The Best Gifts for College Students, According to College Students
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In their perpetual process of discovering themselves and the new interests that crop up along the way, college students are notoriously hard to shop for. I would know, because I was one until I graduated last year. Of course, everyone has different interests, but after talking with dozens of college students from across the country during my time as a writer at the Strategist, I’ve found that a few brands — Apple, Hydro Flask, and Summer Fridays — come up over and over, but also that college kids appreciate receiving nicer items they can use every day, as well as gifts that will help them make the most of their limited free time.
Whether you’re shopping for a newly matriculated freshman or an about-to-graduate senior, here, you’ll find theheadphonesthat dominate classrooms, the statuswater bottleon many campuses, the portable Bluetooth speaker for group hangouts, and the instant camera perfect for capturing senior memories. I’ve organized the gifts by category for easy perusing.
Updated on May 22, 2025
We’ve updated this guide with new picks, including Gen Z’s version of a catchall, an actually good solution for lugging laundry around campus, and a three-in-one cocktail shaker.
Décor and household gifts
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An out-of-the-classroom lesson many college students learn early on is the importance of sleep. With that in mind, Liz Gremer, a recent graduate of University of Illinois Urbana-Champaign, added this lavender-scented pillow mist to her routine during her senior year. “If I have a stressful day or if I can’t go to sleep, I’ll spritz it on my pillow,” she says. “It knocks me right out.”
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Pair the pillow mist with asilk pillowcase, which helps cut down hair frizz and prevent split ends — plus, it just feels kind of fancy. This one, which we’ve namedthe very best, is available in more than 15 colors, so you can match it to whatever aesthetic your college student has chosen for their dorm.
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College students who have roommates — and especially ones with differing schedules — will appreciate having asleep maskon hand. Lucy Harris, a student at the University of North Carolina Wilmington, received this weighted one as a high-school graduation gift. “A lot of times, my roommate will be up with the lamp on doing homework until 2 a.m., and I’ll just stick that on and I’ll sleep like a baby,” she says.
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Jellycats are still the plushie of the moment, meaning college students display them proudly on their beds (rather than hiding them from a judgy roommate). The Amuseables collection, which includescroissantsandtennis balls, is constantly selling out — but this charming baguette is still in stock.
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Sunset lamps fit the curated aesthetic Mari Osman, a student at UCLA, was trying to create in her first dorm room, a task many students return to each year (sometimes more than once). “At nighttime, it just looks so pretty,” she says. “Especially looking up from when you leave my dorm building, you could just see it through the windows.”
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More than a few students I talked to liked items that gave their space a cozier vibe. Zoe Topiol, a student at NYU, received a fuzzy throw as a gift, and says it “really made my space homier.” Haug agrees: “I’m big into decorations and making your apartment feel homey,” she says, “so I have a lot of artwork up and picture frames with family or friends in it as well as so manythrow blankets.”
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Stanford studentJenny Duanis a fan of room spray, which is an RA-approved way to make her room smell good (in lieu of burning candles). While she’s partial to Diptyque’s Baies spray — a floral, fruity classic scent from the brand — there are plenty of other (relatively) affordable options fromFlamingo EstateandP.F. Candle Companyto choose from, too.
Nowadays, Gen-Zers are calling catchalls “purse bowls” — as in, a little bowl that holds everything you’d put in your purse. “I switch out my bag so often that I lose track of all my stuff, so putting all of my stuff in one spot is so helpful,”Jasmine Simmons, a freshman at the University of Arizona, says. While any bowl would work, I chose a few that match some of the most common dorm themes I heard about while chatting with students: coastal beach, vibrant and bright, and cozy, nature-themed.
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Posters have long been the de facto way to decorate a dorm room, not least because many colleges will fine you for damaging walls. Anders Landgren, a student at Bates College, says he recently got made fun of because of his lack of dorm décor, so he’s eyeing vintage Formula One posters, but other students like Tyler Kwok, a student at Georgia Tech, prefer band posters. My boyfriend and his roommates each picked their favorite musicians to put on their walls at Columbia University.
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Part of the college experience is learning how to effectively schlep groceries and laundry to and from your dorm. Harris is eyeing Hulken’s medium rolling bag to make those errands easier (the merits of the Hulken are a frequent topic in the Strategist’s Slack channel, too).
Whether they use a North Facebackpackor a Longchamp Le Pliage, college students are personalizing their bags withcharms. To pick one they’ll love, know thy college student (as in: If they’re constantly misplacing their backpack, give them this tomato-shaped bag charm that can hold an AirTag).
Kitchenandpantrygifts
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While it seems like there’s always a new statuswater bottlesurfacing on our radar, the classic Hydro Flask still reigns supreme on college campuses — at this point, it’s come up in my conversations with students more times than I can count. Landgren, in particular, appreciates how the stainless-steel insulated interior keeps water ice-cold for hours at a time. But for others, it’s the outside of the bottle that makes it their favorite: “It looks really pretty, and I actually get a lot of compliments on it when I’m out,” Gremer says about her pastel Hydro Flask. “I’ve been told it matches my vibe.”
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It wouldn’t be a gift guide for college students without the Stanley Quencher, which Kennedy sees all over the UT-Austin campus. It’s also popular at UCSD, where Kenia Galindo uses it every day. “At first, I thought they were just trendy, and I was like, ‘Oh, I don’t need one,’’’ she says. But since her sister gifted her one of the highly sought-afterValentine’s Day cups, she says, “I’m definitely more hydrated now because I have the Stanley.”
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If their late-night library sessions aren’t fueled by Celsius or Red Bull, college students are sipping (or chugging) coffee. This Nespresso machine, which is eight inches long, will fit well on a dorm-issued desk. Harvard University student Abigail Mack received one for Christmas and says, “I have used that almost every single day now. And because I have my fridge, I could just keep a little carton of milk in there and make coffee every morning, which saved me a ton of money.”
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Duan has also noticed her friends trading their coffee pots for matcha stations in their dorms. This matcha starter pack from Gen-Z content creator Emma Chamberlain’s coffee company includes everything they need — including an electric whisk and matcha powder — to make the drink at home.
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While the dining hall is always an option for a quick bite, many students I talked to preferred homemade meals, especially since air fryers make it so much easier to cook something tasty (or heat up a frozen meal). Brady Meyerson, a student at Miami University, says hisair fryeris the most useful gift he’s received recently — “Me and my roommate use [our air fryer] literally every single day,” he says.
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Meyerson and his roommate usually cook chicken breasts in their air fryer, but things can get bland quickly without some spices added in. A well-rounded spice cabinet takes up precious space, but this bundle keeps it simple with just the essential spice blends for things like avocado toast and pasta. (If you’re shopping for a serious college chef, though, I’d recommend theessentials collection from Spicewallathat I used in the dorms.)
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Kitchen appliances are another category where form can be just as important as function. “Now that I’m in college, I’m cooking so much, and having cute things to cook with is very fun,” Maisie Stamstad, a student at Colorado College, says. Thiskettleis on her wish list.
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Momofuku Ramen Noodle Variety Pack
If you haven’t heard: College students still love ramen noodles. These instant noodles from Momofuku, which are easy to make and actually quite tasty, make the easy dinner feel a little more special. (My favorite is thesoy and scallion.)
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You’d be surprised how often the smell of popcorn wafts through dorm hallways. Since bagged popcorn gets pricey and is high in sodium, I switched to popping my own kernels with the help of this gadget. There’s no oil required — all you do is put the kernels at the bottom of the silicone bowl, cover with the lid, and pop in the microwave for two minutes.
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For the budding bartender, I suggest this three-in-one cocktail shaker that includes a built-in jigger and strainer. I gave it to my brother, a student at Miami University, for his 21st birthday. (Since it’s nice and compact, it’s easy to lend to the friend hosting a pregame, too.)
Beautygifts
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Since dorm mirrors don’t always pull their weight, backups are often necessary. Eve McFarland, a recent grad of Loyola University New Orleans, used this LEDmakeup mirrorevery day while she was in college and likes its three levels of magnification. “If you want to see closer when you’re doing your eyeshadow or your mascara and stuff like that, you want to be precise, it has that mirror version to see closer in your face,” she says. Simmons also swears by vanity mirrors, especially because they help her avoid “blush blindness.”
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While a couple students mentioned wantingSummer Fridays’ lip balm, the brand’s Jet Lag mask was the most in-demand product by far. Known for its soothing ingredients, including niacinamide and glycerin, Harris says “it’s the only moisturizer that won’t break me out.”
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“Rhode is probably one of my favorite skin-care and makeup [brands] for anything, but especially for summer, because it’s so hydrating and light,” Simmons told me. The line, known for itsviral lip-gloss phone case, makes one of her favorite lip products, the Peptide Lip Treatment, which she says is particularly hydrating.
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Aesop products still carry some status on the college scene. While Duan is currently at the mercy of dorm bathroom soap, she says she makes up for it by using Aesop’s hand cream every day. (And FWIW, it’s much cheaper than gifting a bottle of hand soap from the brand.)
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University of South Carolina Beaufort’s Kylie Brennan and Barnard College’s Evie Komninakas both recommend gifting self-tanners to the graduate who’s serious about the UV index. “You get really pale and sickly in the winter,” Komninakas says, so she and her roommate share these drops.
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For the student who’s always FaceTiming you while getting ready in a friend’s dorm, I recommend thisstructured vanity casethat’s on Harris’s wish list. But don’t just take her word for it: Strategist writer Brenley Goertzen said it’s the best thing she bought in 2023. “The case also allows me to take my entire beauty regime from my bathroom at home to gym locker rooms, road trips up North, and even across international borders,” she says.
Clothingandaccessoriesgifts
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Stamstad uses an older version of these Hoka Clifton shoes to go on hikes with her friends, but they’re ideal for any student who loves to stay active. “They’re very comfortable. Once you put them on, you can’t really go back to other shoes,” she says. They’re also on Gremer’s wish list.
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With limited storage space and an often limited budget, college students often prioritize shoes that offer both function and style. For Meyerson, that pair is the Adidas Ultraboosts: “I like how I can wear them to the gym, but I can also wear them to class,” he says.
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McFarland saysslidesorslippersare a great gift for students moving into a dorm because “some dorms don’t necessarily have the cleanest floors or showers, and it’s just a protective, easy [thing] to wear around.” Sean Fleck, a student at the University of Colorado Boulder, has had this pair for about a year, and says he likes them for their comfort, durability, and color.
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Along with Stanley Tumblers and Lululemonbelt bags, these neon hats can be spotted all over the UT Austin campus.
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Baggu’s adorable reusable bags have been a staple on Barnard’s campus for years, and at NYU, Topiol keeps the one she received as a gift in her school bag all the time.
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It seems like every college has its distinct (yet unspoken) dress code, and Blundstone boots are essential to Colorado College’s style. Stamstad wears hers every day.
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Yes, having to shower in a communal bathroom every day is a drag, but a super plush robe can make the walk down the dorm hallway more bearable. This comfortable, soft, and absorbent bathrobe from Brooklinen topped our lists of thebest bathrobes for womenandmen. If you’re willing to spend a bit more, you can upgrade your gift toParachute’s Classic Turkish-Cotton Bathrobe, which is even thicker for the perfect swaddle.
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Few people have spent as much time watching dorm-tour videos as I have (for research purposes, obviously). Along with Woozoo fans and ruffled bed skirts, matching pajamas make frequent appearances. These cooling pajamas from LAKE are my personal favorite and will be ideal for the students stuck in a dorm without AC.
Techgifts
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Hatch Restore 3
Recently, more and more college students have told me they’re coveting Hatch’ssunrise alarm clock, which simulates the light of a sunrise to signal to your body that it’s time to wake up. “Having a roommate with a really annoying alarm is frustrating, and this wakes you up so calmly and gently,” Harris says. “If my roommate had this alarm going off, I would not be mad.” If you’d like to treat your student to theHatch+ subscription, like Harris does for herself, they’ll have access to even more features, like meditation tracks and bedtime podcasts.
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If you’re shopping for a college student who’s gone all in on the Apple ecosystem, this charging station, which Gremer and Landgren received for Christmas, is a hassle-free way to charge everything at once. Gremer brought it with her on her spring break trip, and says it was “so awesome for break because I didn’t have to bring a bunch of cords.” In fact, she says, “Everyone I went with was kind of jealous.”
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As one of the six students who spoke to me about their iPad, Osman says her iPad, which she received along with anApple Pencilas a gift before going to college, has been essential for getting her classwork done. “You can keep all your stuff in one specific area, download your slides and when you’re in lecture, you can write on them,” she says. “It’s just so fun and so easy. I love decorating my notes on my iPad, it makes me motivated to study.”
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With the prevalence of Zoom meetings and TikTok scrolling, a reliable pair of headphones is key to keeping a roommate’s annoyance at bay. In my reporting, AirPods have overwhelmingly been the headphones of choice among students I’ve spoken to. In fact, Brianna Rao, a recent graduate of the University of South Carolina, says, “Those are probably the thing I use the most because when I’m walking to class, I’m listening to music. When I’m in my apartment. I’m listening to music too.” Lee is a bigskaterand says they never fall out of his ears even when he’s at the skatepark.
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While Kwok uses his AirPods when he’s on the go, he prefers his Sony noise canceling headphones for studying. “If I’m in a noisier environment or really want to sit down and lock in and study, I’ll have those on,” he says. Galindo also has these on her wish list.
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Multiple students I chatted with spoke about capturing memories with digital or instant cameras. Haug used the Canon to memorialize occasions such as her friends’ Christmas party since her sister gifted her this digital camera. Rao and her friends use a Polaroid camera to complete their senior bucket list: “Every time we check something off, we take a Polaroid of it and then attach it to this poster board that we made earlier in the fall.”
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While college kids might disagree about whether to blast Charlie XCX or chill out to Lorde, a portable speaker is crucial to the group hang. Haug recommends this Bluetooth speaker (aStrategist favorite) for its portability. “If we’re going to a park or if somebody’s not sure if one of the other apartments has a speaker that they can just connect to, it’ll get brought with,” she says.
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Xgimi MoGo 2 Pro
“I went to boarding school, and so I’ve been living in a dorm for five years now, and literally, five years without a TV is insane,” Simmons says. “So, the projector saved me.” Thismini-projectorhas a built-in Bluetooth speaker and is easy to set up, so they can hostLove Islandwatch parties.
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Dorms can get musty quickly. To keep their tiny room smelling fresh, consider gifting a Pura smart fragrance diffuser, which Madison Fairley, a student at the University of Mississippi, used in her dorm room. “I had a certain time set on my phone, and every time I walked in, our room smelled so good,” she says. “You can switch out the scent in the Pura all the time, and it just gets it into the air, so it’s not that dorm gross smell.”
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Given their space shortage, college students also probably won’t have room for an entire ironing setup. After my parents gave this compact steamer iron to me when I was in college, I never went to a job interview with wrinkly clothes again. Not to mention it was perfect for quickly ironing my sundresses before class.
Giftsforhobbies
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Games likeCatanandCards Against Humanityare still a fixture in dorms everywhere. McFarland and her friends at Loyola University New Orleans like to play this hashtag guessing game. She compares it to the popular iPhone game Heads Up.
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“When it’s a nice day, it’s really popular to play Spikeball,” Fleck says. “Spikeball nets are a huge commodity to have on campus.” This set has three balls just in case a couple (inevitably) get lost.
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Gremer has been seeing these weights all over Instagram and would love to add them to her workouts. They’re perfect for the college student who won’t stop talking about their obsession with “Hot Girl Walks,” since you can attach them to your wrists or ankles for an extra burn.
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At the University of Colorado Boulder and Bates College, hammocks come out with warm weather. “We’ve got a huge hammock culture,” Landgren says. “People put hammocks between all the trees.”
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Alo Warrior Mat
As a yoga instructor, Kennedy is a regular at one of the more popular types of group workout classes frequented by college kids. She recently switched out her Lululemon yoga mat for this forest green option from Alo. Compared to the former, which she says was too big, the Warrior mat gives her more space in her apartment and car. She carries it around with hernew strap, which would also make a great gift.
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