Caps & Gowns

Caps & Gowns

To participate in commencement, students are required to wear the appropriate cap and gown. We encourage students to purchase regalia during Grad Fair when it is offered at a discounted price while other great graduation resources are provided.

 Information on purchasing and additional regalia standards are below.

Office of the Registrar

General Regalia Guidelines

Bachelor’s Candidates: A simple black graduation gown, black mortarboard, and a tassel in the color associated with their primary academic college. They may also wear an optional Commemorative tassel sold by the UNI Bookstore.

Master’s Candidates: A Master’s black graduation gown as indicated by the sleeves, black mortarboard, hood appropriate to their degree, and a tassel in the color associated with their primary academic college. They may also wear an optional Commemorative tassel sold by the UNI Bookstore.

Doctoral Candidates: A Doctoral black graduation gown as indicated by the velvet stripes on the sleeves, black keeper tam, hood appropriate to their degree, and a tassel in the color associated with their primary academic college. They may also wear an optional Commemorative tassel sold at the UNI Bookstore.

The appropriate regalia must be worn and gowns must be zipped at the point of crossing the stage at Commencement.

Any deviations to the above guidelines must fit within the exceptions outlined in the remainder of the standards. If your organization’s planned use of an accessory falls outside of the guidelines above, contact your organization’s advisor or sponsor who should contact the Office of the Registrar to take it to the University Commencement Committee for consideration. Organizations who fail to follow the established standards will jeopardize the organization’s ability to be represented with stoles in future commencement ceremonies.

Students can purchase commencement apparel during the Grad Fair. After the Grad Fair, apparel may be purchased in person at the UNI Bookstore or online though our vendor, Herff Jones.

A current listing of tassel and hood colors is available on our website here.

Undergraduate Students:

  • Cap, Gown and Tassel: $48.92 (regular value $61.00)
  • Tassel Only: $9.99

Masters Students:

  • Cap, Gown, Hood and Tassel: $99.00 (regular value $109.00)
  • Hood Only: $44.00
  • Tassel Only: $9.99

Doctoral Candidates:

  • Keeper Tam (Hat), Gown, Hood and Tassel: $156.83
  • Hood: $49.24
  • Tassel Only: $9.99

Student Organization cords or stoles must meet all of the following criteria:

  1. Are for members of a registered student organization
  2. That there be a clear and consistent policy within the organization to indicate the requirements for individuals to be eligible (i.e. all graduating seniors, a designated number of volunteer hours, etc.)
  3. Provided cords and stoles cannot be solid gold or solid purple as to conflict with the academic honors
  4. The above information is sent by the organization to commencement@uni.edu for review and approval prior to the initial distribution of applicable regalia.

New Cords or Stoles

If your organization’s planned use of an accessory falls outside of the standards above, contact your organization’s advisor or sponsor who should contact the Committee on Commencements, Convocations, and Academic Ceremonies for consideration. Organizations who fail to follow the established standards will jeopardize the organization’s ability to be represented with stoles in future commencement ceremonies.

Other Cords & Stoles

  • Solid Purple Cords can only be worn by recipients of Magna Cum Laude designation. Students whose cumulative UNI grade point average places them in the top 4% through top 8% of those students graduating from their academic major college/division will be awarded Magna Cum Laude.
  • Solid Gold Cords can only be worn by recipients of Cum Laude designation. Students whose cumulative UNI grade point average places them in the top 9% through top 15% of those students graduating from their academic major college/division will be awarded Cum Laude.
  • Other approved stoles include Kente cloth stoles, Lavender stoles, Serapes, and stoles identifying the country of origin for international students. This list may not identify all options so please do not hesitate to reach out to commencement@uni.edu with any questions.
A current listing of approved cords and stoles is available online.

Medals and medallions as part of Commencement regalia are reserved for the highest recognition and honors. Currently approved medals and medallions are as follows:

  • Summa Cum Laude: Students whose cumulative UNI grade point average places them in the top 3% of those students graduating from their academic major college/division will be awarded Summa Cum Laude. Recipients of this honor will wear a bronze medallion.
  • University Honors Program: Graduates wearing gold University Honors medallions are recipients of designations from the University Honors Program that have completed honors-level coursework over the course of their studies.
  • Traditions Keeper: Participants of the Traditions Keeper program that have completed a minimum of 45 traditions receive a medallion to wear at graduation. These graduates have shown commitment to keeping the Panther spirit alive at UNI and post-graduation.

Caps can be decorated provided they meet the following:

  • No dangling or protruding items
  • Adornments cannot block the view of others
  • No lights or devices
  • No inappropriate language
  • No negative portrayal of the university.