29 Useful College Graduation Gifts That Will Be Greatly Appreciated

Want some useful college graduation gifts that a recent grad will love? We have the ultimate college grad gift guide.

As a soon-to-be college graduate, there is nothing I’m more excited about when I graduate that are useful college graduation gifts.

There is nothing more than I want is a gift that I would use. Receiving a gift is awesome, but one that I will use every day and was on my wish list is AMAZING.

This blog post will give you the blunt, honest truth of what a college grad wants.

29 Useful Graduation Gifts

Take it from me, I know exactly what I want to receive for graduation and have asked around what we want.

A lot of people simply want something that they will USE and not STORE and collect dust.

I also want you get your money worth and not feel bad for gifting something that someone didn’t want.

1. Money

The most useful college graduation gift you can give to any graduate is simple: money. We are just coming out of college where we have been living off of frozen snacks and living on a budget. We need some money.

Money has been a gift that I always asked as a kid because I can do so much with it. I can choose where to spend it and buy what I actually want. Or if I wanted to pay a bill, I could.

Whether it was a check, cold hard cash, or even virtual currency, I’d appreciate it.

2. Gift cards

Now, you may be wondering what is the difference between money and gift cards as a gift…

Gift cards are a little more sentimental than flat-out money. I know some people don’t like giving money because it’s a lazy gift. But gift cards to stores such as Bed Bath & Beyond, Nordstrom Rack, or Amazon are so useful. You also have to know what stores a person likes in order to give them a gift card. The last thing you want to do is give someone a gift card to the wrong store. So do your research and ask the person what’s their favorite stores!

3. Coffee maker

Coffee makers are great useful college graduation gifts because everyone wants one. Even if they are not the biggest coffee fans, there are some days when they will need a coffee maker. I know that most young adults drink some sort of coffee beverages.

I love the Ninja Speciality Coffee Maker. My roommate has it and saying it is amazing is undervaluing it. It does everything you could think of when it comes to coffee. It has a frother and an over-ice feature. I wish she would put it back out because I miss having it to make iced coffee or a latte in the morning.

4. Brand new bedding

Bedding is expensive. It is also something that everyone needs. Even if it is just a pair of backup sheets, you will be doing someone a big help. Some of my favorite places to getting bedding are Amazon, Bed Bath, and Beyond, Urban Outfitters, and Target.

5. Apple Watch

Apple Watches are the perfect practical graduation gift for both him or her. These watches can pretty much do anything. If you know an Apple user, then buy them an Apple Watch. They easily connect to other Apple devices.

6. Iron skillet

I always wanted a cast-iron skillet. I feel like if you have one then you are truly prepared for the adult world.

7. Wallet

Gifting someone a wallet is a simple useful college graduation gift. Most of the time no one asks for one, but will eventually need one.

8. Handbag

Every girl needs a handbag. Do one a favor and gift someone a nice brand new handbag for graduating. I wouldn’t mind if someone gifted me this Kate Spade handbag for graduation.

9. Rice cooker

Cooking rice is tricky. But with a rice cooker, it is so much simpler. Get a grad a rice cooker and they will definitely use it.

10. Cutting board

Help someone get their kitchen supplies by gifting them a cutting board. Cutting boards are one of the last things I thought about getting when moving into my apartment. I wished someone would have given me one.

11. Wine glasses

Wine lovers will love you when you gift them a nice set of wine glasses. No more plastic and cheap glasses. Give them a set that they will use for a long time.

12. Paperweight

Paperweights are a new thing I realized are so useful but also great desk decor. Paperweights are so cute. They come in different shapes, sizes, and styles.

13. AirPods

In almost every recommendation or packing list post, I have recommended giving or buying AirPods. You have no idea how useful these things are. Instead of getting tangled in earbuds or headphones, AirPods connect through Bluetooth so you can speak on the phone or listen to music. I love my AirPods. I want to upgrade to the newer ones.

14. Carry on luggage

Luggage is one of the useful college graduation gifts you can buy someone. Luggage is a must for almost everyone because you never know when you will need to quickly pack for a night trip or a spontaneous vacation. I have this exact carry luggage from Swissgear and I love it. It’s so cute and has enough space for all my clothes for when I spend a night at a friend’s house.

15. Smart speaker

Smart speakers, such as Amazon’s Echo Dot, are becoming so popular now. You can not go wrong buying one for a recent grad. Amazon just released a new version of their Echo. Just give it a command and it can play music, give you the news, make an announcement.

16. Air fryer

Air fryers are a lowkey flex for young adults right now. I just saw a tweet of someone showing off their Air Fryer and HBO Max subscription. An air fryer is a great gift for someone who is still learning how to handle the kitchen, want a healthier alternative to deep-frying, and/or running on a busy schedule.

17. Toolkit

If you know anything about tools, gift a college grad a toolkit with a note of what each tool does. Seriously, I wish I knew how to use most tools without googling them. I also wish that I didn’t have to run around town when I need to find a specific screwdriver to hang up a wall decoration.

18. Portable charger

Another useful college graduation gift is a portable charger. I wouldn’t mind if someone gave me one because they have are so important nowadays. Phone batteries go out so quickly and they seem to go out when you need it the most. Having a portable charger around is also great for emergencies or when the power goes out, too.

19. Laptop

I can not live without my laptop. Seriously, I love my laptop so much that when I have enough money I might buy myself another one or hopefully I find a job that gives me one. Having a laptop is also a HUGE necessity for young adults due to the amount of work moving online. Laptops are portable, powerful, and a perfect alternative for being off the phone.

I spend more time on my laptop due to work but also it’s hard to stay off my phone and social media when I’m doing work from my phone. My favorite laptop is hands down a MacBook Pro because it is perfect for someone who is working professionally with tons of programs and uses it daily.

20. Tablet

Another useful graduation gift is a tablet. Tablets can be used for almost the same things as a laptop and phone. They are also alternatives for buying someone a laptop. They are more portable than a laptop. iPads and Galaxy Pros are some of the amazing tablets you can buy for a college grad.

I want a tablet for my graduation gift because I’m a tech nerd. I also work in a technology-oriented field where having one would be a great help when making content for clients. If you know someone who loves technology, a tablet would be a great and useful college graduation gift.

21. Jewelry

Jewelry is a unique college graduation gift because you honestly can’t go wrong. Gifting someone a piece of jewelry is sentimental and one of a kind. I see gifting jewelry as someone taking an extra step to give me something. This gift also can last a long time and go with so many outfits. I know for sure that I wish I had more jewelry for when I have to attend special events or even to enhance my casual outfits.

22. Yoga Mat (or Exercise Equipment)

Exercise equipment is a practical college graduation gift that someone will use. Buying exercise equipment is one of the last things on my mind when shopping. It isn’t until the moment I find a workout or doing a workout challenge when I realize I need resistance bands or a pair of weights. I also am a big yogi (someone who does yoga) and would LOVE it if someone bought me a new yoga mat.

23. Meal Subscriptions

Okay, I am lowkey jealous of people who have meal subscriptions like Hello Fresh, Home Chef, or Blue Apron because it’s so easy. I know that I am the only college student who does not like cooking or too busy to plan out amazing meals. I mean I can search for an easy recipe on Pinterest, do an inventory check of my kitchen to see what I have, go to the grocery store and buy what I need, and then finally cook.

Honestly, I would love to have some buy a meal subscription for a year. It also is great because it’s like cooking basics training and learning how to handle kitchen duties. I don’t know I just want one!

24. Dishware Set

Dishware sets are some of the most useful college graduation gifts out there. You do not realize you need more bowls or spoons until you are wondering where did they all go. Currently, I am running low on plates. I would go buy a new set like this one but I’m about to graduate in a few weeks.

25. Weighted Blankets

If you check out any of my other essentials list on my blog, you will probably conclude that I LOVE blankets. As I am writing this blog post, I am under a blanket right now. This is one graduation gift that you can buy for anyone. I heard weighted blankets are so comfortable and becoming popular. I really love this Sherpa one from Amazon.

26. Professional Lunch Bag

Lunch bags are amazing, but a professional lunch bag is a perfect gift for a college grad. Instead of carrying their lunch to work in a grocery bag that they found underneath the sink, your favorite college graduate can use a nice, sleek professional lunch bag. They might even impress their new co-workers in the process.

27. Iron or Steamer

Honestly, I have not ironed a shirt while being in college…I either smoothed it out with my hands or put it in the dryer on the permanent press setting. If you know a graduate like me with this problem, then buy them an iron or a clothing streamer.

28. Money Management and Personal Finance Books

This is one of the most underrated useful college graduation gifts. There are so many money management books that I want because I honestly don’t know about investing or what a 401k is. I also don’t know about interest rates or other financial terms like that. I just bought a few financial books at Target and Amazon during college, but I need to read them.

But money management books are honestly so vital but there is almost too much financial content online. It’s to the point where I am overwhelmed looking through it.

Some of my current personal finance/money management books include:

Personal Finance 101 by Alfred Mill

Rich Dad, Poor Dad by Robert t. Kiyosaki

29. Annual Subscription-Based Service or a Bill

Finally, another useful college graduation gift you can get for a recent graduate is a year subscription to some kind of service. I know that I go on about splitting costs in every single hack post I’ve written, but if someone just paid for Disney Plus or HBO Max for me for a year, then I’d be so happy.

Even if someone doesn’t want another streaming service, there are TONS of subscription services out there. I want someone to cover the cost of my Adobe subscription or car insurance. Basically, anything can help a college graduate, especially in this economy.

29 Useful College Graduation Gifts That Will Be Greatly Appreciated