor cord, and stoles, optimizing the content for students, families, and online vendors preparing for WVU commencement.

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