How To Put A Tassel On A Graduation Cap: Step-by-Step Regalia Guide

Secure your graduation tassel by looping its long suspension cord completely over the central button of the mortarboard cap, pulling it taut under the button's flange so it hangs freely without slipping. Undergraduates must position the tassel over the front-right quadrant of the cap prior to commencement, moving it to the front-left once the degree is formally conferred. Graduate-level candidates (Master's and Doctorates) must place and keep their tassel on the left side for the entirety of the academic ceremony.

Pre-Ceremony Preparation and Cap Assembly Checklist

Achieving a flawless, dignified look on graduation day requires careful preparation of your academic regalia. Mortarboard caps are designed with specific structural dynamics. The rigid square portion must sit perfectly parallel to the ground, which requires identifying the front and back of the inner skull cap. Proper preparation prevents the cap from slipping during the procession and ensures the tassel drapes naturally over the brim without blocking your vision.

Before attempting to assemble your cap, review the following essential components, structural standards, and operational benchmarks:

• Essential Regalia Equipment & Tools

  
  
  
  • Mortarboard Cap: A standard academic cap featuring a flat, square top board (typically 9.5 inches by 9.5 inches) and an attached, elasticized fabric skull cap underneath.
  • Academic Tassel: A thick bundle of structured threads (usually 9 inches in length) gathered by a metal band, attached to a long cord loop (typically 6 inches in length).
  • Year Charm (Signet): A metallic drop charm displaying the year of graduation, pre-attached to the tassel's metal band or loop clasp.
  • Structural Bobby Pins: At least four flat, matte bobby pins matching your hair color to anchor the skull cap to your hair.
  • Handheld Steamer: Used to gently remove packaging creases from the mortarboard fabric and hanging tassel fibers. Do not use a hot flat iron.

• Mandatory Prerequisite Academic Standards

  
  
  
  • The Intercollegiate Code Protocol: Academic traditions dictate that tassel colors must align with your specific discipline (e.g., Light Blue for Education, Apricot for Nursing, Drab for Business) unless your institution mandates a uniform school-color tassel.
  • Interior Cap Orientation: Look inside the inner fabric skull cap. The deeper, elasticized portion indicates the back of the cap, while the shallow, pointed portion indicates the front.
  • Degree-Specific Placement Rules: Determine your candidate status. Associate and Bachelor's candidates participate in the physical "turning of the tassel" ritual. Master's and Doctoral candidates do not turn the tassel; their regalia is fully assembled with the tassel positioned permanently on the left.

• Estimated Assembly and Styling Benchmarks

  
  
  
  • Estimated Setup Duration: 10 to 15 minutes.
  • Cost of Standard Components: $15 to $45 for high-quality, institution-approved tassel and cap replacements.
  • Environmental Requirements: Assemble your regalia in a dry, windless indoor room with a mirror to verify angles and level lines.

Step-by-Step Guide to Securing and Positioning Your Tassel

Step 1: Identify the Front and Back of the Mortarboard

Lay your graduation cap flat on a clean table with the fabric skull cap facing upward. Inspect the inner rim of the skull cap. You will notice a distinct difference in the shape of the crown. One end features a pronounced point, while the opposite end has a wider curve, often reinforced with an elastic band or a label marked "Back."

The pointed, shallow end must face forward, sitting approximately one inch above your eyebrows. The rounded, elasticized end must wrap snugly around the lower back of your skull (the occipital bone). Misorienting the cap by putting it on backward will cause the flat square board to sit at an awkward upward tilt, preventing the tassel from hanging at the correct forward angle.

Step 2: Smooth and Steam the Tassel Fibers

Remove your academic tassel from its protective plastic sleeve. If the tassel fibers are bent, crimped, or splayed due to packaging pressure, do not pull or iron them. Instead, hold the tassel by its long cord loop and pass it through the gentle steam of a garment steamer for 5 to 10 seconds.

Allow the fibers to hang vertically until cool. The steam will immediately relax the synthetic rayon or silk threads, allowing them to drape as a cohesive, elegant column. Ensure the metallic year charm is hanging freely at the base of the suspension loop and is not tangled within the individual tassel strands.

Step 3: Loop the Tassel Over the Center Button

Turn the mortarboard right-side up so the flat square board faces you. Locate the central button, which is a fabric-covered metal or plastic stud protruding from the exact center of the board. Take the long, flexible cord loop at the top of your tassel and slide it completely over the center button.

Pull the cord downward toward one of the corners of the cap. The loop must slide entirely under the lip of the button, resting flat against the fabric of the board.

Pro-Tip: If the loop feels loose or prone to sliding over the top of the button during movement, wrap the loop around the neck of the button a second time to create a secure slipknot. This double-loop technique anchors the tassel in place, preventing it from flying off during outdoor gusts or celebratory cap tosses.

Step 4: Secure the Year Charm and Adjust the Hang

Verify that the metal ring holding the year charm is positioned correctly. The charm should sit flush against the metal band that gathers the tassel strands. It must not hang upside down or be caught inside the main loop.

Gently tug the tassel downward to ensure the cord is properly seated. The tassel should hang down the side of the cap, draping past the edge of the board by approximately two to three inches. It must swing freely without catching on the fabric edges of the mortarboard.

Step 5: Position the Tassel for the Processional

The correct placement of your tassel before the ceremony depends entirely on the degree you are receiving.

• Undergraduate Candidates (Associate and Bachelor's Degrees): Pull the tassel so that it hangs over the front-right corner of your cap, positioned between your right eye and right ear. It must remain on the right side during the entire processional, the opening remarks, and the presentation of candidates.
• Graduate Candidates (Master's and Doctoral Degrees): Pull the tassel so that it hangs over the front-left corner of your cap, positioned between your left eye and left ear. Because graduate students have already earned their initial degrees, they do not participate in the "turning of the tassel" ceremony. Their tassels remain on the left from the moment they put on their caps.

Warning: Never use safety pins, tape, or glue to secure the tassel to the outer edge of the cap's board. The tassel must be free to swing naturally as you walk. Securing it to the edge looks unprofessional and will prevent you from seamlessly performing the turning ceremony when instructed.

Step 6: Anchor the Cap to Your Head with Structural Pins

Once the cap is placed on your head (parallel to the floor, not tilted back), have a classmate or family member assist you in securing it. Slide bobby pins upward through the inner fabric band of the skull cap and directly into your hair.

Insert at least two pins on the sides and two at the back. For maximum stability, cross two pins in an "X" shape over the fabric band on each side. This ensures that when you move your tassel or walk in windy outdoor environments, the cap remains stationary and perfectly level.

Academic Tassel Standards and Material Specifications

The colors and dimensions of academic regalia are highly regulated by the American Council on Education's Academic Costume Code. Tassels are designed to signify both the level of academic achievement and the specific field of study.

The table below outlines the standard technical specifications, dimensions, and traditional color associations for academic tassels used across North American institutions:

Troubleshooting Common Graduation Cap and Tassel Failures

Scenario 1: The Tassel Keeps Slipping Off the Center Button

• Root Cause: The suspension loop of the tassel is too wide, or the smooth material of the button allows the cord to slide upward and over the crown when the graduate moves their head.
• Actionable Fix: Remove the tassel and thread the suspension loop over the center button. Before letting it hang, wrap the loop around the base of the button a second time, pulling the cord tight to form a secure hitch knot. If the button is extremely shallow, apply a small, invisible piece of double-sided toupee tape or clear adhesive gel to the neck of the button underneath the loop to lock it in place.

Scenario 2: The Cap Keeps Sliding Backward or Tilting Upward

• Root Cause: The mortarboard is either put on backward, or the hair underneath is styled in a way (such as a high ponytail or bun) that displaces the inner skull cap.
• Actionable Fix: Verify that the deeper, elasticized portion of the skull cap is placed at the back of your head and the shallow point is at the front. If your hairstyle is pushing the cap upward, adjust your hair into a low ponytail, side braid, or leave it down. Secure the inner sweatband of the skull cap to your hair using matte bobby pins crossed in an "X" configuration on both the left and right sides of your head.

Scenario 3: The Year Charm is Facing the Wrong Direction or Twisted

• Root Cause: The small metal jump ring connecting the year signet to the tassel band has twisted, or the suspension cord is twisted along its vertical axis.
• Actionable Fix: Gently hold the metal band of the tassel and rotate the jump ring using your fingers or a pair of small tweezers until the front of the year charm faces outward away from the face. If the cord itself is twisted, untwine the loop from the center button, let the tassel hang completely straight to untwist naturally, and re-loop it onto the button without introducing any rotational tension.

Scenario 4: The Tassel Strands Keep Clinging to Your Face or Glasses

• Root Cause: Static electricity in dry weather causes the synthetic rayon fibers of the tassel to cling to your skin, hair, or eyeglasses.
• Actionable Fix: Lightly spray a clean makeup brush or your hands with an anti-static laundry spray or a fine-mist hairspray. Gently swipe the brush or your hands down the length of the tassel fibers. This neutralizes the static charge instantly, allowing the tassel to hang in a clean, vertical line without clinging to your face during the ceremony.

Frequently Asked Questions

Which side does the graduation tassel go on?

Before your degree is formally conferred, the tassel goes on the right side of your graduation cap if you are an undergraduate candidate (Associate or Bachelor's degree). If you are receiving a graduate-level degree (Master's or Doctorate), the tassel must be placed on the left side of the cap from the beginning of the ceremony and remains there throughout the entire event.

How do you attach a graduation tassel without it falling off?

To attach the tassel securely, take the long suspension loop and slip it over the cap's central button, sliding the cord completely underneath the lip of the button so it rests flat against the fabric board. For maximum security, wrap the loop twice around the neck of the button to form a secure hitch knot, which prevents the cord from sliding off when walking or during windy outdoor ceremonies.

Can you wear more than one tassel on your graduation cap?

No, academic protocol dictates that you should only wear one official tassel on your mortarboard, representing the primary degree being conferred. If you are graduating with multiple majors or degrees, you should wear the tassel color associated with your primary major or your school's designated institutional color, while displaying additional academic honors through stoles, cords, or medals worn around your neck.

How does tassel placement differ for Master's and Doctorate graduates?

Master's and Doctorate graduates place their tassels on the left side of the mortarboard or tam before the processional begins. Because these graduates have already attained their undergraduate status, they do not participate in the symbolic "turning of the tassel" during the ceremony; their tassels remain on the left side for the entire duration of the commencement.

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