30 Best College Graduation Gifts – Unique Ideas for 2024 Grads
June 3, 2024
Do you know a college student on the cusp of graduating? Did you just start panicking about choosing a college graduation gift? Have you found yourself in the dark, abysmal universe of online shopping? Does your internet search history look like a frantic string of phrases such as, “best college graduation gifts,” “graduation gifts college,” and “how much money to give for a college graduation gift?” because you’ve hoped that rearranging the words in every possible way might lead you to an easy answer? Search no further! In this blog, we’ll talk about different types of meaningful and unique graduation gifts college grads will love and appreciate.
What should I give for a college graduation gift?
Most people give money for a college graduation gift, which is always a perfectly welcome and acceptable option. New grads are often in the throes of moving or starting a new job/graduate program (sometimes both), so giving a cash gift—whatever amount feels most comfortable to you based on your personal financial circumstances and relationship with the graduate—is both useful and thoughtful. Cash gifts are also fast and easy to put together.
However, if you don’t want to—or are not able to—give a cash gift, there are plenty of other excellent and unique choices. They may require a bit of additional planning and shopping, but it will be well worth the effort to see the surprise, joy, and excitement on your graduate’s face.
We’ve divided this blog into four sections: personal college graduation gifts, personal and practical college graduation gifts, practical college graduation gifts, and gift baskets. Where possible, we’ve linked to specific products. You can even mix and match items from different sections to create your own personalized creation. Let’s get to it!
Personal College Graduation Gifts
Whether personal gifts are simply your style or you have a close relationship with the college graduate, these college graduation gifts will warm their heart.
1) Handmade card
Handmade cards come in so many different styles: hand-painted or drawn, mixed media, pop-up, Cricut masterpiece, etc. You can get creative and add glitter, color, stickers, or paper cut-outs, to name a few. You can make the card wacky, sincere, funny, cute, beautiful, or whatever you want. Above all, the time, thought, and energy required to make anything by hand will mean the world to any graduate.
- Cricut Smart Cutting Machine
- MISTI Stamping Tool
- Sizzix Stencil and Stamp Tool
- Pink Puddle Studio Card Painting Kit
2) Flowers
Flowers can liven up someone’s day, they can liven up a sparse new home, and they smell lovely. Also, if you grow flowers at your home, you can create a bouquet that is both extra personal and free.
Live out of town? Consider contacting a florist who is local to your graduate and asking them to deliver an arrangement for you.
Prefer not to do live flowers? You can do dried flowers (DIY or store-bought), dried botanicals (such as eucalyptus or lavender), felt flowers, or wood flowers, too.
3) Letter or poem
A great option for those worried about how much money to give for college graduation gifts: the written word. Similar to a handmade card, you have limitless possibilities. You could write a heartfelt letter, a funny letter, a silly acrostic poem, a short and sweet haiku, a long, beautiful free verse poem, or even one of each. Present your gift on pretty stationary or in a frame for an extra special presentation.
Best College Graduation Gifts (Continued)
4) Scrapbook or journal
If you have a long history with the graduate, a scrapbook is a wonderful way to capture your best memories together and give them something to treasure for years to come. Depending on how crafty you are, you can make your own scrapbook pages or buy pre-made ones—just add photos and captions. Alternatively, you could create a DIY journal for the graduate to use as they like.
Want a non-scissors-and-gluestick option? Design a photo book online. If you choose a pre-designed option, all you’ll have to do is upload your photos.
- 525 New and Inspiring Scrapbook Sketches: Volume 1
- Scrapbooking and Journaling Supplies Kit
- Mixbook Photo Books
- Wonderbly Friendship Photo Book: Scrapbook Edition
5) Support and encouragement
Another great option for those who are worried about how much money to give for college graduation: showing up. For instance, maybe they’re looking ahead to graduate school for their master’s degree. Or maybe they’re getting ready for the MCAT and medical school. Consider learning more about their next steps to enhance the support you can offer, whether that is sending late-night-studying care packages, dropping off homemade meals, or offering to help them move.
Unique College Graduation Gifts (Continued)
Personal and Practical College Graduation Gifts
These are graduation gifts college graduates will love for their personal meaning as well as their practical uses and benefits.
6) Thrift store shopping spree
Shopping for a new living space doesn’t have to break the bank. Take them to all your favorite nearby thrift stores and make a day of sifting through eclectic items. At most thrift stores, you can find silverware, glassware, cookware, home decor, and furniture. Also, you can bond over the triumph of finding unique items at low prices.
Don’t live close enough to accompany them? You can send gift cards to a local or online consignment/resale store.
7) Inspire them to reignite a hobby or interest
Often, personal hobbies and interests get pushed to the side while students focus on earning their degree. So consider ways to reignite a student’s long-lost passion as a college graduation gift. For example, if you know they once loved camping but haven’t had time for it, you could give them new camping gear. Painting hobbyist? Perhaps a paint-by-numbers kit for adults. Puzzle-maker? Look into foldable puzzle boards. Coffee aficionado? Try an electric kettle and pour-over coffee maker. The possibilities are endless.
- BioLite CampStove Complete Cook Kit
- CHEMEX Three-Cup Classic Coffee Maker
- Pink Picasso Paint by Numbers Kit
- Woobles Beginner Crochet Kits
- CandleScience Candle Making Starter Kit
Best College Graduation Gifts (Continued)
8) Spa Day
After several stressful years, treating a recent grad to a day at a local spa would give them a chance to relax. As a cheaper, equally fun alternative, you could treat them to a DIY spa day. You only need cucumber slices, a face mask, Enya, and whatever other self-care you want to throw in.
- ESW Beauty Sheet Masks
- Patchology Eye Gels
- Dieux Forever Eye Mask
- Goop Microderm Instant Glow Exfoliator
9) Help them dress to impress
Take them shopping for a new suit, shoes, or accessories. If they haven’t landed a job yet, they’ll wear your gift to wow hiring managers. If they already have a job, they’ll wear your gift to raise their confidence during presentations or tense work days.
Can’t take them shopping? Gift them a clothing subscription box that they can personalize.
10) Day with you
Yet another great option for those worried about how much money to give for college graduation gifts: fun with you. Similar to a spa day, this college graduation gift will allow graduates to recharge and reset. Take them for a beach day, a mini road trip, a food tour, wine tasting, botanical gardens, new restaurant, or anywhere the two of you will enjoy.
11) Future weekend plans
Check out the area they live in. Then, find a gift that will get them out of their house on the weekends to explore. For instance, if they like to hike, they’d probably love a State Park Pass or National Park Pass. If they like art, history, or science, they’d likely appreciate a local museum pass. You can also look into concerts, sporting events, shows, or plays that are in their area, and buy them tickets.
Best College Graduation Gifts (Continued)
12) Cookbook or recipe book
At meal times, college graduates will love having a cookbook within reach to help them with ideas and cooking instructions. This will help them save money on takeout and help them build their cooking skills. Alternatively, if you have your own recipes to pass down, you could make a binder of recipes (physical or digital) as a college graduation gift.
Want a fun add-on? Look into getting them a gift certificate for a local or online cooking class, or an Instacart gift card.
- The “I Don’t Want to Cook” Book
- Love Real Food: Feel-Good Vegetarian Favorites
- Papier Recipe Journal
- Digital Recipe Book Template
- Uncommon Goods Virtual Cooking Classes
13) Diploma frame
Decorative and functional, a diploma frame will allow a college graduate to show off their diploma while keeping it safe. They’ll know you feel proud of them because you gave them a way to show off their diploma. Also, combined with their high school diploma and awards, they can make a gallery wall of accomplishments.
Tip: many colleges offer customized and embossed diploma frames through their online bookstores.
- Church Hill Classics Diploma Frames
- The Classic Diploma Frame by Framebridge
- Laser-Engraved Diploma Plaques
14) Beginner plant parent kit
Plants bring any space to life. However, keeping plants alive can become a challenge for first-time plant parents. First, pick out an easy-to-care-for plant like pothos, ZZ plants, or philodendrons. You can also opt for plants that require minimal watering, like air plants, succulents, or cacti. Second, pick out a plant pot, preferably with a drainage hole. Third, print or write instructions on how to care for the plant. Now you’ve got yourself a beginner plant parent kit.
If your graduate loves to cook, a DIY potted herb garden or hydroponic herb garden could also be a much-appreciated choice, too.
- AeroGarden Sprout Hydroponic Herb Garden
- Air Plant Supply Co.
- The Zen Succulent Terrarium Kits
- Novel Garden Planter
Best College Graduation Gifts (Continued)
15) Exercise class packs
If your graduate loves exercising, look into studios near them. For example, you might consider gifting yoga, spin, barre, or Pilates classes. If your graduate is extra adventurous, you could even look into options like aerial silks, hip hop, or rock climbing.
Do they already have a gym membership, or are they a home-workout kind of person? Perhaps a new pair of their favorite running shoes, weights, or an upgraded yoga mat.
16) Meal delivery service
No matter how much your grad loves to cook, we all have weeks where cooking and meal prep just isn’t happening. For those times, they’ll certainly appreciate a gift card for a meal delivery service that takes all the thinking out of food planning. All they’ll have to do is open and reheat containers. Some meals are even freezer-friendly.
In addition to national companies, you can also look into options local to your grad.
- Factor Meals
- CookUnity
- WECO Hospitality (Northeast & Mid-Atlantic)
17) Appointment with a fee-only financial planner
While you may be thinking about how much money to give for college graduation gifts, college graduates are busy thinking about how money will affect the rest of their lives. Fee-only financial planners act as fiduciaries, meaning they have their clients’ best interests in mind. So an appointment with a fee-only financial planner can improve a college graduate’s financial literacy and set them up to have financial security.
Practical College Graduation Gifts
Graduating from college can often mean moving into a new living space and a new phase of life. Accordingly, the below section covers gifts that college graduates will need. But if you feel nervous about giving purely practical gifts, try elevating the gift’s presentation. To help with that, we’ve included a note that you can attach to your gift for added pizzazz.
18) Tool kit
Imagine this: a recent college graduate just moved into an apartment. Exhausted after a full day of moving, they want to build their bed frame and go to sleep. But the instructions don’t make sense—they can’t get the bolts tight enough by hand, and their arms hurt. Then, they remember the best gift out of all their college graduation gifts: the tool kit.
You can buy them a preassembled toolkit, or you can create a toolkit yourself. For instance, you could put together a hammer, measuring tape, small drill, nails, pliers, and a wrench.
Recommended note: To build the life of your dreams!
Best College Graduation Gifts (Continued)
19) Power outage or emergency survival kit
Everyone should prepare for power outages. However, in the chaos of graduating, moving, and starting a new job, most people forget about emergency preparedness. Help a recent graduate prepare by giving them a power outage or emergency survival kit. You can buy a pre-assembled kit. Or put together things like flashlights, batteries, candles, matches, dry shampoo, bottled water, and snacks that don’t need heat or cold.
Recommended note: For when your electric personality blows a fuse!
- Luminary Global Power Outage Emergency Kit
- Uncharted Supply Co. Survival Systems
- Stealth Angel Emergency Preparedness Kits
20) First aid kit
Similar to power outages, everyone should prepare to administer first aid to themselves or a friend, whether in the comfort of their apartment or on an outdoor adventure. First aid kits make extremely useful college graduation gifts. They can rest easy knowing they have a first aid kit ready in case of a medical emergency.
Recommended note: For when your mind becomes so sharp that you accidentally cut someone with it!
21) Cleaning supplies
They’ll have to clean at some point and when they do, they’ll think of you (hopefully in a positive way). You can opt for a pre-assembled kit or go the DIY route. First, choose a bucket and mop, then fill the bucket with bottles of glass cleaner, surface cleaner, bathroom cleaner, soaps, sponges, and reusable paper towels. Also, for those worried about how much money to give for college graduation gifts, this option is fairly low cost.
Want to take this gift one step further? Hire a cleaner for their new apartment.
Recommended note: To keep your home shining as bright as you do!
22) Car maintenance
Recent college graduates may have limited time to care for their car. You can lighten their to-do list by offering to take their car for routine maintenance, detailing, or a wash. They’ll appreciate having that time to focus on other things because of your college graduation gift.
Don’t live close? Look into pre-paying for an oil change at their local mechanic or dealer, or giving them a gift certificate for a car detailing service.
Recommended note: To keep your ride as smooth as your career trajectory!
Best College Graduation Gifts (Continued)
23) Air purifier
In many parts of the US, air quality can become a big concern, especially during fire season. Also, air purifiers help with allergies and can even double as a white noise maker or fan.
Recommended note: To refine your air the way you’ve refined your goals!
22) Fire extinguisher or blanket
Rental units should have a fire extinguisher on site, but often these extinguishers expire without anyone noticing. And frankly, you can never have too many. Fire extinguishers make wonderful college graduation gifts while also saving lives and homes.
Alternative option? A fire blanket, which you can quickly and easily throw over any small fire to put it out (mess-free).
Recommended note: You’re on fire (in your career)!
- First Alert Rechargeable Fire Extinguisher
- LifeSafe Compact Portable Fire Extinguisher
- Prepared Hero Emergency Fire Blanket
23) Food storage containers
Made too much food? Food storage containers. Ordered too much food? Food storage containers. Meal prep? Food storage containers. Bringing lunch to work? Food storage containers. They always come in handy. Opt for glass or food-grade silicon for the healthiest and most environmentally friendly choice.
Recommended note: You didn’t waste any time following your dreams, so why waste your food?
- Pyrex Ultimate Storage Set
- Amazon Basics Glass Locking Lids Food Storage Containers
- Stasher Bag Lunch/Travel Bundle
Best College Graduation Gifts (Continued)
24) Clothing steamer
On busy mornings before work, your grad can use a steamer quickly and easily. Steamers don’t require an ironing board so they don’t take up much space, and they can be used on many types of fabric. Also, fabric will last longer when using a steamer instead of an iron.
Even better? Most steamers are quite compact, meaning that your grad can take it with them on long or short trips.
Recommended note: May wrinkle-free clothes bring you wrinkle-free days!
- Conair Handheld Garment Steamer
- BLACK+DECKER Advanced Handheld Steamer
- CHI Steam Handheld Garment Steamer
25) Toaster Oven
Toaster ovens use less electricity than a conventional oven and they heat up more quickly, too. They’re also compact, meaning they won’t commandeer premium counter space. Best of all, they reheat leftovers well, keeping crispy food crispy. So when your college graduate wants to quickly reheat leftover pizza and make it taste fresh, they’ll thank you.
Recommended note: Let’s make a toast to you and your future!
College Graduation Gift Baskets
Gift baskets can be a great way to include a variety of small, thoughtful items. In addition, presentation is a huge part of a well-done gift basket. If you’re giving the gift in person, you can pack the gift in a cute, reusable storage container or other type of receptacle that’s “on theme” (see ideas below). If you’re mailing the gift, there are tons of great ways you can pack a box, such as decorating the box flaps, filling the box with colored paper or confetti, or cushioning the items with a nice throw blanket.
26) Gift basket from home
Many college graduates may live far away from where they grew up. Accordingly, hunt down any of their favorite locally exclusive items or locally sourced items. For example, if they have a favorite candy shop in their hometown and you live nearby, pick out candy from that shop. Or if there are any companies based in their home state, collect some of their products. These might include food, coffee, boutique items, gift certificates for when they’re home visiting, etc.
Basket ideas: Cotton Rope Basket or Felt Storage Caddy
27) Beach basket
If the graduate in your life is an avid beachgoer, put together a basket of sun-and-fun essentials. Think: waterproof Bluetooth speaker, tote bag, blanket, coolers, snack caddies, sunscreen, insulated water bottle…
Basket ideas: Insulated Cooler Bag or Bogg Bag
28) Work/study-from-home basket
If your grad will be working or studying from home, consider putting together a basket of productivity must-haves. As you do, think about their unique context. Will they be working mostly from an at-home desk set-up, or traveling to a coworking space? Will they be studying on-the-go between shifts at their part-time job, or hunkering down in the library? For example, grads with permanent set-ups may appreciate a desk protector pad or monitor riser while those-on-the-go (or without a home office) may like a sturdy commuter backpack or lap desk. In addition, you could add smaller items like a portable charger, notepad, headphones, rotating pen holder, pencils, highlighters, portable scanner, etc.
Basket ideas: Quilted Laptop Backpack or Desk Organizer
Best College Graduation Gifts (Continued)
29) Relaxation basket
After a long week, most of us like to find some time to unwind and recharge. If your grad is the type of person who likes to stay home on Saturday night with a book and a bowl of ice cream, a basket with all their favorite relaxation items would be much-appreciated. You could add a candle, weighted blanket, reusable hot pack, bathtub caddy tray or pillow, bath salts or shower steamers, movie and/or book, a gift certificate for a meditation app like Calm, etc.
Basket ideas: Book Sleeve or Magazine/Book Holder
30) Travel Basket
Is your grad a frequent flyer? Whether they’re traveling for work or pleasure, you can put together a gift full of helpful items as they hit the road (or the skies). Lean toward anything that is space-optimized or helps organize backpacks/suitcases.
Basket ideas: Garment Duffel Bag or Carry-on Luggage
Best College Graduation Gift Ideas in 2024 – Final Thoughts
In conclusion, don’t worry about how much money to give for college graduation gifts. Instead, focus on the college graduates’ needs and your relationship with them. You can find graduation gifts college graduates will cherish on any budget.
