Graduation Wishes and Congratulations (60+ Amazing Examples)

Mortar boards at the ready! It’s time to celebrate the achievements and hard work put in by graduates.

You may know one or more people graduating from high school, college or even just a course. Their dedication to academia is a huge accomplishment and you will probably want to send a gift or card.

If so then you need to consider what you’re going to write in your card. Graduation wishes and messages can be tricky to write but fear not because they don’t have to be.

We’ve put together an extensive list of graduation wishes and messages, including quotes, funny wishes, and specific messages for sons, daughters, college and high school graduates. You can choose to use them however you like, be that as inspiration for your own, personalised for your specific situation or exactly as they are.

Graduation Wishes

For a graduation card or to go with a gift use one of these simple yet touching graduation wishes. You can copy them as they are or use them as inspiration for writing your own.

• All of the hard work and long hours have paid off. You’re going to be a huge success, deservedly so. We wish you all the best!
• Enjoy and savour the reward from your hard work. Graduating is a real achievement and I wish you all the success in the world
• Please accept my warmest graduation wishes
• Wishing you so much happiness on your graduation! You’ve earned it!
• The passion and drive you’ve shown to make your dreams come true is inspiring. I can only wish you so much success in the future! Well done
• Best wishes on a lovely graduation
• Wising you so much love and happiness on your graduation day!
• We’re so sorry we couldn’t be there but wanted to wish you a fantastic graduation day. Promise we’ll see you soon!
• Have a wonderful day and enjoy all the plaudits and celebration. You really deserve it all
• Have an awesome graduation day! And don’t party too hard!

SEE MORE: Thank You Messages for Friends and Family on Graduating

Graduation Congratulations

If you prefer to congratulate the graduate rather than wishing them well or success then use one of the congratulations messages below.

• Congratulations on graduating! We know you’re going to go far
• You’re achievements are an inspiration to us all. Congratulations on your graduation
• You must be so proud, and rightly so! Congratulations
• You set yourself a goal and never gave up on it. That dedication has led you to this day and a huge achievement. Congratulations!
• Congratulations buddy on graduating!
• Congratulations! I know how hard you’ve worked so enjoy yourself today
• I know you’ll be thinking about the future now but take a little time off to enjoy this huge day. Congratulations!
• Congrats big bro, can’t quite believe you managed! I’m proud of you though.
• Wishing you many congratulations on such a big day!
• Congratulations and best wishes on your graduation. It’s a real pleasure to see you doing so well

Graduation Quotes

A clever or insightful quote can be a great way to really capture the moment. There have been many famous people over the years who have spoken or written astute things regarding graduation. They work very well in cards so use one of the selected few below.

• “The true sign of intelligence is not knowledge but imagination.” – Albert Einstein
• “If your uniform isn’t dirty, you haven’t been in the game.” – Ben Bernanke
• “Graduation is a time of completion, of finishing, of an ending, however, it is also a time of celebration of achievement and a beginning for the new graduate.” – Catherine Pulsifer
• “Don’t take life too seriously, nobody makes it out alive.” -?Elbert Hubbard
• “Success is relative. It is what we can make of the mess we have made of things.” – T.S. Eliot
• “The secret of success in life is for a man to be ready for his opportunity when it comes.” – Benjamin Disraeli
• “My dear terrified graduates, you are about to enter the most uncertain and thrilling period of your lives. The stories you are about to live are the ones you will be telling your children, and grandchildren, and therapists.” – Lin-Manuel Miranda
• “We’ve come not to celebrate your achievements, but to celebrate who you are.” – Dr. Kevin Leman,
• “Congratulations! You made it! It’s time to celebrate all the hard work that led to this joyful occasion. The road to graduation is a long, steep climb, so take a moment at the summit to be proud of your accomplishments.” – Sheryl Sandberg
• “Most graduates have a mixture of emotions at this time. You probably have a tremendous sense of relief and accomplishment for finishing a major course of study.” – Michael Farris

Inspirational Graduation Quotes

• “Go confidently in the direction of your dreams. Live the life you have imagined.” – Henry David Thoreau
• “The future belongs to those who believe in the beauty of their dreams.” – Eleanor Roosevelt
• “Success is not the key to happiness. Happiness is the key to success.” – Albert Schweitzer
• “The only limit to our realization of tomorrow is our doubts of today.” – Franklin D. Roosevelt
• “Your education is a dress rehearsal for a life that is yours to lead.” – Nora Ephron
• “Don’t watch the clock; do what it does. Keep going.” – Sam Levenson
• “What lies behind us and what lies before us are tiny matters compared to what lies within us.” – Ralph Waldo Emerson
• “Make your life a masterpiece; imagine no limitations on what you can be, have, or do.” – Brian Tracy
• “Believe you can and you’re halfway there.” – Theodore Roosevelt
• “Chase your passion, not your pension.” – Denis Waitley

Funny Graduation Messages

Whilst graduation can be a serious celebration there’s no harm having some fun on the day! It is a time for joy and happiness, so what better way to show that than with laughter?

• Without Google and Wikipedia, would we even be celebrating your graduation today?
• Well.. that wasn’t like High School Musical at all.
• “A graduation ceremony is an event where the commencement speaker tells thousands of students dressed in identical caps and gowns that “individuality” is the key to success.” – Robert Orben
• Good looks AND brains now! You’re a double threat! Congratulations!
• “In school, you’re taught a lesson and then given a test. In life, you’re given a test that teaches you a lesson.
  ” – Tom Bodett
• Congrats on getting through the easiest part of life.
• Graduation is a tough day for parents. They go to the ceremony as parents. They come back home as contemporaries. After twenty-two years, they are unemployed.
• “As you set off into the world, don’t be afraid to question your leaders. But don’t ask too many questions at one time or that are too hard because your leaders get tired and/or cranky.” – Will Ferrell
• Congratulations on four years of pretending your third pick school was your first choice.
• We’d like to apply for a refund on your college education.
• I could have said something profound, but you would have forgotten it in 15 minutes – which is the afterlife of a graduation speech. – Art Buchwald
• So, what’s it like in the real world? Well, the food is better, but beyond that, I don’t recommend it.

Graduation Wishes for College

College graduation is a massive achievement and one that shouldn’t be taken lightly. The four years it takes requires hard work and dedication, all of which should be celebrated and congratulated.

• Congratulations on graduating from college!
• You’ve proven your determination and skill. Go chase those dreams now! Congratulations
• You have such a bright future head of you, we can’t wait to see how it turns out. Congratulations!
• Congratulations on a brilliant achievement! You’re a college grad now!
• College is a challenging time and you’ve made it through with flying colors. Congratulations

Graduation Wishes for High School

Graduating high school is one of the biggest moments in a young persons life. It marks the start of a new phase in a persons life, be that going on to college or into work. This change and the new chapter of someone’s life means wishing them success and congratulations is only fitting.

• This is such an exciting time with limitless possibilities. What an achievement and good luck with the future
• Dream big and never believe you can’t. Congratulations on your graduation
• It’ll probably have felt like yesterday you were just starting school and now it’s over! Congratulations on making it out alive!
• We wish you success in happiness in whatever you choose to do next
• I know how tough High School is so just wanted to congratulate you on the achievement of graduating

Graduation Wishes for a Friend

• Congrats! Your hard work paid off. Now you can go and succeed in whatever else you choose to.
• You worked for this and earned it. It’s your time now. Well done!
• I’m very proud of you for reaching this goal. I just know you’re going to go on to do really big things.
• You were always so dedicated and had an amazing amount of drive. It was so inspiring. So I’m not surprised to see you have such success. Congratulations!
• Graduation isn’t the end – it’s just the beginning. Here’s to everything you have ahead of you.
• Best wishes as you take on your next adventure. Congratulations and good luck.
• You’ve proven you can achieve anything you set your mind to. Keep going and you’ll see your hard work pay off eve more.
• You’re going to be passing through lots of new doors, having lots of new dreams and have a future that’s full of promise.
• You made it through the long nights and early mornings – now it’s time to celebrate.
• You look good in the cap and gown! But it’s the determination underneath that really stands out.

Graduation Wishes for Best Friend

• I’m so proud of you and everything you’ve accomplished. Nothing can stop you.
• Today you graduate but you’ll always be my favorite overachiever.
• We made it! Well… mostly you. But I was here for moral support and lots of memes. An important contribution I’m sure you’ll agree!
• Cheers to your graduation! You’re ready to take over the world. Go get ’em!
• Bestie, your success feels like a win for both of us. Time to celebrate the only way we know how – loudly!
• You studied, stressed and cried but you got through it – and now you’re here. Congratulations my friend.
• I always knew you’d do well. So let’s toast your future, and of course toast me as well for being such a supportive friend.
• This is just the beginning. The world better be ready for you.
• I knew you’d graduate with flying colors. You’re brilliant, strong and kind and the best friend anyone could have.
• Its been a gift to watch you grow. I can’t wait to see what you do next and where life takes you. Congrats

Graduation Wishes for a Son

When it’s your son graduating the pride and love you’ll feel will be overwhelming. It also represents the growing up of your once little boy, moving on to greater things. Let him know just how proud of him you are and congratulate him on a wonderful achievement.

• We can’t believe our baby boy is graduating! Time goes by so quickly. Know that we couldn’t be more proud of though
• Whatever you decide to do and wherever you go remember how proud of you your parents are. Congratulations on graduating son
• We’ve watched you work so hard and now to see that work realised is such a joy. You’ve earned this success and we are so proud of you.
• It’s hard to believe how fast the time had gone by, it seems like yesterday you were still in diapers. But we always knew our little man would go far! Congratulations on a well earned achievement son
• We’re proud not only of your graduation but of the fine young man you’ve become. We love you so much and will be forever proud of you

Graduation Wishes for a Daughter

As with a son, a daughter graduating will fill you with just as much love and pride. Let her know how proud of her you are, and that seeing her become the independent, strong woman she now is has been such a pleasure.

• We are so proud of all your accomplishments. To us you’ll always be our little girl but we know you’ve grow into a strong, independent woman. Congratulations!
• Remember to keep learning and keep growing. We love you, congratulations
• To have seen you work so hard to achieve your dreams has been such an inspiration. Seeing it all come true for you is an even greater joy. Congratulations baby
• You’ve become a beautiful young woman who has the world at her feet. Remember that you can do anythang if you put your mind to it and your parents will always be there for you
• To our daughter on her graduation day, we will always be proud of you, whatever you do. We love you and wish you all the happiness and success in the world
• Enjoy all the new opportunities and exciting times ahead. We are fit to best with pride to see our little girl achieving so much

Graduation Wishes for Sister

• Watching you cross that stage made my heart burst. You’ve grown into someone so powerful and kind.
• Sis, you did it! You showed so much strength and focus to get here and your future is just beginning. Congratulations.
• I’ve been there to see every step of your journey and today it’s so special to witness you graduate. Wishing you nothing but the best sis.
• To my sister, the graduate: your success makes the whole family proud.
• You’re proof that with the right amount of heart and work anything is possible. Congratulations!
• You’ve worked so hard for this moment and you deserve every bit of happiness and celebrations today.
• The world’s about to see what I’ve always seen. You’re going to make a huge mark and today is only the start for you.
• You’ve always been my role model. Graduation is just one more thing you’ve achieved and excelled at. All my love today.
• So proud of my sister – the graduate! You’ve done so well and deserve this. I can’t wait to see what you do next.
• Everything you’ve done has been an inspiration to me. I know you’re going to succeed at whatever you choose do from here on.

Graduation Wishes for Brother

• Bro, you crushed it! You can now head out into the world and chase those dreams.
• I knew you had it in you. You’ve always had such amazing ambition and determination it doesn’t surprise me one bit to see you graduate. Congratulations bro.
• You’ve made the family proud and I’m lucky to call you my brother.
• Your work ethic was clear to see. Congrats on earning this moment.
• You walked in as a student and walked out as a graduate. Respect, brother.
• You’re officially a graduate! But don’t forget who always had your back (me).
• The world better watch out – my brothers coming and he means some serious business. Lots of love.
• From day one you aimed high. And today you’ve reached those heights you set for yourself. Celebrate and enjoy your achievement.
• You’ve got brains, heart and drive. That’s a combination no one can beat.
• To say I’m proud doesn’t come close to covering it. You’ve worked for this and earned every bit of success.

Graduation Wishes from Parents

• We always knew you could do it you proved us right again. We’re bursting with pride.
• You’ve growth and become someone we will always admire. You are our son/daughter and we are truly proud of you. Congratulations, graduate!
• We’ve watched you rise to every challenge and find a way through them. Today is all about celebrating you and your journey.
• This moment belongs to you. But it’s also a gift to us as your parents. Thank you for being so amazing.
• We’re not surprised you graduated – we always believed in you. You are so impressive and destined for success.
• What a journey it’s been. You made it through with such a positive attitude and lots of humor. I know it’s been hard at times but it’s so worth it. Congratulations.
• Watching you become who you are today has been our life’s greatest joy. We love you.
• It started with your first day of school and has led to this moment. It’s been a wild and crazy ride but you’ve made it. Well done and congratulations.
• You’ve made us proud every step of the way and you always will. Graduation is just the icing on the cake.
• You’ve made our hearts full and our hopes even bigger. Go get that future you’ve earned.

Hopefully you will now be fully equipped to write a graduation card. Just follow some of the examples here for inspiration (or copy them as they are), and you’ll have the perfect graduation wishes for any occasion.