Congratulations, Graduate: Fun, Heartfelt Greetings and Gift Ideas

Someone special is about to achieve a great accomplishment and it’s time to say, “Congratulations, graduate!” This is a big moment for the grad and it’s a fun milestone for you to celebrate along with them. 

To help you share your sentiments, we’ve brought together our top ideas ranging from what to include in your card to great gift ideas. You’ll also find plenty of graduate congratulations messages to inspire your own greetings. (Hint: It’s not just “Congratulations, graduate!”)

What to Include in a Graduation Congratulations Card

Design: Jen Montgomery

Graduation is a big moment, so it makes sense to mark the occasion with a good luck card or a tassel-themed graduation card — like this fun Celebrating the Grad design. Whether you’re sending well wishes from afar to celebrate a high school graduation or college graduation or attending a graduation party in person, here’s what to keep in mind for your congratulations card. 

Start With a Warm Greeting

Someone you care about is graduating, and that’s a big deal. Start your graduation congratulations message with a warm greeting to set the tone. 

Try something fun like “To the best grad in the world!” or “Dear future [profession]” to kick things off. If you’re not as close with the grad, a simple “Dear [Name]” works great. You can always expand on your well wishes in the main message. 

Offer a Heartfelt Message

After the initial greeting, add a sweet, heartfelt message that shows how excited you are about the grad’s achievements. This is your space to congratulate them on all their hard work and wish them good luck for the future. 

Keep it short and simple with a “Congrats, grad!” or a more specific “Congratulations on achieving your masters degree in [subject]!” You could also write a longer personalized message, depending on your relationship. If you’re not sure what to say, we’ve got you covered with a fantastic list of graduation wishes in the section below. 

End on a Sweet Note

Close out your graduation message with good wishes for the future. Use this as a chance to give the grad a final dose of wisdom, or to simply say you’ll catch up with them soon. 

When it’s time to sign off, choose something cozy like “best wishes” or “warmest wishes.” If you know the grad well, you can get a little more relaxed, like “See you soon, super grad!”

Congratulations, Graduate: Graduation Messages for Someone Special

Design: Signature Greenvelope

It’s time to craft a special graduation message to congratulate someone on their outstanding achievement and express excitement for the next chapter of their journey. These graduation messages are ideal for greeting cards — like this Blooming Congratulations digital card, personalized prints, and messages on social media. 

Simple Ways to Say “Congratulations, Graduate!”

Looking for a simple way to congratulate a new graduate? Here are a few wording ideas to get your message across.

• Congrats, grad! We’re so proud of you.
• Bravo on graduating, [Name]! All your hard work has paid off!
• Congratulations on graduating from [School], [Name]. Way to go!
• Have the best graduation, [Name]! You earned it.
• Congrats on celebrating your big day. Happy graduation!
• Here’s to new beginnings, [Name]! Your future is looking bright.
• Congrats graduate! We know this is the start of a successful career in [subject], [Name]!

When You’ll Be There at the Graduation Ceremony

If you’re attending the ceremony (or viewing it remotely), here’s a handful of message ideas to commemorate the special day. 

• Happy graduation day, [Name]! We’re so thrilled to share it with you.
• So glad we get to see you off on your next adventure, [Name]!
• Congrats, [Name]! We’re excited to see you graduate and celebrate this moment. 
• So happy we can be with you as you start your new journey, [Name]! 
• Can’t wait to see you throw that graduation cap high in the air. Proud of you!
• Congrats, [Name]. We’ll be there cheering the loudest! 
• Even with a virtual graduation, this moment is magical. Congrats,[Name]! 

Graduation Congratulations From Afar

Sometimes we can’t see the grad in person to share our well wishes. Here are some sweet ways to share your joy from afar. 

• Wishing you a very happy graduation ceremony, [Name]! Go get it!
• Congrats on graduating! Sorry we can’t make it, but we’re cheering you on from here. 
• So exciting to see that you’re onto the next chapter. Congrats on graduating, [Name]! 
• Congratulations, [Name]! Live life to the fullest, and we’ll see you soon. 
• Sorry we can’t be there on the day, but sending you big congrats on graduating! 
• Sending you our love as you graduate, [Name]! 

Graduation Messages For a Family Member

Design: Signature Greenvelope

If the grad is a close family member, you can get even more personal with your congratulations message. Here are some ideas to celebrate your child, grandchild, or other loved one — perfect for adding to this Happy For You card. 

• Congratulations, [Name]! We always knew you’d have a bright future. 
• What a magnificent moment, [Name]! Congrats on being our first child to graduate. 
• I knew from the first day you said you wanted to be a [profession], you’d make it. Congrats, grad!
• Lots of love to the best [relation] — and now the best grad in the whole world! 
• Congratulations on your well-deserved success. I know you’ll achieve great things!
• Welcome to our family of grads, [Name]. So excited to share your journey of great success! 
• Congrats to the best [relation] ever! You don’t need good luck when you have such great genes! 
• Take pride in everything you’ve achieved up to this moment, and everything you’re about to do.
• We’re a family of high achievers, so it’s no surprise you’re graduating from [College]. Congratulations, graduate! 
• Congratulations on graduating, my dear [Name]. Never stop learning! 

Graduation Congratulations For a Friend

There’s something so special about celebrating the graduation of a friend. You’ve been through so much together, so add a personal touch to your message alongside one of your favorite graduation card ideas.

• Can you believe it’s the end of high school, [Name]? I never thought we’d make it out! Here’s to us! But mostly you, the best friend ever!
• I’m so lucky to have such an accomplished friend. Congratulations, graduate!
• After all that hassle, it’s time to claim your tassel! Congrats [Name]!
• There’s so much I want to say about how amazing you are, but there’s not enough space on this card. Congrats on graduating, [Name]! You inspire me every day.
• It’s so much more than a piece of paper. Congrats on all your incredible work, [Name]. Can’t wait to celebrate with you!
• I always knew you were made for wonderful things. Let’s tackle college together, [Name]! 
• We’re high school graduates, [Name]! Bring on college! 
• I can’t believe they’re going to let us loose in the real world. Congrats on graduating from [College], bestie! 

Famous Graduation Quotes

Still looking for a few words of wisdom to share? No worries — here are some graduation quotes from famous folks to help you say what you mean. 

• “It’s wisdom that will put all the inevitable failures and rejections and disappointments and heartbreaks into perspective.” — Arianna Huffington
• “Fortune does favor the bold, and I promise that you will never know what you’re capable of unless you try.” — Sheryl Sandberg
• “Fall forward. Every failed experiment is one step closer to success. You’ve got to take risks.” — Denzel Washington
• “Always aim high, work hard, and care deeply about what you believe in.” — Hillary Clinton
• “Don’t let the noise of others’ opinions drown out your own inner voice. And most important, have the courage to follow your heart and intuition.” — Steve Jobs
• “Intelligence plus character — that is the goal of true education.” — Martin Luther King, Jr.

Gift Ideas to Show Your Graduation Congratulations

Design: Signature Greenvelope

We love the idea of sending a personalized online card — like this You Did it! card — to someone special. If you want to extend that grad gift even further, here are some of our favorite gift ideas that will support their life as a student, traveler, or achiever in whatever they pursue. 

Personalized Graduation Gifts

This is a big moment in your grad’s life, and you likely want to mark it with a personalized graduation gift. Popular personalized graduation gifts include artwork prints, notebooks, mugs, and jewelry — but you could also opt for personalized clothing or homeware. 

Gift Cards

Gift cards make ideal presents — especially if you can’t see the recipient in person. You can choose an amount that works for you, select a retailer, and give your grad the fun of picking out something they love. 

If you send a digital graduation card through Greenvelope, you can attach a gift card before you hit send. It’s a simple, easy, and thoughtful way to congratulate your grad no matter where you are. Bonus: They receive the gift instantly —no need to wait for the mail to arrive!

Contribution Towards the Future

Sometimes a financial contribution is the perfect graduation gift. It allows flexibility over how it can be used, making it ideal for most grads. 

A financial contribution is a great idea if your grad is going to travel or needs to buy resources for a future study program. It also lets you help them out with those “starting out” expenses if they’re heading into the big wide world on their own for the first time. 

Graduation Greetings That Show You Care

Saying “Congratulations, graduate!” is wonderful, but these wording ideas will help you take it one step further. Add in a gift and you’re sure to make them feel even extra special. Follow our tips and take inspiration from our ideas, and you’ll have the perfect, personalized graduation congratulations message for a well-deserving grad.