What Is The String On A Graduation Hat Called: The Complete 2026 Guide

The string on a graduation hat is called a tassel. For graduates preparing for the 2026 commencement season, understanding the specific terminology, history, and etiquette surrounding this academic regalia element ensures proper presentation during ceremonies. While many simply refer to it as a string, cord, or fringe, the correct academic term is the tassel, which plays a central, symbolic role in graduation rituals across high schools, universities, and colleges.

Etymology and Anatomy of the Academic Tassel

The word tassel derives from the Old French word tassal, meaning a clump or bunch of threads. In the context of academic regalia standards regulated by the Intercollegiate Bureau of Academic Costume (IBAC), the tassel is a crucial component attached to the top center button of the mortarboard (the graduation cap).

A standard academic tassel consists of three primary structural parts:

• The Anchor Loop: A small, reinforced cord loop that hooks securely under the fabric button situated at the exact center of the mortarboard.
• The Cord: The hanging length of twisted or braided threads that extends from the crown down to the edge of the cap board.
• The Fringe: The loose, dangling bundle of threads at the bottom of the cord that sways during movement and adds weight to keep the tassel hanging straight.

Modern graduation accessories for the 2026 academic year often feature specialized charms woven into the cord to denote the specific graduation year, honors status, or membership in academic honor societies.

The Significance of Tassel Placement and Transition Rituals

One of the most anticipated moments of any graduation ceremony is the physical shifting of the tassel from one side of the mortarboard to the other. This movement is not merely aesthetic; it represents the official transition from candidate to graduate.

Educational institutions generally follow a uniform protocol for tassel placement:

1. Pre-Ceremony Placement: All graduating candidates enter the venue and sit during the opening remarks wearing their tassels positioned on the right side of the mortarboard.
2. The Conferral Moment: After the presiding official or university president officially confers degrees upon the graduating class, a collective instruction is given to move the tassels.
3. Post-Ceremony Placement: Graduates sweep their tassels from the right side over to the left side.

This leftward movement signifies that the wearer has successfully graduated and earned their degree. For master's and doctoral candidates, the protocol often differs slightly; advanced degree recipients frequently wear their tassels on the left side throughout the entire ceremony because they already hold a foundational higher-education degree.

Academic Regalia Color Standards and Institutional Signifiers

Tassels serve a secondary function beyond ceremony traditions: they visually communicate the graduate's field of study or academic discipline. Under standardized academic dress codes, specific colors correspond to particular faculties, colleges, or degree types.

The following breakdown highlights standard American academic color associations frequently utilized by institutions during the 2026 commencement exercises:

Some high schools and universities choose to simplify this by utilizing school colors—such as solid blue, gold, or black—for all graduating seniors, reserving multicolored or specific discipline-colored tassels exclusively for collegiate and postgraduate levels.

Comparing Mortarboard Tassels to Honor Cords and Medallions

It is common for graduation attendees to confuse the cap tassel with other decorative hanging elements worn during commencement. Maintaining a clear distinction between these items helps graduates organize their regalia correctly.

• Mortarboard Tassel: Attached exclusively to the top center of the graduation cap. It represents the degree level, academic discipline, and the official transition of graduation status.
• Honor Cords: Intertwined fabric ropes draped around the neck and over the shoulders. These indicate academic honors (such as cum laude, magna cum laude), specific organizational memberships, or veteran status.
• Stoles and Sashes: Wide fabric bands worn draped over the neck and hanging down the front of the academic gown, usually signifying leadership roles, study abroad participation, or cultural heritage affiliations.
• Medallions: Metal tokens suspended from ribbons worn around the neck, typically awarded for top academic performance, valedictorian status, or major philanthropic contributions to the campus community.

Step-by-Step Guide: Preparing and Securing Your Graduation Tassel

Ensuring that your cap and tassel remain secure and look professional throughout the 2026 commencement ceremony requires proper preparation. Follow this systematic process to ready your mortarboard:

1. Inspect the Attachment Loop: Examine the top center button of the mortarboard. Ensure the button is tightly fastened and that the small anchor loop on the tassel is free of fraying or knots.
2. Attach the Tassel to the Center: Lift the inner lining or slide the anchor loop underneath the fabric button on top of the cap. Pull the main cord through the loop to create a secure slip-knot attachment.
3. Align the Cord Length: Adjust the length so that the cord rests flat against the top of the mortarboard square, allowing the fringe to hang naturally off the right edge (for undergraduate candidates).
4. Prevent Tangling: Use a light mist of water or anti-static spray on the fringe threads if they appear frizzy or clumped from packaging. Comb through the fringe gently using a fine-toothed comb.
5. Secure with Bobby Pins: If the wind is a factor during outdoor ceremonies, slide a hidden bobby pin matching your hair color through the top loop or pin the anchor base securely to the mortarboard fabric to prevent the tassel from blowing away.

Expert Insight on Tassel Maintenance: Avoid ironing synthetic tassel threads directly, as excessive heat can melt artificial fibers instantly. If your tassel is wrinkled from storage in a flat graduation box, hang it vertically in a steamy bathroom for a few minutes to let gravity and moisture naturally relax the fibers into a straight, clean drape.

Frequently Asked Questions

What is the string on a graduation hat called?

The string on a graduation hat is called a tassel. It consists of a hanging cord and a fringe attached to the center button of the mortarboard.

Which side does the graduation tassel start on?

Undergraduate candidates start with the tassel on the right side of the mortarboard. It is moved to the left side only after degrees are officially conferred during the ceremony.

Do master's and doctoral degree holders move their tassels?

No, advanced degree candidates typically wear their tassels on the left side for the entire duration of the ceremony because they already hold a prior degree.

What do different tassel colors mean?

Tassel colors represent specific academic disciplines or fields of study, such as golden yellow for science, purple for law, and orange for engineering, though many high schools use school colors instead.

Can you keep your graduation tassel after the ceremony?

Yes, the graduation tassel is yours to keep as a keepsake. Many graduates hang rearview mirror ornaments with them or display them in shadow boxes alongside their diplomas.

Conclusion

The string on a graduation hat—properly known as the tassel—serves as both a rich historical tradition and a functional symbol of academic achievement. By understanding its correct anatomical parts, placement protocols, and disciplinary color coding, graduates can step onto the stage with total confidence during the 2026 commencement season. Properly securing your mortarboard and knowing when to execute the ceremonial tassel flip marks a memorable milestone in your educational journey.