Of the 1,500 colleges and universities originally researched by the brand agency, ten common words stuck out from their mottos.

– Excel/Excellence	– Learn/Learning
– Experience	– Light
– Freedom	– Truth
– Future	– Wisdom/Wise
– Know/Knowledge	– World

The best college mottos (top third)

"Think one person can change the world? So do we."
- Oberlin College (Ohio)
"A voice crying out in the wilderness."
- Dartmouth College (N.H.)
  - - What the experts say: Drawn from The Book of Isaiah, the slogan has taken a more secular tone that implies the search for oneself. It also provides a sense of place considering the Ivy League school is located in rural New Hampshire.
"Be ashamed to die until you have won some victory for humanity."
- Antioch College (Ohio)
  - - What the experts say: The motto embodies the school's spirit; Antioch has been associated with many social causes throughout its history. For example, it was the first college to become co-ed and offer the same educational opportunities to women and the first to appoint a woman to its board of trustees.
"Splendor without end."
- Boise State University (Idaho)
  - - What the experts say: It appears on the university seal in Latin (Splendor sine occasu) featuring Boise's natural environment.
"Be opened."
- Gallaudet University (D.C.)
  - - What the experts say: Adapted from the Gospel of Mark in which Jesus Christ is quoted to say, "Be Thou opened," when healing a deaf man, the motto has been adapted for Gallaudet, which is the first school for advanced education of the deaf and hard of hearing.
"North of ordinary."
- University of Maine at Presque Isle (Maine)
"We're not for everyone… but then, maybe you're not everyone."
- Warren Wilson College (N.C.)
"Duty, Honor, Country."
- United States Military Academy (N.Y.)
"The character of success."
- Bryant University (R.I.)
"The wind of freedom blows."
- Stanford University (Calif.)
"To know is not enough."
- Hampshire College (Mass.)
"Let it all hang out."
- The Evergreen State College (Wash.)
"Thinking at the edge."
- University of California at Santa Cruz (Calif.)
"As an eagle towards the sky."
- Bowdoin College (Maine)
"That our daughters may be as corner stones, polished after the similitude of a palace."
- Mount Holyoke College (Mass.)
"Naturally inspiring."
- University of Alaska Fairbanks (Ark.)
"Minds move mountains."
- University of Oregon
"Creative thought matters."
- Skidmore College (N.Y.)
"Investing in lifetimes."
- Radford University (Va.)
"To the stars through difficulties."
- Campbell University (N.C.)
"No one like you. No place like this."
- University of North Florida
"Truth, even unto its innermost parts."
- Brandeis University (Mass.)
"Wisdom has built herself a home."
- Rockhurst University (Mo.)
"Knowledge to go places."
- Colorado State University (Colo.)
"Rock solid education."
- Slippery Rock University of Pennsylvania
"Let us dare."
- Champlain College (Vt.)
"Great stories begin here."
- Adams State College (Colo.)
"From confidence, courage."
- Dillard University (La.)
"Start with a dream. Finish with a future."
- Central Connecticut State University (Conn.)
"Above all nations is humanity."
- University of Hawaii
"Why not change the world?"
- Rensselaer Polytechnic Institute (N.Y.)
"Learning lives forever."
- Southern Utah University (Utah)
"Greatness within our grasp."
- University of Vermont

Instant Insights /

This branding agency ranks the 33 best college mottos

Related Stories

Recommended For You