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College graduation is one of life’s happiest and most exciting milestones, but possibly one of the hardest to find an appropriate gift. The gifts we get our young adults and their friends will vary but, rest assured, we found things that everyone would be thrilled to receive. Here are some of our favorite graduation gift ideas.
Best college graduation gifts
1. Lonely Planet: Where to Go When (2nd Edition) (Amazon)
Your young adult will no longer have long academic breaks and vacation but they can plan vacations with this handy guide that suggests best trips to take for each month of the year.
2. The Defining Decade: Why Your Twenties Matter and How to Make the Most of Them by Dr. Meg Jay (Amazon)
In this riveting book, Dr. Jay explains that the twenties are the most defining years of adulthood. These transitional years should not be squandered because this is the decade to get things done; the things not accomplished will have far-reaching consequences — your twenty-something NEEDS to read this. This is one of the best graduation gifts we have on our list!
Watch why over 4 million people have downloaded this Ted Talk by Dr. Jay.
3. TAKEYA Cold Brew Coffee Maker (Amazon)
Is your soon-to-be grad a cold-brewed coffee lover? This reusable, at-home cold brew maker has a 4-cup capacity and produces smooth, well-balanced, concentrated coffee. Save money and the environment, and enjoy delicious coffee. This would be a perfect graduation gift, especially if they are moving into their first apartment.
4. Apple AirPods Pro 2 (Amazon)
If you’re looking for a tech gift that your son or daughter will use (and thank you for) EVERY DAY, this is it. Apple AirPods Pro 2 are wildly popular and have fantastic functionality. They have noise-cancellation capabilities, an upgrade from earlier models, which can be very helpful in open offices. This device has practically become a necessity and, if they have an earlier generation, they will love the new model.
5. Meet 100 People by Pat Hedley (Pat Hedley)
6. GMorning, GNight: Little Pep Talks for You & Me by Lin-Manuel Miranda (Amazon)
Few artists in the universe inspire more admiration than Lin-Manuel Miranda, creator of the musical Hamilton. But before creating that mega-masterpiece, he posted daily tweets to inspire his followers. This New York Times Bestseller is a collection of his very best tweets and would make a great gift.
7. Alumni Association
8. Yurman Cable Classics Center Bracelet (David Yurman)
We love David Yurman jewelry, including their beautiful necklaces and earrings, but this gorgeous bracelet caught our eye, and we guarantee your graduate will love it. An elegant piece of jewelry is truly a keepsake grad gift.
10. Diploma Frame with Tassel Holder (Amazon)
The hard work they’ve put in over the past four years of college deserves to be celebrated! They can hang up their diploma and tassel in their living room or bedroom with this beautiful wooden frame. There are several design options and color combinations available that include spaces for the diploma, tassels, photograph and/or cap.
Why You Should Trust Us
We are three moms who have raised 8 young adults and have been working on product lists for over 14 years now, making us experts. When selecting products we survey the Grown and Flown Parents Facebook group of over 300,000 parents of teens, tweens and young adults. We do opinion polls, surveys and ask open-ended questions. We search for products that combine reasonable prices with high quality and are recommended by our large following.
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