“I’m intimidated by the fear of being average.“ – Taylor Swift
College is your launchpad, and these motivational quotes from people who turned hustle into success are the fuel to get you off the ground. This list of 25 Best Inspirational Quotes for College Students to Succeed are from today’s movers and shakers.
We created this post to give you 25 Best Inspirational Quotes for College Students to Succeed with quotes from modern day success stories. People closer in age to the college kids, for relatability and inspiration to swing for the fences!
25 Best Inspirational Quotes for College Students to Succeed
So you made it!
You survived the chaos of college applications, endless group projects in high school, campus tours, FAFSA headaches, and that dramatic “Which school should I pick?” moment.
Whether you’re headed to a school across the country or just down the street, college life is about to get real.
This is the first step toward your bright future, and while the dorms may be cramped and the dining hall food suspiciously beige, this is the best thing you could do for yourself. It’s not all parties and football games (though hey, there’s that too)—this is an investment in you.
There may be hard times ahead, but don’t let that deter you! We are no stranger to the fear of failure, but you will see from the quotes from modern day success stories, that tough times seem to be par for the course for everyone. These quotes will inspire you to believe in yourself and keep working towards your best interest.
As John Dewey once said, “Education is not preparation for life; education is life itself.”
Slowestuff Graduation & Back To School
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. Be sure to check it out!
25 Best Inspirational Quotes for College Students to Succeed
Stepping into college means stepping way outside your comfort zone. You’ll meet new people, try new ideas, learn a new skill or ten, and probably realize mental health is just as important as studying for midterms.
Feeling homesick? Totally normal. That weird combo of excitement, anxiety, and “I miss my dog”? Yup. Been there.
But here’s the truth: college students who put themselves out there—join clubs, talk to that kid in class, say yes to stuff—tend to find their crew and thrive.
Eleanor Roosevelt once said, “The future belongs to those who believe in the beauty of their dreams.” You’re building a firm foundation for those dreams right now, even if it starts with learning how to do laundry.
College is fun, but it’s also serious business. You’ve got to put in the hard work, manage that social life, and show up even when you’re tired and missing your bed at home.
Remember what Thomas Edison said—“Success is the sum of small efforts, repeated day in and day out.” The importance of education isn’t just about getting a college degree, it’s about becoming the first-rate version of yourself, not a second-rate version of someone else (Judy Garland nailed that one).
25 Best Inspirational Quotes for College Students to Succeed
We know you have seen all the cliche quotes. Ones from Dr. Seuss, or Albert Einstein, Steve Jobs and Abraham Lincoln. Shoot, we even included a few in the above paragraphs. All successful people, to be sure.
But, they are old! We wanted to find quotes from more modern and current success stories. It might be a little easier to relate to Mr. Beast & Zendaya than Benjamin Franklin, Zig Ziglar and Winston Churchill.
- “Girls should never be afraid to be smart.” — Emma Watson
- “”I want to show that you don’t have to be older to live your dreams; you can do it at any age.”— Zendaya
- “I learned, when I look in the mirror and tell my story, that I should be myself and not peep whatever everybody is doing.”— Kendrick Lamar
- “Support from women is a gift. It’s a resource in which you can find not only community, but empowerment.” — Drew Afualo, Loud: Accept Nothing Less Than the Life You Deserve
- “To any entrepreneur: if you want to do it, do it now. If you don’t, you’re going to regret it.”— Catherine Cook, Co-founder of MyYearbook
- “Carve your own path and you’ll always be heading in the right direction.”— Michelle Phan, Co-founder of Ipsy
- “I love the quote ‘You’re the average of the five people you spend the most time with.’ I’d encourage female entrepreneurs to find people that they admire and spend lots of time with those people that are more successful than they are and smarter than they are, because those are the people I’ve learned the most from.”— Nanxi Liu, CEO of Enplug
- “The heat around young actors burns out. Natural ability and magnetism only get you so far. The rest is hard work.” — Ben Foster
- “I just took a DNA test, turns out I’m 100% that bitch.” — Lizzo, from her song “Truth Hurts”
- “You have to see failure as the beginning and the middle, but never entertain it as an end.”— Jessica Herrin, Founder and CEO of Stella & Dot
- “Don’t get distracted. Never tell yourself that you need to be the biggest brand in the whole world. Start by working on what you need at the present moment and then what you need to do tomorrow. So, set yourself manageable targets.”— Jas Bagniewski, Co-founder of Eve Sleep
- “If you’re starting something on your own, you better have a passion for it, because this is hard work.”— Sallie Krawcheck, Co-founder of Ellevest
- “Don’t let someone else’s vision of success force you to stray from the path you worked to be on.”— Michelle Phan, Co-founder of Ipsy
- “Your probability of being a billionaire is higher if you don’t make that your goal. Just focus on making a company that is dope.”— Mr. Beast
- “Keep away from people who try to belittle your ambitions. Small people always do that, but the really great make you feel that you, too, can become great.”— Mark Twain, Author
- “To me, fearless is not the absence of fear. It’s not being completely unafraid. To me, fearless is having fears. Fearless is having doubts. Lots of them. To me, fearless is living in spite of those things that scare you to death.”— Taylor Swift
- “Life is about reinventing yourself and constantly evolving. I believe in taking risks and pushing boundaries.” Kylie Jenner
- “Go for your wildest dream. Do whatever you want to, even if it’s the craziest thing. Just listen to what your heart says, and make sure you’re having fun.” – Kamaria Warren CEO Brown Girls’ Stationary
- “You learn more when you lose than when you win. You just try not to get completely tilted when things are out of your control.” — Ninja
- “I know who I am, I know my character, I know the love and passion that I put into everything I do, and nothing can hurt me.” — Mikayla Nogueira
- “You have every right to a beautiful life.”— Selena Gomez
- The secret is consistency. It’s not about doing something once—it’s doing it over and over again until it works.” — Khaby Lame,
- “Being an online content creator is a lot like having your own company. Therefore being able to adapt and evolve is an integral part of keeping your business running.” — Pokimane
- “I always say, decisions I make, I live with them. There’s always ways you can correct them or ways you can do them better. At the end of the day, I live with them.” – LeBron James
- “Work hard and stay determined, but also remember to have fun and enjoy the journey.” — Sabrina Carpenter
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Gifts For The College Student
If you wanted to send a gift with one of these amazing inspirational quotes for college students, here are a few ideas that may not be typical, but are really great ideas!
Portable Hard Drive
This is truly a genius idea and a great thing to have on hand. It is also not something a lot of people think about. But an external hard drive provides an extra sense of security, or a lot of extra storage, at a very reasonable price. Top tier gift idea!!
Rain Jacket
I know you might be thinking – a rain jacket??? – but this was one of the first things we bought AFTER college started. Get caught in a downpour once, and you will never make fun of a rain jacket again.
Sweatpants
This might also seem like a funny recommendation, but literally every single college kid we gave Nike Sweatpants to as a gift, absolutely LOVED them. College kids live in sweatpants, and these ones seem to be universally loved. You can get them oversized and they will love them, so you can’t go wrong on guessing a size.
25 Best Inspirational Quotes for College Students to Succeed
Whether you end up as one of the C students like George W. Bush (C’s get degrees!) or aiming for summa cum laude, college is where the magic happens.
You’re not just earning credits—you’re learning how to live, lead, and launch into the real world.
We hope you liked this departure from classic quotes from people like Maya Angelou, Mark Twain, Walt Disney, and Michael Jordan. Our hope is that it is more relatable and will be something that keeps you going even when you are struggling in a group project or feeling like you are making little progress on your quest to get a college education.
Keep an open mind and a positive attitude, and when times get tough, let these inspirational quotes and motivational quotes from modern day legends fuel your fire.
Big things are coming.
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.
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Best of luck to you or your favorite graduate!
Slowestuff
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