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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. 3-in-1 Gym Duffle Bag (lululemon)
This stylish and practical duffle bag from lululemon is water-repellent, has a detachable strap, zippered main compartment, exterior pocket, and interior pockets so they can keep sweaty gym clothes or toiletries apart from the rest. Available in three colors, this versatile bag would be a nice encouragement for your teen to go to the gym. Slip a gift card for fitness classes or a gym membership for an even more generous grad gift.
3. 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.
4. 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.
5. 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.
6. Eagle Creek Pack-It Container Set – Set of 3 (Amazon)
Packing cubes are a life-saver for travelers and Eagle Creek is a top brand. This set includes a two-sided cube, with a divider to separate dirty clothes from clean, an ultra-lightweight laundry sac that packs into its own zipper pocket, and a gear pouch for wet gear you want to keep secure from the rest.
7. YETI Tumbler (YETI)
YETI is a legendary brand, and your son or daughter would love to have a travel mug to keep their coffee hot all morning. Personalize it with their initials or their alma mater’s logo, and they will use this — and thank you — daily. YETIs are good graduation gifts known for durability.
8. lululemon Backpack (lululemon)
The lululemon aptly named “Everywhere Backpack” is perfect for life on the go, from work to the gym and everywhere on weekends. With plenty of pockets, including an exterior for a 16″ laptop and inside ones for the rest, this smart-looking bag comes in several sleek colors. A new backpack is a handy gift and one they would love.
9. Leatherology Passport Holder and Luggage Tag(Leatherology)
If your grad is eager to travel the world, this leather passport holder and luggage tag set is a fantastic gift. This passport holder has enough space for credit cards or cash; both pieces can be personalized with a monogram. A luggage tag will help your young adult more easily spot their checked bag if you choose a bright color – there are 13 to choose from. Don’t forget to add a note reminding them of how proud you are of them.
10. Meet 100 People by Pat Hedley (Pat Hedley)
Young adults can learn the art of meeting people to expand their network of professional contacts, a skill that will enhance their professional development and career prospects. Pat Hedley has written THE book on the topic.
11. 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.
12. Sondor Los Angeles Cutting Board (Amazon)
This cutting board is both beautiful and functional. Made of walnut, cherry, and maple, it is reversible and has a built-in well to make it easy to chop and sort ingredients.
13. Leatherology Slim Wallet (Leatherology)
If your son could use a more conventional wallet with room for all ID, insurance, and credit cards, consider this slim bifold wallet from Leatherology. Add initials and choose from 10 different colors. Available with RIFD (radio-frequency identification) blocking, too. Slip in a gift card to Starbucks or a favorite retailer for an added treat.
14. Bose QuietComfort Ultra Bluetooth Headphones (Amazon)
It was not just the dorm or college apartment that was noisy for your grad. Open office floor plans or working from home with roommates(!) are all distracting and loud. These wireless headphones have excellent sound quality and would be a very welcome gift.
Soundcore by Anker Space One Headphones (Amazon)
For a less expensive but also highly rated set of headphones, consider these for a great gift.
15. Away The Medium Luggage (Away)
A new piece of luggage from popular brand Away would be a fantastic college graduation gift. “The Medium,” which comes in 10 colors, can hold up to two weeks’ worth of clothes and has three mesh pockets and an extra hanging pocket for optimal organization. Each bag also includes a polyester laundry bag, a nice bonus that can come in handy when your young adult is traveling. Available is many trendy colors. Away is one of our top luggage brands; you can read more about it and our other favorite luggage picks here.
16. Alumni Association
17. 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.
18. Cosori Air Fryer (Amazon)
Make cooking much more accessible by getting your graduate an air fryer. It heats up within seconds and can cook almost anything — salmon, chicken, tofu, french fries, vegetables, and much more.
19. Ninja Blender (Amazon)
A Ninja blender is an excellent addition to a kitchen. The strong motor crushes the toughest ingredients quickly for creamy frozen drinks, smoothies, sauces, and more. It offers 3 speeds, a 28-recipe inspiration guide, and is dishwasher-safe.
20. Apple Watch Series 10 (Amazon)
If your graduate cares about their health and fitness, they can track their heart rate, sleep stages, and more with an Apple Watch. The Series 10 is way more than a simple fitness device and provides incredible heath feedback.
21. 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.
22. Personalized Gifts (Mark & Graham)
Mark & Graham is our go-to for personalized gifts and you’ll find a wide selection of grad gift ideas that are traditional or trendy, and offered at a wide range of price points. Y
23. Home Office Lap Desk (Amazon)
If your new graduate will be working a hybrid or remote job in the future, this at-home lap desk offers the ideal setup for comfort while working in bed or on a couch. It has a soft dual-cushion base, wrist pad, mouse pad, phone slot, tablet slot, and storage drawer.
Why You Should Trust Us
We are three moms who have raised 8 young adults and have been working on product lists for over 12 years now, making us experts. When selecting products we survey the Grown and Flown Parents Facebook group of nearly 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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