How To Put A Tassel On A Grad Cap: Complete Mounting & Placement Protocol

To properly put a tassel on a graduation cap, thread the main loop of the tassel cord over the raised center button of the mortarboard, pulling gently so the knot settles snugly underneath the button lip. High school and undergraduate candidates must drape the tassel over the right-front quadrant of the cap prior to degree conferral, whereas graduate and doctoral candidates position it on the left-front quadrant. The metallic year signet charm should hang freely facing outward to ensure optimal visibility during academic processional photos.

Academic Regalia Inspection & Hardware Checklist

Preparing academic regalia requires precise attention to traditional dress codes established by the American Council on Education (ACE). Before mounting your tassel, verify the physical structural integrity of both the cap (mortarboard) and the tassel assembly to prevent embarrassing ceremonial mishaps during your walk across the stage.

• Essential Hardware & Regalia Components:
  
  
  • Standard Academic Mortarboard: A stiffened fabric-covered square board fixed to a skullcap crown, featuring a center-top fabric button.
  • Tassel Assembly: Composed of a braided loop cord, a central binding knot, a hanging fringe bundle, and a metallic year signet charm (drop charm).
  • Emergency Fixative Kit: Small clear hair ties, 0.5-inch double-sided fabric tape, micro safety pins, and a low-viscosity clear adhesive.
• Mandatory Prerequisites & Regalia Standards:
  
  
  • Degree-Level Orientation Rules: High school, Associate, and Bachelor candidates start on the Right; Master and Specialist candidates start on the Left; Doctoral candidates wearing tams start on the Left (or wear gold bullion tassels permanently on the left).
  • Button Security Benchmark: The center button must withstand at least 2 pounds of gentle pulling force without detaching from the inner stiffening board.
• Preparation Metrics:
  
  
  • Estimated Assembly Duration: 2 to 5 minutes.
  • Total Equipment Cost: Included with standard regalia package ($15 – $45 retail replacement value).

Mortarboard Tassel Mounting & Positioning Protocol

Step 1: Inspect the Mortarboard Button and Tassel Loop Integrity

Lay the graduation cap flat on a clean, hard surface with the top side facing upward. Inspect the central button, ensuring the fabric covering is intact and the button stem has a sufficient recess or "neck" underneath its head to hold a cord loop securely. Take the tassel by its braided loop and pull it slightly to test the strength of the main structural knot located above the fringe.

Warning: Do not jerk the tassel fringe vigorously. Rough handling can strip individual threads from the upper band knot, causing the tassel to fray or lose density before the ceremony begins.

Step 2: Loop and Lock the Tassel String onto the Center Button

Hold the long braided loop of the tassel between your thumb and forefinger. Slide the loop over the central button on top of the mortarboard. Guide the cord all the way down until it rests under the bottom lip of the button stem.

Pull the hanging tassel body gently away from the center to draw the loop taut against the button base. The knot of the tassel cord should fit snugly underneath the button head, creating sufficient friction to stop the string from sliding off when you walk.

Pro-Tip: If the center button on your cap lacks a pronounced stem lip and the tassel cord slips off easily, wrap a tiny, clear elastic hair band around the button over the tassel cord to lock it into place invisibly.

Step 3: Orient the Year Signet Charm

Examine the metallic year signet charm hanging near the top of the tassel fringe. Ensure the charm suspended from the small metal jump ring hangs freely without twisting around the fringe threads. Rotate the charm so the four-digit graduation year faces directly forward when the cap is positioned on your head.

Step 4: Position the Tassel According to Academic Degree Level

Position the tassel cord across the front corner of the mortarboard based on your specific academic status:

1. High School, Associate, and Bachelor Candidates: Drape the tassel cord so the fringe hangs over the right-front corner of the cap, resting between your right eye and right ear.
2. Master's and Specialist Candidates: Drape the tassel cord over the left-front corner of the cap. Candidates receiving advanced degrees do not participate in the traditional "turning of the tassel" during the ceremony because their bachelor's status is already established.
3. Doctoral Candidates: Position the metallic gold bullion tassel over the left-front side of the velvet tam or mortarboard cap.

Step 5: Secure the Regalia for Wind and Movement

If your ceremony takes place outdoors or in a high-wind venue, secure the tassel string to prevent it from blowing into your face or whipping over your cap. Place a small piece of double-sided clear garment tape on the cap fabric approximately 1 inch from the center button along the path of the cord. Press the braided string firmly onto the tape to anchor it quietly without damaging the synthetic cap fabric.

Regalia Placement Standards & Academic Degree Mapping

The positioning and movement of the tassel are governed by long-standing academic traditions. The table below outlines the required setup parameters, structural metrics, and positional standards across all major academic levels.

Field Fixes for Regalia Failures

1. Slipping Loop on Flat Mortarboard Buttons

• Root Cause: The cap’s center button is pressed too tightly against the underlying board, eliminating the neck gap required to trap the cord loop securely.
• Actionable Fix: Slide a small flat tool (such as a butter knife or fingernail file) underneath the button head to gently pry it up by 1 millimeter. Alternatively, pass a short piece of clear fishing line or thread through the tassel loop, wrap it around the button base three times, and tie a tight double knot beneath the button lip.

2. Missing or Detached Year Signet Charm

• Root Cause: The small metal jump ring linking the signet charm to the tassel knot opened due to snagging on clothing or transport bags.
• Actionable Fix: Inspect the tassel fringe base for the detached charm. Use needle-nose pliers or a key edge to open the jump ring, slide the ring back through the cord eyelet and the charm loop, and squeeze the jump ring gap tightly closed. If the charm is lost, wear the tassel plain; academic protocol accepts tassels without year charms.

3. Tassel Thread Entanglement and Static Cling

• Root Cause: Synthetic rayon or polyester tassel threads accumulate static electricity during storage and shipping, causing individual fringe strands to flare wildly or cling to cap fabric.
• Actionable Fix: Lightly spray your hands with an anti-static fabric spray or smooth a damp dryer sheet over the hanging fringe from top to bottom. Gently comb through the threads using a wide-tooth comb to restore straight alignment.

4. Cap Instability Leading to Tassel Displacement

• Root Cause: The mortarboard skullcap is positioned incorrectly on the head, sliding backward and pulling the center button away from horizontal level.
• Actionable Fix: Wear the mortarboard so the inner elastic point sits centered on the forehead, approximately 1 inch above the eyebrows. Secure the skullcap to your hair using bobby pins crossed in an "X" pattern along the inside rim behind your ears.

Frequently Asked Questions

Which side does the tassel go on before the graduation ceremony starts?

For high school, associate, and bachelor's degree candidates, the tassel starts on the right side of the cap. For master's, specialist, and doctoral candidates, the tassel is placed on the left side from the beginning of the ceremony.

When exactly do you turn the tassel during graduation?

Candidates turn their tassels from the right side to the left side only when instructed by the university president, principal, or commencement speaker. This action typically occurs en masse after all diplomas are distributed or immediately following the formal conferral of degrees.

How do you keep a tassel from falling off a smooth cap button?

To keep a tassel from sliding off a smooth button, loop the cord around the button stem twice, or place a tiny clear elastic hair band over the button on top of the loop. A small piece of clear double-sided fabric tape stuck beneath the cord near the button also prevents slipping.

Can you wear two tassels on one graduation cap?

Academic protocol typically permits only one primary tassel on the center button during the formal processional. However, if you are representing multiple honor societies or dual degrees, institutional guidelines may allow you to interlock a secondary honor tassel onto the same button alongside your primary academic tassel.

How do doctoral candidates attach a tassel to a soft velvet tam?

Doctoral tams feature a ribbon loop or a covered button sewn directly into the velvet crown. Thread the loop of the metallic gold bullion tassel under the velvet button stem or button ribbon, letting the tassel drape over the left front corner of the tam cap.

Master Your Academic Regalia Setup

Complete your graduation preparations early by reviewing your institution's specific regalia guidelines and inspecting your mortarboard, gown, and hood ahead of time. Ensure your cap sits level and your tassel is securely mounted so you can celebrate your academic milestone with confidence.