The 50 Best Gifts for College Students
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Are you shopping for a college student? It can be hard to come up with great gift ideas for college students. Do they need practical gifts, like slippers or a backpack? Or something fun like a card game or popcorn popper? Maybe they'd love tech gifts like noise-canceling headphones or a new laptop.
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Our list of 50 gift ideas makes it easier to find the perfect gift. We included practical, fun, and thoughtful options so you can find the perfect gifts for your budget.
$ = Under $25 | $$ = $25-$50 | $$$ = $50-$100 | $$$$ = Over $100
Airpods
Our Recommendation: Apple Airpods With Wireless Charging Case
Perfect for studying, working out, or zoning out, Airpods are easy to use and portable. Plus, they pair seamlessly with iPhones and other Apple products. College students can stream shows without bothering their roommates or listen to study playlists with Airpods. Our pick also comes with a wireless charging case.
Echo Dot
Our Recommendation: Echo Dot (5th Gen)
For the college student who sleeps through their alarm, forgets their coat, and loves music, an Echo Dot makes the perfect gift. Set times and alarms, check the weather, and call family hands-free using the Echo Dot. It's also a great way to keep up with the news and play music.
Noise-Canceling Headphones
Our Recommendation: Sony Noise-Canceling Headphones
Being able to block out the world to study is an important skill for all college students. These Sony Noise-Canceling Headphones can help. The over-the-ear design relies on smart noise cancellation, and the battery lasts for up to 35 hours. These headphones use Bluetooth, so no wires are required.
Bluetooth Speaker
Our Recommendation: JBL Charge 4 Waterproof Speaker
A speaker is an essential item for college, providing a soundtrack for studying or a playlist when friends visit. The JBL Charge 4 is waterproof and portable. The battery life of this speaker lasts for up to 20 hours. It charges through a USB port and comes in multiple colors.
Instant Camera
Our Recommendation: Fujifilm Instax Mini 11 Instant Camera
College students love snapping pictures on their phones. But an instant camera prints out photos on the spot. College students can snap pics with friends, decorate their dorm rooms, or take selfies with the Fujifilm Instax Mini. Throw in a pack of instant film for a perfect gift bundle.
Fitness Tracker
Our Recommendation: Fitbit Charge 5 Fitness and Activity Tracker
It can be tough to stay in shape during college with academics and social life competing for a student's attention. The Fitbit Charge 5 can track steps, calories burned, and hourly activity. The built-in GPS can also track pace and distance during runs or walks.
Coffee Maker
Our Recommendation: Black+Decker Five-Cup Coffee Maker
Some college students rely on caffeine to manage their daily routines. This simple Black+Decker coffee maker gets the job done at a reasonable price, allowing students to brew a pot in their dorm rooms. The lighted on/off switch means they can brew coffee early in the morning without waking up their roommates.
Amazon Fire TV Stick
Our Recommendation: Fire TV Stick 4K
For college students missing the free cable in the dorms, grab a Fire TV Stick so they can get the perfect streaming experience in their off-campus housing. The Fire TV Stick gives viewers access to Amazon Prime shows. They'll also be able to stream YouTube, Netflix, Disney+, HBO Max, and more.
Laptop
Our Recommendation: M1 Macbook Air
If you're in the market for a big-ticket item, consider a laptop. And college students love the Macbook Air. Lightweight, fast, and powerful, the Macbook Air also comes with up to 18 hours of battery life. It also pairs perfectly with an iPhone or Airpods.
Backpack
Our Recommendation: Fjallraven Kanken Classic Backpack
A good backpack is a college staple. And the Fjallraven Kanken Classic Backpack ranks among the most popular options. Classic and durable, the Kanken is also waterproof, roomy, and dirt resistant. Plus, it has handles to change things up. Check out our list of the 10 best college backpacks for other options.
Slippers
Our Recommendation: UGG Tasman Slippers
Many college students appreciate a quality pair of slippers, but they often don't buy slippers for themselves. We chose the UGG Tasman Slippers for their soft sheepskin lining, fashionable suede, and non-skid rubber soles. They're also incredibly durable, so your giftee won't need to replace their slippers for years.
Card Game
Our Recommendation: What Do You Meme? Card Game
Portable and affordable, card games are perfect gifts for college students. Our pick is What Do You Meme? It's a fast-paced game where players add captions to famous memes and compete for the most hilarious answer. The game also offers expansion packs for future gift-giving occasions.
Beanie Hat
Our Recommendation: Carhartt Knit Cuffed Beanie
A beanie makes a great gift for college students — especially if you choose a classic like the Carhartt knit cuffed beanie. Durable and warm, Carhartt's beanie comes in over a dozen colors. And thanks to its stretchable fabric, it will fit most heads.
Planner
Our Recommendation: Clever Fox Ultimate Achiever's Goal Planner
A planner is an easy way for the student in your life to keep track of their tasks, assignments, errands, or other miscellaneous notes. Clever Fox's premium planner allows students to keep track of goals, finances, and classes in a fun and creative way.
Desk Lamp
Our Recommendation: AFROG Desk Lamp with Wireless Phone Charger
Most college students stay up late studying. Make sure their study space is well lit by giving them a desk lamp. Our pick includes multiple brightness levels plus a wireless phone charger. It's a great option for college students living in dorms or off-campus housing.
Instant Pot
Our Recommendation: Instant Pot Zest Plus 20-Cup Slow Cooker
An Instant Pot is among the best tools for cooking easy, simple, and healthy meals in decent quantities. This 20-cup model features plenty of room for stews, soups, and other dishes. The pot also features nine different smart functions, including sauté, steam, and slow cook.
Wallet Clip
Our Recommendation: ARW Carbon Fiber Wallet Money Clip
This money clip features RFID blocking to ensure that passersby can't steal a user's credit card information. The slim design weighs a little over two ounces, and the high-quality shell is made of carbon fiber, rendering the clip durable and resilient.
Water Bottle
Our Recommendation: Iron Flask Insulated Water Bottle
College students on the go need to stay hydrated. So consider gifting an insulated water bottle. Perfect for student athletes and students with early morning classes, this water bottle keeps cold drinks cold and coffee hot. Our pick also comes with three lids so students can get the perfect drinking experience.
Photo Clip String Lights
Our Recommendation: LECLSTAR Photo Clip String Lights
Perfect for homesick college students, photo clip string lights bring warmth to any room. Students can hang the lights on their walls and use the clips to attach photos. These battery-powered lights can be used in dorm rooms, apartments, or even outdoors.
Socks
Our Recommendation: Bombas Original Ankle Socks
The days when kids groaned at getting socks as gifts are in the past. Now, college students have to buy their own socks. That's why we added Bombas ankle socks to our list. Perfect for hiking across campus, hitting the track at the rec center, or just lounging around the dorms, Bombas socks come in over a dozen fun colors.
Personal Safe
Our Recommendation: Master Lock 5900D Portable Safe
Moving into a dorm room with a stranger may make a college-bound student feel uneasy about the security of their belongings. A personal safe from Master Lock lets students store away important items such as a smartphone, credit cards, cash, or identification. This portable safe allows users to set their own combination.
Night Light and Alarm Clock
Our Recommendation: Gallstep Night Light and Alarm Clock With Bluetooth Speaker
Help the college-bound person in your life wake up in time for class with this fun night light and alarm clock. With three brightness levels and 48 color options, this device is powered by a large-capacity battery that can be recharged by a USB cable in about six hours. This night light from Gallstep also doubles as a Bluetooth speaker.
Boots
Our Recommendation: Dr. Martens Flora Boots
Boots are a staple for college students, especially undergrads battling cold temperatures. But quality boots are often outside the budget for many students. So consider a sleek, durable pair of Dr. Martens. Our pick is a leather Chelsea-style boot that will keep feet warm, dry, and comfortable.
Folding Chair
Our Recommendation: Urban Shop Super Soft Faux Fur Saucer Folding Chair
A comfortable chair is a must for any dorm room. It provides a place for friends to sit and an alternative to the desk and bed. This folding saucer chair allows your student to curl up and sink in for maximum comfort. The simple black design pairs well with any decor.
Smartphone Printer
Our Recommendation: Zink Kodak Step Wireless Mobile Photo Mini Printer
Printers are sometimes tough to access on college campuses. This Kodak smartphone printer allows users to instantly print photos from their phone, which students can use to decorate their dorm room or give to friends. They can also edit each photo with the Kodak app before printing.
Weighted Blanket
Our Recommendation: Waowoo Adult Weighted Blanket - Queen Size, 15 lbs
Students sleeping away from home for the first time should do their best to maximize their comfort. They can use weighted blankets to improve sleep quality and reduce anxiety. This 15-pound blanket from Waowoo includes pockets to more evenly distribute its weight.
Mini-Fridge
Our Recommendation: AstroAI Mini Fridge
This AstroAI fridge contains space for up to six 12-ounce cans, medications, and food. It offers the ability to cool or warm, depending on a student's storage needs. The small design makes it ideal for dorm rooms and lets students keep their favorite snacks on hand. The fridge comes in several colors.
Pillow
Our Recommendation: Tempur-Pedic Memory Foam Cloud Pillow
College students tend to cheap out on pillows. But a quality pillow means a better night of rest — which sets students up for success the next day in class. Our pick is a Tempur-Pedic memory foam pillow that supports sleepers in any position. Plus, a washable cover makes it easy to keep the pillow clean.
Smart Notebook
Our Recommendation: Rocketbook Smart Reusable Notebook
Take note-taking to a whole new level with this smart notebook by Rocketbook. The dotted grid notebook uses a special Pilot Frixion Pen to record notes, which you can send to popular cloud services using the free Rocketbook app. The erasable pages mean no more wasting paper, and notebooks come in a variety of colors.
Tote Bag
Our Recommendation: BAGGU Reusable Grocery Shopping Bag
Perfect for hauling groceries to off-campus apartments or carrying library books, a reusable tote bag is a must-have item for college. And these BAGGU bags are a great option because of their durability and style. They also pack down super small for space-conscious college students living in the dorms.
Stun Gun and Flashlight
Our Recommendation: VIPERTEK VTS-989-1 Stun Gun With LED Flashlight
Classes, work schedules, or late-night study sessions at the library may mean walking back to the dorm after dark. One way to help keep the student in your life safe is with this stun gun, which also doubles as an LED flashlight. Product features include ultra-sharp spike electrodes that penetrate clothing and a rechargeable battery.
Cookbook
Our Recommendation: "Recipes Every College Student Should Know"
Whether your college student lives in the dorms or off campus, they'll appreciate a gift that fills their bellies and teaches valuable skills. Our pick teaches students how to microwave mug cakes or bacon and put together brain-friendly meals for themselves and their friends.
Phone Mount
Our Recommendation: Lamicall Cell Phone Holder With 360 Mount Clip
The universal clamp of this phone holder can be clipped to the side of a desk, table, or bed frame. It adjusts to fit most smartphones, and the flexible gooseneck allows users to position their phone at the perfect angle needed to watch their favorite shows or make video calls back home. The clamp is available in black or white.
Portable Charger
Our Recommendation: 2-Pack Miady Dual USB Portable Charger
Everyone knows that college student who walks around with their phone battery at under 10%. A portable charger is a perfect gift to make sure students always have a charged phone. Our pick works for most major smartphones, including iPhones and Android phones.
Essential Oil Diffuser
Our Recommendation: Pure Daily Care Ultimate Aromatherapy Diffuser
Living in a dorm may feel cramped and stuffy, but an air purifier can help clean the air and make any room feel more like home. This essential oil diffuser functions as an air purifier, ionizer, and night light. Users can let it run continuously or set it to run on a timer for one, three, or six hours.
Desk Organizer
Our Recommendation: Office Oasis Desk Organizer
This slender desk organizer offers compartments to store essential office supplies without taking up too much desk space. It holds pens, notepads, paper clips, and thumbtacks, and it even includes a phone stand. Students can rearrange the compartments, allowing them to organize the item to their needs.
Bluetooth Tile Tracker
Our Recommendation: Tile Starter Pack 2-Pack Bluetooth Tracker
Know a college student who always leaves their keys in the dorm bathroom or loses their phone every time they set it down? A tile tracker helps absentminded students keep track of their wallets, keys, and phones. It's a thoughtful gift that also gives parents peace of mind.
Portable Shower Caddy
Our Recommendation: iDesign Orbz Plastic Bathroom Shower Caddy
Sharing a bathroom in a dorm poses challenges. A portable shower caddy ensures that the student in your life can easily complete their daily routines. This caddy by iDesign comes in a variety of colors and features holes in the bottom to allow water to drain. It also offers compartments that let users easily organize toiletries.
Voice Recorder
Our Recommendation: Sony Store ICD-PX370 Mono Digital Voice Recorder
A voice recorder is a great tool for recording classroom lectures to ensure students don't miss any information. The Sony ICD-PX370 boasts up to 57 hours of battery life and a USB connection, making it easy to transfer recordings to a computer. The recorder also features an easy-to-read digital screen and headphone jack.
Light Therapy Lamp
Our Recommendation: Circadian Optics UV Light Therapy Lamp
During the winter months, college students may experience stress, homesickness, or sleeping issues. This light therapy lamp combats the negative impacts of these problems with pure white LED light that mimics the sun without exposing users to harmful UV rays.
Electric Kettle
Our Recommendation: Mueller Ultra Electric Kettle
An electric kettle offers a safe and easy way to boil water. This comes in handy for making a warm drink like tea or fixing a quick meal for days when a student needs a break from the cafeteria. This kettle features long-lasting borosilicate glass and stainless steel.
Storage Ottoman
Our Recommendation: YOUDENOVA Storage Ottoman Cube
Finding storage space in a college dorm room can be a challenge. The best furniture serves multiple functions. This ottoman offers both a storage compartment and a place for your student to rest their feet. It also features sponge padding for increased durability and comfort.
Lap Desk
Our Recommendation: LapGear Home Office Lap Desk
A lap desk can help students make better use of the comfortable furniture in their dorm. It also gives them a place to study if their roommate is already sleeping. This LapGear model features multiple colors, a vertical phone slot, and an integrated mouse pad.
Power Strip
Our Recommendation: BESTEK 6-Outlet Power Strip With USB Ports
Having access to more power outlets can be convenient, but a dorm room can limit a student's options. This circular six-outlet power strip includes four USB charging ports. It also features a compact design and a six-foot extension cord that's ideal for smaller living spaces.
Phone Sanitizer and Charger
Our Recommendation: PhoneSoap 3 UV Phone Sanitizer and Universal Charger
Smartphones can get incredibly dirty, but this device is a great way to help kill germs. Available in several colors, it functions as both a sanitizer and a phone charger. It uses UV-C bulbs to kill 99.99% of bacteria and accommodates all smartphones.
Popcorn Popper
Our Recommendation: Original Salbree Silicone Microwave Popcorn Maker
Popcorn is delicious and cheap, making it a classic snack for a good reason. But there's nothing worse than a flaming bag of microwave popcorn in the dorms. So give the college student in your life a silicone popcorn maker that's safe and easy to use. Plus, the Salbree popcorn maker collapses, making it a great gift for the dorms.
Under-Bed Storage Bags
Our Recommendation: Onlyeasy Foldable Underbed Bags
Cramped dorm rooms offer limited storage space. These foldable underbed bags create extra space, allowing students to store essentials under their beds. The breathable and eco-friendly design helps keep stored items fresh. And handles make these bags easier to move, even if the contents are heavy.
Bedside Caddy
Our Recommendation: Lib Large Bedside Caddy
This caddy lets students keep important items next to their beds. And it's especially handy if their living space doesn't provide room for a bedside table. It offers compartments for a phone, laptop or tablet, books or magazines, and pens. The caddy comes in various colors and simply hooks over a bed frame.
Dry-Erase Sticky Notes
Our Recommendation: MC SQUARES 4x4 Reusable Sticky Notes
These dry-erase sticky notes provide a reusable way to take notes, write reminders, or keep track of assignments. The pads stick to a variety of surfaces, such as glass, steel, and aluminum. You can also place them on cabinets using Bubble Bond, a reusable and residue-free adhesive.
Coffee Mug Warmer
Our Recommendation: Cosori Coffee Mug Warmer and Mug Set
Cosori offers a coffee warmer and mug set that can keep a student's favorite beverage warm while they study. It features an LED display screen and lets users easily control the temperature. The mug comes with a lid and is made of stainless steel with a slip-resistant silicone sleeve.
