“My dear terrified graduates, you are about to enter the most uncertain and thrilling period of your lives.” – Lin-Manuel Miranda
Graduation season is here, and if you’re staring at a blank card wondering what to write, we’ve got you covered!! This list of 26 Inspiring & Funny College Graduation Quotes give you plenty of options to make them laugh, or wipe away a tear, depending on what you are going for!
We created this post to give you 26 Inspiring & Funny College Graduation Quotes with quotes that are funny, inspiring, or both!
You Did It! 26 Inspiring & Funny College Graduation Quotes
So you’re on the hunt for funny graduation quotes that’ll make a college grad (and you) smile, tear up, or maybe laugh-snort over their mimosa at brunch?
After years of exams, hard work, and late-night pizza runs, they’re officially stepping into the real world. We know a “win” might be finding decent Wi-Fi and delicious, affordable coffee. Graduation day is a big deal, and the graduation ceremony is just the start of it.
Sometimes the best graduation card is the one with a hand written sentiment, and if you are having a hard time coming up with something to say, we got you!
These quote are also great for posting on social media, if the digital version is more your vibe. Of course, pairing a quote with a gift is the ultimate best way to reward a graduate!
These funny quotes and inspirational graduation quotes strike the perfect balance.
When it comes to celebrating a college graduate, the best way to leave a lasting impression is with a quote that makes them laugh, think, and feel accomplished.
Let’s find the one that says it best.
Slowestuff Graduation & Back To School Section
Slowestuff is a seasonal blog, and we think that Graduation and Back To School are absolutely seasonal!
So much so, we have a whole section of the blog dedicated to you!
If you are graduating, we have lots of great tips for pictures in your cap & gown, plus quotes and graduation gift ideas.
If you are heading off to college, we got you too! We have lots of recommendations, like the best laptop computers on a budget, how to make your dorm bed super comfy, plus everything you need for your dorm room, including the best TV for a dorm room. Be sure to check it out!
You Did It! 26 Inspiring & Funny College Graduation Quotes
Finding the perfect commencement speaker is kind of like finding the perfect quote. It needs to be inspiring, but not so serious or lame that it gets an eyeroll or becomes a meme.
Oprah Winfrey? Always a classic. Or maybe you’re more into something quick and clever from Dr. Seuss, Stephen Colbert, or Ed Helms—you know, the kind of people who totally get that student loans are basically long-term relationships none of us signed up for.
The best graduation card is the one with a hand written note, but sometimes you don’t know what to write! Same is true for posting on social media, you want to write something but are staring at a blank screen.
Even if you are pairing a quote with a gift, these one-liners bring just the right mix of inspirational graduation quotes and a little humor. Kind of a dress rehearsal for real life.
Want to frame it next to the diploma? Go for it. Add it to a gift bag with something they’ll actually use? Yes please. Funny, sweet, sarcastic, wise, these quotes check all the boxes.
When it comes to celebrating a college graduate, the best way to leave a lasting impression is with something that feels personal, makes them laugh, and reminds them just how far they’ve come.
Let’s find the quote that says exactly what you’re trying to say without making you write a whole speech.
You Did It! 26 Inspiring & Funny College Graduation Quotes
We know you’ve already seen the classics. Benjamin Franklin, Theodore Roosevelt, even a little Walt Whitman or Henry David Thoreau sprinkled into every graduation card since the dawn of time. And yes, they’ve got words of wisdom for days. But for the graduating class today? It hits a little different when the advice is coming from someone who didn’t also invent electricity.
That’s why this list leans into some quotes from voices that are fresher, funnier, and honestly, more relatable. Because while we totally respect Erma Bombeck and Franklin D. Roosevelt, we’d also love to hear what John Green, Barack Obama, or even George Foreman have to say about entering the real world.
Whether you’re a C student like George W. Bush or aiming for that master’s degree, this mix of funny graduation quotes and surprisingly deep one-liners is here to help you celebrate the big day with a good laugh and a little inspiration too.
- “Carpe diem. Seize the day, boys. Make your lives extraordinary.”— John Keating, Dead Poets Society (1989)
- “Take a job, work hard at it, and excel. Move somewhere you have never lived. Break outside of your comfort zone and you’ll be rewarded for it.” — Sara Hillery
- “The unfortunate, yet truly exciting thing about your life, is that there is no core curriculum. The entire place is an elective.” — Jon Stewart
- “You have to believe in yourself when no one else does.”— Serena Williams
- “Understand that one day you will have the power to make a difference, so use it well.”
— Mindy Kaling - “At graduation you get to wear a cap and gown, but it’s a good idea to also wear something underneath it.” — Greg Tamblyn
- “You have brains in your head. You have feet in your shoes. You can steer yourself in any direction you choose.”— Dr. Seuss, Oh, the Places You’ll Go!
- “You have to test the waters! It might take four, five, six different jobs before you’re able to say, ‘This is what I want to do.'” — Lauren Bush
- “Education is transformational. It changes lives.”— Condoleezza Rice
- “We need to remember what’s important in life: friends, waffles, work. Or waffles, friends, work. Doesn’t matter, but work is third.” — Leslie Knope, Parks and Recreation
- “You are never too old to set another goal or to dream a new dream.”— C.S. Lewis
- “The tassel’s worth the hassle.”— Anonymous
- “It’s never too late! Things happen when they’re supposed to happen!” — Anthony Anderson
- “Success is not final, failure is not fatal: It is the courage to continue that counts.”— Winston Churchill
- “If at first you don’t succeed, find out if the loser gets anything.” — William Lyon Phelps
- “Decide what is yours to hold, and let the rest go.” — Taylor Swift, NYU Commencement Speech, 2022
- “So long as your desire to explore is greater than your desire to not screw up, you’re on the right track.”— Ed Helms
- “You have a lot to contribute to this world. Don’t let fear or insecurity stop you from achieving your dreams.”— Octavia Spencer, Kent State University Commencement Speech, 2017
- “Success is often the result of taking a misstep in the right direction.” — Al Bernstein
- “Do what you can, with what you have, where you are.”— Theodore Roosevelt
- “We need your voice and we need your leadership… We need you to continue to work to build a brighter future for our nation and our world.” — Vice President Kamala Harris
- “Life is 10% what happens to us and 90% how we react to it.”— Charles R. Swindoll
- “You will never have more energy or enthusiasm, hair, or brain cells than you have today.” — Tom and Ray Magliozzi
- “Even if you’re on the right track, you’ll get run over if you just sit there.”— Will Rogers
- “The beautiful thing about learning is that no one can take it away from you.” — B.B. King
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Gifts For The College Graduate
If you wanted to send a gift with one of these amazing inspirational quotes for your favorite college grad, here are a few ideas that may not be typical, but are really great ideas!
Dream Chaser Compass
We love this! Love the message and love the vibes. Amazing gift idea for a college grad.
Personalized College Map
A personalized gift is always a great idea, and this one will capture this moment in time in such a gorgeous way. Your graduate will be able to put it up proudly in their office or work space for the rest of their life.
Diploma Frame
If you love the idea of getting your grad a gift to display, you can always get them a diploma frame! Diplomas are handed out as slips of paper, so giving your graduate a place to put it so it not only showcases it, but keeps it safe, is a brilliant gift idea!
You Did It! 26 Inspiring & Funny College Graduation Quotes
Now you know that inspirational quotes don’t have to be boring!!
Whether you’re reflecting on your university education, blasting your post-grad plans all over social media, or just soaking up the “you did it” vibes—these are the words that will stick.
As Nelson Mandela said, education is the most powerful weapon—but a good laugh with your fellow grads? That’s right up there, too.
Graduation & College Inspiration
Looking for more graduation and college prep ideas? Check out our unique graduation gift guide, shop for the perfect white graduation dress, and be inspired to take amazing cap and gown photos just using your smartphone!
If you are getting college ready, we have a whole section of the blog dedicated to you!
This includes the best laptop computers on a budget, as well as mother & daughter approved dorm room essentials, including the best TV for a dorm room. We have everything you need linked in our storefront, so check out all the options there for all your dorm room bedding needs or dorm bedding necessities.
Don’t forget to subscribe to the Slowestuff newsletter for year-round content! We love to talk about seasonal topics, and keep an ongoing discussion about books and scrapbooking all year long!
Best of luck to you or your favorite graduate!
Slowestuff
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