
Honor Cords for Graduates
Honor cords, also referred to as graduation cords, represent an exciting time in the life of a high school or college graduate, as they signify specific academic achievements. For hassle-free ordering, contact Honors Graduation.
Graduation Cords
Graduation cords are ceremonial accessories worn by students during their graduation ceremony to signify academic achievement, extracurricular activities, or affiliations with honor societies. They typically consist of one, two, or three ropes or cords, often braided or intertwined, with tassels at each end. The colors of the cords hold specific meanings, representing different honors, majors, or clubs.
The purpose of these cords is to visually distinguish honors graduates from their peers and to celebrate their hard work and dedication throughout their academic journey. They serve as a symbol of pride and accomplishment for the students and their families.
Honors Graduation specializes in providing high-quality, customizable graduation cords to schools and other educational institutions.
- Customization: Schools can choose from a wide range of cord colors, materials, and designs to create cords that reflect their unique brand and traditions.
- Bulk Orders: Honors Graduation caters to the needs of schools by offering bulk pricing and discounts for large orders of graduation cords.
- Timely Delivery: We understand the importance of graduation timelines and ensure that orders are processed and delivered efficiently to meet schools' deadlines.
- Quality Materials: The cords are made from durable materials that can withstand wear and tear during the ceremony and beyond, serving as lasting mementos for the graduates.
If you are unaware of your school's policies regarding graduation cords, please check with a school administrator.
How to Purchase Graduation or Honor Cords
From teachers with small groups of students to universities with an entire graduating class to recognize, we will make sure your cords aren't something to worry about.
What to Know When Purchasing Graduation Cords:
- Pay with purchase orders by entering your official school PO number instead of a credit card.
- International shipping is available.
- Custom orders (500+ units, ETA 60 days) and volume pricing are available.
- Pricing for braided honor cords and single-color cords is identical.
- Any graduation cord can be combined with any other as a double-tied cord. Double-tied cords cost twice as much as single or braided cords.
- Additional recognition cord colors (other than what is listed on our website) can be arranged for bulk orders, recurring orders, or extended purchase contracts in cases where enough advance notice is provided.
- Cords are available in three styles, including 180+ colors or color combinations.
- All cords are approximately 70 inches long with a 1/4-inch diameter.
- Tassels are each approximately 4" in length, making up a total of 8" of the 70" cord length.
- If you are not satisfied with your purchase for any reason you can cancel your order and return the cords to us for your money back. If the return was for a reason other than a mistake on the part of Honors Graduation for cords or any faulty product, the cost of shipping both ways will be handled by the purchaser. All cords, defective or otherwise, must be returned within 7 days to qualify for our money-back guarantee.
- Cord colors shown on this site are intended as a guide but may display differently depending on your monitor, web browser, or system settings.

You can see a complete list of cord colors and combinations a little further down the page.
How to Wear a Graduation Cord
An honor cord is worn draped over the neck like a shawl, so one side hangs from each shoulder. The middle of the cord, or knot if you have double or triple-tied cords, will sit immediately behind your neck. The tassels of the cord hang evenly on each side. To lock down the perfect look, fasten the cord in place at the back of your gown with a safety pin before heading out of your dressing room.
Customer Reviews for Graduation Cords

What are the Ropes Worn at Graduation?
The ropes graduates wear at commencement are called honor cords. These cords are only a quarter of an inch in diameter and sixty to seventy inches long, with tassels on either end usually matching the color of the cord or rope. Like other academic honors, they are worn to recognize key achievements by students, such as GPA, class percentile, or participation in extracurricular activities.

- Single cord (1 color 1 cord): as highlighted in the image above, we offer a variety of honor cord colors including gold, antique gold, yellow, orange, burnt orange, purple, royal blue, navy blue, light blue, green, dark green (or forest green), bright green (also 'kelly green'), silver, white, black, pink, rose pink, red, and maroon. Some honors societies may have specific honor society cord colors that they use.
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Braided graduation cords (2 or 3 colors, 1 cord): are single cords with multiple colors twisted or braided together. The most popular color options for a braided grad cord are royal blue with white; royal blue with gold; red, white & blue; red with silver, red with black; black with red; gold with green; bright green with white; and black, red & gold. See our example of cord color combinations, below.
Pricing for braided honor cords and single color cords is identical.
- Double-tied cords (2 cords, can be single, braided, or both): any graduation cord can be combined with any other as a double-tied cord. Double-tied cords cost twice as much as single or braided cords.
- Highest-quality cord, money-back guarantee. If you are not satisfied with your purchase for any reason you can cancel your order and return the cords to us for your money back. If the return was for a reason other than a mistake on the part of Honors Graduation for cords or any faulty or defective product, the cost of shipping both ways will be handled by the purchaser. All cords, defective or otherwise, must be returned within 7 days to qualify for our money-back guarantee.
- Cord colors shown above are intended as a guide but may display differently depending on your monitor, web browser, or system settings.


There are two main distinctions between cords; single color or twisted (2 or more colors), and double or single tied. Although there are no formal distinctions or traditions associated with a particular style over another, each school may choose to have graduates use double-tied cords over single-tied. While there is no distinction in price between colors or twisted/braided cords, double-tied cords are generally a more expensive option. Honor student cords are usually used during graduations by members of an honors society, fraternity or sorority, or department/school. Most graduation ceremonies will distinguish their summa cum laude, magna cum laude, and cum laude awards with the special honor cord worn around the neck at graduation or commencement events.
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Graduation ropes or cords for honor societies & graduates.