Academic dress in the United States
Summary
Academic dress has a history in the United States going back to the colonial colleges era. It has been most influenced by the academic dress traditions of Europe. There is an Inter-Collegiate Code that sets out a detailed uniform scheme of academic regalia that is voluntarily followed by many, though not all institutions entirely adhere to it.
Originally created by Antony-22
2/13/2011, 10:17:04 PM
Modified
5/18/2026, 3:16:36 AM
Recent revisions
/* Special academic regalia of American universities */
/* 21st century */ generally true that content should include references
/* Special academic regalia of American universities */ i know we have a relatively recent written cite for this, but video evidence of last year's commencement basically contracts this and looks just like ordinary gowns but open face https://vimeo.com/1083639274
/* Special academic regalia of American universities */ this is just standard law school regalia
/* Intercollegiate colors */ does not award doctorates. perhaps in the past the president wore this type of gown but pictoral evidence suggests this isn't current the case. https://www.wellesley.edu/news-events/commencement/president-address also the cite for the claim is from harvard and is referring to a hood. I think the illustration is a misinterpration of that description effectively a fantasty piece.
/* Special academic regalia of American universities */
/* Special academic regalia of American universities */
/* Special academic regalia of American universities */ gow in video seem different than what is described here https://www.sju.edu/events/commencement/graduate/doctoral
/* Special academic regalia of American universities */ hood lining with color of the school is the standard this list is exceptions to that.
/* Special academic regalia of American universities */ primary source but seems uncontroversial
/* Special academic regalia of American universities */ specifiying title
/* Special academic regalia of American universities */
/* Special academic regalia of American universities */ whole bunch of pictures on cooper unions websites and there isn't a gown that looks like this. https://cooper.edu/gallery/2025-commencement
/* Special academic regalia of American universities */
/* Special academic regalia of American universities */ again perhaps bordering on OR but there are a number of pictures of folks in gowns on the universities website and none look like what is depicted and there is no cite for the claim https://bastyr.edu/alumni
/* 1959 */ again this could be true, but i've never heard of it and have been in hire ed in various capacities for 20 years at various insitutitons.
/* 1959 */ i really can't find anything to support this claim. Seen plenty of 1970s us graduation pictures in the US and pretty much all in caps and gowns. I guess bordering on OR but my lived experience (and googling) suggests this uncited claim is untrue.
/* 1932 */ not sure how widespread and a primary source, but the article basically says what is being argued here
/* Headwear */ went to graduation the other day and like 75 percent of the profs no longer wear it. i think its virtually impossible to cite or claim that academic attire is incomplete without a hat.
/* Elements */ provides at least some explanation of why they were superseeded though it does feel like a bit of a rabbit hole type aside.
