Student Academic Attire

Participants must wear appropriate academic apparel. All apparel must be ordered when you register for Commencement. 

Please Plan your Order Carefully!

  • Changing or adding additional items to your order after it has already been placed may be difficult.

Apparel packages, purple/gold souvenir tassels, honor cords & stoles are available for purchase at the time of registration.
Veterans and Active Duty Military Graduate items and RSO stoles are managed independently.

**Pricing noted below does not reflect applicable sales tax or shipping charges

Bachelor's Apparel

Sample of Bachelors Apparel without Stole

Package 1

Includes: Black bachelor's gown emblazoned with the University seal, mortarboard, and one degree-colored tassel.
Cost: $53.00

Cap Size: "one size fits all."
Gown Size: size is based on your height and weight
Sample of Bachelors Apparel withStole

Package 2

Includes: Black bachelor's gown emblazoned with the University seal, mortarboard, one degree-colored tassel, and a UW Tacoma Stole.
Cost: $83.00

Cap Size: "one size fits all."
Gown Size: size is based on your height and weight

 

package 3

Package 3

Includes: Black bachelor's gown emblazoned with the University seal, mortarboard, one degree-colored tassel, UW Tacoma Stole, and a Diploma Frame
Cost: $218-$313.00

Cap Size: "one size fits all."
Gown Size: size is based on your height and weight

Bachelor's candidates receiving a double degree may purchase an additional tassel for the second degree.
Cost: $5.00

How to Wear Your Cap and Gown

Master's Apparel

Sample of Masters Apparel without Stole

Package 1

Includes: Black master’s gown, mortarboard, black tassel, and degree-colored hood. 
Cost: $97.00

Cap Size: "one size fits all."
Gown Size: size is based on your height and weight
Sample of Masters Apparel with Stole

Package 2

Includes: Black master’s gown, mortarboard, black tassel, and degree-colored hood, and a UW Tacoma Stole.
Cost: $127.00

Cap Size: "one size fits all."
Gown Size: size is based on your height and weight

 

package 3 masters

Package 3

Includes: Black master’s gown, mortarboard, black tassel, and degree-colored hood, UW Tacoma Stole, and a Diploma Frame
Cost: $262-$357.00

Cap Size: "one size fits all."
Gown Size: size is based on your height and weight
How to Wear Your Master's Cap and Gown

 

Doctoral Apparel (Rental & Purchase)

Sample of Doctorate Apparel

Rental Package

Includes: Black and Purple Gown, Black Doctoral Tam, Purple PhD Hood
Cost: $59.00 

 

Purchase Package

Includes: Black and Purple Gown, Black Doctoral Tam, Purple PhD Hood & customized sizing.
Cost: $1,323.98

Note: should be purchased 5-7 weeks in advance of event date. See Jostens

Additional Items Available for Purchase 

*The cap/gown package includes one degree colored tassel. An additional tassel may be purchased if earning double degree or for souvenir. 

To see individual tassel colors by major see Tassel and Hoods.

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

Bachelor's Tassel Colors
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

 

Master's/Doctorate Hood Colors

**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
Doctorate of Science in Computer & Systems Gold
School Interdisciplinary Arts & Sciences
Master of Arts, Interdisciplinary Arts & Sciences (suspension of admission as of 2021) 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 (suspension of admission as of 2023) 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.

Veterans & Active Duty Military Graduate Tassel is complimentary and will be distributed by the Veteran & Military Resource Center.

 

Souvenir Tassels

Purple and gold souvenir tassels are available as keepsakes. Purple and gold status tassels have a larger, flashier pendant with the year of graduation. These are not intended to be worn during the ceremony.
Cost: $8-10

You may purchase these items during commencement registration.

Stacked YearDate Charm Tassel  Status YearDate Charm Tassel 

Stoles

UW Tacoma Stole

Wear your Husky purple and gold proud. The University stole is worn to commemorate your time and achievement at the University of Washington Tacoma. The stole is worn over the shoulders of graduating students during the commencement ceremony.

You may purchase the UW Tacoma Stoles during commencement registration.

Cost: $30.00

Military Graduation Stoles

UW Tacoma student veterans and military spouses can purchase a customized military stole indicating their military status and branch of service. 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. Contact the VMRC by March 31st, 2025 to order your stole.

Graduation Stole Review

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 reviewal by the UW Tacoma Graduation Planning Committee. Stole permissions 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 image of the stole.

Students wishing to wear a stole representing their organization should check the list of previously used stoles or contact the advisor of their organization. Stoles are the only permissible accessory that will be granted permission to be worn during the ceremony. Custom cords or tassels will not be allowed.

Registered Student Organization (RSO) Review Request

Submit your Stole Design for Review

If your organization had a stole on file from a previous year AND there are no changes, you do not need to submit again for review.

If you believe your organization was already used during a previous ceremony but it is not listed or the stole pictured is not the current design, please email tcommenc@uw.edu

Guidelines for when you submit a stole design for review:

  1. Must be a Registered Student Organization (RSO) in good standing
  2. Requests to wear stoles at the 2025 Commencement ceremony must be submitted to the Commencement Planning Committee in writing by May 30, 2025.
    Requests must include:
    • Statement indicating approval from the RSO advisor on record
    • An image/proof of the stole to be ordered or worn
Non-RSO Request

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 tcommec@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 if eligible. Students are notified in advance of eligibility. Baccalaureate honor cords are gold; faculty honor cords are purple. Ivory honor cords are also available for Global Honors students. Cost: $10

Honor Cords may be purchased beginning May 1st at the UW Tacoma Shop.  Honor cords are not available for ship to home. 

Note: Only official UW Tacoma honor cords and pre-approved 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.

Receiving Your Apparel

Receiving Your Apparel Option

Date

Shipping
Ship to *Home April 1 - April 30 $14.95
Ship to *Home May 1 - May 23 $7.95
In Person at UW Tacoma Shop ** May 5 - June 12 ---
In Person at Tacoma Dome (late)** June 13 ---

*Allow 3-5 weeks to receive

** May be limitations on size and item availability

Visit the UW Tacoma Shop for hours of operations. 

Refunds & Exchanges

You will not be able to change or edit your order once you submit your purchase. Please double check your items before confirming your order.  To inquire about refund or exchange, please contact Jostens customer support at 1-800-854-7464 or the UW Tacoma Shop