So, what side does the tassel go on? The short answer: it starts on the right side of the cap and moves to the left once the degree is officially awarded. This rule applies to high school graduates and most bachelor’s degree candidates. Master’s and doctoral candidates usually start with the tassel already on the left, since they already hold an earlier degree. Below is the full breakdown by degree level, plus the small details that trip people up on ceremony day.
Tassel Placement at a Glance
Every degree level follows a version of the same rule, but the exact timing changes once graduate degrees are involved. This table works as a quick reference before the more detailed explanation below, and it’s worth bookmarking for ceremony morning when there’s no time to search for answers.
| Degree Level | Before Diploma | After Diploma |
| High School | Right | Left |
| Associate’s | Right | Left |
| Bachelor’s | Right | Left |
| Master’s | Left (usually) | Left |
| Doctoral | Left (usually) | Left |
This chart reflects common U.S. practice, not a fixed national rule. Schools set their commencement instructions, and those instructions always come first.
Why the Tassel Moves From Right to Left?
The chart above explains what to do. This section covers why the tradition exists and where the rule actually comes from. The right side marks candidate status. The graduate has finished the coursework but hasn’t officially received the degree yet.
The left side marks graduate status, which is official and confirmed. The switch itself is quick, but it’s the visual cue that tells everyone in the room a degree has changed hands.
This tradition connects to a real historical source: the Academic Costume Code, first adopted in 1895 and revised by the American Council on Education in 1932, 1959, and 1986. Records published by Valdosta State University show the original code only says a tassel should be fastened “to lie as it will thereon.” It never mandates a right-to-left switch. Schools built that custom on their own over time, which is why some still handle it differently.
This practice is part of the importance of graduation tassels as a symbol. The tradition stuck because it works as a shared visual moment, not because a rulebook demanded it.
Tassel Side by Degree Level
The general rule covers most people, but degree level changes the details in ways most graduates don’t expect. Here’s how placement plays out from high school through doctoral ceremonies, along with the small exceptions worth knowing at each stage.
High School
Right before diplomas, left after. The whole class usually switches together on a cue from the principal. Practicing the motion once at home helps it look smooth on stage.
Associate’s and Bachelor’s
Same pattern as high school: right, then left. Some schools switch tassels one graduate at a time as names are called; others wait and switch as a group at the end.
Master’s
Often worn on the left from the start, since the graduate already holds a bachelor’s degree. Not every school follows this pattern, so check the program’s commencement guide before assuming.
Doctoral
The tassel usually stays on the left the whole ceremony. The real spotlight moment is the hooding, when an advisor places the hood on the graduate. Doctoral tassels are often gold bullion, a small but distinct part of the wider graduation regalia worn at this level.
Honorary Degrees and Faculty
Faculty marshals and honorary recipients don’t always follow the standard switch, since they aren’t receiving a new degree that day. Some wear graduation stoles instead of relying on tassel placement alone. If the ceremony program doesn’t specify, check with the event coordinator.
How to Tell Which Side Is “Right”?
Knowing the rule is one part of this. Getting the actual side right in the moment is another, especially once mirrors and photos get involved.
Use your own right, not the camera’s side. Face forward with the cap’s front point sitting over your forehead. Right ear, right side. Left ear, left side.
Skip the mirror. A reflection flips left and right, which is the easiest way to end up on the wrong side without noticing. Look straight down at the cap instead, or ask a friend facing you to confirm.
How to Move the Tassel?
Once the correct side is clear, the motion itself needs a little practice and nothing more. Here’s the step-by-step process for a smooth switch on stage.
- Set the tassel on the correct starting side before lining up.
- Wait for the cue. Some schools switch one at a time; others switch as a group.
- Grip the tassel gently near the top knot, not the strands.
- Sweep it across the top of the cap in one smooth motion.
- Let it settle flat and check the position with a quick glance.
- Leave it in place for the rest of the ceremony and photos.
Tassel Color: A Separate Decision
Side isn’t the only detail that varies by school. Color has its own meaning, and it’s worth understanding separately. Color and side answer two different questions. Color never changes during the ceremony; only placement does. Traditional colors by field, based on the 1895 costume code:
| Field of Study | Tassel Color |
| Arts, Humanities | White |
| Business | Drab (tan) |
| Education | Light Blue |
| Engineering | Orange |
| Law | Purple |
| Nursing | Apricot |
| Science | Gold or Yellow |
Many high schools now use school colors instead of the historic subject chart. Doctoral tassels are usually gold, no matter the subject. For a deeper breakdown of colors and customization, see this graduation tassel guide.
Tassel vs. Honor Cords
Color explains one accessory. Many ceremonies add a second one entirely, and it’s easy to mix the two up. Honor cords aren’t the same accessory as a tassel. They mark distinctions like cum laude status or membership in an honor society, and they hang around the neck, not the cap. Ordering for a school or a group ceremony? Browse graduation tassels and honor cords by color and size in one place.
Common Mistakes to Avoid
The rules above are simple, but a few small missteps still show up in almost every graduating class.
- Switching early, before the official cue is given
- Checking a mirror instead of looking straight down at the cap
- Wearing it toward the back of the cap instead of the front point
- Assuming one rule fits every degree level without checking exceptions
- Tossing it in a drawer after the ceremony instead of keeping it as a keepsake
Before the Ceremony
The questions above cover most of what comes up last minute. A short checklist makes the morning of the ceremony easier to manage.
- Confirm the school’s specific tassel instructions ahead of time
- Practice the switch once at home, without a mirror
- Set the tassel on the correct starting side before lining up
- Double-check placement using your own right, not a reflection
Conclusion
Tassel placement is simple: right before the degree is conferred, left after. High school and most bachelor’s ceremonies follow that switch exactly. Master’s and doctoral ceremonies usually skip straight to the left.
The side matters for the moment and the photos. The color matters for what it represents. Keeping the two separate, and checking the specific school’s guide when in doubt, covers nearly every situation a graduate runs into on ceremony day.
None of these steps needs to feel complicated once the timing and the side are clear. A glance at the chart, a practice run without a mirror, and a note of the school’s own instructions handle the rest. That small motion on stage lasts a few seconds, but it marks a moment worth getting right the first time.
FAQs
What side does the tassel go on before graduation?
The tassel goes on the right side for high school and most bachelor’s degrees. Master’s and doctoral candidates often start on the left instead, since they already hold an earlier degree.
Do master’s and doctoral students switch sides too?
Usually not. Most wear the tassel on the left the entire ceremony. Some schools still follow the standard switch, so it’s worth checking the program’s specific commencement guide.
Does the tassel ever move from left to right?
No. The traditional direction runs only from right to left, marking the change from candidate status to official graduate status.
Can the tassel go on the back of the cap?
No. It belongs on the front corner of the mortarboard, framing the face instead of sitting out of view.
Do preschool and kindergarten ceremonies follow this rule?
Not officially. The Academic Costume Code covers higher education only. Younger ceremonies copy the tradition mostly for the photo moment, with no formal requirement behind it.
