A Complete Guide to Graduation Cord Colors & Their Meanings

Download Article

Decoding every honor cord color (& how to get one yourself)

Co-authored by Alexander Ruiz, M.Ed. and Sophie Burkholder, BA

Last Updated: January 19, 2025 Fact Checked

Download Article

High School Graduation Cord Colors & Meanings

|

College & University Colors & Meanings

|

Common Reasons for Getting a Cord

|

Where to Get Your Cords

|

FAQs

Pomp, circumstance, and graduation cord colors…is that how the saying goes? There are few days more special and celebratory than a high school or college graduation, so it’s fitting that deserving graduates be awarded with graduation cords that represent their various achievements. But what do these graduation cords mean, and what does each individual color represent? Below, we’ll explain the most common meanings of every graduation cord color for high school and university graduates—however, keep in mind that every school is unique, so some of these meanings may vary between institutions.

Graduation Cord Colors: Most Common Meanings

Gold: High academic achievement with Latin honors (e.g., summa cum laude).
Silver: Significant community engagement or volunteer service hours.
Red: Achievement in journalism, humanities, or the arts.
Blue: Achievement in education, philosophy, or social sciences.
Green: Achievement in science, especially environmental sciences.
White: Achievement in arts, letters, or humanities.
Pink: Achievement in music or the performing arts.

Section 1 of 5:

Graduation Cord Color Meaning for High School

Download Article

1
Red Red cords can represent achievements in the arts or a certain academic subject that’s been designated by an individual institution. These subjects often include journalism, music, public health, and conservation, among others. In these cases, a faculty member within that subject area may nominate a particularly accomplished student to receive a red graduation cord.
- A red graduation cord may also signify membership in the Spanish National Honors Society, ASGA (American Student Government Association), or another designated organization.^{[1]
  X
  Research source}
Green cords are sometimes related to extracurricular activities and the individual student’s involvement in a certain club—particularly if that club involves community service. Alternatively, a green cord may signify academic achievement in environmental sciences or sustainability.^{[2]
X
Research source}

Advertisement
3
Blue Blue cords can have a variety of meanings depending on the high school. They sometimes signify membership in certain honor societies, while on other occasions, they represent achievement in the social sciences. Royal blue, in particular, is often used to represent leadership and community service, or belonging to an organization like ASGA (American Student Government Association), Distributive Education Clubs of America (DECA), or FFA (Future Farmers of America).^{[3]
X
Research source}
- Sky blue cords, on the other hand, may designate Eagle Scout graduates.
Purple cords typically represent accomplishments in the arts or humanities. It may also indicate excellence in a career in technical education, which is most commonly bestowed in technical high schools and trade-focused high schools.
Pink cords most often recognize students with significant achievements in music and performing arts. In other cases, it may represent students who are members of the Science National Honor Society or HOSA, which stands for "Future Health Professionals.”
White cords are usually given to students who’ve excelled in humanities-related areas like English and history. They may also be worn by students who belong to the Music Honor Society or the French National Honor Society.^{[4]
X
Research source}
Silver cords are most often used to honor students for their community service achievements. If a student has recorded a significant number of volunteer or community service hours, for instance, they may be awarded a silver cord.^{[5]
X
Research source}
Gold cords are usually used to signify high academic achievement. For high school students, a gold cord may mean that they are on the honor roll, are graduating with honors, or have been appointed as their class valedictorian or salutatorian. The gold cord may also denote their involvement with certain honor societies, including the Spanish National Honor Society and the Beta Club.^{[6]
X
Research source}
Multi-colored cords may represent membership in a multi-disciplinary honor society, or it may signify that a student has excelled academically in a variety of subject areas. Some cultural or ethnic student groups may also bestow multi-colored cords—for instance, Black Student Union members have been known to wear cords in kente colors (black, green, red, and yellow).^{[7]
X
Research source}

Section 2 of 5:

Graduation Cord Color Meaning for College & University

Download Article

1
Red Red cords most frequently represent achievement in a particular field—at most universities, red cords represent humanities, journalism, music, public health, or conservation. They may also denote membership in a society such as ASGA (American Student Government Association), Gamma Sigma Alpha, or Alpha Beta Kappa.^{[8]
X
Research source}
- A maroon cord, specifically, typically showcases recipients of degrees in forestry, theology, and human development.^{[9]
  X
  Research source} Alternatively, it may identify membership in honors societies like Alpha Sigma Lambda, Delta Epsilon Sigma, and Omega Chi Epsilon.
Orange cords are usually granted to exemplary students in the field of engineering. Members of Tau Beta Pi—a collegiate honors society for engineers—may also wear the cord.^{[10]
X
Research source}
3
Green Green cords typically represent academic success in scientific fields or in the field of environmental studies. Emerald green, specifically, is also used by many Greek organizations. Consequently, a graduation cord in this color may signify membership in Kappa Delta Pi, Sigma Lambda Alpha, or Phi Sigma.^{[11]
X
Research source}
- In some instances, forest green cords may showcase graduates of medicine, biology, or general sciences.
Turquoise cords are usually worn by graduates in public administration or performing arts. However, these cords are also used by sororities like Zeta Tau Alpha and Alpha Kappa Delta, so they may represent membership in these Greek organizations.^{[12]
X
Research source}
5
Blue Blue cords usually point to excellence in a certain discipline. Most commonly, universities bestow these cords on distinguished graduates of education or philosophy programs, although they may also be given to students who have been active leaders on campus or engaged in significant community service.
- Royal blue cords, specifically, may also signify membership in organizations like Phi Kappa Pi, Alpha Kappa Mu, Beta Gamma Sigma, ASGA (American Student Government Association), DECA (Distributive Education Clubs of America), and FFA (Future Farmers of America).^{[13]
  X
  Research source}
- Navy blue cords also denote philosophy graduates or members of the British Navy.
- Sky blue cords usually identify education students. Sky blue is also sometimes used by Greek organizations, like Phi Beta Kappa and Gamma Phi Delta.^{[14]
  X
  Research source}
Purple cords often denote academic achievement in fields like law, dentistry, urban planning, architecture, and theology. In other cases, they may identify students as members of HOSA (Future Health Professionals) or of Kappa Delta Pi.^{[15]
X
Research source}
Pink cords typically signify special accomplishments in music or other artistic fields. These cords may also be used to identify graduates in medicine, mathematics, and chemistry.^{[16]
X
Research source} In other instances, a pink cord could indicate membership in an academic honor society like the Music Honor Society.
Black cords usually represent achievements in business or accounting. Business education graduates may also wear them. Alternatively, black graduation cords may indicate membership in an academic honor society.^{[17]
X
Research source}
White cords can be used to mark achievement in a number of fields, including the arts, letters, and humanities.^{[18]
X
Research source} They may also be used to identify members of the Music Honor Society, French National Honor Society, Alpha Kappa Mu, and Sigma Theta Tau.
Silver cords are most often used to recognize students who’ve contributed significantly to their community or completed a large amount of community service hours. On other occasions, silver cords identify students with degrees in oratory, veterinary science, and other medical sciences. More rarely, it may be given to students in fields like agriculture, business management, and physics.^{[19]
X
Research source}
Gold cords typically signify high academic achievement, such as graduating with Latin honors (cum laude, magna cum laude, or summa cum laude). Typically, these honors are bestowed upon those with a particularly high GPA (grade point average). Gold cords are also sometimes used to denote belonging to the Alpha Omicron Pi sorority.^{[20]
X
Research source}
12
Double or Multi-Colored Double cords or multi-colored cords may be used to represent membership in a certain organization or honor society. They may also be used to represent a dual accomplishment in different academic fields—a pink and purple double cord, for instance, may represent achievement in both theology and music.
- Multi-colored cords may also be bestowed by cultural or ethnic student groups to identify graduation members.^{[21]
  X
  Research source}
- Other double cord pairs, like navy blue and silver, typically denote membership in the American Society of Mechanical Engineers.

Section 3 of 5:

What do you get cords for at a graduation?

Download Article

Cords are usually given due to academic or extracurricular excellence. Every school, university, and institution has its own rules and traditions for awarding graduation cords with their relevant meanings. In general, however, graduation cords are given to recognize significant achievement in some area—whether that’s in a certain field, through overall academic performance, or as a member of a certain club or organization. Below, you’ll find the main ways that one may receive a graduation cord (or cords!) at their ceremony:^{[22]
X
Research source}
- Academic honors: Gold cords are usually given for outstanding academic achievement or Latin honors (typically requiring a minimum GPA of 3.5).
- Subject-specific achievement: Students who’ve shown great skill in a certain subject may receive a subject-specific cord, e.g., blue for science, green for math, or red for English.
- National Honors Society: High-achieving students who’ve obtained membership into the National Honor Society may receive a special cord (often blue and gold).
- Club or organization involvement: Student clubs like student government, debate, and chorus may give participants a special cord to wear at graduation.
- Community service: Silver cords are often given to students who’ve completed a significant number of volunteer hours in their community.
- Leadership: Students who’ve displayed exemplary leadership skills may receive a special cord, which may be black or another color, such as green.^{[23]
  X
  Research source}
- Faculty awards: Some schools permit teachers and staff to nominate students for specific accomplishments that come with a certain color of graduation cord.
- Military services: Students who’ve completed an ROTC program or enlisted in the military may receive a cord to showcase their hard work and commitment.

Section 4 of 5:

Where do you get graduation cords from?

Download Article

Most often, a school or university will order and distribute cords to eligible graduating students. However, some graduates like to purchase additional cords to represent their personality, religion, culture, or other parts of their identity. In these cases, schools may give a guide to approved vendors so students can order additional cords.^{[24]
X
Research source}

Section 5 of 5:

Frequently Asked Questions About Graduation Cords

Download Article

There’s no universal maximum for the number of graduation cords you can wear. Most graduates wear a single cord per separate achievement, and it’s rare that an institution places a limit on how many any given student can wear. However, it still may be worth asking your academic institution or graduation committee for specific guidelines as needed.^{[25]
X
Research source}
Most schools gift graduation cords to graduates as a special keepsake and memento of their achievements. However, it’s possible that some institutions may ask for the cords to be returned after the ceremony for further reuse—check with the special guidelines provided by your school or society.
No, graduation cords and stoles have different purposes and meanings, and they have a different look to them as well! Cords are thin pieces of rope that are worn around the neck and shoulders to symbolize academic excellence and other types of achievement. Stoles, on the other hand, are larger garments that are draped around the neck and over the front of the graduation gown. Stoles often denote affiliations with cultural or academic organizations, or otherwise identify achievement beyond academia.^{[26]
X
Research source}
Typically, honor cords are provided by the school to students who have been officially awarded them. In some situations, particularly if a cord isn’t related to academic achievement, the student may have to purchase the cord themselves.^{[27]
X
Research source}
It’s possible to receive a graduation cord for a 3.0 GPA, but it depends on your school’s policies. Some schools may bestow cords for a 3.0, while others may require a higher GPA. You may also get a cord for a reason outside of academic achievement that has nothing to do with your GPA.^{[28]
X
Research source}