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

Attaching a tassel to a graduation cap requires looping the main cord tightly beneath the mortarboard's center button stud and positioning the drape on the correct side based on your academic degree level. Undergraduate candidates begin with the tassel hanging over the right front quadrant, while advanced degree candidates and post-conferral graduates position the tassel on the left. Securing the loop beneath the button lip prevents slippage during the ceremony.

Pre-Ceremony Regalia Inspection & Equipment Checklist

Properly preparing your academic regalia ensures your graduation cap (mortarboard) and tassel remain secure throughout processional walks, speeches, and degree conferrals. Standard academic regalia follows strict guidelines established by the American Council on Education (ACE) Academic Regalia Code. Before attempting to attach your tassel, inspect all components for structural defects such as loose button studs or frayed cord loops.

Equipment & Materials Checklist

• Standard Mortarboard Cap: A rigid 9-inch by 9-inch square cardstock/plastic board covered in matching fabric, attached to a contoured crown (skullcap) with an elastic back or tailored band.
• Graduation Tassel: A gathered bundle of synthetic or silk threads bound by a top knot, featuring a long attachment loop (cord) and an optional metallic year charm (drop clasp).
• Bobby Pins or Hair Clips: Fasteners matched to your hair color to secure the mortarboard crown to your hair.
• Graduation Cap Headband Insert or Fabric Tape (Optional): Specialized adhesive strips or flexible inserts designed to stabilize caps on flat, braided, or textured hair.

Prerequisite Standards & Time Benchmarks

• Academic Level Protocols: High school and Bachelor's candidates start on the right side; Master's, Specialist, and Doctoral candidates start on the left side.
• Time Required: 2 to 5 minutes for assembly; 5 additional minutes for hair alignment and fitting.
• Financial Investment: Tassels and caps are typically bundled within regalia packages ($30–$90 total), while replacement tassels average $8–$15.

Mastering the Tassel Attachment Workflow

Follow these precise structural steps to fasten your tassel securely to your mortarboard cap and position it according to formal academic protocol.

Step 1: Identify the Front and Back Orientation of the Mortarboard

Before attaching any accessories, you must orient the cap correctly. The underside of the mortarboard features a skullcap crown with distinct seams and, in many cases, an elastic band or a deep pointed cut.

1. Turn the cap upside down to view the inner crown lining.
2. Locate the deep, tapered point inside the crown seam or the side featuring an elastic strip. This deep point or elastic section belongs at the back of your head, sitting low on the nape of your neck.
3. Identify the shallow, wider curve opposite the elastic. This area sits directly on the front center of your forehead, approximately one inch above your eyebrows.
4. Set the cap on a flat surface right-side up, keeping the front-to-back orientation aligned relative to your view.

Warning: Wearing the mortarboard backward alters the tilt angle of the board, causing the center button to slant forward and causing the tassel to repeatedly fall into your eyes.

Step 2: Loop the Tassel Cord Around the Center Button Stud

The center of the mortarboard features a fabric-covered button (stud) designed to hold the tassel loop under tension.

1. Take the long cord loop attached to the top of your tassel.
2. Hold the loop open using your thumb and index finger.
3. Lower the loop directly over the center button on top of the mortarboard.
4. Pull the loop downward so it sits firmly beneath the raised lip of the button stud.
5. Apply a gentle downward tug on the hanging thread bundle to seat the cord tightly around the button's neck.
6. If your tassel cord loop is exceptionally loose or stretched, cross the loop over itself to form a figure-8 and pass the secondary loop over the button a second time to lock it in place.

Pro-Tip: Do not tie knots in the main tassel cord loop. Knots raise the cord above the button lip, creating an uneven drape and making it difficult to remove or transfer the tassel later.

Step 3: Position the Tassel Based on Academic Tradition

Tassel placement communicates your current status in the academic conferral process. Placement strictly depends on whether you are earning an initial diploma/degree or an advanced graduate degree.

1. High School and Bachelor's Degree Candidates (Pre-Ceremony): Shift the tassel so that the cord drapes over the right front quadrant of the cap. The tassel should rest between your right eye and right ear, hanging freely past the edge of the board.
2. Master's, Specialist, and Doctoral Degree Candidates (Pre-Ceremony): Shift the tassel so that it rests over the left front quadrant of the cap. Advanced degree candidates do not flip their tassels during the ceremony because they have already earned a prior academic degree.
3. Post-Conferral Transition (The "Turning of the Tassel"): When instructed by the university president or high school principal during the ceremony, high school and undergraduate graduates move the tassel from the right side to the left side in a single smooth motion across the front edge of the cap.

Step 4: Fasten the Cap and Test Tassel Drape

Once the tassel is correctly seated and positioned, mount the mortarboard securely onto your head.

1. Place the front edge of the cap one inch above your eyebrows, then pull the back crown down over the rear of your skull.
2. Ensure the top flat board is parallel to the floor, rather than tilted back or slanting sideways.
3. Insert two bobby pins horizontally across the inner fabric band of the crown, anchoring them directly into your hair on both the left and right sides.
4. Turn your head side-to-side to confirm that the tassel swings freely across the edge of the board without getting caught on hairpins, ears, or eyeglasses.

Academic Level & Protocol Specifications

Academic regalia standards vary by institution and degree level. The following table details the technical parameters, initial positions, and traditions governing tassel usage.

Troubleshooting Common Regalia Failures

Scenario 1: The Tassel Loop Keeps Slipping Off the Center Button

• Root Cause: The plastic or metal ring beneath the fabric button has compressed, or the cord loop has stretched beyond its normal diameter.
• Actionable Fix: Form a figure-8 loop with the tassel cord and double-wrap it over the button. Alternatively, slide a small clear rubber band over the button on top of the tassel cord to clamp it down securely against the cap board.

Scenario 2: The Mortarboard Cap Constantly Slides Off the Head

• Root Cause: The cap is worn too far back on the head, or fine/smooth hair lacks sufficient friction to hold the inner crown band.
• Actionable Fix: Re-orient the cap so the flat board sits completely level with the floor. Criss-cross two bobby pins over the inner headband material on each side. For shaved or fine hair, adhere a strip of wig tape or a fabric headband gripper to the inner rim of the crown.

Scenario 3: The Year Drop Charm Faces the Wrong Direction

• Root Cause: The metal jump ring connecting the year clasp to the tassel band has twisted during storage or transit.
• Actionable Fix: Use small needle-nose pliers or your fingernails to open the jump ring slightly, rotate the charm 180 degrees so the raised numerals face outward toward your front profile, and pinch the jump ring closed.

Scenario 4: The Tassel Entangles with Long Hair or Earrings

• Root Cause: Static electricity in synthetic tassels combined with wind or large statement jewelry causes individual strands to catch.
• Actionable Fix: Lightly spray the hanging tassel threads with anti-static spray or run a hair dryer sheet down the length of the tassel bundle prior to the ceremony. Choose post or drop earrings that do not feature open wire hooks.

Frequently Asked Questions

Which side does the tassel go on before graduation?

For high school, Associate, and Bachelor's degree candidates, the tassel goes on the right side of the cap before the ceremony starts. Master's and Doctoral candidates place their tassel on the left side from the beginning.

What if my graduation cap does not have a center button?

If your mortarboard is missing its center button, locate the small pre-punched hole in the exact center of the board. Thread the tassel loop down through the hole and secure it on the underside of the board using a safety pin or a broad flat washer anchored with tape.

Do Master's or PhD graduates flip their tassel?

No, Master's and Doctoral graduates do not flip their tassels. Advanced degree holders keep the tassel on the left side throughout the entire ceremony, as they have already completed an undergraduate degree conferral in a previous ceremony.

How do I stop my tassel from hitting me in the face?

Ensure your mortarboard sits level on your head rather than tilted forward. The tassel should rest slightly to the side of your eye, between your eyebrow and your ear. Adjusting the cord loop snug beneath the button prevents extra slack from slumping into your line of sight.

Prepare Your Regalia for Graduation Day

Properly securing your cap and tassel ensures a polished look on your big day. Practice placing your cap, securing the loop, and testing your tassel drape before walking across the stage.