Holidays & Entertaining Gift Guide 2023: 101+ Best Gift Ideas 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. By Lauren Phillips Lauren Phillips Lauren is a former editor at Real Simple and currently serves as a senior digital editor for Better Homes & Gardens. Real Simple's Editorial Guidelines and Lisa Milbrand Lisa Milbrand Lisa Milbrand has more than 20 years of experience as a lifestyle writer and editor, writing thousands of articles on topics that help people live better and healthier lives for Real Simple, Parents, and dozens of other top publications. Real Simple's Editorial Guidelines Updated on April 21, 2022 Share Tweet Pin Email We independently research, test, review, and recommend the best products—learn more about our process. If you buy something through our links, we may earn a commission. williams-sonoma.com 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 View On 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 View On Elvisandkresse.com 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 View On 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 View On Easyplant.com 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 View On 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 View On Sandcloud.com 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 View On Blackblum.com 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 View On 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 View On HelloFresh 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 View On Amazon View On Baggu.com 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 MoMA Design Store View On Moma.org 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 View On 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 Target View On Amazon View On Walmart View On 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 Amazon View On Amazon View On Moma.org 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 View On 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 View On 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 Amazon View On 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 Amazon View On Amazon View On Walmart View On Academy.com 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 View On Grovemade.com 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 View On Vellabox.com 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 Courtesy of Walmart View On Amazon View On Walmart View On Best Buy 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 View On Supernatural.com 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 Food52 View On 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 View On Stitchfix.com 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 View On Awaytravel.com 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 View On 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 View On Kammok.com 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 View On Weathermanumbrella.com 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. Was this page helpful? Thanks for your feedback! Tell us why! Other Submit