Your graduation cap has this cute swinging tassel, but do you know it has a unique traditional aspect that most of us don’t know about? If you don’t know on which side this tassel hangs, you will appear “graduate” in front of the audience even before the ceremony begins. To avoid any such accidents, our guide has everything you need to know about graduation tassels. We have covered how to wear the tassel correctly, the meanings of different colors, and the proper ways to use it after the ceremony.

Which Side Does the Tassel Go On? 

High School Graduation (Right → Left)

If you are a high school grad, you have to keep your tassel on the right side of the cap at the beginning of the ceremony. Once the degree is awarded, the entire batch moves the tassel on the left, indicating completion of high school graduation. 

Bachelor’s Degree (Right → Left)

As in high school, undergraduates are required to keep the tassel on the right before the degree is awarded. Once the ceremony completes and students receive their degrees, they are cued to move the tassels to the left. 

Master’s & Doctoral (Worn on the Left Throughout)

This is where the right-to-left ritual changes. Masters and doctoral candidates are required to wear their graduation tassels on the left throughout the ceremony. 

When Exactly to Move It (Ceremony Cue Table)

The exact timing (individual vs. group turn) varies by school. Always double-check your own commencement program. Also, just like tassels, gown colors also have a meaning. Read graduation gown colors meaning.

Why “Turning the Tassel” Matters

This memorable motion is not just an activity. It is a feeling of “I did it” felt by every student in the ceremony. 

Graduation Tassel Colors and Their Meanings

College tassel colors are related to your field of study under the American Council on Education’s Academic Costume Code. The following chart covers all ACE-recognized discipline colors.

If you want the full breakdown by source, Wikipedia’s overview of academic dress in the United States and the Intercollegiate Registry of Academic Costume both maintain detailed records of the official color code.

What’s on the Tassel — Year Charms, Signets & Custom Add-Ons

Most tassels include a small metal “year charm” or numeral signet (like “2026”) slid onto the cord, marking the graduating class. These are usually included with rented or purchased regalia, but plenty of students add in a custom charm, school crest signet, or personalized initial. Some students also pair their tassel with a stole or cord representing honors societies, leadership roles, or cultural affiliations. If you’re curious how those differ from the tassel itself, here’s what a graduation stole means.

How to Wear the Tassel Correctly

If you are facing issues with your tassel, here are a few quick fixes:

• If it keeps sliding to the back, loop it once around the button before letting it drop.
• If your cap won’t stay level, secure it with bobby pins through the fabric, not just the elastic band.
• Keep the cord straight rather than twisted so the color reads clearly in photos.

Looking to make the cap itself more “you”? Browsing graduation cap decoration ideas can help you balance personal flair with your school’s regalia rules.

Common Tassel Mistakes (and How to Avoid Them)

1. Moving it too early. 

Moving the tassel before the official cue is one of the most common (and most photographed) graduation tassel mistakes.

2. Wearing the wrong color. 

A few days before your graduation, make sure to confirm your discipline’s color with your registrar. Some schools do not follow the ACE standard.

3. Putting it on the wrong side for your degree level. 

This is most important. Always remember that master’s and doctoral candidates generally start on the left, not the right.

4. Letting it get tangled in the cap’s elastic. 

You are confident, look good, but the tangled tassel may make you look weird in the photographs. Therefore, smooth it out before lining up so it hangs cleanly for photos.

5. Forgetting it’s attached to a rented cap. 

If your gown is a rental, check if the tassel needs to be returned with it.

After Graduation: What to Do with Your Tassel

Once the ceremony ends, the tassel tends to land in a drawer. And this is honestly a shame, given everything it represents. 

A few keepsake ideas worth considering are as follows:

• Preserve it in the form of a shadow-box framing alongside your diploma or a class photo for a wall display.
• Get an encased pendant or charm keepsakes made. This preserves the tassel (or its year charm) in a wearable, everyday piece rather than a box in storage. Callie’s graduation keepsake pieces are designed specifically for this, check out the collection now.
• Convert it in a bookmark or ornament. Simple DIY options can work if you want to keep it visible without a big display.

If you’re shopping for someone else’s big day instead, a tassel keepsake pairs naturally with other best graduation gifts, and a few well-chosen graduation quotes make a thoughtful card to go with it.

FAQ

Which side does the tassel go on before graduation? 

For high school and bachelor’s degrees, the right side. Master’s and doctoral candidates usually wear it on the left from the start.

When do you move the tassel from right to left? 

At the moment your degree is officially conferred. You can do this either as a collective class motion or individually as you cross the stage, depending on your school’s tradition.

What do the tassel colors mean? 

Each color corresponds to an academic discipline under the American Council on Education’s Academic Costume Code, for example, purple for law, green for medicine, and orange for engineering.

Why do master’s students wear the tassel on the left? 

Because the right-to-left “turning” ritual symbolizes the shift from candidate to graduate. Since master’s and doctoral students have typically already lived this transition at the bachelor’s level, their tassel stays on the left throughout.

What is the year charm on a graduation tassel? 

A small metal numeral or charm (like the graduation year) attached to the tassel cord, marking the specific class.

Can I keep my graduation tassel? 

Yes, tassels are typically yours to keep even if the rest of your gown is rented, though it’s worth double-checking your rental agreement.

Are gold tassels for honors students? 

Often, yes. Many schools reserve metallic gold tassels for doctoral graduates or top honors recipients, though policies vary by institution.

What color tassel is for valedictorian? 

There’s no single ACE-standard color for valedictorians. It’s set individually by each high school or university, so check your school’s commencement guide.