What Do I Wear?

There is a fee for Undergraduate's regalia. Undergraduate Regalia can be ordered online and picked up in one of these dates and locations:

On April 7, 2025, at Ready, Set, Graduate.
Between April 7 and May 15, 2025, at the UMass Lowell Bookstore at University Crossing, 220 Pawtucket St., Lowell, during normal business hours.
On May 16-17, 2025, at the bookstore’s tent at the Tsongas Center.

For any regalia (Cap, Gown, Hood) questions, please email: Bookstore@uml.edu.

Undergraduate Online Students:

Undergraduate Regalia can be ordered online and shipped for Undergraduate Online Students who cannot come to campus to pick up their cap and gown. The deadline to request your cap and gown to be mailed is May 5, 2025.

Note: There is a fee for Master's regalia.

Please visit the UMass Lowell bookstore if you need to place an order. You can also do so by visiting the Graduation page of the bookstore's website. For international shipping, please place your order with the River Hawk Shop (University Bookstore) by April 15, 2025, whereas the ordering deadline for domestic orders is May 5, 2025.

Master's students can pick up their Cap and Gown and name cards:

On April 7, 2025, at Ready, Set, Graduate
Between April 7 and May 15, 2025, at the UMass Lowell Bookstore at University Crossing on 220 Pawtucket St., Lowell, during normal business hours.
On May 16-17, 2025, at the Bookstore’s tent at the Tsongas Center.

For any regalia (Cap, Gown, Hood) questions, please email: Bookstore@uml.edu or call 978-934-2623.

Note: There is a fee for doctoral regalia.

ALL doctoral candidates must have UMass Lowell regalia in order to participate in the ceremony. This regalia is a custom order (blue custom gown with insignia).

Doctoral candidates need to place their order with the River Hawk Shop in University Crossing by March 9, 2025. You will be contacted by the bookstore when your regalia arrives in store. The bookstore wants to be able to accommodate everyone who plans to attend the ceremony, so early ordering is HIGHLY recommended. Note: you have the option to either purchase new Doctoral regalia or rent Doctoral regalia.

If you need immediate assistance, contact the River Hawk Shop by phone: 978-934-2623 or email: Bookstore@uml.edu.

Drawing of man and woman showing places to measure for regalia — Diagram shows how to measure for sleeve, chest and waist.

How to Measure

Custom-tailored outfits require more specific measurements than rental outfits. Complete and accurate sizing information enables University Cap & Gown to provide properly fitted garments. Souvenir and rental outfits require less measurements than custom-tailored regalia. Generally, all that is need is height and weight.

Height: Stand with your back to the wall and place something flat (a book or ruler) on top of your head. Mark the spot and step away from wall and measure.
Weight needs to be accurate to ensure proper fit.
Sleeve: With your arm slightly bent at your side, measure the length from the center of the back of your keck to the back of your wrist (down you arm).
Chest: This measurement should be taken while wearing the type of garment you expect to wear under your gown. If you plan on wearing a suit jacket under your gown, wear it while your measuring. Measure around the fullest part of your chest, under your arms and round your back.
Waist: Measure around the least fullest part of the middle part of your body.
Cap or tam: Place the measuring tape around the widest part of your head, approximately one inch above your ears.

Hood Color

The Academic Cap

Students and faculty alike will be happy to learn that the tassel may be worn on either the left or right side and that no significance is officially given to how the tassel is worn.

The Academic Hood

All hood linings for the University of Massachusetts Lowell have a field of royal blue, which is divided by a red chevron.

The colors utilized by UMass Lowell for hood bands are:

College	Degree	Hood Color
College of Fine Arts, Humanities & Social Sciences (FAHSS)	Bachelor of Arts	White
	Bachelor of Arts (School of Education)	Light Blue
	Bachelor of Fine Arts	Dark Brown
	Bachelor of Liberal Arts	White
	Bachelor of Music	Pink
	Bachelor of Science	Yellow
	Master of Arts	White
	Master of Education	Light Blue
	Master of Music	Pink
	Master of Public Administration	Peacock Blue
	Master of Science	Yellow
	Education Specialist	Light Blue
	Doctor of Education	Light Blue
	Doctor of Philosophy	Dark Blue
	Francis College of Engineering (FCE)	Associate of Science in Engineering Technology	Orange
Bachelor of Science in Engineering		Orange
Bachelor of Science in Engineering Technology		Orange
Master of Science		Yellow
Master of Science in Engineering		Orange
Doctor of Philosophy		Dark Blue
Intercampus (IC)	Master of Science	Yellow
Intercampus (IC)	Doctor of Philosophy	Dark Blue
Kennedy College of Sciences (KCS)	Associate of Science	Yellow
	Bachelor of Arts	White
	Bachelor of Science	Yellow
	Master of Science	Yellow
	Doctor of Philosophy	Dark Blue
Manning School of Business (MSB)	Associate of Science	Drab Brown
	Bachelor of Science	Drab Brown
	Bachelor of Science in Business Administration	Drab Brown
	Master of Business Administration	Drab Brown
	Master of Science	Drab Brown
	Doctor of Philosophy	Dark Blue
Zuckerberg College of Health Sciences (ZCHS)	Bachelor of Science	Yellow
	Master of Public Health	Salmon Pink
	Master of Science	Yellow
	Doctor of Philosophy	Dark Blue
	Doctor of Physical Therapy	Teal
	Doctor of Science	Yellow
	Doctor of Nursing Practice	Apricot

Latin Honor Cords

Undergraduate students with Grade Point Average (GPA) of 3.250 or higher may be eligible for Latin honor cords that can be picked up:

On April 7, 2025, at the Ready, Set, Graduate
Between April 7 and May 15, 2025, at UMass Lowell Bookstore at University Crossing on 220 Pawtucket St., Lowell, during normal business hours.
On May 16-17, 2025, at the Registrar’s tent at the Tsongas Center.

To be eligible, an undergraduate student must achieve a minimum grade point average of 3.250 for all courses completed at the university and must have earned a minimum of 60 credits from the University of Massachusetts Lowell.

Students who transfer into the university will be also be eligible for University Honors if they earned a minimum of 3.000 at their previous institutions, earned a minimum of grade point average of 3.250 for all courses completed at UMass Lowell and satisfied the University Residency Requirement.

Requirements are:

Cum laude: GPA of 3.250 or higher (1 cord)
Magna cum laude: GPA of 3.500 or higher (2 cords 
Summa cum laude: GPA of 3.850 or higher (3 cords)

Note:Cumulative GPA, and not term GPA. Once final grades are posted and your GPA changes, please stop by at the Registrar's tent at the Tsongas Center on your graduation day to swap your cords (when eligible).

Stoles, Tassels and Cords

Military Honors

All graduates who have served or are currently serving in the U.S. Armed Forces (Active Duty, Reservists, National Guard and student veterans) will wear a white aiguillette at the Commencement Ceremony in recognition of their service to our country (Active Duty and student veteran graduates, including Reservists and National Guard). These aiguillettes will be distributed directly before graduation ceremonies at the Tsongas. If you have any additional questions, please contact the Office of Military and Veterans Services at 978-934-2491 or email veterans@uml.edu.

Student-Athletes

Student-athletes will receive a white stole at the Senior Toast event. If you are unable to attend the Senior Toast or have questions, please contact the Athletic Department at 978-934-5715 or email Alison_QuandtWestgate@uml.edu.

White Tassels

Graduating students who make a donation to the Senior Class Gift of $5 or more, will receive a special tassel to wear at graduation. White tassels will be available for pick up on your Commencement Day at the Tsongas Center before you head in. If you have any questions, please email Lindsey_McCaughey@uml.edu for more information.

Commonwealth Honors College

Honors graduates will receive a blue stole at the Commonwealth Honors brunch on the Wednesday before Commencement. Students that have earned the Honors College Distinction will receive a cord at the RHED/Honors Distinction reception at the Allen House. Stoles will also be available for pickup at Commencement. If you have any questions, please email honors@uml.edu or call 978-934-2798.

River Hawk Experience Distinction

River Hawk Experience Distinction (RHED) graduates will be awarded a red braided cord to wear at Commencement in recognition of their achievement. Students will receive their cord at the awards ceremony on May 8. If you are unable to attend the award ceremony, you may pick up your cord at the Career & Co-op office in UCC 450 on May 9 and 10 during our normal business hours. Contact RHED@uml.edu with any questions.

River Hawk Scholars Academy

Students who are graduating and are members in good standing of River Hawk Scholars Academy (RHSA) will receive a form to order their RHSA stole. These graduation stoles will be provided as our gift to you in celebration of your completion of your degree. You will only receive a stole if you complete this form. Stoles will be made available before graduation in the RHSA offices in O’Leary Library and will also be available on Commencement Day outside the Tsongas Center. Any questions can be sent to RHSA@uml.edu.