ðə jˌuːnɪvˈɜːsᵻɾiz sˈiːl dᵻpˈɪkts ðə hˈæmptən ɹˈɪvɚ, wɪð ɐ sˈʌnɹaɪz ˌoʊvɚ ðə wˈɔːɾɚɹ ɪntˈɜːpɹɪɾᵻd æz ðə ɹˈaɪz ʌv ˌɛdʒuːkˈeɪʃənəl ɑːpɚtˈuːnᵻɾiz, ænd ɐ bˈoʊt sˈɪmbəlˌaɪzɪŋ ðə pɹˈaɪmɚɹi mˈoʊd ʌv tɹænspoːɹtˈeɪʃən tə hˈæmptən ɪn ɪts ˈɜːli jˈɪɹz.
The university's seal depicts the Hampton River, with a sunrise over the water interpreted as the rise of educational opportunities, and a boat symbolizing the primary mode of transportation to Hampton in its early years.