Attention: Academic Regalia is required for all students and faculty participating in the Commencement ceremonies. To purchase regalia, stop in at the MSU Bookstore, call them at (406) 994-2811 or visit them online at www.msubookstore.org. 

Definition

Academic regalia are the traditional dress for degree candidates participating in the college, commencement ceremony.

History

The academic dress worn by graduates during Commencement dates back to the Middle Ages when flowing gowns kept scholars warm in cold and drafty buildings. Modern graduates traditionally also wear a cap (in medieval times, an emblem of intellectual independence) to complete the ceremonial ensemble. Elements of the regalia are different depending upon the level of the degree being awarded. Most are based on the American Council on Education’s Academic Costume Code and are standardized across the nation.

For all academic purposes, the colors are associated with the different majors (at the Masters and Doctoral level) as follows:

  • Agriculture, Maize
  • Architecture, Blue Lilac
  • Arts and Letters, White
  • Business, Sapphire Blue
  • Dentistry, Lilac
  • Economics, Copper
  • Education, Light Blue
  • Engineering, Orange
  • Fine Arts, Brown
  • Forestry, Russet
  • Humanities, Crimson
  • Library Science, Lemon
  • Medicine, Green
  • Music, Pink
  • Nursing, Apricot
  • Oratory, Silver Gray
  • Pharmacy, Olive Green
  • Philosophy, Dark Blue
  • Physical Education, Sage Green
  • Public Health, Salmon Pink
  • Science, Golden Yellow
  • Theology, Scarlet
  • Veterinary Science, Gray
  • Law, Purple

Required Regalia and Purchasing Information

The most elaborate regalia on display at Commencement are worn by those receiving a doctoral degree. A doctor's gown is a much fuller gown and is decorated with velvet lapels and three chevrons sewn onto the sleeves of the gown that designate the recipient as a “doctor.” In place of the mortarboard, doctoral students can wear a tam, a velvet hat with a gold tassel attached that is much less rigid in construction.

Doctoral regalia are unique in the sense that it is often worn many times following the degree recipient's own graduation, especially for those who pursue careers in academia. It distinguishes the faculty member as a graduate of a specific institution. 

Purchasing Information

PhD and Doctoral regalia is for purchase only. PhD and Doctoral regalia consists of cap, gown, tassel and hood for $88.00, and will be available starting the day of the Graduation Fair. There is an additional fee for the tam if chosen.

Master’s degree students wear a modified gown with longer sleeves, the mortarboard with a color appropriate tassel, and a hood.

Purchasing Information

Master regalia is for purchase only. Master regalia consists of cap, gown, tassel, and hood for $68.00, and will be available starting the day of the Graduation Fair.

Hooding Instructions

For those earning a Bachelor’s or Associates’s degree, a black gown and mortarboard with a color-appropriate tassel are worn. 

Purchasing Information

Associate and Bachelor regalia consists of cap, gown, and tassel for $34.00, and will be available starting the day of the Graduation Fair.

Honors Tassels

Institutional honors are granted for students who have a qualifying GPA and at least 30 credits completed at MSU. Students with a 3.25-3.69 cumulative GPA  may receive a royal blue tassel signifying graduation with honors. Students with a 3.70 cumulative GPA or higher may receive a gold tassel signifying graduation with highest honors. Tassels can be exchanged at the Service Desk in the MSU Bookstore or purchased through MSU Bookstore starting the day of the Graduation Fair. An "HONORS" list will be submitted to the Bookstore at that time.

Regalia for Rent

Individuals wishing to rent fine regalia for Commencement need to place their order at the MSU Bookstore by TBA. Payment is required at time of order on rental regalia; the Provost’s Office has generously offered a $60 stipend toward renting regalia.

Doctoral Rental Package

  • Gown, Cap, Tassel, and Hood $85.00 (faculty, staff, and admin. only) must be ordered by TBA.

Master Rental Package

  • Gown, Cap, Tassel, and Hood $75.00 (faculty, staff, and admin. only) must be ordered by TBA.

Regalia for Purchase

Custom Made Fine Quality Regalia

Custom made fine quality regalia orders are placed directly through the Jostens website. Follow this link: Jostens Academic Regalia for package options.

  • Doctoral packages range from $359-$819 plus shipping.
  • Jostens will ship your gown directly to you.
  • Orders should be placed by TBA for delivery in time for our commencement ceremony.

Standard Quality Regalia

(For sale in store starting the day of the Graduation Fair)

Doctoral Standard Quality Gown (Purchase online)

  • Gown, Cap, Tassel and Hood, $88.00 (in stock at the Bookstore)

Masters Standard Quality Gown (Purchase online)

  • Gown, Cap, Tassel and Hood, $68.00 (in stock at the Bookstore)

All items sold on a first come first serve basis. Shop early for best size and hood selection.

Regalia Extras and Exceptions

Stole of Gratitude

The Stole of Gratitude is worn during the commencement ceremony. After the ceremony, the new graduate presents the stole to someone who provided extraordinary support during his/her college career, such as a parent, relative, professor or mentor. This is an optional addition to the required regalia. Stoles of Gratitude can be purchased at MSU Bookstore for $42.00, available while supplies last.

Decorated Mortarboards

Commencement is a celebration! We invite our degree candidates to decorate the top of their mortarboard (graduation cap), but ask that they respect the dignity of this occasion and be considerate of accepted university standards regarding appropriate content, as outlined below. 

Stoles and Cords

Montana State University strives to recognize and celebrate our candidates' unique academic and co-curricular accomplishments. These include but are not limited to induction into university-recognized honor societies, involvement in academic organizations and/or association with university-recognized groups or programs. 

In addition to the traditional cap and gown regalia worn at this event, we invite our degree candidates to wear stoles and cords at commencement to symbolize these associations in accordance with accepted university standards regarding appropriate content, as outlined below. The university-recognized student/organization/group or the student isresponsible for the cost of any additional regalia. The student is responsible for obtaining the regalia if he or she wishes to wear it during the commencement ceremony. 

  • American Marketing Association – Solid white cord

    Requirement: Must be an official member of the American Marketing, Association MSU chapter

  • Be the Match on Campus – Green and blue cord

    Requirement: 20 active hours as a club member

  • Campus Civil Rights – Teal cord

  • First Generation – Blue and Silver

           Requirement: Students whose parent(s)/guardian(s) did not complete a 4-year degree   

  • Graduate Awards – Blue and white cord

    Requirement: Nominated to receive one of three categories of the Graduate Excellence Awards

  • Health Professions Club – Lavender and red cord

  • Honors College – Medallion bearing the official seal of Montana State University

    Requirement: students who complete the requirements for their honors degrees

  • Kente Cloth Graduates – Kente cloth stole with red, green, yellow colors and designs; stole colors vary by country of ancestry or origin

    Requirement: MSU students who identify as Black, African American, or African receive this recognition when they apply through the Diversity and Inclusion Student Commons

  • Latinx Graduates – Sarape stole with yellow and blue colors and designs: stole colors vary by country of ancestry or origin

    Requirement: MSU students who identify as Latino, Latina, Latinx, or Hispanic receive this recognition when they apply through the Diversity and Inclusion Student Commons

  • Lavender Graduates – Lavender cord

    Requirement: MSU students who identify as LGBTQ+ or allies receive this recognition when they apply through the Diversity and Inclusion Student Commons

  • Military Dependent or Spouse – Gold

    Requirements: Dependent and or Spouses using VA Education Benefits OR Dependents or spouses of Veteran or Active-Duty Service Members who are not using VA Education Benefits. If a student is not using benefits wishes to be recognized and received a dependent graduation cord MUST provide approved documentation connecting you to the Veteran or Service Member. The Veteran's DD214 or Active-Duty members military ID and/or copy of their current orders must be brought to Romney Hall 136, Travis W. Atkins Veterans Support Center, to be verified. 

  • Montana AHEC Scholars – Navy, green & silver braided cord

    Requirement: Health profession students who have completed the AHEC Scholars interprofessional certificate program

  • Montana INBRE (IDeA Network of Biomedical Research Excellence) – Royal blue satin stole with program name and the Montana INBRE logo

    Requirement: Students must have been selected as a Montana INBRE undergraduate researcher through the competitive application process for Montana INBRE Student Programs at some time during their undergraduate studies

  • Montana Space Grant Consortium – Black stole with gold piping, NASA patch and gold MSGC

    Requirement: The graduating student participated in the program as an intern, undergraduate researcher, graduate fellow, scholar, or SPOT presenter

  • Montana Student Nurses’ Association – Blue and gold cord

  • National Society of Leadership and Success – Silver stole with black writing and/or silver and black cord

    Requirement: Fully inducted member, requiring the completion of orientation, leadership training, and 3 speaker broadcasts

  • Nursing Honor Society – Purple stole with white trim and emblem and/or purple and white cord

    Requirement: Nursing students in the MSU Mark and Robyn Jones College of Nursing with a GPA of 3.5 or higher who have completed more than half of the required nursing courses

  • Office of Admissions Student Leader – Green cord

    Requirement: Two or more years of leadership experience within the Office of Admissions

  • TRIO Scholar – Red, black, and white cord

    Requirements: Active member of TRIO SSS and candidate for graduation

  • United States Veteran – Red, white, and blue cord with red, white, and blue tassels

    Requirement: Must be a student veteran in good standing with the university

  • Varsity Student Athlete – Embossed cat head medallion and yellow lanyard

    Requirements: Active member on an MSU Athletics team and candidate for graduation

  • Writing Center Tutor - Orange cord

          Requirements: Member of the Writing Center Peer Community

 

   

Greek Life Honors

  • Panhellenic: Green and white braided cord

    Requirement: Must have served on the Panhellenic Executive Council

  • Order of Omega: Yellow and white braided cord

    Requirement: Must be an initiated member of the organization

  • Alpha Gamma Delta: Red, green, and tan stole with letters/crest/graduation year

    Requirement: Must be an initiated member of the organization

  • Alpha Omicron Pi: Red and white stole with logo/letters/graduation year

    Requirement: Must be an initiated member of the chapter

  • Chi Omega: Red and gold braided cord or red/gold stole or red/white stole with the greek letters/crest

    Requirement: Must be an initiated member of the chapter

  • Delta Gamma: Pink and blue braided cords or pink/blue stole with greek letters/crest/graduation year

    Requirement: Must be an initiated member of the chapter

  • Pi Beta Phi: Wine and blue braided cord or wine/blue stole with the greek letters/crest/graduation year

    Requirement: Must be an initiated member of the chapter

  • Alpha Gamma Rho: Green/gold stoles with greek letters/pin number/name/crest/graduation year.

    Requirement: Must be an initiated member of the chapter

  • Alpha Sigma Phi: Cardinal (red) and stone (grey) braided cords or cardinal background, with stone trim, and the chapter's letters and the graduation year in white.

    Requirement: Must be an initiated member of the chapter

  • Kappa Sigma: Green/red stole with greek letters/crest/graduation year

    Requirement: Must be an initiated member of the chapter

  • Pi Kappa Alpha: Maroon and gold cord or maroon and gold stole with crest/letters/graduation year

    Requirement: Must be an initiated member of the chapter

    Gold stole with maroon letters

    Requirement: Initiated Pi Kappa Alpha members who have attended at least 5 leadership conferences

  • Sigma Chi: Blue and gold stole with the crest/greek letters/graduation year

    Requirement: Must be an initiated member of the chapter

  • Sigma Nu: Black and gold stole with the greek letters/graduation year

    Requirement: Must be an initiated member of the chapter

  • Sigma Phi Epsilon: Purple, red and gold braided cords

    Requirements: Must be an initiated member of the chapter

American Indian Tribal Regalia

In accordance with Montana State Law 2-1-315, American Indian degree candidates are permitted to wear tribal regalia instead of traditional academic regalia at Montana State University’s commencement ceremonies. Keep in mind that all students participating in commencement must adhere to accepted university standards regarding appropriate content, as outlined below.

For more information about Montana State Law 2-1-315 please visit the Montana Code Annotated 2017 web page.

University staff reserve the right to confiscate any and all inappropriate materials. Examples of inappropriate content include intimidating or profane language and/or visual materials that insinuate drugs, alcohol, or discrimination or harassment of a protected class. Students unwilling to comply with these guidelines may not participate in the Commencement ceremony.