Top 12 Graduation Gifts for Your College Graduate

Looking for the perfect graduation gift for college grads in your life? The best college graduation gifts (and even high school graduation gifts) are ones that are meaningful and practical. Use this list of graduation gift ideas below to help you find just the good graduation gift!

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Graduating from college is a huge milestone!

The college graduate in your life have been working toward this momentous occasion for years, so it’s only natural to want to shower them with special graduation gifts to help close that chapter in their college years while sending them off (more prepared!) into the “real world” of adulthood.

Think outside the box and gift them with something that is truly memorable – and useful. Graduation is right around the corner ?

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Top 12 Graduation Gifts for College Graduates

Graduating from college often means the graduate will be moving into their own living space ( new apartment in a new city) and possibly starting a new job – a very important milestone.

Celebrate the big accomplishment of graduating from college with these awesome and best gift ideas. They will be surprise and delight the graduate and also be practical items to help them get started.

1. Personalized Passport Holder as Graduation Gift

When you’re young, with no limits holding you back, traveling the world can be extremely appealing. Now that college is over, your graduate may find that traveling is perfect for this point in their life. Give them that little nudge that they may need with a personalized passport holder that comes in different colors! They will surely love this custom graduation gift.

2. Cash- The Most Coveted Graduation Gift

Let’s face it…cash is king.

Your new graduate will be needing some cash before venturing out into the wonders of the world. They may not be used to having cash, or even know how to handle it.

Even if they do have experience with it, everyone deserves an opportunity to let loose to some degree. Give them a wide array of bills, and just let them have some fun. No rules at all!

Perfect Graduation Gifts to Celebrate the End of their College Years (1)

3. Anyone Would Love A Suitcase Full of New Clothes as Graduation Gift

How awesome of a gift would it be to give the graduate in your life a suitcase packed full of new clothes for them to grab, and just hit the road?

If you know that they’ve been planning a trip to the beach after graduation, load up a nice suitcase full of flip-flops, summer wear, and sunscreen and take the stresses of packing out of their mind.

Being prepared for a trip that they didn’t even have to pack for? Best gift ever.

4. Paying Their Student Loan Payment As Graduation Gift Would Make Anyone Jump for Joy!

Since money is one of the best graduation gifts for college graduates, give the “gift” of paying their student loans (or maybe their new rent) for a couple of months. If you don’t know exactly what gift may be perfect, offering to pay a month or two of a large bill is an awesome choice that they will love more than words can say.

My uncle did this for me, and it was a lifesaver as I was trying to get on my feet for the first time. I was – and still am – so grateful that he thought to do that!

5. Versatile Kitchen Appliance Is One of the Best Graduation Gifts

For someone new to working and maintaining a place of their own, balancing the two can be a challenging endeavor. Help make it easier by giving them an Instant Pot! There are so many great things you can do with this tool.

This device is a pressure cooker, slow cooker, steamer, rice cooker, air fryer (and more) all in one, so it won’t take up much room in that first small apartment with small spaces. It will, however, be a huge help when it comes to preparing food, while also saving time & money!

Our favorite is the Instant Pot Duo Nova 7-in-1, which costs less than $100.

college cap, diploma and books on a table

6. Gift Cards for Graduation is Priceless!

Some of the best gifts for college grads are gift cards. Remember how hard it was to be out on your own at first: balancing a budget for the first time and taking on new responsibilities?

Help make money less of a concern by helping them meet their clothing and food needs without busting their new budget wide open.

7. Anyone Will Be Grateful For Having a Laptop As A Graduation Gift

Let’s just admit it- Today’s world is a digital one.

Everything is done online from working to shopping to video calls with friends or family. The laptop your graduate had through college has been through a lot of wear and tear.

The gift of a new laptop as they get started on adult life will be appreciated in more ways than one! Any cool gadget like tablet or iPad would make any new grad genuinely happy!

8. Coffee Maker is a Win Graduation Gift

Help your graduate avoid getting into the expensive habit of going to a coffee shop every day for their caffeine fix. A gift of a nice coffee maker or Keurig will give them the perfect coffee every time – and help them save money!

Related Post: 13 Gizmos for the Coffee Lover

9. Furnishings as a Graduation Gift?– A BIG yess!

If your college graduate is moving into a place of their own for the first time, they likely don’t have much furniture to take with them. Help them out by buying them a bed, a dresser, a couch, a kitchen table or even small items.

10. Amazon Prime: An All-In-One-Gift

Amazon is the perfect all-in-one gift. An Amazon Prime membership not only offers free standard shipping (saving money), but it also offers popular streaming options for TV and music.

Perfect for a young adult on their own for the first time – browse, checkout, and wait with free shipping!

Gift an Amazon Prime membership here.

11. Photo Memories As Graduation Gift is For Keeps!

One of the most meaningful and keepsake graduation gifts to give is a photo book of fun memories with your graduate. Make it personal and this inexpensive gift idea will suddenly become one of their most treasured possessions.

12. The Best Graduation Gift Anyone Could Have is A Fun Trip

Plan a trip with your graduate before they move from the commitment of college to the commitment of a full-time job.

It doesn’t need to be an expensive or extravagant trip – a simple road trip can be the most fun memory-making experience!

While one can’t go wrong with gifting ANY type of graduation gift, take the time to find one that is unique to you and the most helpful for your graduate.

Have fun with finding the best college graduation gifts to make their transition from full-time student to full-time adult just a little bit easier!