I graduated from a small private college, and we all wore hoods. Undergraduates receiving their bachelor's of science degree wear a hood that is black, greean and gold trim, with a white stripe going across the hood. Undergraduates receiving their bachelor's of art degree wear the same type of hood, but the stripe is green. Our faculty is encouraged to wear their actual attire they wore upon receiving their diploma(s). The length of their hoods and the different colors signifies their degrees and duration in school. It was really neat to see all of that during the ceremony.
Also, different honor groups wear different stoles and cords also. I was lucky to wear cords in the colors of Phi Sigma Sigma
Congrats to the graduates. Best wishes in the future.
Jadey