Academic Attire for Masters & Doctoral Graduates

 

 

MASTERS:

 

Academic Attire (e.g., Caps, Tassels, and Gowns): 

  • Graduates are required to wear a master's gown, a master's hood, a black cap, and a black tassel. Students are encouraged to wear their adornments (cords, medallions, etc.) 
  • Graduates who are a member of the military, are welcome to wear their uniforms. Graduates who need to wear specific attire for religious or cultural purposes (e.g., hijab, etc.) are welcome to do so too. 
  • Your cap should be worn level, not tilted. Your gown should hang freely from the shoulders. Appropriate business clothing should be worn under your gown.
  • Graduates are not allowed to enter Hilton Coliseum with anything that would obstruct others’ enjoyment of the celebration.
  • Celebratory caps and adornments are welcomed and should be respectful.
  • Academic attire can be purchased from the University Book Store in the Memorial Union during regular business hours or via their website: https://www.isubookstore.com/graduation/master
    • Delivery options include shipping or pick-up in store.
    • Important Dates
      • Last Day for Ground Shipping (Contiguous United States) - December, 13th by 2:00 p.m.
      • Last Day for 2nd Day Air Shipping - December 17th by 2:00 p.m.
      • Last Day for Next Day Air Shipping - December 18th by 2:00 p.m.
    • Iowa State Bookstore will always have product in stock to purchase without wait. 

"Pick up at store” will be open always but the University Bookstore DOES NOT fulfill orders on Saturdays or Sundays. 

 

DOCTORAL:

 

Academic Attire (e.g., Caps, Tassels, and Gowns): 

  • Doctoral graduates are required to wear: The official Iowa State University doctorate regalia (i.e., Doctoral Gown, Ph.D. or Ed.D Hood, and Doctoral Tam).
  • Graduates are not allowed to enter Hilton Coliseum with anything that would obstruct others’ enjoyment of the celebration.
  • Celebratory adornments are welcomed and should be respectful.
  • Academic attire can be rented or purchased from the University Book Store (https://www.isubookstore.com/graduation/phd) by the below deadlines. If you have any questions, please contact Katelyn Engh (kengh@iastate.edu).
  • Hoods:
    • The Office of the Registrar will provide each doctoral candidate with a Ph.D. or Ed.D hood to use during the ceremony. 
    • If you use one of the Ph.D. or Ed.D hoods provided by the Office of the Registrar during the ceremony, you will need to return the hood to the Office of the Registrar staff on stage immediately after the ceremony. Failure to do so will result in a charge to your U-Bill of $180.00 for the replacement costs of the hood.
    • If you will be bringing your own Ph.D. or Ed.D hood or would like to borrow your hood after the ceremony, please contact Abbie Suntken in the Office of the Registrar via e-mail at asuntken@iastate.edu, by December 19th at 12:00 p.m. .
  • Important Dates
    • Last Day to Order Doctoral Regalia for purchase - November 1st, 2024
      • Purchased doctoral regalia will ship directly to you.
    • Last Day to Order Rental Doctoral Regalia (PhD/ EdD students) - November 1st, 2024​​​​​​​
      • Rented doctoral regalia will be shipped to the ISU Book Store for doctoral candidates to pick up. Rented doctoral regalia will need to be returned back to the ISU Book Store.
    • This is important: EXPEDIATED SHIPPING IS NOT AVAILABLE. We can NOT order any late product. These are firm deadlines!