Best Gifts College Students
The time spent at college is often considered to be the best time of one’s life. 🏫 Students focus on their chosen field of interest while meeting new friends who share the same passions. It’s not only a time for learning and making best friends but also the first taste of independence and the ability to fully embrace self-expression.
Best Gifts for College Students
While college student life can bring amazing fun, it also comes with plenty of challenges. Students are figuring out new life skills like cooking (and cleaning) for themselves, household budgeting, interpersonal skills (life with roommates), time management, and balancing personal health and wellness.
There is no shortage of things that a college student needs (and wants), but they often have very little cash to spend. Continue for good gift ideas for college students and gifts for young adults.
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50+ of the Best Gift Ideas for College Students
Surprise the bird lovers in your life with these bird-themed gifts. Whether they tend to their own flocks or admire birds from a distance, these bird gift ideas include something for everyone.
Accessory Gifts for College Students
These accessory items offer helpful and stylish solutions for students as they navigate their studies and always make a good gift college student.
Novelty Socks
Most everyone wears socks, but not everyone gets to wear socks as fun as these! Show a flash of personality with these unique sock designs.
Cozy Lounging Socks
Keep chills from drafty spaces away with a set (or two) of cozy lounge socks.
Travel Neck Pillows
These adorable travel pillows bring more fun to a road trip, train ride, or flight home. Snuggle up in cute comfort with these animal-themed neck support pillows.
Book and Tablet Rests
These book and tablet rests come in a fun variety of colors and styles and provide more comfortable reading over long periods. They’re great for both at home and on the go! Over 11,000 5-star reviews!
Soft Contoured Sleep Masks
Get more restful sleep at any time with these contoured blackout sleep masks, available in a variety of colors and styles. They have over 46,000 perfect 5-star reviews!
Men’s UGG Slippers
High-quality UGG slippers for men are available in stylish colors and a variety of fits!
Women’s UGG Slippers
A pair of high-quality and stylish UGG slippers are sought-after choices that are made to last for years!
Bathroom Gifts for College Students
College students sharing bathrooms with others need to be able to transport their toiletries to and from the bathroom with each shower. These products can help.
Shower Caddies
A quick-drying shower caddy is a must-have everyday item for anyone sharing a shower space with roommates or dormmates. These sturdy shower caddies make it easy to carry a good selection of toiletries to the shower and back.
Shower Shoes
A fast-drying pair of shower shoes will help keep feet from making contact with shared shower floors.
Lightweight Bathrobes
A quality bathrobe is essential for students to go between shared bathrooms and back to their private bedrooms. These popular unisex bathrobes are available in over 15 colors!
Tech Gifts for College Students
The right tools can make a world of difference in productivity.
Adjustable Phone and Tablet Stands
These foldable tech holders are sturdy enough to hold smartphones and tablets, plus the pivoting sections adjust fully to provide a comfortable viewing angle every time!
Webcam Privacy Covers
![CloudValley Webcam Cover Slide[2-Pack], 0.023 Inch Ultra-Thin Metal Web Camera Cover for Macbook Pro, iMac, Laptop, PC, iPad Pro, iPhone 8/7/6 Plus, Protect Your Visual Privacy [Black]](https://m.media-amazon.com/images/I/41mryGePIlL._SL500_.jpg "CloudValley Webcam Cover Slide[2-Pack], 0.023 Inch Ultra-Thin Metal Web Camera Cover for Macbook Pro, iMac, Laptop, PC, iPad Pro, iPhone 8/7/6 Plus, Protect Your Visual Privacy [Black]")
Ensure videos are only broadcast at the desired times with these stick-on webcam privacy covers.
Extra-Long Charging Cables
These extra-long charging cables (10 ft) will help make it possible to work on devices while they are still plugged in and charging.
Portable Waterproof BlueTooth Speakers
Enjoy great sound anywhere with a highly-rated portable waterproof BlueTooth speaker.
Noise-Canceling Headphones
The large over-ear style headphones provide a comfortable fit, while the noise-canceling technology helps to reduce audible distractions.
White Noise Machines
Relax with this popular white noise machine that provides soothing sounds to help reduce noisy distractions and fall asleep faster.
Silent Mouse Devices
Enjoy a quieter work environment with a quiet computer mouse that almost completely eliminates the physical clicking sound of mouse buttons. Roommates love these! 😉
Laptop Cooling Pads
Use a laptop cooling pad to protect the lap from too much heat and to cool laptop hardware to help it last longer.
Power Surge Protecting Power Strips
Modern technology has changed our lives, but our homes rarely include enough power outlets to run it all. Add much-needed power outlets with these heavy gauge extension cords that include surge-protecting power strips.
Everyday Essentials for College Students
Some things are always needed in a college student’s life – these student gift ideas make sure they’ve got all the day-to-day essentials. These are some of the best gifts for a college freshman as they start off on their own!
Snack Samplers
Snacks are almost always a welcome addition to the pantry for every college student! These snack sampler boxes include plenty to share with friends and study groups.
Drink Samplers
Stay refreshed with bottled juice sampler packs that provide vitamins and much-needed hydration.
Reusable Water Bottles
It’s easier to stay hydrated with large reusable water bottles that can travel from school to home. These Nalgene water bottles are some of the highest-rated options available!
Highly-Rated Ink Pens
Keep plenty of pens everywhere they are needed with these multi-packs of highly-rated Pilot Precise pens.
Sturdy Laundry Bags
These durable backpack laundry bags are a godsend when toting heavy loads around on laundry days! Available in multiple colors.
First Aid Kits
Be ready for surprises, and always have a basic first aid kit with the essentials on hand.
Home Furnishing Gifts for College Students
Add personal touches to any space to instantly make it feel like home. These furnishings and décor items fit in perfectly in small spaces and make great college dorm gifts.
Slim Hangers
These slim clothes hangers have a skinny profile that takes up less space per item in the closet. Over 76,000 5-star ratings!
Underbed Storage Containers
Take advantage of every possible square inch of storage space with zippered underbed storage bags.
Bedside Caddy
Add convenient storage for a small selection of essential items with this smart bedside caddy. Available in three colors.
Bedside Shelf
This bedside shelf makes it easy to add shelf space to keep essential items by the bed – perfect for students in dorm rooms! Available in multiple sizes.
Portable Tray Desk
Set up shop almost anywhere with an adjustable tray desk that fits a laptop, mouse, and more!
Lighted Mirror
Great lighting for grooming is tough to find no matter where you live but can be especially so for college students. A lighted mirror and magnifier can help provide light exactly where needed.
Cosmetic and Beauty Storage
Caboodles cosmetic cases have been around for decades and are not showing any signs of losing popularity points. Multiple compartments and a portable design allow ladies to easily keep track of and carry their beauty essentials wherever life takes them!
Dimmable Desk Lamps with USB Charging Ports
These dimmable desk lamps provide the perfect amount of light for work, study, or relaxing while also offering convenient USB charging ports!
Memo Boards
Return to dorms’ original social media by leaving a written or pinned memo on their memo board!
Neon Sign Lamps
Inspire and encourage the passion of dreams with a brightly lit, glowing neon “Dream” lamp.
Diversion Safes
These diversion safes offer discrete and safer storage of valuable and sensitive items.
Storage Ottomans
These storage ottomans are smart solutions that provide extra storage space and double as seating or a table when needed!
Air Purifiers
Clean and sanitize the air with a small air purifier for medium-sized rooms.
Vornado Fans
Choose a stylish and highly-rated Vornado fan to help circulate air and help a room feel cooler.
Heated Blankets
Ensure personal comfort with an electric heated blanket and stay cozy all year long!
Kitchen Gifts for College Students
Encourage young cooks to explore the food they love with kitchen products suitable for small spaces. These quality kitchen investments are easy to use and are designed to last for many years!
Kitchen Mitt and Towel Sets
Make sure they have these kitchen essentials on hand when they need them. These matching kitchen sets include oven mitts, pot holders, and more!
Collapsible Popcorn Poppers
These BPA-free microwave popcorn makers offer an easy way to make a quick bowl of popcorn — the quintessential student snack! The silicone bowls fold down for compact storage when not in use.
Collapsible Kitchen Tools
Find room in small spaces for these versatile and collapsible kitchen tools.
Collapsible Water Kettle
This collapsible dual voltage kettle has a small footprint and collapses for easier storage in small spaces.
Kitchen Utensil Sets
Start them with these versatile kitchen utensil sets that include all the basics needed to make the most popular meals!
Nesting Kitchen Tools
These nesting kitchen measuring beakers have an intelligent design that makes them ideal for measuring liquids and providing compact storage, perfect for small spaces.
Nesting Food Storage Containers
These highly-rated food storage containers provide lots of storage space when needed but nest inside each other for compact storage when not in use.
Kitchen Thermometer
No one should leave food safety up to chance. These kitchen thermometers provide a quick reading to indicate when food is ready.
Electric Kettles
Help them quickly boil water for fresh coffee, tea, or cooking with a highly-rated electric kettle.
Ninja Kitchen Appliances
The professional power of Ninja kitchen appliances makes it easy to crush ice, blend smoothies, and create hundreds of great recipes.
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What were some of your favorite things that helped make student life easier?
Thank for sharing this information about the best gift for college students, just the other day my nephew was talking to us and he mentioned the his girlfriend is starting college this year and he’s wondering what gifts are good for her, and she may need in college, I shared this post with him and I know he will be very great full for this many ideas.
I already make my notes too because soon I will need this list for my daughter soon she will be enrolling to college. This list is a must have items for college students.
Great post thank you very much.
God Bless You
Hi GVporras, thank you so much for the kind and encouraging words. I wish your family all the best in their pursuits!
This is a great list of practical gifts for college aged students! My little sister is about to start college out in Tennessee and I know she would appreciate most of these! Thanks for doing the research and putting the time in to put all of this together for people who are looking for great gift ideas.
Hi Jordan, what an exciting time for your sister! I hope she enjoys the practical surprises that you find for her!!
More great gift ideas! My son is about ready to start his training academy and live on the campus. So he will need a few things for his room, and you have a LOT of great ideas I can use for him. I will look through all the ideas, and find something…maybe more the thing.. essentials that he will need.
Hi Leahrae, I remember being thrilled at the thoughtful and practical gifts that I received when I moved out of my parent’s home and onto campus. Congrats to him and best wishes for this exciting chapter in his life!
Wow, this is a huge list of gift ideas for college students and most are very useful and must-haves. I ran into a problem though, cannot just decide on one or two gifts but instead multiple gifts from your list. Some of the gifts on your list can be bought multiple times as the college student needs to update instead of reusing. I’m going to share this list with my daughter to pick out what she needs and buy for her.
LOL, I’ll bet that the college students in your life wouldn’t mind getting more than one gift if you are feeling so inspired. 🙂 Thanks so much for sharing the list with your daughter!
Hi Alyce, Latest trends change at an incredible pace. Choosing the right gifts for college students may seem daunting. We all know, it’s not easy to find a gift that balances what a student needs and will actually use.
Your Best Gifts College Students list contains all basic, sensible helpful living necessities at a variety of price points. Chances are college students will find something that fits their budget.
Thanks for sharing a helpful article with us. Much appreciated.
Hi Bushra, Trends do change very quickly, and no one is more at the front of these changing tides than today’s college students! I’m glad to hear that you found the list of gifts for college students to be up-to-date and a helpful shopping aid!
Hey thanks for this article!
You don’t know how useful it is, I found getting gifts for college age range a little hard, I’m not sure if it’s because I overthink it. But just by going through this it definitely has jogged my memory or at least opened my mind.
What I try to think when gifting someone is what would I like to be given if I was in that age, and it helps a lot!
Hi Sariyah, Thanks for sharing. It’s also helpful for me to see a range of gift ideas from different categories — it makes it so much easier to pick out something perfect. Enjoy!
Great gift ideas for college students! Christmas is around the corner and this list is really helping me finding a gift for my daughter who is in college! I think I am gonna get her some kitchen tools. Thanks for this research! Makes shopping a lot more practical and easier!
Hello! These days (as an adult), I enjoy finding helpful kitchen tools, and those are easy purchases to make. However, during college and without my own kitchen, it was not fun to spend money on household items like things for the kitchen — even though those items were very much needed! I’m sure your daughter will love the thoughtful kitchen gifts!
Hi Alyce :
Great selection of items and ideas, I’ve just finished my daughters’ college adventure, and I am surprised how many things are required. As parents, you want them to stay focused on their studies not go through any shortage that could interrupt their busy schedules. I am sure you’ve covered and at the same time provided an excellent list to have in mind;for valuable,useful presents to be offered with their limited budgets.
thanks
Cesar M
Hi Cesar, College is such an exciting time, but it’s very common for student budgets to be stretched extremely thin during those years. It’s definitely a good time to gift college students with things that they want, need, and will use!
What a great list of gifts for college bound students! I think about what I took to college, and it was more like “Survivor” with a toothbrush and a comb. You really put together a group of gifts that have real value to a student going off to college. I think some of these gifts would work well for my wife and brother-in-law, who are both big fans of “Survivor” living. I ordered the Dinosaur Memo and the Adjustable Phone Stand for my granddaughter, who just went off to college. Not only that, but I am going to keep this page in my favorite places for when my other grandkids get ready to go for the college experience. Thanks for the great gift ideas.
Hello, terriching! Thank you so much for adding Best Rewards Programs to your favorites!
The college years are such a wonderful time of life – making lifelong friends, learning more about your field of study, and learning how to live as an adult. Quite a bit gets packed into those years!
Alyce – You clearly put a lot of effort into this post with all the items that might meet a student’s wish list at Christmas. At this time of year, I am usually wracking my brains as to what people of student age would actually want, and hate buying things that may be just ignored or passed on. With that in mind, this post was very useful in presenting products to buy that will be welcomed by them. The post has also given me some other ideas based on the products you show. Thanks
You are most welcome — I’m very happy that you found a few gift ideas for Christmas presents!
The Cellphone stand and the LED desk lamp is really important I’d say, I remember back when I was studying, I was arranging books and sometimes look for boxes or even polystyrene foam boxes to make my own phone holder to help me read some files as I don’t have an iPad haha. Definitely getting those for my nephew, great suggestions, thanks 😀
It’s amazing how items that seem to little and inexpensive can be so wonderfully useful! It’s very thoughtful of you to think of gifting these items to your nephew.