| University | Motto |
|---|
| Abraham Lincoln University | Care, Connect, Conquer |
| Appalachian State University | To be, rather than to seem |
| University of Alaska Fairbanks | To the top |
| Albright College | Truth and Justice |
| Alfred University | Let there be light |
| American University | For God and Country |
| Amherst College | Let them give light to the world |
| Anderson University (South Carolina) | To nourish humanity through the cross |
| Andrews University | Body, Mind, Spirit |
| Angelo State University | Let there be light |
| University of Arkansas | To Advance with Truth as our Guide |
| Auburn University | For The Advancement of Science and Arts |
| Azusa Pacific University | God First |
| Barnard College | Following the Way of Reason |
| Barton College | They shall have the light of life |
| Baylor University | For Church, For Texas |
| Belmont Abbey College | That in all things God may be glorified. |
| Benedict College | Truth and Virtue |
| Berea College | God has made of one blood all peoples of the earth. |
| Berklee College of Music | To be, rather than to seem |
| Bob Jones University | We seek, we trust |
| Boston College | Ever to Excel |
| Boston University | Learning, Virtue, Piety |
| Bowdoin College | As an eagle towards the sky |
| Brandeis University | Truth, even unto its innermost parts |
| University of Bridgeport | Educating for the Real World |
| Brigham Young University | Enter to learn; go forth to serve |
| Brown University | In God we hope |
| University at Buffalo | Sound mind in a sound body |
| University of California | Let there be light |
| Calvin College | My heart I offer to you, Lord, promptly and sincerely |
| California Institute of Technology | The truth shall make you free |
| California State University, Chico | Today decides tomorrow |
| Caldwell College | Wisdom and Knowledge |
| Campbell University | To the stars through difficulties |
| Campbellsville University | Find Your Calling |
| Canisius College | Where leaders are made |
| Cardinal Stritch University | To value the better things |
| Carnegie Mellon University | My heart is in the work |
| Catawba College | Scholarship, Character, Culture, Service |
| The Catholic University of America | God Is My Light |
| University of Central Florida | Reach for the Stars |
| Central Michigan University | Wisdom, Virtue, and Friendship |
| College of Charleston | Knowledge itself is liberty |
| University of Chicago | Let knowledge grow from more to more; and so be human life enriched |
| Chowan University | Light and Truth |
| Christian Brothers University | Character and Knowledge |
| University of Cincinnati | Strength in Unity; She Seeks the Heights |
| Claremont McKenna College | Civilization prospers with commerce |
| Clarkson University | A worker who has no need to be ashamed |
| Clemson University | Who shall separate us now? |
| Colby College | Knowledge is the Light of the Mind |
| Colgate University | For God and for Truth |
| College of Mount Saint Vincent | Teach me goodness and discipline and knowledge. |
| College of Wooster | Knowledge and religion from one source. |
| University of Colorado | Let your light shine |
| Colorado Christian University | Grace and truth |
| Colorado College | Knowledge and Training |
| Columbia University | In Thy light shall we see light |
| Cornell University | I would found an institution where any person can find instruction in any study – Ezra Cornell, 1865 |
| Crichton College | Think. Grow. Change. |
| University of Dallas | Love ye Truth and Justice |
| Dartmouth College | The voice of one crying in the wilderness |
| Davidson College | Let Learning Be Cherished Where Liberty Has Arisen |
| University of Denver | For Knowledge and Religion |
| DePaul University | I will show you the way of wisdom. |
| Dickinson College | Freedom is made safe through character and learning |
| Dominican University (Illinois) | Love and Truth |
| Drew University | Freely you have received, Freely give (Matthew 10:8) |
| Drexel University | Science, Industry, Art |
| Duke University | Erudition and Religion |
| Duquesne University | It is the spirit that gives life |
| East Carolina University | To Serve |
| Eastern Kentucky University | Get wisdom, get understanding |
| Eastern Nazarene College | The Way, the Truth, and the Life |
| Emory University | The wise heart will possess knowledge |
| The Evergreen State College | Let It All Hang Out |
| Florida A&M University | Excellence with caring |
| The Florida State University | Strength, Skill, Character |
| University of Florida | The welfare of the state depends upon the morals of its citizens |
| Fontbonne University | Virtue and Knowledge |
| Fordham University | Wisdom and Learning |
| Furman University | For Christ and Learning |
| Gallaudet University | Be opened |
| Gardner-Webb University | For God and Humanity |
| George Mason University | Freedom and Learning |
| George Washington University | In God Our Trust |
| Georgetown University | Both into One |
| University of Georgia | To teach, to serve, and to inquire into the nature of things |
| Georgia Institute of Technology | Progress and Service(formerly "To Know, To Do, To Be") |
| University of Great Falls | In Your Light we see the light |
| Greensboro College | No reward without effort |
| Greenville Technical College | keys to the future |
| Grinnell College | Truth and Humanity |
| Guilford College | I strive for wisdom and virtue |
| Hamilton College | Know Thyself |
| Hampshire College | To Know Is Not Enough |
| Harvard University | Truth |
| University of Hawai’i System | Above all nations is humanity |
| Hendrix College | Unto the whole person |
| High Point University | Nothing Without Divine Guidance |
| Hillsdale College | Strength Rejoices in the Challenge |
| Hobart College | Learn |
| University of Houston | In time |
| Howard University | Truth and Service |
| Huntington University | The Truth Will Make You Free |
| University of Illinois | Learning and Labor |
| Illinois State University | Gladly we Learn and Teach |
| Indiana University | Light and Truth |
| University of Indianapolis | Education for Service |
| International Academy of Science | Knowledge is Power |
| Iona College | Fight the good fight |
| Iowa State University | Science with Practice |
| James Madison University | Knowledge is Liberty |
| John Jay College of Criminal Justice | Educating of Justice |
| Johns Hopkins University | The truth shall make you free |
| Johnson C. Smith University | Let There Be Light |
| Johnson State College | By teaching, we learn |
| Juniata College | Think About Who You Are |
| Kalamazoo College | Be light |
| Kansas State University | Rule by Obeying Nature's Laws |
| University of Kansas | I will see this great sight, how the bush does not burn |
| University of Kentucky | Dream, Challenge, Succeed |
| Lehigh University | Man, the servant and interpreter of nature |
| Liberty University | Knowledge Aflame |
| Lindenwood University | Character and Learning |
| Lees-McRae College | In the mountains, of the mountains, for the mountains |
| Lenoir-Rhyne University | The truth shall set you free |
| Lesley University | I had perished had I not persisted |
| Loras College | For God and Country |
| Loyola Marymount University | For the greater glory of God. — Direct us by thy light. |
| Loyola University Chicago | For the greater glory of God |
| University of Louisiana at Lafayette | Boldly, Happily, Faithfully |
| University of Louisiana at Monroe | Seek the Truth |
| Louisiana Tech University | Union, Confidence, Justice |
| Macalester College | Nature and Revelation are twin sisters of heaven |
| Manhattan College | Sign of Faith |
| Marietta College | Light and Truth |
| University of Mary | The Light of Life |
| Marylhurst University | The wise of heart seek knowledge |
| Massachusetts Institute of Technology | Mind and Hand |
| University of Massachusetts | By the sword we seek peace, but peace only under liberty |
| University of Memphis | Driven by doing. |
| Messiah College | Christ Preeminent |
| Methodist University | Truth and Virtue |
| Miami University | To Accomplish Rather Than To Be Conspicuous |
| University of Miami | Great is the Truth |
| University of Michigan | Art, Science, Truth |
| Middlebury College | Knowledge and Virtue |
| University of Minnesota | A Common Bond for All the Arts |
| Mississippi College | Truth and Virtue |
| University of Missouri | The Welfare of the People |
| Montana State University Billings | Access and Excellence |
| Montclair State University | Seize The day |
| Montreat College | To Be, Rather Than To Seem |
| Mount Olive College | A Christian College for Men and Women |
| Morehead State University | Light |
| Morehouse College | And There Was Light |
| University of Nevada Las Vegas | Everything, all things for country |
| University of New Mexico | Light of the life of Mankind |
| New York University | To Persevere and to Excel |
| State University of New York | To learn, to search, to serve |
| Niagara University | That All May Know You |
| University of North Carolina at Asheville | I Lift My Eyes to the Mountains |
| University of North Carolina at Chapel Hill | Light, Liberty |
| University of North Carolina at Greensboro | Service |
| University of North Carolina at Wilmington | Dare to Learn |
| University of North Dakota | Light and law |
| North Dakota State University | For the Land and its People |
| University of Northern Colorado | Wisdom is eternal |
| Northeastern University | Light, Truth, Courage |
| Northwestern University | Whatsoever things are true |
| Norwich University | I Will Try |
| University of Notre Dame | Mary, our Life, Sweetness, and Hope |
| Ohio University | Religion, Learning, Civility; Above All, Virtue |
| Ohio State University | Education for Citizenship |
| Old Dominion University | A Portal to New Worlds |
| University of oregon | Minds Move Mountains |
| Peace College | To be, rather than to seem |
| University of Pennsylvania | Laws without morals are useless |
| Pennsylvania State University | Making life better |
| Pepperdine University | Freely you have received, Freely give (Matthew 10:8) |
| University of Pittsburgh | Truth and Virtue |
| Point Park University | For Knowledge, For Community, For Career |
| Princeton University | Under God's power she flourishes |
| Principia College | As the sowing, the reaping |
| Providence College | Truth |
| Purdue University | "Education, Research, Service" |
| Queens University of Charlotte | Not to be served but to serve |
| Queens College | We learn in order to serve |
| Rensselaer Polytechnic Institute | Knowledge and Thoroughness |
| University of Rhode Island | Think big. We do. |
| Rice University | Letters, Science, Art |
| University of Richmond | The Word of Life and the Light of Knowledge |
| Roanoke Bible College | Set for the Defense of the Gospel |
| University of Rochester | Ever better |
| Rollins College | Let there be light |
| Rose-Hulman Institute of Technology | Labor and knowledge |
| Rutgers University | Sun of righteousness, shine upon the West, also |
| Salem College | Reach Within, Shape the Future |
| University of San Francisco | For City and University |
| San Francisco State University | Experience Teaches |
| Seton Hall University | Despite hazard, forward |
| Sistema Universitario Ana G. Méndez | Light of Enlightenment |
| Skidmore College | Under the shield of divine love |
| Smith College | In virtue, knowledge |
| The University of the South | Behold, how good and joyful a thing it is, for brethren to dwell together in unity! |
| University of South Carolina | Learning humanizes character and does not permit it to be cruel |
| University of Southern California | Let him who deserves it bear away the palm |
| Southern Illinois University Carbondale | God Willing |
| Southern Methodist University | The truth will make you free. |
| Southwestern University | Not who but what |
| St. Augustine's College (Raleigh) | The truth will set you free |
| St. Bonaventure University | In Holiness and Learning |
| St. John's University (New York City) | A Christian Education Perfects the Soul |
| St. John Fisher College | Teach me goodness, discipline, and knowledge. |
| Stanford University | The wind of freedom blows |
| Stetson University | For God and Truth. |
| Stevens Institute of Technology | Through adversity to the stars |
| Stonehill College | Light and Hope |
| Sweet Briar College | She who earns the rose may bear it |
| Syracuse University | Knowledge crowns those who seek her |
| Temple University | Perseverance Conquers |
| University of Tennessee | You will know the truth and the truth shall set you free |
| University of Texas (all schools) | Education, the Guardian of Society |
| Texas Southern University | Excellence in Achievement |
| Texas Woman's University | Knowledge Brings Light to Life |
| Texas Tech University | From here, it's possible |
| Touro University | To Serve, To Lead, To Teach |
| Tufts University | Peace and light |
| Tulane University | Not for one's self, but for one's own |
| University of Tulsa | Wisdom, Faith, Service |
| Union College | We all become brothers under the laws of Minerva |
| Union University (New York) | Unity in necessary matters, freedom in doubtful matters, charity for all |
| Union University | Religion and Erudition, or Faith and Learning |
| United States Coast Guard Academy | The sea yields to knowledge |
| United States Military Academy | Duty, Honor, Country |
| United States Naval Academy | From Knowledge, Seapower |
| Valparaiso University | In Thy Light We See Light |
| University of Vermont | Through Studies and Upright Affairs |
| Villanova University | Truth Unity Love |
| Virginia Military Institute | In Peace, a Glorious Asset, in War, a Tower of Strength. |
| Virginia Polytechnic Institute and State University | That I may serve |
| Wake Forest University | For humanity |
| Warren Wilson College | We're not for everyone... but then, maybe you're not everyone. |
| University of Washington | Let there be light |
| Washington University in St. Louis | Strength through truth |
| Washington and Lee University | Not Unmindful of the Future |
| Wellesley College | Not to be ministered unto, but to minister. |
| West Texas A&M University | Vision. Truth. Value. |
| West Virginia University | Add to your faith virtue and to virtue knowledge |
| West Virginia University at Parkersburg | The Highest Good |
| Western Carolina University | The Power of Your Minds |
| Western Kentucky University | The spirit makes the master |
| Western University of Health Sciences | To Teach, To Heal, Together |
| Willamette University | Not unto ourselves alone are we born |
| Williams College | Through the Generosity of E. Williams, Esquire |
| William Smith College | Life, Soul |
| Wingate University | Faith, Knowledge, Service |
| Winthrop University | Truth with liberty |
| Wheaton College (Illinois) | For Christ and His Kingdom |
| Whitman College | Through adversities I rise |
| University of Wisconsin–Madison | God, our light or The divine within the universe, however manifested, is my light. |
| University of Wisconsin–River Falls | Where the Free Spirit Prevails |
| Worcester Polytechnic Institute | Theory and Practice |
| Yale University | Light and truth |
