Prices and apparel information are based on the 2023 Commencement ceremony and are subject to changes without notice. Please visit our website in January 2024 for updated information.
Student Academic Attire
Participants must wear appropriate academic apparel. All apparel is provided by Oak Hall Cap & Gown and must be ordered when you register for Commencement.
Registration Period: Monday, April 24, 2023 - Friday, May 12, 2023.
Register on time to ensure safe delivery of apparel before the ceremony date. Late registrants will be charged a $30 late fee
You will also be able to order other items as desired (souvenir tassels, extra degree tassels, mortarboards, hoods, honor cords, and stoles of gratitude). Bachelor's and master's regalia is made from 100% post-consumer plastic bottles. These gowns are for purchase only – there is no rental option.
Please Plan your Order Carefully!
- Changing or adding additional items to your order after it has already been placed may be difficult.
- Don't know what size to get? Visit the Office of the Registrar at MAT 251 to try on a gown before making your purchase (available until May 12)
Apparel packages, purple/gold souvenir tassels, honor cords & stoles of gratitude are available for purchase at the time of registration.
Veterans and Active Duty Military Graduate items and RSO stoles are managed independently.
Bachelor's Apparel
Package includes: Black bachelor's gown emblazoned with the University seal, mortarboard, degree-colored tassel.
Cap Size: "one size fits all."
Gown Size: size is based on your height and weight
Cost: $59 plus tax.
Bachelor's candidates receiving a double degree may purchase an additional tassel for the second degree.
Cost:$10 plus tax
Master’s Apparel
Package includes: Black master’s gown, mortarboard, black tassel, degree-colored hood.
Cap Size: "one size fits all."
Gown Size: size is based on your height and weight
Cost: $84 plus tax.
Master’s candidates receiving a double degree may purchase an additional hood for the second degree.
Cost: $32 plus tax
Master's and Doctoral students planning to attend their school's Hooding Ceremony should plan to register early to ensure arrival of apparels before their scheduled Hooding Ceremony.
Doctoral Apparel (Rental Only)
PhD Degree Apparel Rental Package – $98 plus tax
Package Includes: Purple Gown, Black Doctoral Tam, Purple PhD Hood
Those wishing to purchase official custom-fitted UW PhD regalia can contact Oak Hall directly at 1-800-223-0429.
Master's and Doctoral students planning to attend their school's Hooding Ceremony should plan to register early to ensure arrival of apparels before their scheduled Hooding Ceremony.
Doctorate Regalia Rental Terms and Conditions
The cost of the doctorate regalia rental is $98.00 plus tax.
Rental includes a Purple Gown, 8 Point Doctoral Tam and Purple PhD Hood.
Pickup: Apparel may be picked up during Grad Experience Week, May 30-June 2nd in William Philip Hall. Please contact your program advisor or tcommenc@uw.edu if alternative pick up options are needed.
Return: Full regalia rental must be returned to the program advisor or the Office of the Registrar (MAT 251) no later than June 16th.
Terms & Conditions
- Cancellations: You may cancel your apparel rental up to May 1st for a full refund.
- Check regalia apparel for any damage prior to leaving pickup location.
- Missing or damaged items will be invoiced at the current replacement value ($825 gown, $179 hood, $137 tam) and are subject to collection proceedings.
- Regalia may not be altered. Cuts, sewing, tape, iron on, glue or embellishments are not allowed.
Tassels and Hoods
Tassel and Hood Colors
In observance of tradition, all participants in the commencement ceremony will wear full academic regalia consisting of a traditional gown and mortarboard with tassel
| School of Education | |
| Bachelor of Arts, Education | Light Blue |
| School of Engineering & Technology | |
| Bachelor of Arts, Computer Science & Systems | White |
| Bachelor of Science, Computer Science & Systems | Gold |
| Bachelor of Science, Computer Engineering | Orange |
| Bachelor of Science, Information Technology | Gold |
| Bachelor of Science in Civil Engineering | Orange |
| Bachelor of Science in Electrical Engineering | Orange |
| Bachelor of Science in Mechanical Engineering | Orange |
| School Interdisciplinary Arts & Sciences | |
| Bachelor of Arts - See List | White |
| Bachelor of Science - See List | Gold |
| Milgard School of Business | |
| Bachelor of Arts in Business Administration | Royal Blue |
| Bachelor of Arts in Accounting | Royal Blue |
| Bachelor of Arts in Finance | Royal Blue |
| Bachelor of Arts in Management | Royal Blue |
| Bachelor of Arts in Marketing | Royal Blue |
| School of Nursing & Healthcare Leadership | |
| Bachelor of Arts, Healthcare Leadership | White |
| Bachelor of Science in Nursing | Apricot |
| School of Social Work & Criminal Justice | |
| Bachelor of Arts, Social Welfare | White |
| Bachelor of Arts, Criminal Justice | White |
| School of Urban Studies | |
| Bachelor Arts, Sustainable Urban Development | White |
| Bachelor of Arts, Urban Studies | White |
| Bachelor of Science, Urban Design | Gold |
**All Master's Tassels are black, Doctorate's are gold**
|
School of Education |
|
| Master of Education | Light Blue |
| Doctorate of Education, Educational Leadership | Light Blue |
| School of Engineering & Technology | |
| Master of Cybersecurity & Leadership | Gold |
| Master of Science in Computer Science & Systems | Gold |
| Master of Science in Electrical & Computer Engineering | Orange |
| Ph.D Computer Science & Systems | |
| Doctorate of Science in Computer & Systems | Gold |
| School Interdisciplinary Arts & Sciences | |
| Master of Arts, Interdisciplinary Arts & Sciences | White |
| Milgard School of Business | |
| Master of Accounting | Royal Blue |
| Master of Business Administration | Royal Blue |
| Master of Science in Accounting | Royal Blue |
| Master of Science in Business Analytics | Royal Blue |
| School of Nursing & Healthcare Leadership | |
| Master of Nursing | Apricot |
| School of Social Work & Criminal Justice | |
| Master of Social Work | Citron |
| School of Urban Studies | |
| Master of Arts in Community Planning | White |
| Master of Science in Geospatial Technologies | Gold |
Veterans and Active Duty Military Graduate Tassels
Complimentary red, white and blue tassels will be provided to veterans and active-duty military graduates. These will be distributed by the Veteran & Military Resource Center separate from your apparel order. These special red, white and blue tassels can be worn in addition to your regular academic tassel or instead of your academic tassel.
Veterans & Active Duty Military Graduate Tassel is complimentary and will be distributed by the Veteran & Military Resource Center.
Reserve your Veteran and Active Duty Military Tassel
Connect with the Veteran & Military Resource Center to reserve your Veteran and Active Duty Military Tassel
Souvenir Tassels and Keyrings
Purple and gold souvenir tassels and key rings are available as keepsakes. These are not intended to be worn during the ceremony. Cost: $10 plus tax
Purple and gold status tassels have a larger, flashier pendant with the year of graduation and are intended as keepsakes. Cost: $12 plus tax
| Souvenir Tassel | Status Tassel | Keyring Tassel |
|---|---|---|
 |
 |
 |
Stoles
Stole of Gratitude
Nearly every graduate has at least one special person in his or her life, someone who has provided invaluable emotional, moral, or financial support during their academic career. Many are blessed to have several such people. The Stole of Gratitude is a lasting tribute to those people who have shaped the life of a graduate, such as family and friends, professors, advisors, or fellow students.
The Stole of Gratitude is a lasting symbol of appreciation, and a fitting way for graduates to pay special tribute to those people who have shaped their lives. The new graduate presents the Stole and places it around the neck of the recipient as a gesture of appreciation. This can be done prior to or following the ceremony, or during other commemorative gatherings. More than one Stole may be given if there are multiple people that the graduate would like to thank.
Available in gold or purple. Cost: $35 plus tax
Military Graduation Stoles
UW Tacoma student veterans and military spouses can purchase a customized military stole indicating their military status and branch of service—the deadline to reserve stoles is April 2, 2023. These will be distributed by the Veteran & Military Resource Center separate from your apparel order.
Military Graduation Stoles are available for purchase through the Veteran & Military Resource Center.
Reserve your Military Stole!
Visit the Veteran & Military Resource Center to reserve your stole.
Graduation Stole Request
Student organizations, honor societies, Greek-lettered organizations, international students, and other groups may produce and distribute their own stoles for members to wear. However, these stoles require advance approval from the UW Tacoma Graduation Planning Committee. Stole approvals are typically considered for a four-year review cycle. If anything changes during that four-year period -- e.g., logo, colors, organization is no longer registered or not in good standing with the Office of Student Involvement -- you must submit an updated form.
The stole approval process ended April 15, 2023. If you have questions about stoles, please contact uwtstudentaffairs@uw.edu.
Students wishing to wear a stole representing their organization should check the list of approved stoles or contact the advisor for their organization. Stoles are the only permissible accessory that will be granted approval to be worn during the ceremony. Custom cords or tassels will not be allowed.
If you are not sure who the advisor for a specific organization is, please contact uwtstudentaffairs@uw.edu.
Approval Process
If your organization has an approved stole on file from a previous year AND there are no changes, you do not need to request approval again.
If you believe your organization has an approval but it is not listed or the stole pictured is not the current design, please contact the Office of the Vice Chancellor at uwtstudentaffairs@uw.edu.
To be considered for approval, all new requests (or changes to a prior approval) must meet the following guidelines and include the appropriate materials:
- Must be a Registered Student Organization (RSO) in good standing
- Requests to wear stoles at the 2023 Commencement ceremony must be submitted to the Office of the Vice Chancellor for Student Affairs (uwtstudentaffairs@uw.edu) in writing by April 15, 2023.
Requests must include:- Statement indicating approval from the RSO advisor on record
- An image/proof of the stole to be ordered or worn
It is our experience, as an evolving campus with unique groups and programming, that there may be some requests that don't fully meet the listed criteria, but warrant consideration for approval. If you believe that your group or organization should be granted permission to wear a stole please submit your request as described above along with a detailed statement and the required materials/approvals. Students with memberships to a professional organization may also submit requests, following the same criteria.
Questions? Email us at: uwtstudentaffairs@uw.edu
Note: Stoles are the only permissible accessory that will be granted approval to be worn during the ceremony. NO CORDS (outside baccalaureate, faculty and global honors) will be approved.
Honor Cords
Undergraduate students who have earned baccalaureate honors (cum laude, magna cum laude, summa cum laude) or faculty honors may purchase an honor cord to wear at the ceremony. Baccalaureate honor cords are gold; faculty honor cords are purple. Ivory honor cords are also available for Global Honors students. Cost: $12 plus tax
Note: Only official UW Tacoma honor cords can be worn at Commencement. No other type of cord is allowed. Participants may wear stoles to recognize their membership in a particular group or other organization.
How to Wear your Cap & Gown
Bachelor's Cap and Gown
Master's Cap and Gown
Refunds & Late Purchase
You will not be able to change or edit your order once you submit your purchase. Please plan and double check your items before confirming your order. To inquire about returns, contact Oak Hall customer service. Only unopened apparel may be considered for return. UW Tacoma staff are unable to process returns.
Oak Hall Customer Service
540/378-7001
customercare@oakhalli.com
Don't know what size to get? Visit the Office of the Registrar at MAT 251 to try on a gown before making your purchase (available beginning April 3rd)
Late Purchase
If you missed the deadline to purchase your cap and gown package, we will have a small supply available in the Office of the Registrar at MAT 251 beginning May 22 through June 8. There is a $30 fee associated with late purchase of the cap and gown package and is subject to size availability. Souvenir tassels and stoles will also be available for purchase. All available items are based on first come first serve basis.
