How to Wear a Graduation Cap for High School or College

Graduation is an important day for any student, and with it comes the cap-and-gown graduation ceremony. If you’ve just received your cap and tassel, you may be a bit confused about how to wear them, but don’t worry—that’s where we come in! In this article, we’ll explain how to wear (and style) your cap, how to position the tassel, and more. With our help, you’ll be ready to walk across the stage in style.

How do you wear a graduation cap?

Position the graduation cap so that the point faces forward, with the elastic in the back. Adjust it so that it sits level on your head, and that the headpiece sits about 1 inch (2.5 cm) above your eyebrows. Loop your tassel over the button on top of the mortarboard and hang it on the right side of your cap.

Section 1 of 5:

How to Wear a Graduation Cap

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1
Arrange the cap so that the point is in front. The mortarboard (the square piece on the crown of the cap) is meant to be worn offset in a diamond shape. The front and back of the cap will usually be indicated by the design of the headpiece—look for the slight taper in the forehead area and the elastic band in the rear.^{[1]
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- Situate the cap so that the front corner of the mortarboard is centered on your forehead.
- If you’re still not sure which way it goes, take a look inside the brim. The manufacturer often includes basic directions for how to wear the cap properly.^{[2]
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Make sure the cap sits evenly. Once the cap is on your head, the mortarboard should be flat and level with the ground. If it’s not, you may need to tilt it slightly to straighten it out. Double check that the band of the headpiece is symmetrical and comes to a stop about an inch (2.5 cm) above your eyebrows.^{[3]
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- Don’t push the cap too far forward or back on your head or let it lean to one side.
- To test whether your cap is level, try placing a lightweight object on top and see if it stays in place.
- Your cap should be snug, but not too tight. If it keeps slipping out of place, it’s likely too big, whereas if it’s cutting off your circulation, you probably need to go up a size.
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3
Attach the tassel. If the cap doesn’t have a fixed tassel, or it doesn’t arrive preassembled, you’ll need to put it on yourself. To do this, simply loop the circular end of the tassel over the raised button in the center of the mortarboard. It should be able to slide freely around the button without coming loose.^{[4]
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- Give the tassel a couple of gentle tugs to make sure it’s secure.
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Position the tassel correctly. At the beginning of the ceremony, the tassel should fall on the right side of the cap (unless otherwise specified). Once everyone in the class has been announced, you and your fellow grads will flip it around to the left side, signifying your transition from student to graduate.^{[5]
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- Some schools and programs may do things a little differently. Be sure that you’re clear about your school’s established practices prior to the big day.
- Keep the tassel out of your line of sight and resist the urge to mess with it as much as possible.
- We’ll explain more about how to position the tassel in the section below!
5
Leave your cap on for the duration of the ceremony. Once you've got your cap and gown on, try not to fidget with them too much. They may not be the most comfortable, but you'll only have to wear them for a couple of hours. When it comes time to remove your cap, do it in style—new graduates traditionally toss their caps into the air as a celebratory gesture when the ceremony draws to a close.
- Resist the urge to remove your cap for any reason once the ceremony is underway, unless it's for the singing of the National Anthem.
- You can hold onto your cap if you'd rather be wearing it when it comes time to take pictures. In fact, this will definitely be a good idea if your regalia is rented!

Section 2 of 5:

Which side does the tassel go on?

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Wear the tassel on the right if graduating from high school or undergrad. In most cases, if you’re receiving your high school diploma or an undergraduate degree (associate's or bachelor's), you will be instructed to place your tassel on the right side of your cap. At some point during the ceremony, you will move the tassel to the left side to symbolize your graduation.^{[6]
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- Your principal, dean, or whoever is in charge of your ceremony should tell you where to position your tassel.
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Wear your tassel on the left if you’re a master's or doctoral student. This may vary depending on the institution, but in general, graduate students place their tassel on the left side of their cap to signify that they’ve already earned a previous degree. If you’re receiving a graduate degree, you will keep your tassel on the left side of your cap the entire ceremony. You will receive an academic hood rather than doing a tassel flip to signify your graduation.^{[7]
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Section 3 of 5:

How to Style a Graduation Cap

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Pin the front of your cap out of your face. Some people don’t like how low the front of a graduation cap sits on their forehead. If you want your cap to look a little more flattering, fold the front piece up so that it sits on top of your head when you put the cap on. Use bobby pins to secure it in place. This way, your full face will be visible for any pictures you take.^{[8]
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- Some schools may require you to wear your cap as it’s designed to be worn for the duration of the ceremony. Check with your principal or dean beforehand so you don’t get in trouble. You can always pin your cap after the ceremony to take pictures.
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Style your hair to fit under the cap. If you have shorter hair, your cap will probably fit properly no matter how you style your hair. If you have long hair, though, you may have to experiment with a few different styles to find one you like that allows you to wear your cap properly. Here are a few styles you can try:
- Experiment with ponytails or braids to draw the eye to the neck and the shoulders.
- Leave your hair down for a simple, classic look. Straighten or curl it to your liking.
- For a more elegant style, try curling the ends or tucking your hair up so that it’s just visible beneath the cap.
- Avoid up-dos and styles with too much volume, as you want to keep the hair away from the crown to give the cap the space it needs to rest comfortably.
- It’s a good idea to try the cap on with a few different hairstyles before the ceremony. This way, you can find one you like that still allows you to wear the cap properly.
3
Decorate your cap. Some schools may allow you to add small embellishments to your graduation cap to express your personality and help you stand out from the crowd. To decorate your cap, tack on a few buttons or a pendant for a subtle look, or break out the paint pens, glitter, and fabric letters to really make a statement. This is an important day in your life, so make the most of it!^{[9]
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- Use paint, fabric, and other accessories in your school's colors to show off your school spirit.
- Spell out a special message or quote related to graduation. Even if your classmates can't see it, the audience will.
- Be sure to run your decorating ideas by the principal or dean before you make any drastic modifications to your regalia. Some schools may not allow you to decorate at all.
4
Save the cap for last. Wait until you’re wearing your gown, stole, and any other components to put on the cap. That way, you can focus your attention on fixing your hair and makeup (if you wear it) without worrying about messing them up later. The cap should be the final addition to your graduation regalia.^{[10]
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- Some gowns and hoods are designed to be slipped over your head, which can be tricky if you’ve already got your cap on.
5
Give the cap a trial run. It’s a good idea to try your cap and gown on a time or two before the actual ceremony so you can get an idea of how the completed ensemble will look together. This will also give you a chance to make any necessary last-minute adjustments.^{[11]
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- The more times you wear the cap, the more comfortable you’ll feel once it’s time to take to the stage.
- Try your cap and gown on as soon as you get it to make sure everything fits properly.

Section 4 of 5:

How to Care for Your Graduation Cap

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1
Put the cap away until you need it. The best way to protect your graduation cap from damage is to not take it out any more often than you have to. Stash the cap in the box it was packaged in when it’s not in use, and set it on the top shelf of a closet where it won’t get crushed or bent. This will keep it from being exposed to dust, sunlight, and moisture, as well as other potential dangers like pets or small children.
- Handle the mortarboard carefully. Always grip it lightly by the edges whenever you’re picking it up or setting it down.
- As soon as you receive your cap and gown, place them on a hanger to work out the wrinkles.
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Brush out the tassel. As your cap gets moved around, the strands of the tassel may get hung up on one another. Run your fingers through the strands before putting on the cap to separate them and keep them looking neat and orderly.^{[12]
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- This should be done just before you put the cap on so you can walk down the aisle confident and tangle-free.
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Keep your cap spotless. There will probably be no need to clean your cap prior to graduation, but if, for some reason, you must, do it with a gentle steaming or ironing. Never put the cap through the washing machine, have it dry cleaned, or allow it to get wet, as this can easily ruin the fabric or cause it to lose its shape.^{[13]
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- Brush loose dust and dirt from your cap and gown by hand rather than using an implement that may damage the material.
- Don’t leave your cap sitting out where it may get something spilled on it.

Section 5 of 5:

More Graduation Tips & Tricks

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Do you need to figure out how to wear the rest of your regalia? We’ve got you covered! Check out these other wikiHow articles for tips on how to wear your graduation gown, write a graduation speech, and prepare for the ceremony in general:

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What if you have a big head?

Otterly Badgerific

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Request a larger size of graduation cap; try it on before hiring or purchasing, so that you can be absolutely certain it's a good fit.

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Tips

Try your cap on as soon as you receive it to make sure it fits properly. Return poorly-fitting caps right away to give yourself plenty of time to have them exchanged for the correct size.

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Use a couple of clips or bobby pins to prevent the cap from sliding around or being carried off by a gust of wind.

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If you can, try to steam your cap and gown before the day of graduation instead of ironing it. Sometimes the gown can get burn damage from irons. Steaming it can release the wrinkles without damaging it. You can even do this by hanging it up in the bathroom when you take a shower because the shower steam works the same way.

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Warnings

Avoid ironing caps or gowns made from synthetic materials like polyester or rayon. Intense heat can cause them to melt.

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