Which Side Does the Tassel Go on Your Graduation Cap?

A mortarboard may be a simple square cap, but its tassel carries one of commencement’s most recognizable traditions. If you are asking which side tassel goes on a graduation cap, the standard answer is the right side before the degree is conferred. After graduates are officially recognized, they move the tassel to the left.

That brief movement is more than a photo opportunity. It marks the transition from candidate to graduate, giving a large ceremony one clear, shared moment of accomplishment. For students, families, and ceremony coordinators, understanding the timing and setup helps ensure this tradition is carried out with confidence.

Which Side Does the Tassel Go Before Graduation?

Before the ceremony begins, the tassel should hang from the right side of the mortarboard. The cord is attached through the button at the center of the cap, then arranged so the decorative end falls over the wearer’s right temple.

This is the customary position for high school, associate degree, and bachelor’s degree candidates. Students should arrive with the tassel already on the right unless their school has provided different written instructions. A few seconds spent checking this before lining up can prevent an uneven appearance in processional photographs and on stage.

The tassel does not need to lie perfectly flat against the face. It should hang naturally, clear of the wearer’s eyes, with the cord resting smoothly over the top of the cap. If it twists during handling, gently straighten it rather than pulling it tightly across the mortarboard.

Why the tassel starts on the right

The right-side position identifies the wearer as a degree candidate. The ceremony’s formal conferral changes that status. Once the appropriate announcement has been made, the class moves its tassels from right to left together.

This shared gesture is especially meaningful at ceremonies where hundreds or thousands of graduates cannot individually pause for a lengthy recognition. It gives the class a visible turning point that families can see immediately, even from the back of an auditorium or stadium.

When Does the Tassel Move to the Left?

The tassel is moved after the degree, diploma, or certificate has been officially conferred. In many ceremonies, the presiding official says something similar to, “You may now move your tassels from the right to the left.” Graduates then use one hand to lift the tassel over the front of the cap and let it fall on the left side.

The exact point in the program varies by institution. Some schools direct the move after all graduates have crossed the stage. Others do it immediately following the conferral statement, before graduates receive diplomas or return to their seats. The school’s published ceremony plan always takes precedence over general tradition.

For coordinators, the strongest approach is to include the instruction in pre-ceremony communications, rehearsal remarks, and the commencement script. A clear verbal cue prevents graduates from moving their tassels early while individual names are still being called. It also gives photographers a reliable moment to capture the class celebration.

A simple way to make the move look polished

Graduates should move the tassel deliberately but without rushing. Reach to the hanging end, lift it over the front edge of the mortarboard, and release it on the left side. There is no need to remove the cap, turn the cap around, or detach the tassel from the center button.

Mortarboards should remain level during the movement. Tilting the cap sharply can shift hair, loosen bobby pins, or dislodge the cap altogether. This is one reason a quick practice at rehearsal is worthwhile, particularly for younger graduates or large middle school and high school classes.

Does the Same Tassel Rule Apply to Every Degree?

The right-to-left tassel tradition is most commonly associated with undergraduate and secondary-school commencement. Graduate and professional regalia can follow more specialized customs, so the answer to which side tassel goes may depend on the institution’s academic dress policy.

Master’s and doctoral candidates often wear a mortarboard or a soft academic tam. A tam may include a tassel, but its use is generally more decorative than the undergraduate candidate-to-graduate signal. Faculty members, doctoral graduates, and other academic officials may wear their tassels on the left throughout the ceremony, especially when they are already degree holders participating in the academic procession.

For this reason, graduate schools should not assume that the undergraduate instruction applies to every participant. Review the regalia plan by role: candidates, faculty, marshals, trustees, speakers, and platform party members may have different expectations. A consistent written guide is particularly valuable when renting, purchasing, or distributing several levels of regalia at once.

Tassel Color and Placement Are Different Decisions

The side of the tassel and the color of the tassel are separate matters. Placement follows ceremony tradition. Color may represent the school, graduation year, academic field, honor society, or a specific program.

Many high schools select a school-color tassel or a tassel bearing the graduation year. Colleges and universities may use black tassels for standard bachelor’s regalia, while others choose colors that align with institutional requirements. Gold metallic tassels are often reserved for doctoral regalia, although individual schools may establish their own standards.

Honor cords, medallions, stoles, and pins should not be confused with the tassel. These accessories may carry academic, organizational, military, service, or cultural significance, but they do not change the basic right-before-conferral, left-after-conferral convention for eligible candidates.

When ordering for a class, confirm whether the tassel includes a year date drop, metallic finish, or custom color combination. These specifications affect the finished presentation, but they do not affect how the tassel is positioned on the cap.

Preparing Mortarboards and Tassels Before the Ceremony

A properly fitted mortarboard keeps the tassel in place and helps graduates look composed throughout the event. The cap should rest level on the head, with the front edge approximately one inch above the eyebrows. The elastic band or inner fitting should sit comfortably without creating pressure points.

Before students line up, have them check that the tassel loop is securely placed over the center button. The tassel should be on the right, and the date drop, if included, should face outward where it can be seen. A tassel that is loosely hooked around a corner of the cap may slip off during the processional or when the graduate moves it across.

For institutional orders, distribute caps and tassels early enough for a fitting check. This is especially helpful when caps are packaged separately from gowns or when graduates are responsible for assembling their own regalia. A small instruction card or a brief visual demonstration can reduce last-minute questions and keep staff focused on seating, line order, and ceremony timing.

Academic Apparel has served ceremonial apparel needs for generations, and one lesson remains consistent: the best commencement presentation comes from careful attention to small details before the first graduate enters the venue. Correct tassel placement, matched cap and gown colors, and properly sized garments all contribute to the unified appearance families expect from a milestone ceremony.

Common Tassel Questions at Commencement

Graduates sometimes ask whether the tassel should be moved when they walk across the stage. Usually, no. Unless the ceremony script specifically directs otherwise, keep it on the right until the conferral moment for the full class or degree group.

Others wonder whether left-handed graduates should begin with the tassel on the left. Handedness does not change the tradition. The tassel begins on the right and moves to the left for everyone participating in the customary candidate-to-graduate gesture.

If a tassel falls off during the ceremony, there is no need to stop the processional or interrupt the stage crossing. A staff member, family member, or fellow graduate can help reattach it afterward. The degree is not affected by the placement of a ceremonial accessory.

A tassel is a small component of academic regalia, yet it signals a major accomplishment in a single movement. Set it on the right before the ceremony, wait for the official cue, and move it left with your graduating class. That moment deserves to be simple, visible, and well prepared.