Graduation Tassel Placement Guide for Every Degree

A tassel may be a small part of academic regalia, but it carries a visible role in the commencement ceremony. This graduation tassel placement guide explains where the tassel belongs before, during, and after conferral, so graduates, faculty, and ceremony coordinators can present a polished, consistent appearance.

Start With the Wearer’s Right Side

The most common source of tassel-placement errors is simple: right and left always refer to the graduate wearing the cap, not the audience looking at the stage. When a candidate wears a traditional mortarboard, the tassel hangs from the button at the center of the cap and falls over the wearer’s right side before the degree is conferred.

A mortarboard should sit level on the head, with one point of the square centered above the forehead. It should not be tilted backward like a baseball cap or worn so far forward that it obscures the graduate’s face. Once the cap is level, the tassel is easier to position correctly and will hang naturally beside the face.

For large ceremonies, this detail deserves attention during lineup. A row of caps with tassels facing different directions can look unorganized in photographs and on stage. A quick visual check before the processional helps preserve the formal presentation that commencement requires.

Graduation Tassel Placement by Degree Level

The correct tassel position depends on the degree or credential being recognized, as well as the customs established by the school. Institutional instructions always take priority, particularly when a university follows a specific academic dress code or has a long-standing commencement tradition.

High School, Middle School, and Bachelor’s Candidates

Candidates receiving a high school diploma, middle school promotion certificate, associate degree, or bachelor’s degree generally begin the ceremony with the tassel on the right. After diplomas have been awarded, an authorized speaker instructs the class to move the tassel from right to left.

This right-to-left movement is one of the ceremony’s most recognized traditions. It marks the transition from candidate to graduate. Schools may direct graduates to make the change together at the end of the ceremony, or colleges may have students move the tassel individually after crossing the stage. Either approach is appropriate when it is announced clearly and practiced in advance.

For a cap-and-gown ceremony involving younger students, the same convention is often used. It gives students a meaningful ceremonial moment while keeping the regalia presentation aligned with broader academic tradition.

Master’s and Doctoral Candidates

Master’s and doctoral candidates commonly wear their tassels on the left side throughout the ceremony. These graduates have already earned an undergraduate degree, so the tassel shift associated with initial degree conferral does not always apply.

Doctoral regalia may include a tam rather than a mortarboard. Tams are typically made with four, six, or eight panels, and they may be paired with a gold bullion tassel. The tassel should be secured at the center top of the tam and arranged to fall neatly on the left, unless the institution specifies a different placement.

Graduate schools vary more than undergraduate programs. Some direct all candidates to begin with tassels on the right and shift them together. Others reserve the left-side position for advanced-degree candidates from the start. This is a case where ceremony protocol, not general practice, should make the final decision.

Faculty, Marshals, and Platform Party Members

Faculty members and academic officials wearing mortarboards or tams usually keep the tassel on the left. Their regalia represents degrees previously earned, not a credential being conferred during that ceremony. Faculty tams, especially doctoral models, should be selected and worn in accordance with the degree level, discipline colors, and institutional tradition of the wearer.

Marshals and platform party members should receive the same clear instructions as students. Because they are highly visible throughout the program, consistent cap orientation and tassel placement support the authority of the academic procession.

Tassel Colors, Year Dates, and Honor Accessories

Tassel placement and tassel color are separate considerations. Many schools use a single school color for graduating students, while others use black tassels, degree-related colors, or colors designated for a particular program. A detachable year-date charm may hang from the tassel and should face outward when possible for photographs.

Honor cords, stoles, medals, and pins do not change which side the tassel belongs on. They should be arranged so they do not catch on the tassel or push the cap out of position. Graduates wearing multiple recognition items should take a moment to check that cords lie evenly over the gown and that stoles remain centered at the neckline.

For institutions ordering custom tassels, consistency matters as much as color. Matching tassel fibers, date charms, and cap styles create a finished class presentation, particularly in close-up photography and formal processional lines.

How to Prepare Caps Before the Ceremony

A tassel should be attached before graduates arrive at the assembly area. The loop at the top of the tassel slips over the mortarboard’s center button. Pull the loop fully into place, then confirm that the tassel hangs freely rather than being caught beneath the button or folded under the cap.

Graduates should avoid using tape, pins, or other temporary methods to secure a tassel unless the cap design requires it. These additions can damage the fabric, leave residue, or interfere with a clean tassel movement. If caps are being distributed in bulk, staff members should demonstrate attachment at pickup and keep a small supply of replacement tassels available for last-minute needs.

A simple pre-ceremony check should cover four details:

• The cap is level and fits securely without excessive pressure.
• The tassel is attached to the center button.
• The tassel is on the required side for the candidate’s degree level.
• The year charm and honor accessories are facing neatly and are not tangled.

This check takes only a few seconds per graduate and prevents avoidable corrections once the processional has begun.

Give Graduates a Clear Tassel-Moving Cue

The tassel shift is more successful when the direction is stated plainly. Rather than saying, “Move your tassels,” the presiding official should say, “Graduates, move your tassels from the right side of your cap to the left side.” The wording eliminates uncertainty for graduates and creates a better moment for guests and photographers.

Timing is equally important. At a high school or undergraduate ceremony, the shift generally occurs after all candidates have been recognized or after the degree has formally been conferred. Moving tassels too early can confuse the visual meaning of the tradition. Waiting until the official cue keeps every candidate aligned.

Academic Apparel recommends that coordinators include the instruction in the printed script, rehearsal notes, and graduate communication. A short rehearsal demonstration is especially useful for large classes, first-time graduation staff, and ceremonies with multiple credential levels.

A Detail Worth Getting Right

Correct tassel placement honors more than a dress code. It gives graduates a visible connection to the academic traditions behind the ceremony and helps every photograph reflect the care invested in the occasion. Set the expectation early, confirm the institution’s protocol, and let the class make its right-to-left transition with confidence.