12 Practical Gifts For College Students (Stuff We Really Need)

Jul 26

practical gift ideas for college students

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Shopping for a college student and want to get them something they’ll actually use?

If you’re looking for some practical gift ideas for students, I’ve got some great recommendations for you!

These gifts are ones that will make the daily life of any college student easier and just a little bit more convenient, and that’s coming from a college student myself.

I have 12 awesome recommendations to share with you in a wide variety of price points, so no matter your budget, you’ll find the perfect gift on this list.

I hope you find this post helpful and that there are some ideas on here you maybe wouldn’t have thought of otherwise!

Here are 12 practical gifts for college students:

#1: Planner

The first practical gift idea is a planner.

For obvious reasons, using a planner in as a college students makes life infinitely more convenient!

Some students prefer to use a digital planner, but if the student you’re shopping for likes to organize their life using physical planners and calendars. this is a gift they’ll certainly appreciate.

They’ll use it on the daily to keep track of assignments, meeting times, and important deadlines.

#2: Portable Charger

Next is something every college student should own!

This is seriously something that comes in handy when we’re out and about on campus, at class, or in public.

Having a portable phone charger is a great safety precaution as well, in the unfortunate event their phone dies while they’re out and they’re not able to charge their phone any other way.

#3: Shower Caddy

Anyone who’s lived in a dorm or shared a shower with roommates knows the incredible value that using a shower caddy adds to their life.

This is a bucket that students can use to organize their shower products and easily take them in and out of the bathroom.

It’s a great to keep stuff organized and easily portable!

#4: Mini Coffee Maker

Shopping for a coffee lover?

Dorms and college apartments are usually pretty small may not have the space for a full size coffee machine, or even have a kitchen at all.

A mini coffee maker like this one is a perfect solution for students who love their daily caffeine dose but have limited space.

This is the one I used when I lived in a dorm and it was small enough to keep comfortably on top of my desk or mini fridge.

It uses coffee pods and has simple settings, but it’s slim, easy to use, and gets the job done in the morning!

#5: Umbrella

This next practical gift idea might seem random.

However, getting stuck on campus in the pouring rain without an umbrella on numerous occasions has left me never underestimating the importance of carrying an umbrella in my bag at all times.

It’s just one of those random life things every college student should have on hand!

#6: Bike

The next practical gift idea I’m suggesting is a bike.

Having a bike is especially helpful for students who don’t have a car, attend a college with a large campus, or attend school somewhere with limited public transportation.

I personally bike almost everywhere and it’s so nice having a way to get around that’s much faster than walking without having to wait for the campus shuttle that only comes every hour or so.

#7: Uber Gift Card

On the note of transportation, sometimes students will need to get somewhere too far to bike or somewhere public transportation doesn’t go.

I attend college somewhere with limited public transportation and use Uber regularly to get to places I can’t bike.

If the college student you’re shopping for is in the same boat, an Uber gift card is something they’ll appreciate a ton!

Uber adds up, but sometimes it’s a necessary expense, so this is definitely a gift they’ll be able to make good use of.

#8: Headphones

I can’t imagine college life without my headphones.

I use them all the time when commuting to class and studying.

They’re also an absolute must have for anyone living with roommates, especially in a dorm.

Whether it’s headphones, earbuds, air pods, or another listening device, this is a gift any college student will be thrilled to receive and something they’ll use every single day.

There are a ton of quality options to choose from, but for a less expensive recommendation that will still sound great, I’ve really enjoyed using these JBL headphones.

#9: Laptop Case

On the topic of technology, a laptop case is another important accessory for college students to have.

We’re constantly transporting our laptops back and forth between home, class, the library, coffee shops, or wherever else we we like to study.

Transporting it in a quality case is an easy way to prevent it from getting damaged in any way.

#10: Tool Set

The next practical gift for college students is a tool set.

A simple set with all the basics like a hammer, screwdriver, etc. is the best way to go!

Even if they only need it a couple of times a year, it’s way better to have these tools on hand than be stuck in a tricky situation without them.

#11: Lanyard

Next is something I consider an absolute essential for all college students to have.

Using a lanyard for either dorm keys or their student ID (or both) is the absolute best way to prevent these mega important items from getting lost.

Believe me, I’ve lost my student ID before and it is not fun.

Oftentimes, student ID cards will double as dorm keys, meal cards, swipe access for classrooms and labs, etc.

You can imagine how difficult it is to go about college life without it!

To help your college student avoid this tricky situation, a lanyard is must have.

#12: Writing Utensils & Related Things

And finally, you can’t go wrong with gifting any sort of writing utensil like pens, pencils, markers, highlighters etc., especially if you’re shopping for a student who likes taking physical notes.

On a similar note, any sort of notebook, notepad, or desk accessory like drawer organizers, staplers, etc. are things students will definitely appreciate getting as they’ll use these things often.

Outro & Closing Thoughts

That wraps up my post on practical gift ideas for college students!

These things are a mix of items I’ve been gifted and things I got for myself, but they’re all things I use almost every single day and make a huge, positive difference in my life as a student.

I hope you found the perfect gift on this list and that you found this post helpful in some way.

Thanks for reading my post “12 Practical Gifts For College Students (Stuff They Really Need).”

If you loved this post, be sure to check out: 50+ Questions To Ask Yourself When Choosing Your College (From A College Junior)

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Nikki Lo

Editor-In-Chief, yogi, small business owner, among other things! Catch me binging YouTube, decorating, or exploring my current home city of Rochester, NY.

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