80 Graduation Wishes to Write in a Grad’s Card
Updated: Aug. 17, 2023
For when you’re seeking something wise, encouraging, or funny to write in honor of your favorite grad.
And just like that, graduation season is here! Whether it’s middle school, high school, or college—graduation is a major milestone for any graduate. They’ve come so far, and it’s worth celebrating. While you might want to give them the best gift (consider these great books to give as graduation gifts), it’s even more important to send them graduation wishes from the heart.
Do you ever wonder what to write in graduation cards? Here are some inspiring, wise, and celebratory messages to write in the next graduation card you pen.
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Inspiring graduation wishes
1. As you cherish the fruits of your hard work, I wish that success keeps following you in everything you do. Today and always, congratulations!
2. Embrace the warm memories of the past and big dreams for the future. It’s only up from here!
3. Live each day as if your life has just begun.
4. Nothing can stop you now. You have a ticket to your dreams come true. Congrats!
5. Graduation isn’t the end of a tough journey, it is the beginning of a beautiful one. Start each day believing in yourself, and watch the magic happen.
6. May your hat fly as high as your dreams!
7. Find comfort in being uncomfortable. Take the opportunities presented to you even if they’re scary—you have to leave your comfort zone to grow as an individual.
8. Congrats on graduating! I wish you the very best in all your future endeavors. May success always find you.
9. We bet you feel like you can take on the world, and you can. But remember, we’ll always be here for you.
10. Do all the ambitious and important things in life, but as you do, err in the direction of kindness.
11. I hope that everything you’ve learned unlocks all the doors you find in the future.
12. To the person who never stopped dreaming big, congratulations on this big day!
13. Go into the world and do well, but more important, go into the world and do good.
14. Let your dreams be your wings to carry you into the future.
15. May your future be full of happy coincidences, necessary failures, and all the success in the world.
16. There are few times in life when you’ll put as much work into a single accomplishment as you did for this. Be proud of yourself!
17. Chasing a dream requires passion, hard work, and talent. Congratulations on this milestone!
18. When one door closes, another opens. We can’t wait to see which door you choose!
19. Take pride in how far you’ve come, and have faith in how far you can go.
20. Shoot for the moon, because even if you miss, you’ll land among the stars!
Pass along these graduation quotes that are sure to inspire a great future.
Wise graduation wishes
21. Enjoy the little things in life. For one day, you’ll look back and realize they were the big things.
22. Take a moment to be proud of yourself, and know that you deserve all the successes you work toward.
23. Always remember that you are braver than you believe, stronger than you seem, smarter than you think, and loved more than you will ever know.
24. The journey of life brings both challenges and chances—may you snatch the chances and beat the challenges.
25. Being a graduate doesn’t mean that you know everything—but you are better prepared to learn what life has in store for you.
26. Always remember: There’s no limit to what you can do if you believe in yourself.
27. My wish for you is that this life becomes all you want it to be. May your dreams stay big, your worries stay small, and may you never need to carry more than you can hold.
28. Remember that you can never cross the ocean till you have the courage to lose sight of the shore. Congratulations on your graduation!
29. Before you act, listen. Before you react, think. Before you spend, earn. Before you criticize, wait. Before you pray, forgive. And before you quit, try.
30. Life is a journey, and you’re the one holding the map.
31. May your dreams take you to the corners of your smiles, to the highest of your hopes, to the windows of your opportunities, and to the most special places your heart has ever known.
32. School may be over, but life’s lessons are yet to be learned. Keep an open heart and mind.
33. Never forget how hard you worked to get here and how much further you’ll go. Congratulations!
34. Although your graduation may mark the completion of your schooling, don’t ever stop pursuing knowledge. Wishing you all the best!
35. Take lots of pictures. Take your time celebrating. Take it easy for a while. Then, take on the world!
36. There will be growing pains, letdowns, and setbacks, but don’t hold on to the anger, hurt, or pain.
37. Failure is inevitable in life, but the greatest successes come from making mistakes.
38. It doesn’t matter the hand you’re given—it’s about the way you play your cards, and you’ve played them exceedingly well.
39. With love and patience, anything and everything is possible.
40. Understand that all paths forward are different. Always remember that you are exactly where you’re supposed to be.
We’re not crying, you’re crying! Next, read on for more life-changing quotes.
Funny graduation wishes
41. I know you worked hard for this, but I think Google, Wikipedia, and YouTube deserve an honorary mention too… Congratulations!
42. I always knew you would barely graduate. Well done!
43. Great job—now comes the hard part: real life!
44. Congratulations! Now you can finally start getting paid to work, rather than having to pay to do it!
45. Congrats to myself for sitting through the entire ceremony!
46. Did you ever think this day would come? We didn’t think so either!
47. Happy graduation, and welcome to the real world!
48. You’re officially too cool for school!
49. Call it graduation, a new beginning, or in your case, a miracle—congratulations!
50. My deepest condolences to you on the end of your college life.
51. Now it’s time to enter the real world. Don’t worry, none of us knows what we’re doing here either!
52. Don’t spend all your graduation money in one place. Congrats!
53. Congratulations on getting to wear a funny hat!
54. Education is the secret to success—and the diploma helps too.
55. The tassel is worth the hassle!
56. Respect your elders—we graduated without Google. Congratulations!
57. When they hand you your diploma, keep going. Just in case they try to take it back.
58. I can’t wait to hear your name horribly mispronounced at the ceremony!
59. That’s one expensive piece of paper!
60. Graduation: A ritual where they award you a diploma, with the hope that you’ve learned enough to be able to read it.
Need some more humor to add to your message? Check out these congratulations memes.
Encouraging graduation wishes
61. You make it look easy! Congratulations on a well-deserved graduation.
62. You worked so hard for this, but it is everything you learned that will propel you to success.
63. A comfort zone is a lovely place, but nothing ever grows there. Here’s to trying new things!
64. For all the lack of sleep, late-night studies, and hard work, your reward is here. Well-deserved congratulations!
65. Chasing a dream requires passion and hard work. Congratulations on graduating, and continue to strive!
66. Wishing that brighter opportunities come your way and you achieve success in all of them!
67. I hope you’re proud of your accomplishments! All the hard work you’ve put in has paid off, and your reward lies ahead.
68. Even more than proving you’re smart enough to earn a diploma, you have proven your character. And your character is much more important than any diploma or graduation. Best wishes!
69. You deserve to see your dreams come true. Congratulations!
70. You are brilliant, able, and ambitious. You shall always walk the glory road. May you have all you need to earn many more achievements and facts in life ahead.
71. Take time to close some doors today. Not because of pride, incapacity, or arrogance—but simply because they led you nowhere. Now, look forward.
72. I’ve always had faith in you, and I’m confident you can do anything you put your mind to. Wishing you a future full of success and happiness!
73. Graduation is a bridge to the next part of your life, and everything that got you here—hard work, drive, confidence—is going to carry you across to the future you deserve.
74. On your graduation day, we honor your journey and your destination. We look forward to seeing you embark on a new leg of your adventure!
75. This degree is a stepping stone to help you realize your full potential. Congratulations!
76. This definitely won’t be the last time I get to brag about you. Congrats!
77. Kudos for completing this important life step. Remember to always keep climbing the staircase.
78. It is so inspiring to see all your hard work come together to accomplish this goal—live it up and celebrate. It’s your time!
79. Start each day with ambition and well-set goals, and believe in yourself. I know you’ll achieve a prosperous life!
80. Never be afraid to carve out your own path. You have all the tools you need.
