About Academic Regalia
Caps, Gowns, and Tassels
Graduates wear a gown and a cap, known as a mortarboard, with a tassel. Bachelor’s degree recipients wear black; associate degree, certificate, high school diploma, and GED recipients wear royal blue.
A cap and gown are required for all graduates participating in the commencement ceremony. Order your cap, gown, and regalia.
Stoles and Cords
Stoles and cords are worn over the gown and signify membership in a specific group (such as international students, student leadership, or veterans), a specific honor (such as academic achievement or other honor society), a specific degree type (such as a Bachelor of Applied Science degree), a specific support program (Seattle Promise, Running Start, TRiO), or an affinity group (cultural heritage).
Some of these items may be given out at your college’s Grad Fest or Spring Fest or other event. Check with the individual program or organization to see if they are offering a cord or stole this year.
The accordions below list the stole and cord colors and their corresponding programs, honors, and degrees at Seattle Colleges.
Cord Colors and Designations
 | Black, Red | TRiO (Student Support Service, Talent Search, Upward Bound) |
 | Gold | Cumulative GPA of 3.5 and above (North) Cumulative GPA of 3.8 and above (Central) Cumulative GPA of 3.5 and above (South) |
| Gold | Eta Sigma Delta Honor Society (Hospitality) |
 | Red | Running Start |
 | Red, Navy Blue | Alpha Beta Kappa National Honor Society |
 | Red, White, Blue | United States Military Veterans |
 | Turquoise | Seattle Promise |
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Stole Colors and Designations
 | Beige | Bachelor of Applied Science in Accounting with International Accounting (North) |
| Beige | Bachelor of Applied Science in International Business (North) |
| Beige | Bachelor of Applied Science in Residential and Commercial Property Management (North) |
 | Brown | Bachelor of Applied Science in Hospitality Management (South) |
| Gold | Phi Theta Kappa Honor Society |
 | Light Blue | Bachelor of Applied Science in Applied Behavioral Science (Central) |
| Light Blue | Bachelor of Applied Science in Early Childhood Education (North) |
 | Light Blue | Bachelor of Applied Science in Professional Technical Education & Instructional Design (South) |
 | Lilac | Bachelor of Applied Science in Allied Health – Dental Hygiene (Central) |
 | Multicolor | Cultural Heritage - Division for Access, Community, and Opportunity |
 | Purple | Student Leadership |
 | Salmon | Bachelor of Applied Science in Allied Health – Community Health and Education (Central) |
| Salmon | Bachelor of Applied Science in Allied Health – Health Care Services Management (Central) |
| Salmon | Bachelor of Applied Science in Allied Health – Respiratory Care (Central) |
 | Science Gold | Bachelor of Applied Science in Application Development (North) |
| Science Gold | Bachelor of Applied Science in Information Technology Networking (Central) |
| Science Gold | Bachelor of Applied Science in Sustainable Building Science Technology (South) |
| Science Gold | Bachelor of Science in Computer Science (North) |
 | White | International Students |
Hoods
Faculty members and those who have completed master’s or doctoral degrees earn hoods. These hoods feature the colors of the faculty member's academic discipline as well as the colors of the universities that granted the degrees. Additionally, many of those with doctorates may have more elaborate caps and gowns.
