Doctoral Hood Colors Explained: Ph.D. Dark Blue vs. Ed.D., DBA, DNP, and Professional Degrees
If you’re ordering doctoral regalia, one small detail can make a big difference: the velvet color on your hood.
Dark blue, light blue, drab, apricot, orange, olive green, teal — these colors traditionally represent the degree or academic field associated with your doctorate.
The confusing part is that graduates in similar fields can wear completely different hood colors depending on the exact degree they earned.
A Ph.D. in Education and an Ed.D. are a perfect example. One traditionally wears dark blue. The other wears light blue.
Here’s a breakdown of the most common doctoral hood colors and the distinctions worth knowing before you order.
The key is to start with the exact degree being awarded, not simply the department or subject area.
Ph.D. Dark Blue vs. Ed.D. Light Blue
This is one of the most common doctoral hood color mix-ups.
An Ed.D., or Doctor of Education, traditionally uses light blue velvet because light blue represents Education.
A Ph.D., or Doctor of Philosophy, traditionally uses dark blue velvet, including when the graduate’s research is in Education.
Degree | Traditional velvet color |
Ed.D. — Doctor of Education | Light Blue |
Ph.D. — Doctor of Philosophy in Education | Dark Blue |
Ph.D. — Doctor of Philosophy in Engineering | Dark Blue |
D.Eng. — Doctor of Engineering | Orange |
That is why the degree designation matters more than simply looking at the name of your department.
Why Does a Ph.D. Use Dark Blue?
The Ph.D. is a special case in traditional American academic dress.
A Doctor of Philosophy traditionally uses dark blue velvet regardless of the graduate’s specific research discipline.
So a Ph.D. in Engineering traditionally wears dark blue rather than Engineering orange.
A Doctor of Engineering, or D.Eng., may instead use orange.
Small difference in degree title. Very different hood color.
DBA Hood Color: Drab vs. Ph.D. Dark Blue
A Doctor of Business Administration, or DBA, traditionally uses drab velvet, the academic color associated with Business.
A Ph.D. in Business, however, traditionally uses dark blue because the degree awarded is still a Doctor of Philosophy.
DBA → Drab
Ph.D. in Business → Dark Blue
Two business doctorates, but two different traditional colors.
DNP Hood Color: Apricot vs. Ph.D. Dark Blue
For Nursing, the traditional academic color is apricot.
A Doctor of Nursing Practice, or DNP, commonly uses apricot velvet, while a Ph.D. in Nursing traditionally uses dark blue.
DNP → Apricot
Ph.D. in Nursing → Dark Blue
Again, the exact degree matters.
What Color Is a Pharm.D. Hood?
A Doctor of Pharmacy, or Pharm.D., traditionally uses olive green velvet.
If your pharmacy school publishes specific regalia instructions, follow the university’s required shade when ordering.
What Color Is a DPT Hood?
A Doctor of Physical Therapy, or DPT, may use teal or sage green, depending on the institution.
Some schools may instead place Physical Therapy under Science (Gold) or Medicine (Green).
Because of that variation, DPT graduates should always check their university’s official regalia requirements before ordering.
What Color Is a Psy.D. Hood?
A Doctor of Psychology, or Psy.D., may use gold or golden yellow, particularly when Psychology is classified under Science.
Other universities may use institution-specific guidelines.
For this degree, the university’s own commencement or regalia requirements should be the final reference.
D.Eng. Orange vs. Ph.D. in Engineering Dark Blue
Engineering is traditionally represented by orange.
A Doctor of Engineering, or D.Eng., may use orange velvet.
A Ph.D. in Engineering, however, traditionally uses dark blue because the degree is still a Doctor of Philosophy.
D.Eng. → Orange
Ph.D. in Engineering → Dark Blue
This is why simply saying “Engineering doctorate” may not be enough when ordering your hood. Use the exact degree abbreviation.
Should You Choose Your Doctoral Hood Color by Degree or Field?
Start with the exact doctoral degree being awarded.
For professional doctorates, the academic field often determines the traditional color:
Ed.D. → Education → Light Blue
DBA → Business → Drab
DNP → Nursing → Apricot
D.Eng. → Engineering → Orange
Pharm.D. → Pharmacy → Olive Green
The Ph.D. is the major exception because it traditionally uses dark blue regardless of the research discipline.
For newer or interdisciplinary professional doctorates, university-specific rules may apply.
Why University Requirements Still Matter
Traditional academic dress gives you a useful starting point, but your university’s official instructions should always come first.
Schools may use custom doctoral regalia, institution-specific degree colors, or their own classifications for newer professional degrees.
This is especially important for DPT and Psy.D. graduates, where requirements can vary.
Before ordering, check your university’s commencement website, graduate school, registrar, bookstore, or official regalia guide.
A quick confirmation can save you from ordering the wrong hood color before graduation.
FAQ: Academic Hood Colors
What color is a Ph.D. doctoral hood?
A Ph.D. traditionally uses dark blue velvet, regardless of the graduate’s research discipline.
What color is an Ed.D. hood?
A Doctor of Education traditionally uses light blue velvet.
Is a Ph.D. in Education light blue or dark blue?
Traditionally, dark blue. An Ed.D. uses Education light blue, while a Ph.D. in Education traditionally uses dark blue.
What color is a DBA hood?
A DBA traditionally uses drab velvet. A Ph.D. in Business traditionally uses dark blue.
What color is a DNP hood?
A DNP commonly uses apricot velvet. A Ph.D. in Nursing traditionally uses dark blue.
What color is a Pharm.D. hood?
A Doctor of Pharmacy traditionally uses olive green velvet.
What color is a DPT hood?
A DPT may use teal or sage green, though some schools place Physical Therapy under Science/Gold or Medicine/Green. Always confirm with your university.
What color is a Psy.D. hood?
A Psy.D. may use gold or golden yellow, especially where Psychology is classified under Science, but institution-specific guidelines may apply.
What color is a Doctor of Engineering hood?
A D.Eng. traditionally uses orange, while a Ph.D. in Engineering traditionally uses dark blue.
Confirm Your Doctoral Hood Color Before Graduation
The easiest way to get doctoral hood colors right is to start with the exact degree you are receiving, not just your academic field.
A Ph.D. is not automatically dressed the same as an Ed.D., DBA, DNP, D.Eng., Pharm.D., DPT, or Psy.D.
Start with the traditional color associated with your degree, then confirm the final requirement with your university.
Once you know the velvet color your school requires, shop Cappe Diem’s doctoral hoods to select the option that matches your degree and university requirements.
Need the complete look? Explore Cappe Diem’s doctoral gown, hood, and tam package for a full doctoral regalia set.
If your university requires a specific color combination, custom doctoral hoods are also available.
Still unsure which doctoral hood color you need? Talk to a Cappe Diem regalia consultant for quick, free guidance.
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