Every year, thousands of UW–Madison degree candidates flock to Camp Randall and the Kohl Center in their black and red commencement regalia. And every gown, cap, and tassel signifies something about the graduate’s college career — from the degree earned to the field of study, each commencement outfit tells a different UW story.
With commencement ceremonies wrapped up in Madison and graduation photos flooding social media, here’s how you can decode the regalia worn by the graduates and understand the Badger story each outfit tells.
Gowns
There are three types of gowns UW–Madison graduates wear to commencement, each signifying the level of academic achievement earned by the degree candidate.
- The bachelor’s gown is black with red details. They have a closed front and long, open sleeves.
- Master’s candidate gowns are also black with red details and closed fronts. They have longer, hanging sleeves with points.
- The doctoral gown signifies the highest level of degree. These gowns are mostly black with red details, and they have bell-sleeves with crossbars of velvet trim.
In 2017, all of the UW’s commencement gowns were updated with new designs to include the UW–Madison crest logo and to highlight the university’s signature colors.
Caps and Tassels
Candidates for the bachelor’s degree wear a classic black mortarboard cap with a tassel in the color of their specific field of study. The tassel is worn on the right side of the cap until the degree conferral during the commencement ceremony. Then, it is symbolically moved to the left side of the cap to represent the degree earned. Master’s degree candidates wear black mortarboard caps with black tassels on the left side, while doctoral and terminal degree candidates wear an eight-sided, black tam with a gold tassel.
Hoods
All hoods worn by degree candidates signify the discipline of the degree earned. Hoods are most common for master’s and doctoral graduates, although some bachelor’s degree candidates wear hoods if they have previously received a degree. Bachelor’s degree hoods are short with velvet in the color of their degree and a lining in the color of the institution, while the master’s hood is longer with more velvet. Doctoral candidates have wider, velvet hoods with more lining, which are also in the color of their degree.
Stoles
You might spot some bachelor’s degree candidates wearing stoles at commencement. Stoles are worn over the front of graduation gowns and represent honors and distinctive scholastic achievement. Bachelor’s candidates from honors programs wear white stoles with three red bars, while candidates graduating in the top 20 percent of their school or college wear solid Badger red stoles. Some international students and Badgers who have studied abroad also choose to wear stoles that represent the country they are connected to, often showcasing the nation’s flag. Eagle-eyed commencement attendees might also see black stoles on graduates, which are called stoles of gratitude. Graduates wear these stoles for the commencement ceremony and gift them afterward to someone who has provided support and encouragement to them throughout their time at the UW.
