28 Useful College Graduation Gifts They'll Actually Be Excited About

An advice-wielding deck of cards, shot glasses that double as conversation starters...and those are just two of the unique gift options on this list.

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college-graduation-gifts: Yeti cooler
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College graduation gifts are the perfect way to wish the young adults in your life good luck as they start life after college. Cash gifts are always welcome (and pretty common), but thoughtful gift-givers might want to pick a college graduation gift that's a little more personalized—but still just as useful.

The best college graduation gifts solve problems for the new grad—and these gifts solve all sorts of problems, from how to prepare for work life to organizing and decorating that first apartment. And this carefully curated list of graduation gifts will help your favorite college grads thrive, wherever their paths may lead.

Uncommon Goods Adulting Merit Badge Mug

Uncommon Goods Adulting Merit Badge Mug

Uncommon Goods

They'll love sipping their morning coffee from this funny mug that celebrates all the ways they're winning at adulting, from paying the bills to not ordering takeout.

Elvis & Kresse Messenger Bag

Elvis & Kresse Messenger Bag

Elvis & Kresse

A standout work bag will come in handy as they start their job hunt or their first day at work. This stylish (and super-sturdy) take is made from decommissioned British fire hoses, with a lining made from reclaimed Burberry cotton and military-grade parachute silk. It comes with free repairs for life, so it'll take them through to retirement.

Anthropologie Old Havana Pitcher

Anthropologie Old Havana Pitcher

Anthropologie

A chic pitcher can serve double duty in their new apartment—for serving sangria or margaritas at a party, or as a pretty vase for a bouquet.

EasyPlant Money Tree

EasyPlant Money Tree

EasyPlant

Get their plant parent life off to a promising start (and perhaps give them a little good luck on their road to success) with this money plant, potted in an ingenious planter that'll help keep even the biggest black thumb from killing it off. (They'll just need to pour water into the internal reservoir every couple of months.)

Uncommon Goods College Cityscape Rocks Glasses

Uncommon Goods College Cityscape Rocks Glasses

Uncommon Goods

Let them raise a glass to their alma mater with these stylish rocks glasses, adorned with sketches of their favorite quad.

Sand Cloud Terra XL Bath Bundle

Sand Cloud Terra XL Bath Bundle

Sand Cloud

These super-light Turkish-style towels are absorbent, but won't take up precious storage space in their new apartment. (And they'll be a grown-up upgrade from their spring break beach towels.) Bonus: These towels dry super-quickly—so they won't leave damp marks on the furniture or wood floors if they, ahem, aren't hung up properly.

Black+Blum Lunch Bag

Black+Blum Lunch Bag

Black+Blum

Let them skip the brown bag for something a little more eco-friendly. This insulated folding lunch bag is made of recycled PET from plastic water bottles and features sealed edges that help keep their lunch from leaking.

Brooklinen Classic Core Sheet Set

4.7
Brooklinen Classic Core Sheet Set

Brooklinen

Now that they're graduating from the dorm twin XL, the college grad may appreciate a set of upgraded sheets for their new bed. Brooklinen's highly rated, 270 thread count cotton sets stay cool—even if their new place doesn't include air conditioning.

Hello Fresh

Hello Fresh

Hello Fresh

Ensure they're not living on boxed mac and cheese and ramen with a subscription to Hello Fresh, which gives them pre-prepped ingredients and easy step-by-step instructions to make home-cooked meals easier to execute—and reduces food waste if they're just cooking for one. (No more letting produce wilt in the fridge if they need a single carrot and have to buy a whole bunch!)

Baggu Standard Baggu Nylon Ripstop Tote

4.6
Baggu Standard Baggu Nylon Ripstop Tote

Baggu

Simplify their errand-running with one of Baggu's much-beloved, ultra-light bags, which can handle the same amount of groceries as two to three plastic grocery bags, and folds up to a tiny 5-by-5 pouch.

Moft Z 5-in-1 Laptop Stand

Moft Z 5-in-1 Laptop Stand

MoMA Design Store

Their workstation (whether at home or at the office) will get a much-needed upgrade with this clever and stylish stand, which can be configured in five different ways to accommodate the most comfortable standing or seated working positions.

Uncommon Goods Make Your Voice Heard! Card Deck

Uncommon Goods Make Your Voice Heard! Card Deck

Uncommon Goods

Let's face it: They may not have the time (or inclination) to plow through a book of career advice. But this set of handy cards will make it easy to get short, sweet, and smart advice for whatever quandary they face on their path to success.

SodaStream Terra Sparkling Water Maker

SodaStream Terra Sparkling Water Maker

Target

If your favorite college grad is a big sparkling water or seltzer fan, this gift will get daily use—letting them create their own sparkling water with a quick touch of a button.

Bluefeel Montanc Rechargeable Mini Vacuum

Bluefeel Montanc Rechargeable Mini Vacuum

Amazon

This stylish take on the handheld vac will manage their kitchen disaster messes handily—and help them look stylish while they do it.

Crate & Barrel Bamboo Mixing Bowls Set of 5

Crate & Barrel Bamboo Mixing Bowls Set of 5

Crate & Barrel

This ecofriendly mixing bowl set, made of surplus bamboo fiber in soothing shades of blue and green, is a perfect new grad gift. They take up minimal space in a tiny kitchen and work beautifully for cooking, baking, and serving.

Uncommon Goods Talking Pints

Uncommon Goods Talking Pints

Uncommon Goods

If the new grad is moving to a new town, help them get to know their roommates, neighbors—or a first date—over a beer or their drink of choice with these clever conversation-starter pint glasses. Pair them with a few great beers to get them started.

How to Cook Everything

How to Cook Everything Book Cover

Amazon

This classic cookbook by former New York Times food writer and cookbook author Mark Bittman features plenty of guidance and recipes to help make them a more competent cook, whether they're looking to whip up pancakes or tackling a live lobster for the first time.

YETI Hopper Flip 12 Portable Soft Cooler

YETI Hopper Flip 12 Portable Soft Cooler

Amazon

Upgrade their picnics at the park, beach excursions or off-the-beaten-path adventures with a top-of-the-line cooler to keep their snacks and drinks cool—the tough Yeti is waterproof, airtight, and leakproof to help protect whatever's inside from whatever's outside.

Grovemade Wood Headphone Stand

Grovemade Wood Headphone Stand

Grovemade

This desk- or dresser-top stand will show off their prized headphones—and make it harder for them to misplace them. If their first work experience after college takes place at home, they'll appreciate this beautiful, sturdy storage tool (and whoever gifted it) at the start and end of every work day.

Vellabox Candles

Vellabox subscription

Vellabox

Their new, grown-up apartment might not always be clean, but you can help make sure it always smells clean: This monthly subscription delivers fresh, artisan candles to their door, so they can swap out scents and keep the good smells lingering, even if they haven't gotten around to taking out the trash. Subscriptions start at one small candle per month, with options for more and larger candles also available.

Nintendo Switch Lite

4.2
Nintendo Switch Lite

Courtesy of Walmart

They may be finished with college, but that doesn't mean they have to leave all fun behind. Remind them to take it easy every once in a while with this compact, portable gaming system, which has tons of fresh, engaging games that are fun for video gamers of all levels.

Supernatural Cleaning Starter Set

4.6
Supernatural Cleaning Starter Set

Supernatural

Venturing out on their own means they'll have to figure out everything for themselves—even which cleaners go on which surfaces. Help them out with this four-piece cleaning set, which includes gentle, natural cleaning concentrates that they can mix with water to create sprays for counters, glass and mirrors, tile, and floors.

Food52 Five Two Essential Knives

4.8
Five Two Essential Knives

Food52

As they're getting comfortable in the kitchen after college, you'll want to make sure they have the best tools of the trade—and nothing they don't need. This set of three essential knives ensures they have all the blades they need for basic meal prep and cooking, with good-looking (and colorful) handles and reliable Japanese steel blades.

Stitch Fix Gift Card

Stitch Fix Gift Card

Stitch Fix

The leggings-and-a-tee uniform she wore to those afternoon classes isn't going to cut it for her new corporate gig. Send her off into the real world with this smart styling service. She'll fill out a style questionnaire and be matched with a personal stylist, who will send her an assortment of items to choose from. Give a gift card to cover what she decides to keep.

Away The Carry-On

Away The Carry-On

Away

This chic, unbreakable polycarbonate carry-on has an ejectable battery for charging a cell phone, a TSA-approved combination lock, and a hidden laundry bag. The company also offers a 100-day free trial and a lifetime guarantee. Did someone say "home for the holidays?"

Crate & Barrel Wood/Marble Inlay Serving Board

Crate & Barrel Wood/Marble Inlay Serving Board

Crate & Barrel

Nothing says, "I don't live in a dorm anymore" like a piece of marble servingware. This serving board will dress up any wine-and-cheese night, even if the evening is more wine than cheese, and will be a college graduation gift any young adult will keep for years to come.

Kammok Roo Double Camping Hammock

Kammok Roo Double Camping Hammock

Kammok

The summer after graduation is the ideal time to go on an adventure—and even the moderately outdoorsy college grads will get a kick out of hanging a hammock in the local park on weekends. This one holds two people (up to 500 pounds total) and is made of super-breathable fabric, so cool summer evenings actually feel cool. Best of all, the colors range from in-your-face neons to easy-on-the-eyes darks.

Weatherman The Stick Umbrella

Weatherman The Stick Umbrella

Weatherman

Ward off drenched walks home and ruined work shoes with this college graduation gift, a sturdy, weatherman-approved umbrella that repels water and is built to withstand breaking and inverting. Best of all, there's an app that will let the new grad know when he or she needs the umbrella—and remind them to grab it as they're running out the door.

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