Regalia

​Diploma covers

Diploma covers will be handed out as a gift to those who attend a commencement ceremony in person. Those not attending a commencement ceremony may purchase a diploma in person at the University Market in Smith or via its online store. Diplomas will be shipped separately, 3-4 weeks after grades are posted for the spring term. 

Other Regalia and Commencement Items

• Ethnic regalia is welcomed at commencement.
• Other regalia items are optional such as stole(s) of gratitude (available for purchase individually, or as part of a package), affinity stoles, cords, leis, etc.
• Class rings, announcements, and frames are available online through our selected regalia retailer, Herff Jones. 

All regalia is only available for purchase and is final sale.
 

Latin honors

Students who meet the criteria for Latin honors and participate in commencement ceremonies will have their name listed in the Latin Honors section of the commencement program and will be awarded a Latin honor cord to wear during their ceremony.

• Summa cum laude (Gold Cord)
• Magna cum laude (Silver Cord)
• Cum laude (Green Cord)

Latin honor cords were distributed at the Grad Fair in May.  If you didn’t pick up your Latin honor cord at Grad Fair, you may pick it up in the University Market in Smith or have it shipped to you for a $10 shipping and handling fee.

A student’s final Portland State cumulative GPA for their graduation term is used to determine honors awards that will be printed on the diploma and transcript. However, to qualify for honors recognition at a commencement ceremony, students must meet the criteria above at the end of winter quarter preceding the commencement ceremony. There are no exceptions. The winter GPA is used because that is the latest official GPA available at cord distribution in May.

Traditional Commencement Regalia

• Bachelor’s Degree and Post Baccalaureate Certificate: Bachelor's gown, cap, tassel in your school/college color
• Master’s Degree and Graduate Certificate: Master's gown, cap, hood, tassel in your school/college color
• Doctorate: Ph.D. gown, cap, hood in your school/college color, gold tassel

Regalia is required for all graduating students participating in commencement ceremonies. 

All Portland State gowns are black.

The academic cap is adjusted to remain level. The academic gown is fastened in the front. The tassel on the cap hangs on the right side before the ceremony, and is moved to the left as the graduate receives their degree.

Graduates wear a tassel of the color associated with the college or school conferring the degree. If majors are in different colleges or schools, the student must decide which major and college or school to use. Dual major recipients wear one tassel, although a second may be purchased as a souvenir.

Tassel Colors

College or School	Degrees	Color	Tassel
College of the Arts	Architecture, MARCH, CRTGR-	Blue-Violet
College of the Arts	Art + Design, BFA, MFA-CAP, Film, Art Studies	Brown
College of the Arts	Music and Theater, MM-JZST, MM-MUCP, MA-MUS, MS-MUS, MM-MUSC, MM-MUSP, MA-TA, MS-TA, CRTGR-GCMP	Pink
College of Education	BA, BS, EDD, MA, MS, MED, GRTGR	Light Blue
College of Liberal Arts & Sciences	BS, MS, MST, MEM, All PhD degrees	Gold
College of Liberal Arts & Sciences	BA, BFA (Creative Writing), MA, MAT	White
College of Urban & Public Affairs	BA, BS, MA, MS, MNL, MPA, MPAE, MPP, EMPA, MURP, MUS, PCB, CRTGR	Peacock Blue
Maseeh College of Engineering & Computer Science	BA, BS, MA, MENG, MS, ME, CRTGR	Orange
OHSU-PSU School of Public Health	BA, BS, MPH, Certificate- Community Health	Salmon Pink
School of Social Work	BA, BS, MSW	Citron
The School of Business	BA, BS, MS, MBA, MIM, MRED, MT, CRTGR, PCB	Nugget