.png)
German (DE) 
English (US) 
Spanish (ES) 
French (FR) 
Hindi (IN) 
Italian (IT) 
Russian (RU) 
13 hours ago
3
It's almost time to turn those tassels! And while they may still be swept up in the end-of-school madness, don't wait to start plotting out your grad's hard-earned celebration. The first thing on your agenda? Coming up with a thoughtful gift that speaks to just how big this milestone really is. I'm here to point you in the right direction with this list of the best graduation gifts for students of any age and stage.
Maybe they're graduating from high school and taking a gap year before they sort out what's next. Or perhaps they're heading straight from college to their first full-time job. Whatever the case, these graduation gift ideas for high school, college and grad students will carry them into their next chapter. Sure, gift cards and cash are often the most practical (and well-received) giftse, but these picks are great contenders if you want something more tangible. There's a trinket dish personalized with their school's logo, an editor-backed Nespresso Vertuo machine to fuel 'em up, and an array of tech gear to set them up for success. And that's a sprinkling of what's down below.
From functional, dorm-friendly buys to meaningful keepsakes that'll stand the test of time, these grad-approved gifts for him and her are something to celebrate.
In this guide, gift ideas are broken up into the following categories: Unique graduation gifts for any age | Personalized graduation gifts for any age | Best high school graduation gifts | Best college graduation gifts | Best grad school graduation gifts
Unique graduation gifts for any age
Candles set the vibe, but they're strictly off-limits in dorms and on-campus apartments. Enter this top-rated warming lamp, which slowly and evenly melts candle wax so they can bask in its aroma without any flames, soot or smoke. And if they're heading to their first apartment in the real world, this little lamp is still a good call since it has a built-in timer. "I bought this for my daughter's dorm room. It's pretty and isn't too large at the base for small desktop spaces," one happy parent raved.
Already added the candle warmer to your cart? Then you might as well pair it with this cleverly named candle made just for the occasion. Choose from four floral-forward scents (including rose and patchouli), or stick with an unscented version if they light candles purely for the vibes.
What is it with kids and their water bottles? I'm not going to knock it because, well, hydration. Lean into the hype by picking up this newer Stanley release, which has a flip straw lid to prevent spills and leaks — yep, even if it's rolling around willy-nilly in their backpack.
Your grad has a lot fun ahead of them, and this little doodad will help them relish in it all. Customize photos straight from a smartphone or iPad with a funky assortment of frames, stickers, text and emojis, then print 2" x 3" versions and stick 'em on binders, journals, water bottles, the list goes on. Just make sure they have enough photo paper to carry them through the first semester — 50 sheets should do the trick.
A little Birdie (get it?) told me that you're eyeing something that'll give both of you some peace of mind. If she ever feels uneasy while walking out and about, she can simply pull the top pin on this keychain to activate an ear-piercing alarm and flashing LED light. "My daughter just moved to a big city so I got her this," one parent penned. "It makes her feel safe when walking out to her car by herself and gives her security while jogging."
Personalized graduation gifts for any age
New beginnings are exciting, but they bring up a mixed bag of emotions. Joy? Of course. Pride? No doubt. Overwhelming sadness? Sure thing. This fill-in-the-blank book will spell out exactly how you're feeling, while being a source of comfort for your grad as they settle into their new home away from home.
Because graduation is a front-page worthy headline. Wrap up a bouquet — either picked from your garden or professionally arranged — in this personalized paper, complete with pictures of your grad and details about their next steps. Once you make your purchase, you'll get an editable Canva template, which can be printed at home or a local store.
Give her a timeless jewelry piece that's packed with heart. Plug in her former address — whether it's her childhood home or the apartment she lived in during her college years — and Brook & York will spit out the right coordinates, which will later be engraved on the gold-plated bar. "I purchased this bracelet for my daughter, who will be leaving for college in the fall. It has the coordinates of our house, so she will always know where home is," one parent wrote.
Maybe they just left home for the first time. Or maybe they're already missing the place that formed their college years. Either way, turn a photo of the one that matters most into a hand-drawn print to remind them of yesteryear. Get this 10" x 12" print framed for an additional $36 or give it to them as-is.
College merch can be a bit tacky and overdone — sorry, but you know it's true. This shell trinket dish (which comes from the waters of Cape Cod) is arguably more elevated than what you'd find in the school bookstore. Let her school's logo take the spotlight, or add her name or graduation year for an additional $4.
Best high school graduation gifts
A quality night's sleep makes all the difference — but it's nearly impossible to get when they have noisy neighbors and a night-owl roommate. NodPod is like a weighted blanket for the eyes, blocking out all the light and applying a gentle pressure that helps just about anyone catch those Zzzs. "This thing makes falling asleep more of a relaxing experience than it was to begin with, and absolutely perfect for napping purposes," one well-rested reviewer raved, adding that they "would rebuy 100 times over."
Lanyards are so ... last decade. These days, college students stick their ID and most-used cards on the back of their phone in one of these MagSafe-compatible wallets. Casely's style fits up to three cards (only the essentials!), has RFID-blocking technology and a nifty push-up notch for easy access. It comes in tons of eye-catching colors and patterns, from this powdery pink to a bevy of bows.
Color-changing lights are an easy and affordable way to deck out even the smallest of apartments. Mount the lights (two 50-foot rolls) with the removable adhesive, then control them with the remote or via the app. "I got these for my dorm and recently transferred them to a new room. They stick and work just as great," one student wrote.
If they're heading to the dorms, then there will be very little real estate for all their gadgets and gizmos. This compact charging station, which earned a spot on Senior Tech Writer Rick Broida's list of the best MagSafe accessories, is the whole package: It has three AC outlets, two USB Type-A ports, two USB-C ports and a magnetic mount for a phone. You read that right — you can power up to eight (!) devices at once.
Sometimes, they'll just want to tune out their roommates and watch their show in peace. Or study in the library without a single peep. Noise-cancelling headphones are a godsend: Broida has tested all the major players on the market and argues that "the Ultras were better at blocking noise than any other headphones." Sold? Thought so.
Best college graduation gifts
Traveling for the job? Then he needs this garment bag that doubles as a duffel. It can fit up to five days’ worth of folded clothes, plus the hanging compartment will keep his suit or dress shirts looking fresh and wrinkle-free. There’s even a separate shoe compartment, so they don’t dirty up his clean clothes.
They've spent the last four years in the college bubble, but they're about to step out into the real world. That means if they lose something, they can't just rifle through their school's lost-and-found pile and hope for the best. Bluetooth trackers are a must, and AirTags are Broida's top pick for iPhone users. "When your phone is within range, you don't have to rely on just beeps (which might be muffled or drowned out by other noise); an onscreen compass arrow points you in the right direction, in real time," he wrote earlier this year.
Pick up one for $25 or buy a four-pack for only $80.
She could always throw her lunch in a plastic bag and call it day, but I think we can all agree that this drawstring bag is way more professional. Plus, it has an insulated, water-resistant interior, which is key if she has long, potentially bumpy commutes ahead of her. The ditsy daisy design is a winner in my eyes, but you can always go for a more classic color if you think she'd want to steer clear of anything too cutesy.
The dorm-size coffee maker could use an upgrade. This Nespresso model took the top spot in our list of best single-serve coffee makers, with Yahoo Home Lead Jessica Dodell-Feder gushing that it looks sleek on any countertop, requires minimal upkeep and delivers "tasty, high-quality cups of drip coffee and espresso" with the push of a button. Spring for the machine and frother combo, so they can make lattes and cappuccinos for a fraction of the price of the coffee shop.
Clinical psychologist Meg Jay has spent her career guiding 20-somethings through the ups and downs of early adulthood, and she's compiled all of her biggest findings in this bestseller. Everything's rooted in science and personal experience, so your grad will be compelled to listen (since, ya know, they won't always hear you out).
"As a 28-year-old, this book would have been even more helpful to me 5+ years ago, but alas, such is life. This has provided a lot of perspective for me on some of the mistakes I probably could have avoided with love and work, but it's also helped to pinpoint those mistakes, learn from them and use them as fuel to move forward in the best way possible," one reader raved.
Best grad school graduation gifts
A self-heating mug is the ultimate luxury, especially if they'll be spending their days running from one meeting to the next. Broida has tested a bunch and Ember is his all-time favorite because it's "arguably the best — at least for anyone seeking ultra-precise temperature controls and total automation." That's right, they can make their cup of coffee or tea in the morning, set their ideal drinking temperature and keep sipping on it all day (as long as it's on the charging coaster).
Dress up a bottle of celebratory champagne with this burlap bag, featuring a short (but sweet) congratulatory message. Talk about simple but effective.
At first glance, you might miss the sweet and subtle nod to her chosen profession, but that's all part of this necklace's charm. A stethoscope disguised as a bow and gilded in gold? Now, that's the perfect graduation gift for nurses, physician assistants or just about anyone else working in the medical field.
The world awaits — and this leather passport case will be the perfect companion for whatever lies ahead. It has three additional slots to store their ID, cards and cash, plus there's a spot for them to slide in an AirTag for easy tracking. And if they don't have a trip on the books just yet, maybe this will be the inspiration they need.
Now that school is behind her, she can make space on her bookshelf for leisurely reads. With Book of the Month, she'll always have a new story to dive into — a mix of under-the-radar debuts, sought-after titles and all-new exclusives. Choose from a curated selection of five to seven hardcovers or audiobooks each month, or go for something that they've picked in the past.
The reviews quoted above reflect the most recent versions at the time of publication.
Your go-to shopping guide: See all of our gift guides in one spot. We've got gift ideas for all the people in your life — men, women, kids, you name it.
Comments