We’ve come up with the ultimate list that every college grad wants! Check out our list of 40 college graduation gift ideas.
Graduating is a huge milestone achieved by students after years of hard work, and it’s an occasion that deserves to be celebrated.
From useful items that will help them take on their next endeavor to memorable mementos that will last a lifetime, you’re going to love these ideas.
We’ve done lots of research and quizzed recent college grads to come up with our ultimate list of college graduation gift ideas.
I’m sure you’ll find the perfect present for your special graduate.
Need a gift quickly?
Here is a list of great ideas from Amazon that you can have shipped fast if you’re under the wire.
And if you’re looking for a meaningful graduation gift idea you need to check out this post.
Make your grad’s graduation celebration extra memorable with one of these special gift ideas.
What Do College Graduates REALLY Want?
College graduation is usually the end of an era.
No more sleeping in late and staying up all night.
On the otherhand…no more stressing over papers or finals!
But now there will be new stresses in life…
Will I get a job?
How long will it take me to pay off my student loans?
- What Do College Graduates REALLY Want?
- How Can You Help Your College Graduate Financially?
- College Graduation Gift Ideas to Help Them Land Their First Job
- What to Get the Graduate for their 1st Job?
- College Graduation Gift Ideas for the Home
- College Grad Gifts for the Traveler
- Other College Graduation Gift Ideas
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How Can You Help Your College Graduate Financially?
1. Pay off College Student Loans
What an amazing gift for any college graduate to walk away with a diploma in their hand and no student loan debt.
Wow!!!
2. Open a Roth IRA for the Graduate
Teach your college graduate about the value of investing right from the start.
Opening a Roth IRA for the graduate or some other type of investment is a gift that keeps on giving.
The new graduate can continue to invest and this gift will continue to grow year after year.
College Graduation Gift Ideas to Help Them Land Their First Job
If your graduate hasn’t already landed their first job now is the time they will need to step up their game.
3. Interview Suit or Clothes
Maybe that inexpensive suit you bought for job fairs needs an upgrade.
Or maybe they never got one!
A recent college grad will definitely need a suit for job interviews.
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4. Dress Coat
A young professional may not have a decent dress coat.
An affordable men’s trench coat would be perfect over a suit and would be a great college grad gift.
And a classic tan trench coat never goes out of style for her.
What to Get the Graduate for their 1st Job?
5. Shopping Trip for Professional Wardrobe
How fun would it be to take your graduate on a shopping spree to get items they need to start their professional wardrobe?
Now that would be a super useful college graduation gift idea!
6. Briefcase or Work Bag
All young professionals will need a briefcase or work bag to take to their new job each day.
7. Business Cardholder
Here are some business cardholder options in modern wood style or simple leather and metal to hold those fancy new business cards in that stylish new briefcase!
8. Nice Wallet
That recent graduate may be carrying around the same wallet since high school.
Along with a new professional life, why not get them a nice but budget-friendly wallet?
Here’s a great option for her and another for him.
9. Stitch Fix Subscription
With a new job, they may not have a lot of extra time to shop.
A stitch fix subscription would help the graduate continue to add to their professional wardrobe.
Click on any image to shop items from this post
Sources: wood business card holder | leather messenger bag | trifold leather wallet | men’s top coat | women’s trench coat | leather tote bag | women’s wallet | leather business card holder
College Graduation Gift Ideas for the Home
Is your graduate moving into a new home after graduation?
10. Help Buy Furniture for New Place
We all know how expensive furniture can be.
And until the graduate starts making money they may be living with a cardboard box as their kitchen table.
But didn’t we all do that?
Helping them by purchasing a new bed, living room couch, or even a kitchen table would be a much-appreciated graduation gift idea.
Or what about a new appliance so they can learn to expand their cooking abilities?
This is a good time to upgrade from their old college apartment mismatched dishes and glasses to something more sophisticated.
Any of the following kitchen items would be perfect for a new college graduate.
11. Instant Pot
12. Air Fryer
13. Nespresso Machine
14. Cookbook
15. Set of Dishes
16. Drinking Glasses
17. Meal Subscription
But if they aren’t much of a cook a meal subscription service is a great alternative.
Many offer healthy pre-made meals delivered right to your door.
While meal services send all the ingredients and directions for you to prepare your meal which could be a great way for a young adult to start learning how to cook.
If cooking isn’t their thing…maybe they’d love a new electronic item?
18. Smart TV
Upgrade that tiny college television for a larger smart TV with all the latest features.
19. Streaming Subscription
A one-year subscription to Netflix, Hulu, Disney+, or other streaming services would make a fun graduation gift idea.
20. Fire Stick
21. Echo Dot
22. Robot Vacuum
I have this Eufy robovac and it’s awesome!
It would be a gift that any college grad would love to have for their new place.
23. Downpayment on New Apartment
Now this would be an ultimate graduation gift idea for your college student.
Help them get started in their new adult life by paying the downpayment on a new apartment!
Click on any image to shop items from this post
Sources: Nespresso machine | Drinking Glasses | Dinnerware Set | Instant Pot | Air Fryer | Cookbook | Smart TV | Fire Stick | Echo Dot | Eufy Robovac
College Grad Gifts for the Traveler
24. Luggage
Even if the graduate isn’t planning to travel right after graduation a set of luggage is a traditional gift idea that will always be useful.
A top-rated toiletry bag is also essential for traveling.
And don’t forget the packing cubes!
25. Go Pro
The adventure seeker will love recording every step of their travels with a GoPro.
26. Yeti Cooler
Whether camping, tailgating, or throwing a party in your new place a good quality cooler from Yeti is an awesome present that will get lots of use.
27. Camera
Most young people use their phones for taking pictures.
But a good quality camera makes a wonderful college graduation gift idea.
And this Canon camera is a great option!
28. The Bucket List 1000 Adventures Big and Small
The new graduate can start making their list of bucket list places to travel and start dreaming about vacation by flipping through this book.
29. Scratch-Off World Map
How fun would it be to keep track of all those traveling adventures with this awesome transparent scratch-off world map?
30. Leather Travel Journal
Journals are always a wonderful gift to give any graduate as it gives a person a place to reflect on life.
But for the college grad who’s got adventure in their blood and dreams of seeing the world this leather travel journal would make a great gift.
31. AAA Membership
And just in case…a AAA membership is a super useful present.
No one wants to be stuck on the side of the road when your car breaks down!
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Sources: luggage set | toiletry bag | packing cubes | scratch-off world map | leather travel journal | bucket list book | Yeti cooler | Canon camera | GoPro
Other College Graduation Gift Ideas
32. College Alumni Gear
College students have been wearing their college gear for the past four years.
But now they’ve earned the privilege to sport an alumni hoodie!
33. Diploma Frame
Let that college grad show off all their hard work by giving them a beautiful wood diploma frame to hang proudly in their new home.
34. Kindle or Tablet
35. Amazon Prime Membership
That low college prime membership fee will disappear once the student graduates.
Gifting an Amazon Prime membership would be a super helpful gift since Amazon offers everything from movies to books to shopping!
And don’t forget free shipping for prime members!
36. Amazon Gift Card
Everything from groceries to electronics and everything in between can be found on Amazon.
37. Fab Fit Fun Subscription or other subscription box service
Subscription box services are gifts that keep on giving.
Most services have monthly or quarterly options for delivery to the graduate depending on your budget.
38. Gym Membership
Help the college graduate stay in shape with a gym membership now that the university gym is no longer available to the graduate.
39. Watch
We’ve found several watch options that any college grad would be thrilled to receive as a gift.
This black stainless steel watch is on trend but also a classic style any guy would love as a graduation gift.
A gorgeous gold watch is a perfect accessory for a new college grad who needs something more sophisticated now.
An Apple watch is another option if you’d like to give your graduate a watch…always in style as the bands can be changed to coordinate with any outfit.
40. Engraved Pen and Pencil Set
An elegant personalized Cross pen and pencil set is a timeless graduation gift.
This monogrammed leather journal would be a lovely addition to the beautiful pen and pencil set.
I hope you found the perfect college graduation gift idea from our list! If you have other gift ideas we’d love to hear about them.
Click on any image to shop for items from this post
Sources: diploma frame | Kindle paperwhite | Apple watch | Amazon gift card | women’s gold watch | men’s black watch | pen and pencil set | monogrammed leather journal
If you have any questions or suggestions, contact me or leave a comment!
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