All candidates for all degrees must wear IU apparel at Commencement. Gowns and hoods are rented, not purchased, and must be returned after the ceremony. You may keep your cap, tassel, honor cords, and Stole of Gratitude.
Rent your cap and gownStudents
The gown
Indiana University has introduced custom apparel for Commencement featuring a lightweight black gabardine robe piped with crimson braid.
Bachelor’s and associate gowns
The bachelor’s and associate gowns have a closed front and open sleeves.
Candidates for bachelor’s and associate degrees also receive a crimson Stole of Gratitude, embellished with the Indiana University seal, which they wear during the ceremony.
Master’s gowns
The master’s gown has extra long, closed sleeves, with a small opening at the wrist. The end of the sleeve is square, with an arc cut away just above the bottom.
Doctoral gowns
The doctoral gown has velvet panels down the front and voluminous, bell-shaped sleeves. Each sleeve has three velvet bars. The velvet is usually black, but may reflect the color of the discipline.
Stoles of Gratitude
Graduates may keep their Stoles of Gratitude as a memento of the day, or present them as a token of thanks to anyone who guided them on their path to graduation.
Caps, tassels, and hoods
All candidates wear a cap (also called a mortarboard) that is adorned with a colored tassel appropriate to the school or division from which they are graduating. All students may keep their caps and tassels after the ceremony.
All graduate degree candidates also wear a hood. The master’s hood extends past the middle of the back and has a wide velvet edging. The doctoral hood is easily recognized by the width of the velvet edging, the wide panels at both sides, and the greater length. Rental hoods must be returned with rental gowns.
Doctoral hooding
All doctoral candidates will be individually introduced during Commencement, and all will be hooded on the floor in front of the stage.
How doctoral hooding worksPicking up your apparel
The time to pick up your academic apparel is during distribution week, May 1–5. Distribution week also is your final opportunity to rent a cap and gown if you didn’t pre-order in February or March.
Distribution week details