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What do colored cords mean at graduation

Author

Sarah Martinez

Published Apr 23, 2026

At some universities, pairs of honor cords, in the school colors, indicate honors graduates: one pair for cum laude, two pairs for magna cum laude, and three pairs for summa cum laude. These are in addition to any cords for membership in an honor society.

What do graduation cords colors mean?

The red color honor cord represents the graduation achievement from the disciplines of divinity, public health, journalism, canon law, conservation, and music. Silver. Silver/ Grey honor cords mainly awarded to the students who have to pursue degrees in medical science. Purple.

What do red cords mean at graduation?

Red graduation honor cords showcase degrees in journalism, music, public health, conservation, and many other disciplines. Additionally, the deep cardinal red signifies membership to societies. These include the Spanish National Honors Society, ASGA, Gamma Sigma Alpha, and Alpha Beta Kappa.

What color are graduation cords?

Gold and/or yellow honor cords are one of the more popular colors you will likely see at a graduation. These cords may awarded to those with outstanding grade point averages (GPA), National Honor Society graduates, and other similar high-achievement situations.

What do pink cords mean at graduation?

Through often associated with excellence in the fine arts, the pink honor cord may also represent academic honors in medicine, mathematics, and chemistry. Pink graduation ropes are also used by several academic honor societies, including the Music Honor Society.

What does a green cord mean at graduation?

Kelly green honor cords are usually worn for commencement ceremonies. Used principally for recognition, individual achievement, and as indicitia of membership or participation.

What GPA do you need for honors cords?

Generally, a student with a cumulative GPA of around 3.5 is considered to graduate with honors, or Cum laude. A variably higher GPA is required to graduate Magna cum laude, and depending on the school, a near 4.0 GPA or above is required forSumma cum laude graduates.

What does a light blue graduation cord mean?

Typical Uses. These light blue honor cords are used as an award for recognition of individual achievement and participation. They’re often worn during a commencement ceremony by a college, universiys, community colleges, high school, and some middle school and homeschool groups.

What do yellow cords mean at graduation?

Used by such prestigious academic honor societies as Kappa Theta Epsilon and Phi Sigma, the yellow graduation cord is most often used to represent excellence in the biological sciences, in both public and academic administration, and in general education and growth.

What do red and yellow cords mean at graduation?

In old and new chinese cultures the color red signifies good luck and bravery, while gold is said to bring wealth and happiness. … The red and gold honor cords help the graduates to feel pride and courage on their way into their undiscovered future.

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What is the purple cord for graduation?

Purple as a color often is symbolic of royalty and therefore has a very dignified air to it. In academics purple also often signifies divinity, which is why many religious schools, seminaries, and theological clubs and societies have purple as their color or one of their color and sometimes use purple honor cords.

How many cords do you wear for graduation?

The good news is that you don’t have to choose between a stole/sash and a cord(s); you can wear a cord and a stole/sash together and you can wear more than one cord. However, it’s not practical to wear more than one sash/stole, though some graduates may do it.

What does Kelly green cord mean?

The name Kelly Green comes from the Irish roots of the color. Marshall University and Mercyhurst College both use Kelly Green as their official school color, and might consider offering honor cords in Kelly green to students who are graduating cum laude.

What do blue cords mean at high school graduation?

Royal blue honor cords bring a sense of seriousness and regality to any graduation ceremony. … Though the royal blue honor cord is sometimes used to denote success in leadership, community service, or in studying the social sciences, it is most often used as a more general acknowledgement of superior skill in academia.

What does a gold honor cord mean?

Gold: This is the most popular cord color on graduation day. It can signify Latin honors for a high GPA, National Honor Society membership, and other academic honors.

What does a lavender graduation cord mean?

The lavender graduation cord is meant to give special honors to those students who have exemplified a quiet determination as they have achieved their scholarly goals, and much more. Our lavender honor cords appear in the popular pale shade of purple, a classic symbol of decadence and refinement.

Do graduate students wear honor cords?

Some schools want students to select one stole and/or tassel indicating their highest honor (as colleges do), while others will allow students to wear as many of each as they like. And the graduate can wear as many honors cords as they earn.

How do you make a green cord?

To be eligible for the 100-hour Green Cord award at the year’s end, a student must document and return 25 hours of service by the last school day in December and the remaining hours by the last school day in April. To receive their green cords, students must also pay the one-time $15 fee.