20 Gift Ideas Your Favorite College Student Will Get Use Out Of

There's no going wrong with gifting the college kid in your life a pair of good headphones, especially the Apple AirPods 4. This generation of AirPods has noise-canceling technology (great for studying or walking around campus), and also fits perfectly into your ear.

If your college kid is a reader, you'd do them a big service by gifting them a Kindle. They'll save space in their dorm or room by downloading all of the books on their TBR list to the e-reader. It's also portable, fitting in any size bag.

Speaking of reading, there's nothing like a good book to inspire a year of learning. Educated by Tara Westover tells the story of a teen who starts school late in life, suddenly experiencing a whole new world that she once thought was unattainable. The story is great for those also on a quest for knowledge.

Anyone studying physics or mathematics will appreciate a mini version of Newton's cradle set. You can simply plop it on a desk, and let the beads bump into each other.

A calendar is a great way to keep those in college organized, but one that's filled with quotes from inspirational leaders and figures throughout history is an even better way to start each day and month. This 2026 calendar is available for the New Year.

When you're in college, you're going to take any chance you have to get comfortable. That said, I had one of these blanket hoodies that truly changed my life during undergrad. There's a good chance that whoever you gift this to will have a similar experience. It provides the same comfort as a fuzzy blanket, just in an oversized hoodie form!

College students run on caffeine, sweet treats, and everything in between. Chances are there's a Starbucks on your student's campus, so snagging a couple of gift cards for them will definitely come in handy.

The amount of times I lost my keys in college was actually embarrassing. If I had an Apple Airtag, those dozens of instances could've been prevented, as the company makes key chains that allow these to fit on them. Do your college student a favor, and gift them this right now.

Studying in college is obviously crucial, and phones can be a big distraction. A timed lock box is a great option for keeping phones away during crunch time. Just set the timer, and you won't be able to retrieve it until after the time is up.

First year college students will more than likely have minimal space to work with. So, a good way to hide some valuables is by investing in this small lock box that looks like a book. Inside is actually a safe that locks with a key.

These were some of the most popular lounge slippers for guys and girls on my campus when I was in college, and they're still pretty trendy. They're both comfy and stylish, and honestly complete any college outfit.

Gap is full of staples that you can wear more than once, which is what every college kid yearns for when curating their yearly wardrobe. I'm a huge fan of this heavyweight athletic hoodie, and can honestly say that I would be so happy if someone sent this my way.

This one is more for the graduates, but Gldn makes some neat custom jewelry that you can turn into a class ring at the end of one's college career. They're small, and don't look flashy at all.

Sleep, while sometimes minimal, is obviously important when you're in undergrad. For those nights when they're struggling to sleep, they'll be able to spray this lavender-scented mist from Earth Therapeutics on a pillow to help put them at ease.

Posters are the go-to when decorating a college dorm. Now that F1 racing is having a moment, this option from AllPosters.com will be a hit with most. There are other options on the site for those looking for something different, too.

Keep college students hydrated with a reusable water bottle. Stanley's stainless steel bottles are trendy and reliable, coming in different sizes and colors to match anyone's style.

Making memories is one thing, documenting them is another. Polaroid makes it so easy to capture those fun moments in an instant with its printable camera. I still look back on the ones from my college days when I'm feeling nostalgic.

Most things in college are casual, but there will definitely be a time when one is needed to dress up a little fancier for an occasion. Having a small press travel steam iron, like this one from Nori, is convenient when they need to eliminate wrinkles.

Movie nights are what bonded me and my college pals together. XGIMI makes those nights all the more attainable with its portable projector. It's small, easy to carry around, and provides great quality visuals against a blank surface or screen of some sort.

For some, caffeine is a must when studying late at night (or having to wake up for those early morning classes). A simple Keurig coffee maker always does the trick. They're compact and cute, which is what every college student needs for their dorm room.