graduation announcement wording

  • ANATOMY OF AN ANNOUNCEMENT
  • SAMPLE GRADUATION ANNOUNCEMENTS
  • ETIQUETTE

By Minted | Last Updated: March 18, 2021

Exams were aced, essays were written, credits were earned—now there’s just one more thing: how to word your graduation announcements. So what should a graduation announcement say? No matter which unique design you choose, you’ll need to know what information to include on them and graduation announcement wording is simple with our trusty guide.

SHOP GRADUATION ANNOUNCEMENTS

Written Out

Written Out by Owl and Toad

ANATOMY OF AN ANNOUNCEMENT

Anderson by Amy Kross

SHOP GRADUATION ANNOUNCEMENTS

YOUR GRAD’S NAME

Display your grad’s name somewhere prominent—it’s their time to shine! Use first, middle, and last name for a formal announcement, or go with a nickname for an informal design.

YOUR GRAD’S PHOTO

For a personal touch, include your graduate’s senior portrait or a shot of them in their cap and gown. We have a roundup of some great grad poses and ideas.

PARENTS’ NAMES

Though not always necessary, including the parents’ names is a way to show their pride. If married, you can display as Mr. and Mrs. [last name], otherwise separate full names always does the trick.

SCHOOL NAME

Include the full name of the school that your grad is graduating from. For the high school graduate, it’s also a good idea to include the name of the university they’re attending next.

MAJOR

For the college graduate, highlight their area of study and the degree they’ve earned.

GRADUATION YEAR

Numerals work well for most styles, but you may wish to spell it out for a formal design.

BACK OF CARD

Opt for a design that features a backer, where there’s space to include your grad’s accomplishments. Here you can mention their passions, sports teams, or special honors. It’s also a great place to include a personal thank you to all those who helped your grad along the way.

ADD AN INSERT CARD (if you want to share more info)

Include a 5.5” x 4.25” insert card along with your announcement to invite guests to your grad’s party. You can use this space to provide guests with the details and any social-distancing guidelines for the event or log-in details for a virtual party.


SAMPLE GRADUATION ANNOUNCEMENTS

Once the anatomy of the card has been established, the rest of the wording for graduation announcements comes from the heart. To help you convey your excitement for the celebration, we’ve put together some sample graduation announcement wording based on age range and degree level so you can easily draft and compose your announcements this year.



CLASSIC HIGH SCHOOL GRADUATION ANNOUNCEMENT WORDING

  1. Mr. and Mrs. Banks are
    Proud to Announce the Graduation of
    James Ellis Aster
    Montrose High School
    Class of 2021
  2. Announcing our resilient graduate
    Stephen Michael Howell
    From Washington High School
    Class of 2021
    Attending Northwestern in the Fall
  3. Benjamin Grover
    Class of 2021
    North Ridge High School
Vibrant Grad

Vibrant Grad designed by Pixel and Hank

FORMAL COLLEGE GRADUATION ANNOUNCEMENT WORDING

  1. Announcing the Graduation of
    Phoebe Eleanor Banks
    The University of Texas at Austin
    McCombs School of Business
    Bachelor of Business Administration in Marketing
    Class of 2021
  2. Announcing the Graduation of
    Zach Alexander
    BSC in Chemical-Biological Engineering
    Massachusetts Institute of Technology
    Graduate Class of 2021
  3. Graduate
    Tony Bradley Nelson
    University of Washington
    Class of 2021
Monochrome Frame

Monochrome Frame designed by Kamala Nahas

MASTERS DEGREE GRADUATION ANNOUNCEMENT WORDING

When announcing your graduation from a Master’s program, you may want to feature some additional messaging or context on your announcement (as seen in our sample) as friends and extended family members may not have known you were attending night classes or continuing on for higher education.

  1. Class of 2021
    Graduate
    Joshua Bryce Mendoza
    Ohio University
    Master of Science in Engineering Management
  2. Madeline Gray
    University of Michigan 2021 graduate
    Masters of Business Administration
Heartfelt Thanks

Heartfelt Thanks designed by Amy Payne

LAW SCHOOL OR Ph.D. GRADUATION ANNOUNCEMENT WORDING

Again, when you dedicate 2 - 6 additional years of post-college education, it is worthwhile to include some additional information regarding your next steps when composing the wording for graduation announcements. Include details like a law firm you may be practicing at, a residency program you will be starting, or a research assignment you are starting. Our vellum overlay designs are perfect for featuring this additional messaging in a stylish and professional way.

  1. 2021 Graduate
    Join Us In Congratulating
    Daniel McCann
    Degree of Law, Harvard Law School
Little Note

Little Note designed by Minted

NURSING GRADUATION ANNOUNCEMENT WORDING

  1. Mastered It!
    Lindsay Keller
    Master of Science in Nursing
    Michigan State University
  2. Margot Thomas
    B.S. Nursing
    Emory University
    Class of 2021
Earned It

Earned It designed by Ekko Studio

BACK OF CARD WORDING

Use the real estate on the back of your announcement to include a more detailed message from the graduate or proud parents. Minted offers over a dozen unique design templates to choose from that can feature a scholastic timeline, message with school logo, or composed letter.

  1. After four years of hard work, Friday night football games, dances, and amazing friendships, we are thrilled to announce the graduation of our daughter Riley Elizabeth from Patrick Henry High School.

    With love, The Clark family
  2. Please join us in congratulating Vanessa on a job well done. Her tenacity and grace inspire us every day. She will be graduating from UT Austin this Spring with a Master’s Degree in Philosophy and will be moving to New York City.

    Our best, The Smith family
  3. What a wild ride! Jenn is finally a doctor. This proud mom is happy to announce that Jenn’s sleepless nights and endless rotations have resulted in such an amazing accomplishment.

    Love, Lemmie
Graduation Back of Card

GRADUATION ANNOUNCEMENT ETIQUETTE

WHEN TO SEND

Unlike a graduation invitation that includes an event date, the graduation announcement can be sent within a wide time frame. We suggest about two weeks before graduation (when you’re sure all the requirements have been met!) to six weeks afterward, in case you prefer to include a photo of your grad in full regalia.

WHOM TO SEND THEM TO

Given 2021 has been a strange year, you may want to send the graduation announcement to a larger audience than you would have in years past, as there has been less face-to-face socializing. Family members, both immediate and extended, will of course be thrilled to receive a graduation announcement. While it’s not necessary to send to friends in the same year of your grad, it’s a good idea to send to childhood friends who have stayed in touch. And don’t forget anyone who may have helped your grad along the way, from piano teachers or soccer coaches, to favorite teachers from elementary school.

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