Regalia and Adornments

Wear Your Achievement with Pride

Worn with care, your regalia becomes more than fabric—it becomes a symbol of your story, your perseverance, your pride, and what comes next.

Step across the stage with confidence, knowing every detail of your cap and gown reflects the late nights and hard work that brought you here.

Celebrate your academic milestone by looking the part on your big day. Order your official regalia and honor the legacy you've built.

Traditional Regalia (Cap and Gown)

Each piece reflects your hard work, degree level, and discipline:

  • Cap or Tam: The classic square mortarboard for bachelor’s and master’s graduates, or a velvet tam for doctoral candidates.
  • Gown: The foundation of your commencement attire, tailored in style and color to your degree level and institution.
  • Tassel: The hallmark of transition, worn on the right until your degree is conferred, then proudly moved to the left.
  • Hood: A traditional shoulder drapery for advanced degrees, displaying your specific field of study and alma mater colors.
  • Adornments: Cords, stoles, medallions, and pins recognizing honors, societies, and distinctive achievements recognized by UNG

Associate

Attire: Traditional black gown, black mortarboard cap, and black tassel.

Bachelor's

Traditional black gown, black mortarboard cap, black tassel, and a blue and gold achievement stole.

Master's

Black gown with traditional crescent-cut sleeves, discipline-specific colored tassel, black mortarboard cap, and hood.

Hoods are lined with blue, white, and your discipline’s official color. 

Doctoral

Attire: Customized black gown with velvet facing and sleeve chevrons, paired with a doctoral tam, and hood.

Hoods are lined with blue, white, and your discipline’s official color.

Military & Veteran 

Graduating veterans and commissioning officers are eligible to wear a military cord.

Commissioning Officers should wear your Class A uniform underneath the gown for commencement.

Adornments (Cords, Stoles, Medallions, and Pins)

All adornments must be officially recognized by UNG to wear in the Commencement Ceremony.

For details about currently approved regalia, contact Academic Affairs at academicaffairs@ung.edu or 706-864-1602.

How to Wear & FAQs

How to Wear Your Regalia

Questions About Graduation Regalia

Can I Decorate my cap?

Yes, as long as decorations are appropriate and fit on the cap without hanging off.

Can I Wear additional stoles?

Yes, as long as they are approved by the university.

 

What should wear under my gown?

You may wear anything you like, as long as you are fully clothed. 

Ordering Regalia

Traditional Regalia can be ordered from Herff Jones, with options to ship directly to an address or for a pickup at a UNG Bookstore. We encourage all graduates to order early and ideally no later than two weeks prior to your scheduled ceremony. 

Students should contact Herff Jones customer support directly with any questions regarding their online orders.

If this deadline is not met, graduates can purchase their regalia in-person directly from the UNG Bookstore and will be present at the ceremonies for any last minute needs.

Approved Adornments

  • Honor Cords: Graduates eligible for Honor cords are available for purchase in-store only at the UNG bookstore on the Dahlonega or Gainesville campuses. 
  • Military/Veteran Cords: These are available for purchase at the 1873 shop.
  • First Generation Stoles:  Available via Herff Jones or the bookstore. 
  • Other Approved Adornments: Seek your organization officers or leadership for information on aquiring the approved adornments.