Do you hear what I hear? It sounds like bragging parents, nostalgic teachers, and emotional music…Why, yes — it’s the sound of pomp and circumstance! Well, congratulations smarty-pants: you’ve made it to diploma day and it’s time to send out your graduation announcements!
Graduation announcement wording doesn’t need to be complicated, but such an important occasion should be marked with an appropriate level of pride and formality. We love sharing your milestone moments here at Zazzle, so we’ve compiled all our advice on graduation announcement wording tips & etiquette in this detailed how-to. Now let the ceremony commence!
Jump to:
- Anatomy of a Graduation Announcement
- Details & Information To Include
- Sample Graduation Announcements
- Back of Graduation Card Wording
- Graduation Announcement Etiquette
- Unique Graduation Announcement Ideas
Anatomy of a Graduation Announcement
Details & Information To Include
Graduate’s Photo
Show off the soon-to-be graduate! Whether graduation photos were taken prior to the big day or after, including a picture makes for a special keepsake for friends & family (and it’ll look GREAT on their fridge!).
Graduate’s Name
A big detail that sometimes gets overlooked! Let everyone know who is celebrating this amazing accomplishment. Decide on whether to include a full name (first, middle and last) or a nickname/shorter version of their name.
School Name
Elementary school, middle school, high school, college or graduation school. Where are they graduating from? Include the full name of the school or university.
Note: College / University graduation invitations are subject to approval from the college directly due to licensing requirements
Graduation Year
Including the graduation year is a great idea for the friends and family members who like to save these announcements as keepsakes and memories. If they are graduating in the winter, fall or summer rather than the traditional spring time, you can include the exact date for specificity.
Name of Parents
A great opportunity to shout out the proud parents! While this is an optional addition to graduation announcements, there are plenty of ways to make a tribute to parents and those who have helped along the way in the examples we’ve provided below.
Major or Degree
For college graduation announcements, feel free to include the graduate’s major or degree details they received. For high school graduation announcements, you can use this as an opportunity to let friends & family know what the graduate will be studying or their post-graduation plans.
Back of Card (Additional Details)
Including any additional details on the back of the graduation announcement such as more pictures, future career plans, any accomplishments, etc. We’ve include more back of the card ideas later on in this wording guide!
Sample Graduation Announcements
While the style of your announcement is ultimately up to you, it’s worth noting that college graduation announcements are usually more formal than high school announcements, and some pieces of information are more essential than others. Your future plans and level of education achieved, for instance, are always included, while the names of the graduate’s parents is a nice, but optional, touch. Here are some classic graduation announcement wording examples.
College Graduation Announcement Wording
Example 1
Graduate
Andrew Hamilton
Class of 20XX
College or University Name
Example 2
Michelle Johnson
[university name]
06.17.XX
With a Bachelor’s in [degree or major]
Join us at the Commencement Ceremony
3PM
[location]
Example 3
They did it!
Samuel Hopkins has graduated from
College or University Name
Class of 20XX
High School Graduation Announcement Wording
Example 1
We are pleased to announce the graduation of our daughter
Cassidy Quinn Thompson
from
Washington High School
May 30 20XX
Cassidy graduated with honors and plans to attend
[College or University Name] in the fall
Example 2
Class of 20XX
Announcing the graduation of
John Michael Smith
[name] High School
May 24th, 20XX
Two O’clock
John will be attending
[university name] in the fall
Majoring in [major]
Example 3
Megan Anderson
Class of 20XX
High School Name
Elementary School Graduation Announcement Wording
Example 1
Announcing our kindergarten
Graduate
Joseph Thompson
Class of 20XX
Elementary School Name
Mrs. Cathen’s class
Example 2
Our Pre-K Grad
20XX
Elementary School Name
Kensington Johnson
Example 3
Introducing the KinderGrad
Jacob Parker
20XX
Elementary School Name
Back of Graduation Card Wording
Where space and design allows, adding a note from the parents, the graduate’s wider interests (such as sports teams or academic clubs), or an inspirational quote is a nice personal touch. Here are some wording ideas for the back of your graduation announcements.
Add a Personal Message
After years of hard work and dedication, we are delighted to share that Elizabeth is finally a nurse! Please join us in congratulating her on this momentous occasion.
With love, The Andersons
Show the Interests of the Graduate
Touchdown! Ethan is moving on to brighter lights and bigger stadiums. Please join us in celebrating this wonderful achievement.
Spread a Motivational Quote
“What we learn with pleasure we never forget” —Alfred Mercier
“The beautiful thing about learning is that no one can take it away from you” —B.B. King
Graduation Announcement Etiquette
Between invitations, Save the Dates, announcements, and name cards, the customs around graduation can seem elaborate, but don’t worry; if you can pass all those exams, you can navigate graduation announcement etiquette!
Firstly, a graduation Save the Date is optional, but should ideally be sent several weeks ahead of the gathering. If you’ve sent Save the Dates, consider avoiding repetition by sending a combined announcement invitation card closer to the event. As most graduates won’t be having large gatherings this year, graduation announcements are a nice stand-alone option to send to friends and family (and teachers) who won’t get to see the graduate on their big day. Smaller additions like mini graduation invitations, name cards, and business cards are great for networking purposes and sharing extra information (like party or Zoom call details) with specific people. Finally, it’s a good idea to be prepared with graduation thank you cards for anyone who sends you a gift.
You can pick and choose which combination of these cards best suits your plans, so don’t be overwhelmed by the options, or feel pressured to send everyone multiple cards. With that in mind, deciding what you’ll need in advance and ordering all your cards together will save you time, keep you organized, and make it easier to design everything cohesively.
Why Send Graduation Announcements?
Finishing high school or college (or even kindergarten!) is a significant achievement, and graduation announcements are an opportunity for loved ones, near and far, to share that big moment.
For college graduates, taking the time to organize photographs and design announcement cards signals the step you’re taking towards the professional world: it’s an exercise in networking and personal branding, which will be important as a graduate. Strong wording and aesthetic will communicate to anyone who sees your announcements that you’re qualified and ready to use your skills. You never know which family friend has a surprising connection to your dream job!
Timing and Recipients of Graduation Announcements
As we mentioned, graduation announcements are a great catch-all for anyone who won’t see you on the big day. This can include extended family, teachers, sports coaches, and family friends. To make sure you don’t miss anyone, check your family’s usual holiday card list! Finally, make sure to keep an announcement aside for yourself and your immediate family: it will make a perfect keepsake to admire in years to come.
You can be flexible with the timing of your graduation announcements (if it’s not doubling as an invitation), but try to send them close to the date of your graduation to make your recipients feel included. Two or three weeks before or up to six weeks after the event itself is a good window.
Unique Graduation Announcement Ideas
While we love celebrating with tried-and-true traditions here at Zazzle, we don’t shy away from a modern twist! There are lots of ways to pi-zazzle your graduation announcements, from incorporating your school colors to putting your face on some graduation gifts. To remind your future self what an accomplished problem solver you’ve become, you can design your own graduation puzzle. Musical graduates can add a personal note to their celebrations with a music major graduation announcement. And in Zazzle’s officially licensed university stores, you can find all kinds of official college gear with your school colors, like this UC Berkeley graduation announcement, or this Arizona State jigsaw puzzle.
Shop for personalized banners & yard signs to congratulate your graduate!
Con-grad-ulations from Zazzle!
To make sure you’re all set to celebrate, check out our Graduation Cap Ideas & Decorations Tips and extra guidance on How to Plan a Graduation Party, our extensive collection of graduation cards, and a specific grad hub for college graduations! We at Zazzle wish you the best of luck on graduation day and in all your future endeavors!
Editor’s Note: This post was originally published in April 2021 and has been updated for accuracy and comprehensiveness.
Nicole is our Content Strategist. She enjoys long walks to Taco Bell, rollerblading into the sunset, and eating Reese’s Cups for breakfast, lunch, and dinner. Find her writing about iPhone cases, holiday card messaging and even music festival tips!
