
Honor Cord Color Meanings
- Gold. Gold and/or yellow honor cords are one of the more popular colors you will likely see at a graduation.
- Black. Traditionally, black cords are given to students graduating with a degree in: business administration, commerce, business education, accounting, labor relations, or commercial science.
- Red. ...
- Silver. ...
- Purple. ...
- Maroon. ...
What does the honor cord color represent at graduation?
The red color honor cord represents the graduation achievement from the disciplines of divinity, public health, journalism, canon law, conservation, and music.
What are graduation cords?
Graduation cords are rope-like accessories that drape around the graduate’s neck so the two tassels hang down the gown. There are a variety of graduation cord colors, which have been codified by the Association of College Honor Societies. Some institutions also develop their own color-specific traditions with graduation honor cords as well.
Why do people wear purple cord on Graduation Day?
The purple color cord is worn to reflect royalty and awarded to dental and law students. It is also awarded to the students who graduate with a degree in architecture and urban planning.
What do cord colors mean in high school?
High school and colleges have their own set of cord colors that they use; however, some standard colors are typically used to signify success in a specific area of study.

What do graduation rope 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 the different cords mean for graduation?
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 color are band cords for graduation?
double pinkMusic Honor Society Graduation Cords generally refer to the double pink honor cords used by prominent high school and collegiate honor societies, though they can also mean double gold and white graduation cords, or cords in the colors of the school that is recognizing their music graduates.
What does a yellow cord mean at high school graduation?
excellence in the biological sciencesUsed 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 GPA do you need to get a cord?
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 for Summa cum laude graduates.
What is a gold cord at graduation?
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 the pink cord mean at graduation?
Both hues signify creativity and artistic ability. 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 the red cord mean at graduation?
Red. 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 does a blue cord mean at graduation?
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. Used by several academic honor societies such as the ASGA.
What does a lavender graduation cord mean?
Lavender Honor Cord for Commencement and Graduation 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.
What does double gold cord mean?
with high honorsUsually, two gold cords are awarded when the student graduates with high honors. It means that all the students who get the title of being cum laude, summa cum lade, or magna cum laude are bestowed with two gold cords.
What do the cords mean at graduation high school?
Purple and white cords are for excellence in career and technical education and students of the National Technical Honor Society. Purple and gold cords are for excellence in Latin, while green and purple or worn by members of the Science National Honor Society.
Do you get a cord for graduating with honors?
Sometimes cords are used for more than just Honor students. If you're graduating with High Honors (in college this is referred to in Latin; Magna and Summa Cum Laude), you will need a double honor cord instead of the standard single honor cord.
What does High School Graduation Cords Mean?
Graduation Cord expresses as an extra honorable badge of excellence, which you will be awarded while receiving a diploma or degree by the college or university officials.
What do different colors of graduation cords mean at high school graduation?
What do different colors of graduation cord mean at high school graduation? Graduation cords come in different beautiful colorful items placed around the neck of the candidate. Many college organizations and societies award their members cords to represent their involvement in the organization activities.
What color cords are used to express a separate achievement?
Honor cords come in many different colors, and every color is used to express a separate achievement.
What does the red cord mean?
Red. The red color honor cord represents the graduation achievement from the disciplines of divinity, public health, journalism, canon law, conservation, and music.
What is a graduation cord?
Graduation cord is a universal award that is placed around the neck of the student`s to reflect their excellence. They are colorful graduation item that comes in a rope-like structure made out of intertwined thick strings, with tassels attached to both the ends.
What is the most popular cord?
The color gold honor cords are the most popular cords mainly awarded to any student who has got high-achievements (GPA) during the academics.
Why do students wear colors at graduation?
Colors have been always used to reflect the student’s achievements and capabilities, during their graduation. All of the awards are distributed while the graduation ceremonies.
What is the cord on a cap and gown?
The honor cord is just one accessory that can be worn with the basic cap and gown. The cap was originally an unadorned piece of headwear, but the tassel was later added to it, with different colors signifying specific achievements. The hood is a long covering worn over the shoulders outside the gown, with different styles and colors designating different academic degrees. Stoles are a wide piece of decorative cloth worn around the neck so that the ends hang loose down the front of the gown.
What is an honor cord?
Description. An honor cord is a long cord made up of twisted or intertwined strands with a tassel on each end. The cords can be a single color or a combination of colors twisted together. Honor cords are usually worn in pairs, with the two cords tied together at their midpoints. The cords are worn around the neck with the ends ...
What does the graduation cord mean?
The Meaning of Graduation Honor Cords. The honor cord is used to signify that the wearer has attained some specific honor or distinction, academic or otherwise. It comes in different colors, with each color having a different significance, since graduating from high school or a university is an achievement and an honor.
What do the colors of the honor cords mean?
For example, different colored cords can denote that the graduating student achieved excellence in a certain subject such as mathematics or social studies. They can be awarded to students for being in chorus or band, being a member of the honor society, or for serving on the student council. It is strictly up to the school involved to decide what colors to use for what achievements.
What is the difference between Delta Mu Delta and Beta Kappa Chi?
For example, Beta Kappa Chi is assigned the single color of royal blue, while Delta Mu Delta is given two colors: purple and gold. Universities have the freedom to use the ACHS system or establish their own.
What is a hood on a gown?
The hood is a long covering worn over the shoulders outside the gown, with different styles and colors designating different academic degrees. Stoles are a wide piece of decorative cloth worn around the neck so that the ends hang loose down the front of the gown.
What is an honor chord?
Honor chords are traditionally worn at high school, college, and university graduation ceremonies. Cords are given to students to signify a level of achievement in various academic and extra-curricular activities.
What does the color maroon mean?
Maroon. Honor cords in maroon are used to represent achievement in similar faculties as red honor cords. A degree in forestry and theology is often depicted with maroon cords. Honor cords given out by societies and fraternizes vary widely in color.
What color is used to represent royalty?
Purple. Purple, the color most often worn to depict royalty is used for honor cords awarded to dental and law students. Purple is also awarded to student's graduation with a degree in architecture and urban planning.
What is the color of honor cord?
Silver. Honor cords in shades of silver or grey are most often awarded to students graduating with degrees in medical science, such as: chiropractic, speech, oratory, and veterinary science. This color is used often in graduating ceremonies from faculties of medicine as well; however honor societies use this color of cord to depict graduation ...
What color cords are awarded at graduation?
Gold. 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.
Why do fraternities give honor cords?
Many collegiate fraternities and societies also give their members cords to signify their involvement in the organization . Honor cords come in several different colors and each color is used to represent a different achievement.
