What Is A Graduation Hood? Learn Before Your Big Day

At graduation ceremonies, you’ll often see students dressed in caps, gowns, and a colorful piece of fabric draped around their shoulders. It’s more than just decoration—it carries meaning, history, and academic significance. If you’ve ever asked yourself what is a graduation hood, you’re not alone.

Many people are curious about its purpose and why only some graduates wear one. Whether you’re preparing for your own ceremony or just curious about the tradition, understanding the role of the hood can give you a deeper appreciation for what it represents. Let’s take a closer look at this unique piece of graduation attire.

Definition and Purpose of a Graduation Hood

A graduation hood is a distinctive garment worn by graduates as part of academic regalia during commencement ceremonies. Unlike the more common cap and gown, the hood is reserved primarily for those receiving advanced degrees—master’s, doctoral, and sometimes bachelor’s degrees, depending on the institution. It is a symbol of academic achievement and a visual representation of the wearer’s degree level, field of study, and alma mater.

The purpose of the graduation hood is both ceremonial and symbolic. It connects modern graduates with centuries-old academic traditions and visually communicates scholarly accomplishment. The hood’s colors, shape, and length provide important information about the graduate’s discipline and educational level. For universities, it’s a way to honor graduates formally and recognize the academic journey they’ve completed. For students, it’s a badge of honor that marks years of hard work, research, and dedication.

Historical Origins of the Graduation Hood

The tradition of academic hoods dates back to the Middle Ages, when universities first emerged in Europe, particularly in places like Oxford and Cambridge. At the time, scholars were also clerics, and their academic dress closely resembled religious robes. Hoods served a functional purpose: they provided warmth in the cold, unheated buildings where lectures were held.

As time went on, academic dress evolved into a more symbolic tradition. By the 14th century, specific colors and styles of gowns and hoods were used to distinguish between faculty members and students, as well as between different ranks or degrees. The hood transformed from a practical garment into a mark of scholarly status.

When American universities were established, many adopted the British academic regalia system but later standardized it through the Intercollegiate Code of Academic Costume in 1895. This code formalized how gowns, hoods, and caps should look in the U.S., including rules for colors and lengths that are still followed by many institutions today. The hood’s transition from a literal piece of clothing to a ceremonial symbol illustrates its deep roots in academic heritage.

Design and Meaning of the Hood

Structure of a Graduation Hood

A graduation hood is an elegantly draped piece of cloth that lies around the neck and extends down the back. It has a tailored shape, usually featuring a shell (typically black), a satin lining in school colors, and a velvet trim in a specific color that represents the academic discipline. The interior of the hood is often brightly colored, and when worn, the lining is partially visible as a splash of color beneath the robe.

The front of the hood tapers near the neck while the back flares out, forming a wide, rounded section that drapes below the shoulder blades. This shape and the arrangement of colors allow observers to quickly identify key academic information about the graduate.

Color Meanings and Symbolism

Each part of the hood carries symbolic meaning:

• Velvet Trim Color: The color of the velvet border signifies the field of study. For example, dark blue represents philosophy, gold denotes science, and light blue is used for education.
• Lining Colors: The satin lining usually features the official colors of the institution granting the degree. Some hoods include intricate designs like chevrons or stripes if the school uses multiple colors.
• Length and Width: The size of the hood varies based on the level of the degree. A bachelor’s hood is shorter and simpler, while a doctoral hood is the longest and most elaborate.

This combination of structure, trim, and lining turns the hood into a form of academic storytelling—a wearable summary of one’s academic journey and affiliation.

Different Hoods for Different Degrees

Bachelor’s Degree Hoods

Although not always required, some institutions do use hoods for bachelor’s degree recipients. These hoods are the shortest in length, typically about three feet long, and have a narrow velvet trim. The use of hoods at the bachelor’s level varies by school and region, and when used, they often reflect school pride through colored linings.

Master’s Degree Hoods

The master’s hood is longer—usually about three and a half feet—and has a more prominent design. It features a wider velvet trim than the bachelor’s hood and includes a more visible school-colored lining. Because most graduate programs require intense academic commitment, the master’s hood has become a meaningful symbol of academic maturity and specialization.

Doctoral Degree Hoods

Doctoral hoods are the most elaborate. They typically measure four feet or longer and have the widest velvet trim, sometimes as wide as five inches. These hoods may also have decorative panels or a bell-shaped rear section that distinguishes them from the simpler bachelor’s and master’s versions. The hood is one of the most respected symbols of doctoral achievement, and wearing one signifies the highest level of academic attainment.

Examples by Academic Discipline

The velvet trim color is consistent across institutions based on discipline. Common examples include:

• Arts, Letters, Humanities: White
• Business: Drab (light brown)
• Education: Light blue
• Engineering: Orange
• Law: Purple
• Medicine: Green
• Music: Pink
• Nursing: Apricot
• Philosophy (Ph.D.): Dark blue
• Science: Golden yellow
• Theology or Divinity: Scarlet

These colors help to instantly identify the graduate’s area of expertise, even in a crowd.

How and When Graduation Hoods Are Worn

Proper Hood Placement

Graduation hoods are worn draped around the neck, with the longer portion hanging down the back. The satin lining should be slightly turned outward so that the school colors are visible. The velvet trim lies along the shoulders and should not be folded inward. Many institutions have staff or volunteers on hand to help graduates correctly position their hoods before the ceremony begins.

In some cases, the hood is held until the moment of recognition—particularly during a “hooding ceremony”—where a faculty member formally places the hood over the graduate’s shoulders on stage. This tradition is especially common in master’s and doctoral programs.

The Hooding Ceremony

The hooding ceremony is a special event held by many graduate schools to honor those earning advanced degrees. During the ceremony, the graduate is “hooded” by a professor or mentor, symbolizing the transition from student to scholar. It’s often a more personal and meaningful experience than the larger commencement event, as it acknowledges the graduate’s dedication, academic growth, and professional readiness.

These ceremonies are often rich with emotion, as they represent years of effort culminating in a public moment of recognition. They also reflect the community and mentorship that have supported the graduate’s journey.

Modern Use and Significance

Today, the graduation hood continues to serve as a meaningful symbol of academic accomplishment and tradition. While the cap and gown may feel familiar to most, the hood stands out as a marker of advanced study and scholarly excellence. It also preserves the legacy of medieval universities while evolving to reflect modern academic disciplines and institutions.

In an era of increasing customization and individuality, the graduation hood remains one of the few standardized pieces of regalia that visually connect students across generations and geographies. Whether worn during a grand university commencement or a small hooding ceremony, it represents more than just education—it reflects perseverance, expertise, and the values of the academic community.

The hood also plays a role in fostering school pride and unity. When graduates display their institutional colors alongside their field of study, they carry forward the legacy of their school and contribute to a broader tradition of scholarship.

Even as academic dress evolves, the graduation hood remains a powerful emblem—linking today’s graduates to centuries of learners who came before them, and signaling their readiness to lead, teach, and inspire in the world beyond the classroom.