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Cap and Gown

All graduates participating in Commencement are required to wear official University of Denver academic regalia. Information concerning cap and gown rental will be mailed to all graduating seniors and master’s, education specialist, and doctoral candidates.

Cap and gown rental

Cap and gown rental will take place Hamilton Gymnasium (in the Ritchie Center) on Tuesday, June 3, from 9 a.m. to 5 p.m., and on Wednesday, June 4, from 10 a.m. to 5:30 p.m.

The Willsie Company will rent caps, gowns, stoles and hoods for the following fees:

  • Bachelor—(Rental of gown, cap, tassel and stole) $33.00
  • Master—(Rental of gown, cap, tassel and hood) $37.00
  • Doctor—(Rental of gown, cap, tassel and hood) $43.00Graduate in procession waving

In an effort to keep rental cost of regalia at a minimum, payment must be made in cash. Checks and charge cards are not accepted. All gowns and hoods must be returned to tables in Hamilton Gymnasium immediately after Commencement. Graduates are welcome to keep their mortarboards and tassels as souvenirs.

Students receiving bachelor’s or master’s degrees do not have to pre-order regalia. Doctoral regalia must be pre-ordered through the Graduate Studies office. Information about pre-ordering regalia will be mailed to all doctoral candidates with the Commencement instructions. Call 303-871-2305 for more information.

Proper attire by degree

Bachelor—Black cap/black gown/stole/tassel in color of degree. The bachelor's gown has long, pointed sleeves and is always worn closed. Undergraduates who have not yet earned a first degree wear the tassel forward and to the right. During the ceremony, the tassel is moved to the left to signify the conferring of the degree.

Master—Black cap/black gown/black tassel; hood trimmed with color of degree. The master's gown, which has oblong sleeves that are open at the wrist, may be worn either open or closed. On the master's cap, the tassel is worn to the left, signifying the completion of an academic degree. The hood hangs to the rear from the neck and may be fastened to the wearer's apparel in front by a cord. The velvet facing should be visible under the chin and extend flat across the shoulders to the back, where the satin lining should be exposed near the base of the hood. The official University of Denver colors, crimson and gold, adorn the satin lining of the hood.

Doctor—Black cap/black gown/gold tassel; hood trimmed with color of degree. The doctoral gown has velvet facings down the front and three velvet chevrons on the bell-shaped sleeves. These velvet trimmings may be black or the prescribed color of the academic discipline. The gown may be worn either open or closed. The gold tassel on the doctor's cap is worn to the left, signifying the possession of an academic degree. The hood should be draped across the graduate’s arm for the procession, and the doctoral candidate will be hooded on the commencement stage. The hood should be worn in a fashion similar to the master's hood, with the velvet facing lying under the chin and extending flat across the shoulders to the back. The satin lining should be exposed near the base of the hood.

Degree colors

The colors of the bachelor's tassel and the velvet facing on the master's and doctoral hoods indicate the degrees awarded by the University.

  • Arts, letters, humanities—White
  • Commerce, business—Drab
  • Doctor of philosophy—Dark blue
  • Doctor of psychology—Royal blue
  • Education specialist—Light blue
  • Fine arts—Brown
  • Journalism—Crimson
  • Law—Purple
  • Library—Lemon
  • Music—Pink
  • Public policy—Peacock
  • Science—Golden yellow
  • Social work—Citron

If you have questions or need additional information: