Graduation Songs: A Playlist You Can Filter by School Level and Moment
SongGiftly gives you a free graduation song playlist of 86 tracks you can filter by school level, from preschool and kindergarten to high school and college, and by moment: the walk-in, a class song, the slideshow, the senior video or the party. Every track shows its artist and year. Open any song as a Spotify, Apple Music or YouTube search, heart your picks, then copy, download or share the list.
- Free, no sign-up
- Preschool to college
- Artist and year on every song
- Share your list
Showing 86 of 86 songs
Walk-in
22 songsThe processional and the march to the seats.
Pomp and Circumstance March No. 1
Edward Elgar1901
Its slow middle section is the processional at most US high school and college ceremonies.
- Classical & Traditional
Academic Festival Overture
Johannes Brahms1880
Brahms wrote it to thank a university for an honorary degree. Grand, warm and made for a gown.
- Classical & Traditional
Triumphal March (Aida)
Giuseppe Verdi1871
The trumpet march from Verdi's 1871 opera, a graduation processional in Latin America and the Philippines.
- Classical & Traditional
Bitter Sweet Symphony
The Verve1997
Sweeping strings and a steady stride, and almost six minutes long, so a big class can file in.
Hall of Fame
The Script feat. will.i.am2012
A stadium-size anthem about going after big dreams. Students tend to know every word.
- Pop
- Rock
Unwritten
Natasha Bedingfield2004
A fresh-start anthem for a class with everything ahead.
Best Day of My Life
American Authors2013
Stomps, claps and a big chorus: an easy, happy entrance at any age.
- Rock
- Pop
Firework
Katy Perry2010
A confidence boost with a chorus made for cheering.
High Hopes
Panic! at the Disco2018
Brass, drums and big ambitions: a modern walk-in with energy to spare.
- Rock
- Pop
Try Everything
Shakira2016
From Zootopia: bright, brave and easy for small voices to sing along.
- Pop
- Film & Stage
Circle of Life
Elton John1994
Elton John's single of The Lion King anthem: a grand entrance for little graduates.
- Film & Stage
- Pop
Happy
Pharrell Williams2013
Pure joy. Little ones clap along without being asked.
Rise Up
Andra Day2015
A soulful, slow-burning anthem about getting up again. Powerful for a class that had a hard road.
- R&B & Soul
This Is Me
Keala Settle & The Greatest Showman Ensemble2017
From The Greatest Showman: a stand-tall anthem that choirs love to perform.
- Film & Stage
Change
Taylor Swift2008
An underdog anthem from Fearless, with a chorus that lifts the whole room.
- Country
- Pop
The Final Countdown
Europe1986
That synth riff, cranked up for a tongue-in-cheek entrance. Expect cheering.
On Top of the World
Imagine Dragons2012
Handclaps and a we-made-it chorus, sunny from the first bar.
Stronger (What Doesn't Kill You)
Kelly Clarkson2011
A fast, fierce pop anthem for a class that survived finals.
Class song
17 songsSongs a class can sing together on stage or at a moving-up day.
Try Everything
Shakira2016
From Zootopia: bright, brave and easy for small voices to sing along.
- Pop
- Film & Stage
This Is Me
Keala Settle & The Greatest Showman Ensemble2017
From The Greatest Showman: a stand-tall anthem that choirs love to perform.
- Film & Stage
Lean on Me
Bill Withers1972
Simple, warm and easy to learn: one of the best songs for a whole class to sing.
- R&B & Soul
Count on Me
Bruno Mars2010
A ukulele song about always being there for friends, easy for kids to learn.
You've Got a Friend in Me
Randy Newman1995
The Toy Story song: playful piano and a message every small class understands.
- Film & Stage
With a Little Help from My Friends
The Beatles1967
A thank-you to the friends who got you through, in a key most voices can manage.
Stand by Me
Ben E. King1961
That famous bass line and a promise of loyalty. A classroom sing-along that never gets old.
- R&B & Soul
We're All in This Together
High School Musical Cast2006
The High School Musical finale, made for a stage full of students.
- Film & Stage
The Climb
Miley Cyrus2009
A ballad about the journey mattering more than the finish line.
- Pop
- Country
For Good
Idina Menzel & Kristin Chenoweth2003
The duet from Wicked about friends who changed each other. Lovely for two soloists.
- Film & Stage
Seasons of Love
Original Broadway Cast of Rent1996
Measures a year in minutes, which makes it a natural look back at a school year.
- Film & Stage
Rainbow Connection
Kermit the Frog1979
The gentle banjo song from The Muppet Movie, sweet for a preschool moving-up day.
- Film & Stage
Let It Go
Idina Menzel2013
The Frozen anthem little singers already know by heart.
- Film & Stage
Permission to Dance
BTS2021
Cheerful and clean, with a chorus made for dancing together.
Auld Lang Syne
Traditional (Robert Burns)1788
A farewell sung at graduations in many countries. Burns wrote the words in 1788.
- Classical & Traditional
A Million Dreams
Ziv Zaifman, Hugh Jackman & Michelle Williams2017
A Greatest Showman ballad about imagining the life ahead. Starts soft, ends big.
- Film & Stage
What a Wonderful World
Louis Armstrong1967
Slow and kind, the perfect backdrop for baby photos next to cap-and-gown ones.
- Oldies & Jazz
Slideshow
29 songsPhoto montages for the ceremony, the party or the family.
Rise Up
Andra Day2015
A soulful, slow-burning anthem about getting up again. Powerful for a class that had a hard road.
- R&B & Soul
Count on Me
Bruno Mars2010
A ukulele song about always being there for friends, easy for kids to learn.
You've Got a Friend in Me
Randy Newman1995
The Toy Story song: playful piano and a message every small class understands.
- Film & Stage
The Climb
Miley Cyrus2009
A ballad about the journey mattering more than the finish line.
- Pop
- Country
For Good
Idina Menzel & Kristin Chenoweth2003
The duet from Wicked about friends who changed each other. Lovely for two soloists.
- Film & Stage
Seasons of Love
Original Broadway Cast of Rent1996
Measures a year in minutes, which makes it a natural look back at a school year.
- Film & Stage
Rainbow Connection
Kermit the Frog1979
The gentle banjo song from The Muppet Movie, sweet for a preschool moving-up day.
- Film & Stage
A Million Dreams
Ziv Zaifman, Hugh Jackman & Michelle Williams2017
A Greatest Showman ballad about imagining the life ahead. Starts soft, ends big.
- Film & Stage
What a Wonderful World
Louis Armstrong1967
Slow and kind, the perfect backdrop for baby photos next to cap-and-gown ones.
- Oldies & Jazz
Somewhere Over the Rainbow / What a Wonderful World
Israel Kamakawiwoʻole1993
A ukulele medley, gentle enough for a kindergarten slideshow.
- Folk & Acoustic
You'll Be in My Heart
Phil Collins1999
From Tarzan: a parent's promise that works beautifully under early photos.
- Film & Stage
- Pop
In My Life
The Beatles1965
Short, tender and about the people and places that shaped you.
I Hope You Dance
Lee Ann Womack2000
A parent's blessing for the road ahead, and a slideshow favorite.
- Country
Never Grow Up
Taylor Swift2010
A quiet acoustic song about wishing time would slow down. Parents, keep tissues near.
- Country
- Pop
You're Gonna Miss This
Trace Adkins2007
A country reminder to enjoy each stage, starting with the teenager in a hurry.
- Country
My Wish
Rascal Flatts2006
A list of good wishes for the graduate, from a family that will cheer them on.
- Country
100 Years
Five for Fighting2003
A piano ballad that moves through a whole life. Pairs well with year-by-year photos.
- Rock
- Pop
7 Years
Lukas Graham2015
A song that counts the years of growing up, built for a then-and-now montage.
Forever Young
Alphaville1984
The 1984 synth-pop classic, a longtime prom and graduation favorite.
I Will Remember You
Sarah McLachlan1995
Soft and bittersweet, for the slide with the friends who are moving away.
Graduation (Friends Forever)
Vitamin C1999
Written about friends drifting apart after high school. A late-1990s graduation favorite.
Memories
Maroon 52019
A mellow, sing-along toast to the people who were there.
How Far I'll Go
Auli'i Cravalho2016
From Moana: a song about the horizon, a sweet fit for children moving up.
- Film & Stage
Used to Be Young
Miley Cyrus2023
A reflective piano ballad for looking back at the wild years.
Humble and Kind
Tim McGraw2015
Plain-spoken life advice from a parent, ideal under family photos.
- Country
Home
Phillip Phillips2012
A stomping folk-pop promise to be there, wherever the road leads.
- Folk & Acoustic
- Pop
Good Riddance (Time of Your Life)
Green Day1997
An acoustic guitar and a shrug at the road ahead. A senior video favorite.
See You Again
Wiz Khalifa feat. Charlie Puth2015
Piano, a soaring hook and a long goodbye between friends.
- Hip-Hop
- Pop
Graduation Day
The Four Freshmen1956
A 1956 vocal-harmony hit named for the day itself. Lovely for the grandparents' slideshow.
- Oldies & Jazz
Senior video
19 songsThe end-of-year video: friends, hallways and the last day.
Bitter Sweet Symphony
The Verve1997
Sweeping strings and a steady stride, and almost six minutes long, so a big class can file in.
Unwritten
Natasha Bedingfield2004
A fresh-start anthem for a class with everything ahead.
Forever Young
Alphaville1984
The 1984 synth-pop classic, a longtime prom and graduation favorite.
Graduation (Friends Forever)
Vitamin C1999
Written about friends drifting apart after high school. A late-1990s graduation favorite.
Home
Phillip Phillips2012
A stomping folk-pop promise to be there, wherever the road leads.
- Folk & Acoustic
- Pop
Good Riddance (Time of Your Life)
Green Day1997
An acoustic guitar and a shrug at the road ahead. A senior video favorite.
See You Again
Wiz Khalifa feat. Charlie Puth2015
Piano, a soaring hook and a long goodbye between friends.
- Hip-Hop
- Pop
Don't You (Forget About Me)
Simple Minds1985
The Breakfast Club anthem, made for the last day of school.
The Nights
Avicii2014
Folk-flavored EDM about living a life worth remembering. Great over road-trip clips.
- Dance & EDM
Long Live
Taylor Swift2010
A big, ringing thank-you to the friends who shared the best years.
- Pop
- Rock
Breakaway
Kelly Clarkson2004
About leaving a small town to chase something bigger. For the graduate heading far away.
Wake Me Up
Avicii2013
Acoustic verse, big drop: the after-ceremony energy in one track.
- Dance & EDM
Good LifeE
OneRepublic2009
Whistles, handclaps and gratitude for the road so far. Use the clean edit for school events.
(I've Had) The Time of My Life
Bill Medley & Jennifer Warnes1987
The Dirty Dancing finale, for the clip where the whole class dances.
- Film & Stage
- Pop
I'll Be There for You
The Rembrandts1995
The Friends theme: a wink and a clap for the group chat.
Graduate
Third Eye Blind1997
A restless, fast alt-rock song with the right title for the occasion.
We Are Young
fun. feat. Janelle Monáe2011
A slow-motion, arms-around-each-other chorus for the last night out.
- Pop
- Rock
Closing Time
Semisonic1998
The last-call anthem, a natural final track for the night.
GraduationE
benny blanco & Juice WRLD2019
A nostalgic, guitar-led track named for the day itself.
- Hip-Hop
- Pop
Party
28 songsGrad parties, the after-party and the drive home.
Best Day of My Life
American Authors2013
Stomps, claps and a big chorus: an easy, happy entrance at any age.
- Rock
- Pop
Happy
Pharrell Williams2013
Pure joy. Little ones clap along without being asked.
On Top of the World
Imagine Dragons2012
Handclaps and a we-made-it chorus, sunny from the first bar.
Stronger (What Doesn't Kill You)
Kelly Clarkson2011
A fast, fierce pop anthem for a class that survived finals.
We're All in This Together
High School Musical Cast2006
The High School Musical finale, made for a stage full of students.
- Film & Stage
Permission to Dance
BTS2021
Cheerful and clean, with a chorus made for dancing together.
Wake Me Up
Avicii2013
Acoustic verse, big drop: the after-ceremony energy in one track.
- Dance & EDM
(I've Had) The Time of My Life
Bill Medley & Jennifer Warnes1987
The Dirty Dancing finale, for the clip where the whole class dances.
- Film & Stage
- Pop
We Are Young
fun. feat. Janelle Monáe2011
A slow-motion, arms-around-each-other chorus for the last night out.
- Pop
- Rock
Closing Time
Semisonic1998
The last-call anthem, a natural final track for the night.
Celebration
Kool & the Gang1980
The one everybody dances to, from the graduate to the grandparents.
- R&B & Soul
I Gotta Feeling
The Black Eyed Peas2009
The party starter of 2009, and clean on the original release.
- Pop
- Dance & EDM
Uptown Funk
Mark Ronson feat. Bruno Mars2014
Horns and swagger that fill a backyard dance floor at any age.
- Pop
- R&B & Soul
Party in the U.S.A.
Miley Cyrus2009
A sing-at-the-top-of-your-lungs classic for the grad party.
Shut Up and Dance
Walk the Moon2014
Instant dance floor, even for friends who swear they do not dance.
- Rock
- Pop
Dynamite
BTS2020
Disco-pop sunshine, sung in English and clean for every age.
Good Time
Owl City & Carly Rae Jepsen2012
Bouncy, carefree summer pop for a fifth- or eighth-grade party.
Sunday Best
Surfaces2019
Laid-back, feel-good and short. Easy background music while the cake is cut.
School's Out
Alice Cooper1972
A loud, gleeful last-day-of-school anthem. Good for a laugh.
Don't Stop Believin'
Journey1981
The sing-along that unites the graduates and their parents.
We Are the Champions
Queen1977
Half victory lap, half joke. Play it as the diplomas come home.
CongratulationsE
Post Malone feat. Quavo2016
A we-made-it hip-hop anthem for the college party. Adults only in its original form.
- Hip-Hop
GraduationE
benny blanco & Juice WRLD2019
A nostalgic, guitar-led track named for the day itself.
- Hip-Hop
- Pop
Good LifeE
Kanye West feat. T-Pain2007
From the album Graduation, a celebratory banger for the college crowd.
- Hip-Hop
Started from the BottomE
Drake2013
The came-a-long-way anthem for the first-generation graduate. Explicit original.
- Hip-Hop
Life Is a Highway
Tom Cochrane1991
The original road-trip anthem, later covered by Rascal Flatts for Cars.
Can't Stop the Feeling!
Justin Timberlake2016
From Trolls: the family-party song that gets every kid moving.
Hey Look Ma, I Made It
Panic! at the Disco2018
A cheeky, horn-driven victory lap with the right title for the photo with Mom.
- Rock
- Pop
Find the Right Graduation Song for Every Moment
A preschool moving-up day and a college commencement need very different music, and so do the walk-in and the party that night. Instead of scrolling one long list, tap a school level and a moment, and the graduation song list narrows to what fits: a gentle sing-along for five-year-olds, a big anthem for the senior class, a slow song for the family slideshow.
- Five moment tabs: walk-in, class song, slideshow, senior video and party
- Filters by school level, vibe, theme, genre and decade
- Artist and release year on every song, plus an E badge on explicit originals
- Build your own list, reorder it, then copy, download or share it
Why Use This Graduation Song Playlist
Built for the parent, teacher or student who has to press play.
Picked for graduations
Every track is a real graduation march, a class sing-along or a proven slideshow and party favorite, not a random chart.
Sorted by school level
Preschool and kindergarten, elementary, middle school, high school and college each get songs that suit their age and their ceremony.
Grouped by moment
Walk-in, class song, slideshow, senior video and party tabs show how many songs each moment has, so you plan the day in order.
Clean for school events
Five songs with explicit originals carry an E badge, and the Hide explicit switch removes them before a school or family event.
Listen where you like
Links open a search on Spotify, Apple Music or YouTube. No embedded player, no account, nothing to install.
Share it with the class
Heart the songs you like, drag them into order and send one link to the teacher, the DJ or whoever makes the video.
How to Build a Graduation Playlist in Three Steps
From a blank page to a ceremony-ready list.
- 1
Pick the level and the moment
Choose the school level, then a tab: walk-in, class song, slideshow, senior video or party. Add a vibe such as Tearjerker or Upbeat to narrow it further.
- 2
Listen and heart your picks
Tap a listen link to check each track in your own app, then tap the heart on the ones you want. Your picks stay saved on this device.
- 3
Order it and send it
Drag the songs into running order, then copy the list, download a text file or share a link with whoever runs the music or edits the video.
What the Graduation Songs Playlist Can Do
A few tools that save a lot of scrolling before the big day.
Filters for every kind of graduation
Rows for school level, vibe, theme, genre and era. Options in the same row widen the list, and a second row narrows it: High school plus From parents plus the Slideshow tab leaves six songs for the family video.
Try the filtersA tab for each moment of the day
The walk-in tab has the graduation march and modern processionals, class song has sing-alongs a group can learn, and the slideshow, senior video and party tabs cover the rest, each with a live count.
See the momentsBuild, copy and share your list
Collect up to 100 picks, name the playlist and drag the songs into order. Copy it as a numbered list, download a text file or share a link that opens the same playlist on any phone.
Start my listA song that is only about the graduate
Inside the list, a card starts an original song about them: their name, the late nights, the friends and teachers who helped. Send the MP3 or play it at the party.
See the playlistExample: Graduation Slideshow Songs Timed to the Photos
Songs for a graduation slideshow: four tracks, about 14 minutes, about 170 photos at 5 seconds each.
A rule of thumb for a graduation slideshow song: divide its length in seconds by five to see how many photos it can carry. For a high school senior with about 170 photos: 1. "Forever Young", Alphaville (1984), 3:46, for baby and kindergarten pictures. 2. "7 Years", Lukas Graham (2015), 3:57, for elementary and middle school. 3. "Good Riddance (Time of Your Life)", Green Day (1997), 2:34, for the high school years. 4. "See You Again", Wiz Khalifa featuring Charlie Puth (2015), 3:50, for friends and the last day. That adds up to 14 minutes and 7 seconds. Lengths are the album versions, so check the version you play, and fade the last song out on the final photo.
Graduation Songs for the Walk-In, Class Song, Slideshow and Senior Video
Each moment asks for something different. These are the starting points in each tab.
The walk-in
The classic graduation march is Elgar's "Pomp and Circumstance March No. 1" (1901). For something newer, "Bitter Sweet Symphony" by The Verve (1997) runs almost six minutes, long enough for a big class.
The class song
Songs a whole class can learn: "Lean on Me" by Bill Withers (1972), "Count on Me" by Bruno Mars (2010) and "For Good" from Wicked (2003) for two soloists.
The slideshow
Gentle songs that leave room for the photos: "I Hope You Dance" by Lee Ann Womack (2000), "In My Life" by The Beatles (1965) and "100 Years" by Five for Fighting (2003).
The senior video
Big choruses for friends and the last day: "Good Riddance (Time of Your Life)" by Green Day (1997), "Don't You (Forget About Me)" by Simple Minds (1985) and "The Nights" by Avicii (2014).
Graduation Song Planner by Moment
What each part of the day needs, with a classic and a modern pick from the list.
| Graduation Song Planner by Moment | Walk-in | Slideshow | Senior video | Party |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| What it needs | A steady pace, long enough for everyone | Gentle songs that let the photos speak | Big choruses for friends | Songs every age can dance to |
| Classic pick | Pomp and Circumstance March No. 1 | I Hope You Dance | Good Riddance (Time of Your Life) | Celebration |
| Modern pick | High Hopes | 7 Years | See You Again | Uptown Funk |
| For little kids | Circle of Life | You'll Be in My Heart | Can't Stop the Feeling! | |
| Explicit originals | None | None | Two, marked E | Four, marked E |
Graduation Songs by School Level, Preschool to College
A taste of each level filter. Every song is a real release, with the artist and year checked.
Preschool
A preschool graduation song should be short and singable: "You've Got a Friend in Me" by Randy Newman (1995), "Rainbow Connection" by Kermit the Frog (1979) and "Try Everything" by Shakira (2016).
Kindergarten
A kindergarten graduation song can be a march or a dance: "Circle of Life" by Elton John (1994) for the walk-in, "Count on Me" by Bruno Mars (2010) to sing, and "Can't Stop the Feeling!" by Justin Timberlake (2016) after.
Elementary and 5th grade
For moving up to middle school: "Roar" by Katy Perry (2013), "We're All in This Together" from High School Musical (2006) and "A Million Dreams" from The Greatest Showman (2017).
Middle school and 8th grade
A middle school graduation song with energy: "Hall of Fame" by The Script featuring will.i.am (2012), "Fight Song" by Rachel Platten (2015) and "The Climb" by Miley Cyrus (2009).
High school
The high school graduation song shelf: "Graduation (Friends Forever)" by Vitamin C (1999), "Unwritten" by Natasha Bedingfield (2004) and "Forever Young" by Alphaville (1984).
College
A college graduation song can be grand or loud: Brahms' "Academic Festival Overture" (1880), "We Are Young" by fun. featuring Janelle Monáe (2011) and "Hey Look Ma, I Made It" by Panic! at the Disco (2018).
Make the Graduate a Song of Their Own
Every graduation song on this list was written for someone else. An original song can be written about them: their name, the stories only you know and the style they love, from $19.99. See our song for my son and song for my daughter pages for more ideas.
Pick from the playlist firstGraduation Song FAQ
Walk-in music, picks for each school level and how the playlist works.
What is the most popular graduation song?
What song do they play when graduates walk in?
What are good kindergarten graduation songs?
What is a good preschool graduation song?
What are good high school graduation songs?
What is a good graduation slideshow song, and how many do I need?
What is a good senior video song?
What are good college graduation songs?
What are good 5th grade and 8th grade graduation songs?
What are clean graduation party songs?
What is the "Graduation (Friends Forever)" song?
When is graduation season?
What songs can parents use for a graduation slideshow?
Can I listen to the songs here?
Can I save and share my graduation playlist?
Can I get a graduation song written about my graduate?
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