Graduation Gift Ideas

Looking for graduation (or anytime) gift ideas for college or high school students? Starting at just $10, you’re bound to get some great ideas for every price range from the list below (or check here for even more ideas). 

 

  1. One-line-a-day-5-year-memory-bookOne Line a Day: A Five-Year Memory Book.  Under $15, this is by far the most-often purchased item from my list of suggestions.  People buy ’em by the bunches and it continues to be a gift my daughter continues to thank me for, years after I gave her the copy I bought for myself.  My son likes the likes the Q & A a Day version.
  2. Yeti cup..  The high school and college set WANT one if they don’t have one! Want to make it REALLY special? You can order a customized monogram to make it almost impossible to lose for just a few dollars more.
  3. Yeti cupsS’well Bottles. They keep cold drinks cold for 24 hours, hot drinks warm for 12. Pretty + Functional = AmazingSwell Bottles
  4. Tile Mate for the student (or parent) prone to lose keys, sunglasses….just about anything. COOL technology, starting at $25.
    TileMate_Key_Finder
  5. A Kavu bag. So cute…so versatile.
  6. Zulily RainbootsAll-weather/rain boots. The good ones last forever and this time of year, they’re needed! But cute, cheap ones are good, too. I’ve seen darling, inexpensive choices from Zulily–a great place to find amazing deals on all types of things!
  7. GoPro. If ever there were a “hero gift,” this is it. Pricey but SO cool for the adventurer.
    GoPro
  8. A nice wallet or belt. You can spend whatever you want to on small leather goods, but this bi-fold and these ratchet belts come highly rated.
  9. Smartwool or Bombas. One of those gifts that’s wonderful to give…and receive. Talk about raving fans for a product…!

  10. Pink Tool KitApollo Precision Tools 39-Piece Pink Tool Set
    .  This is second in popularity behind the One Line a Day.  The girl who owns this will be the most popular girl in her dorm.  Under $25, it’s a great price for multiple gift-giving, too. Here’s a less girly version of the same thing.
  11. Men’s travel/toiletry kit.  There are inexpensive hanging toiletry kits or you can go with a more traditional (and nicer) Dopp Kit.
  12. Hanging Jewelry and Accessories Organizer.  This one has 80 pockets but you can find them everywhere women’s accessories are sold.
  13. Personal alarm or Pepper Spray.  Especially for girls who might be traveling back and forth to work or class alone from their apartment, this is a gift of peace of mind.
    Vigilant Personal Alarm
  14. Monogrammed towels.  I used to think this was too high falutin’ but a friend told me this was the ONE THING her college-graduating son had kept through two different dorms and two apartmets.  He always knew which ones were his.  You can pick up a deal (like this four-pack from Amazon) and have them monogrammed locally to save money.
  15. A cute Apple Watchband. Which reminds me…I need one of these…!
  16. A hammock.  Again, this is one of my kids’ Favorite Gifts of All Time.  My sons and daughter love these Eagles Nest Outfitters DoubleNest Hammocks–they’re large enough for two, a help when a friend doesn’t have one for hanging out (singles are less expensive).
    ENO DoubleNest Hammock
  17. A Terry Wrap One size fits all, these are fantastic for dorm living if you have to walk down the hall to a shower.
  18. Jewelry.  Pearl studs, something special from Tiffany & Co. or a classic piece of jewelry is always a good answer.  DaySpring offers a beautiful faith-inspired line, too. Heirloom jewelry from a special family member is a precious idea.
  19. A watch. Betsey Johnson makes some whimsical watches for girls; and Fossil has great choices for guys.
  20. Folding chair with team logo.
    Clemson_Chair_Team_Logo
  21. Nice Pen. This is a throwback if ever there was one, but there’s no denying even a student can appreciate the difference between a Bic and Montblanc. Perhaps a more realistic (and affordable!) alternative to Montblanc is a Cross Pen set. I received one and treasured it for years (and kept it longer than any other pen I’ve ever owned.)
  22. EchoDot. Tech for the win, again!

    Echo_Dot
  23. Scout Be-Low-Me underbed storageUnderbed storage Because dorm or apartment space is at a premium, graduates can get a lot of use out of something like this. (This was my niece’s favorite gift surprisingly).
  24. A piece of their hometown.  I don’t know what this means for you, but for my kids a special gift is a plaque on a local historical bridge.  If they’re inclined to appreciate something this abstract, look for something in their hometown.
  25. School/team apparel.  If your graduate is headed to college, they’ll want to deck out in school mascot/colors.  If not and you know they’re a big fan of a pro team, a nice tee or sweatshirt would be great.
  26. A fun letter board. Aren’t these the best? 

  27. Mattress topper or feather bed (Another of my daughter’s top three favorite gifts; it’s become my go-to for gifts in this price range.
  28. Back of door full-length mirror; include Command Hanging Strips, easy on the walls.  (I LOVE this innovation in hanging stuff!  Removable tape + Velcro = winwin)
  29. Screen shot 2013-05-14 at 4.32.01 PMBinoculars.  You can pretty much spend whatever you want for these but you can get a decent gift for a sports enthusiast / concert goer under $30.
  30. A flashlight. I know phones have built-in lights, but when you need an extra, an extra is great to have.
  31. Earbuds. Combine it with an iTunes giftcard and they’ll love ya.  Headphones are another option–you really do get what you pay for with quality headphones.
  32. An experience.  Maybe it’s not a thing you should give, maybe it’s something to do. Hang gliding, hot air balloon rides, sky diving, zip lining, a Nascar experience–a great idea for the thrill seekers on your list (and Groupon and other deal sites seem to offer these on a regular basis).
  33. Deck of giftards. Restaurants, retail and entertainment will be VERY welcome to a poor student.  Did you realize you can get just about everything at Amazon and not have to pay shipping?!
  34. Luggage. This was a standard for generations (I was so proud of my powder blue hard shell Samsonite forEVAH), but now luggage feels a little old school cool. Hardsided, especially with built in device charging capability, is a great choice, but soft-sided is still a good optionCollapsible, rolling duffels like these from Eagle Creek are a great alternative as well.
  35. A AAA Membership Especially if your graduate has a long drive home from job or school.
  36. Laundry survival kit:  put together something fun including a dirty clothes basket or heavy duty laundry bag and all-in-one detergent.  I used to suggest including a roll of quarters but many colleges we’ve visited include free use of machines now.
  37. Hot pot & supply of Ramen Noodles.  We’ve all been there.
  38. Mini KeurigA small coffee maker. This Black & Decker Coffeemaker with Travel Mug is dual purpose. For those who can afford a Keurig, well…you’ll likely be giving one of their most favorite gifts of them all!
  39. Speaking of coffee, a French Press, Aeropress Coffee & Espresso maker, or a pour-over maker are spot-on options for budding baristas.
  40. Umbrella.  Go for school colors or a fun design; if it’s recognizable it’s less likely to get lost.
  41. Cordless Screwdriver.  Practical but they’ll thank you when they need it. You can pay a lot or a little, but a decent one won’t set you back.
  42. J&J-First-Aid-KitFirst Aid Kit.  You can buy one ready made
    or put together a kit yourself.  Include bandages, anti-bacterial cleansing wipes, Advil, Neosporin, Benedryl, matches, tape, gauze, scissors.  Ummm, unless you’re making several of these, it might be more economical to buy the kit.
  43. Adventure.  Hang gliding, Skydiving, Rock Climbing, Repelling–if there’s some type of adventure in their backyard, surprise them with a MEMORY instead of a thing.   Look for Groupon, Living Social or other deal sites.
  44. Patagonia-packBookbag or Messenger bag Look for great quality; if you can’t afford a good one, choose something else.
  45. A nice study Bible.  It’s time to ditch the cheap paper student Bible they’ve used throughout high school.  Leather makes it special.  (This recommendation came from a graduating guy friend of ours–love it!!)
  46. Sound Machine Drown out the sounds of dorm/apartment living.  Wish I had had one.
  47. Dry erase board to hang outside their room.  When we toured colleges with our kids, I loved seeing notes written to friends outside dorm rooms. Or, a bulletin or Memo Board (don’t forget the thumbtacks if it’s a cork board and Command Strips to hang it.)
  48. University-themed stadium throw or stadium chairs.
  49. NalgeneNalgene water bottle Fill it with their favorite candy & this makes an affordable gift if you have a lot to buy.
  50. Lap Desk.  Another one they’ll appreciate more once they use it.
  51. Pocket knife Yeah, I know it’s old school, but I like old school.
  52. Leatherman tool These are easy to loathe until you find yourself in a bind and NEED one.  I don’t know how many times we’ve used the one in our car.  They’ll have it forever.
  53. CornholeTailgait Toss (aka Corn Hole).  It’s curiously addicting once you start playing, and whoever owns a set brings the party with them.
  54. Sleeping bag.  Feather-light and compactable, a nice sleeping bag is something the adventurer WILL appreciate.
  55. Cooler.  For tailgaiting and road trips. If money is no object, a Yeti is amazing; for the rest of us, a Coleman strap bag or with wheels is nice.
    Cooler
  56. Drone. If you’re going with this choice, I hope you have the bucks for one with a camera. This isn’t for everybody, but for the body it is for? You’ll be getting a hero gift.
  57. Picnic blanket.  My daughter stole mine and keeps it in the back of her car.  A nice thing to have for outdoor concerts, lake outtings, beach, etc.
  58. Dorm fridge.  One less thing they’ll have to buy for themselves. Sure, you can get a boring little box from Walmart, but J’ADORE these retro options. A little more money but a LOT more fun!
  59. Microwave.  Same as above (but if they’ll be living in a dorm, make sure it’s permissible).
    Kindles
  60. Kindle or any kind of e-reader. Not just for general reading but also most textbooks are available electronically.
  61. iPad.  It’s amazing what you can do with a tablet!!
  62. Laptop.  Every student I asked for suggestions said this first.  Every one. You can find laptops at fantastic prices here.

 

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