24 College Graduation Gifts for Every Student
Updated: Jul. 30, 2023
Celebrate a huge milestone with these thoughtful college graduation gifts. We have ideas for every person and at every price point!
Our editors and experts handpick every product we feature. We may earn a commission from your purchases.
Congrats to your grad—and you! Graduating college is no small feat (nor is supporting a student). And it’s an accomplishment that comes with a lot of uncertainty as well as excitement. Quell the former and lean into the latter with these college graduation gifts that ready them for the “real world,” memorialize the prior four years or simply put a smile on their face.
For the Tailgater: Personalized Can Cooler
Your newly of-age grad will think of her big day (and you!) every time she uses this sleek can cooler. Available in 16 colors, this affordable college graduation gift is equal parts pretty and practical. See more personalized graduation gifts.
For the Starbucks Lover: Quality Coffee Maker
Although the days of gulping down Red Bulls are (hopefully) over, your grad will still need to stay caffeinated. This touchscreen coffee maker is easy to program, and it even has a self-clean feature! They can brew a standard cup o’ joe or try out one of these copycat coffee-shop drinks.
For the Kitchen Newcomer: Meal Delivery Service
Honestly, we can’t think of a better college graduation gift than Hello Fresh. Pick up a gift card in increments of $75, $90, $125 or $160 and provide your recent grad with the ingredients to make wholesome, home-cooked meals on even the busiest nights. It’s the perfect shortcut when they’re starting a new job or moving out on their own.
For the Green Thumb: Pretty Houseplant
What marks a venture into adulthood better than a houseplant? This beautiful fiddle leaf fig is the perfect size for a beginner apartment.
For the New Renter: College Town Pillow
As they fit out their new apartment, they’ll love this fun nod to their last four years. The playful embroidered pillows are a visual cornucopia of beloved landmarks, sayings and logos specific to various colleges and their towns. This also makes a great high school graduation gift for their new dorm room.
For the Long-Distance Grad: Congrats! Gift Set
Loaded with candy cubes, sparkling non-alcoholic rosé, a candle, matches and confetti, this gift set has everything your faraway grad needs to celebrate. It ships directly to their door in premium gift wrap and includes a personalized book full of your well wishes.
For the Trendy 20-Something: Multipurpose Pan
Your college grad will instantly recognize this Instagram-famous Always Pan. It’s the perfect vessel for cooking a wide variety of meals. And it’s absolutely gorgeous! See what one editor thought of this trendy pan.
For the Caffeine Fiend: Coffee Subscription Box
Starting an at-home coffee habit can be hard, but Atlas Coffee Club makes brewing your own cup practically painless. Gift a subscription that sends gourmet coffee directly to their doorstep each month. And the best part? They’ll discover brews from all around the world. Read our Atlas coffee club review for the full scoop.
For the Weekender: Leather Overnight Bag
For a quick trip to visit mom and dad or her college bestie, this leather overnight bag is an absolute must. It’s loaded with convenient storage features, including a laptop compartment and slide-in phone pocket. Plus, the tanned leather exterior will only get better with age.
For the Happy Hour Goer: Boozy Ice Cream
The ultimate indulgence? Tipsy Scoop’s boozy ice cream that combines two of your college grad’s favorite things into one decadent pint. Choose from flavors such as Spiked Hazelnut Coffee, Cake Batter Vodka Martini and Vanilla Bean Bourbon.
For the New Hire: Self-Care Truth or Dare
The post-grad hustle is real. Help your college graduate take a breather with this self-care truth or dare game. It includes 100 prompts for letting go and living a more mindful life.
For the Baker: KitchenAid Stand Mixer
You can’t go wrong with a luxe KitchenAid stand mixer. Available in plenty of pretty colors, this 5-quart, heavy duty appliance is a striking addition to any adult apartment. Get started with these KitchenAid mixer recipes.
For the Sweet Tooth: Graduation-Themed Cookies
In this package, the childhood favorite of Oreos is all grown up—just like your grad! Sprinkled, chocolate-dipped cookies are adorned with sweet diplomas, caps and balloons to mark the occasion. Order the tasty treats in sets of six or 12.
For the Sentimental: Personalized Succulent Planter
Congratulate your grad with this personalized succulent planter. The pot can be customized with the text of your choice. Whether you opt for a funny or heartfelt message, this is a college graduation gift they’ll cherish.
For the Neat Freak: Cordless Vacuum Cleaner
Although it’s a splurge, the Dyson V11 Torque Drive vacuum cleaner is a game changer. It’ll help your grad keep his or her new home clean without a ton of effort. (Learn more about it in our review of the vac.)
For the Worry Wart: Weighted Blanket
Between studying for final exams, navigating the post-grad job market and saying goodbye to friends, transitioning out of college can be a bittersweet period. Make it a little easier with a weighted blanket. This gift wraps your grad in a cozy, comforting hug. Here’s how to wash a weighted blanket and how often you should do it.
For the Reader: Front Page Puzzle
You’ll need to send this gift a little late, but trust us, it’s worth the wait. Commemorate the occasion with a custom puzzle showcasing the front page of the New York Times on their graduation day.
For the Hostess: Customized Cheese Board
Trade in those plastic plates for serveware worthy of an adult kitchen. This monogrammed board is perfect for cheese, desserts, charcuterie and more.
For the Self-Care Queen: Luxurious Towel Set
Although receiving towels might be the adult equivalent of kids unwrapping socks, your grad will change their mind after drying off with this luxurious towel set. It includes four bath towels, two hand towels, four washcloths and a bath mat.
For the Professional: Personalized Wallet
He’ll love unwrapping this personalized leather wallet, which will make him look suave when out on the town personally or professionally. It can be engraved with his monogram on the front and a sentimental message inside.
For the Commuter: Second Generation AirPods
There’s a reason these show up on every list of college graduation gifts. Perfect for commuting, jogging or taking a call, these Apple AirPods are a sleek, practical gift your grad will be excited to open.
For the Scene Setter: Celebratory Candle
Cheers! This “Let’s Toast” candle is perfect for grads celebrating virtually. It features lots of fruity notes—including champagne grapes. These candle accessories also make great gifts.
For the Vino Lover: Custom Etched Wine Bottle
This bottle of Cabernet Sauvignon is the perfect plus-one for your grad’s party. Customize the etched bottle with a name and year to make it extra special. They’ll relish uncorking the red at a reunion years down the road or right then and there at their current celebration.
For the Writer: Personalized Note Card Set
Whether they’re sending an update to their long-distance pals or writing a thank-you note to a potential employer, these custom note cards are professional stationary with some personality. The squiggles come in nine colors, and the cards in packs of 10.
Originally Published: May 05, 2022
