What's the difference between a stole and a cord?

A stole is a broad, sash-like fabric worn around the neck, typically signifying organizational membership, cultural identity, or gratitude, often customized with logos or text, while a cord is a braided rope, usually representing specific academic honors (like GPA) or honor societies, with colors denoting different levels of achievement (e.g., cum laude). Stoles are generally single and prominent, whereas graduates can wear multiple cords at once, with cords being more about scholarly merit and stoles about group involvement or personal identity.

Are stoles or cords better?

Many often confuse stoles and cords, as while they essentially serve the same purpose, cords are more geared towards academic achievements and awards. Stoles, on the other hand, can be just about anything you want it to be – student organizations, cultural identity, etc.

What is the difference between honor cord and stole?

Their colors are often standardized, representing specific GPAs or honors levels. Think of it this way: a stole often tells you who the graduate is and what groups they belonged to, while a cord tells you how well they performed academically.

What do cords mean for graduation?

College & University Graduates

Red Cords: Can represent achievement in a particular field, like humanities or journalism. Blue Cords: Typically indicate academic success in areas like education or philosophy. Green Cords: Often associated with success in science or environmental studies.

What GPA gets an honor cord?

A GPA of at least 3.9 earns the honor of summa cum laude (meaning, with highest honors), a GPA of at least 3.7 and less than 3.9 earns magna cum laude (with high honors), and a GPA of at least 3.5 and less than 3.7 earns cum laude (with honors).

Top 10 Things YOU Need to Know About Graduation Stoles!

What color cord for 4.0 GPA?

For a 4.0 GPA, you typically earn gold cords, often paired with other colors like blue (Summa Cum Laude), or sometimes a special double gold cord, signifying top academic honors, though colors can vary by institution, with some schools using single gold, white, or even medallions for a perfect 4.0. 

Can I buy my own cords for graduation?

Yes, you can often buy your own graduation cords, especially for personal achievements like club memberships or Greek life, but you must check your school's specific rules first, as they provide official academic honor cords, while you typically purchase cords for other affiliations through vendors like Gradshop, Tassel Depot, GraduationSource.com, Amazon.com, or Etsy. 

Are graduation cords a big deal?

These cords are symbols of academic or extracurricular distinction. They're not given to all students, as they must be earned. Graduation stoles and cords are examples of regalia that showcase students' stellar achievements.

What cord do you get for a 4.0 GPA?

For a 4.0 GPA, you typically earn the highest academic honor, Summa Cum Laude, which usually corresponds to a gold or gold/color braided honor cord, though colors (like blue/gold) and specific GPA cutoffs (around 3.9-4.0) vary by university, so always check your specific school's policy. 

What do you get stoles for?

Wearing stoles for graduation is a way for students to show off their fields of studies, honor society memberships, and affiliations such as fraternities or sororities. They can also acknowledge military service, valedictorians, and salutatorians.

Does everyone wear a stole at graduation?

The Stole of Gratitude is the traditional gold stole. Most graduates wear this, although it is not a required part of graduation regalia.

What are the top 3 honors in college?

The top graduates in college are recognized with Latin honors: Summa Cum Laude (highest praise, top 1-5%), Magna Cum Laude (great praise, top 10-15%), and Cum Laude (with praise, top 20-30%), based on high GPA and class rank, with specific requirements varying by university but generally reflecting tiers of academic excellence. 

Do cords go over or under stole?

Cords can come in different colors and can be placed on top of your stole/sash. Lastly, the difference is in how they are worn. Though both are placed over the shoulders across the back of the neck, some students may wear a lot of cords, with no sash/stole. Some students may wear a sash/stole, and not any cords.

Who gets to wear graduation cords?

At some universities, cords are draped across graduates' shoulders to signify affiliation with certain organizations, such as membership in an honor society. These cords might adopt the school's colors. Some universities adopt cords to signify academic distinctions or affiliations with honor societies.

What cord do you get for a 3.5 GPA?

Cum Laude cords (silver) are for students who have a cumulative GPA of 3.5 or better. Magna Cum Laude cords (maroon) are for students who have a cumulative GPA of 3.7 or better. Summa Cum Laude cords (silver and maroon) are for students who have earned a cumulative GPA of 3.9 or better.

How many stoles can be worn at graduation?

Can You Wear More Than One Stole at Graduation? Yes, in many cases, you can wear more than one stole. But again, this depends on your school's rules. Some schools don't mind if you wear two or more, especially if each one represents something different like academic honors, cultural identity, and club participation.

Has anyone had a 6.0 GPA?

Yes, a 6.0 GPA is possible but extremely rare, occurring only in high schools with specific weighted grading systems where advanced (AP, IB, Honors) classes are assigned more points (e.g., 6 points for an A) than regular classes (4 points), allowing students to surpass a traditional 4.0 or 5.0 scale by taking many challenging courses and getting all A's. While some districts use scales up to 6.0, achieving it requires maximum rigor and perfect grades, making it an exceptional accomplishment.
 

How many honor cords can you wear?

Unlike hoods and stoles, by tradition more than one cord may be worn at the same time.

What is a 101.6 GPA on a 4.0 scale?

A 101.6% GPA is essentially a perfect or near-perfect score, translating to a 4.0 GPA on a standard scale, possibly even exceeding it slightly on weighted systems, but the maximum on an unweighted 4.0 scale is 4.0, meaning a 101.6% is likely an "A" (90-100%). A GPA above 4.0 usually happens with weighted scales for AP/IB classes, where an A can earn more than 4 points (e.g., 4.5 or 5.0), making 101.6% a strong indicator of top-tier performance.
 

Can I buy myself cords for graduation?

And while schools often provide honor cords, students can also purchase their own to ensure they're properly represented on graduation day.

Do you keep your cords after graduation?

Your graduation cords tell the story of your hard work, passion, and accomplishments. Instead of storing them away, take the opportunity to showcase them in a way that continues to inspire you. Whether you choose to display, donate, or creatively reuse them, each option is a chance to honor your journey.

What is the average cash gift for graduation?

Parents and grandparents tend to give most generously to graduates, with average cash gifts for college graduations ranging from $100 to $500. Other close relatives usually give between $50 and $250.

What not to wear to a graduation as a guest?

White attire: While white may seem like a neutral color, it is traditionally reserved for the graduates. Wearing white could be seen as trying to upstage the graduates or even disrespecting their achievement. Jeans and t-shirts: Graduation is a formal event, so it's best to avoid casual attire like jeans and t-shirts.

What classes give you cords?

Clubs, Honor Societies, and Organizations

Students might earn cords for membership in language clubs, service clubs, or honors societies like Alpha Sigma, along with membership in honors societies like Alpha Sigma Lambda or Beta Kappa and Gamma Phi.