Best graduation gifts for her: Gift ideas for college grads
These gifts scream "congratulations."
By
Nicole Cammorata
and
Nicole Cammorata
Director of Special Projects
As Director of Special Projects, Nicole Cammorata helps guide Mashable's editorial innovations, licensing programs, and specialty series. Previously, she was the site's Executive Editor and its very first Shopping Editor before that. Nicole is also Mashable's resident gifting expert and gets a thrill out of helping readers find the perfect present. She received a B.S. in Journalism from Boston University and an MFA in fiction writing from The New School. She lives in Maine with her husband, their three young children, and a backyard full of flowers.
Read Full Bio
Miller Kern
on
Miller Kern
Deputy Shopping Editor
Miller Kern is the Deputy Editor of Shopping and Reviews at Mashable, where she writes and edits reviews, roundups, deals, and news stories about tech products, including headphones, skincare devices, laptops, sex toys, e-readers, robot vacuums, and more. She's been covering all things shopping and tech, including shopping holidays like Prime Day and Black Friday, for Mashable since 2019. Miller can tell you which products are actually worth your money. She also explores trends in the shopping sphere, such as dupes and viral TikTok moments.
Read Full Bio
Editors and writers independently select products unless marked Sponsored or Promoted. Sponsored content is a paid ad, while content marked Promoted is chosen by Ziff Davis leadership. We may earn an affiliate commission if you buy through our links. Promoted cards do not include input from individual authors.
Springtime means bright blooms, longer days, and a new class that's getting ready to graduate college. And if you’re here, that means you’re preparing to look on proudly as a young woman accepts her diploma and takes her first steps into the real world of adulthood. Whether she’s your daughter, granddaughter, niece, cousin, girlfriend, or best friend, you know how much hard work she put in to get here — so you definitely want to find the perfect gift for her to celebrate how far she’s come. These are our suggestions to shower the college grad with love on her big day.
Opens in a new window
Credit: AMAZON
Echo Show
Best for the home
Help your grad upgrade her house or apartment with a smart home device. The Echo Show has a screen, meaning in addition to voice commands it can also show lyrics, weather forecasts, to-do lists, and more. She can use the Show to play music, request a rideshare, order a pizza, and more.
Opens in a new window
Credit: Bostionye
Phone Camera Lens Kit
Best for aspiring content creators
Compatible with a wide range of smartphones, this 10-in-1 lens skit allows users to switch between fish eye, telephoto, macro, and wide-angle options. For anyone who dabbles in photography or who is constantly sharing content to social media, this is sure to be a hit.
Opens in a new window
Credit: Apple
Apple Watch
Best for the tech-obsessed
With an Apple Watch, the new graduate will be able to monitor her health, track workouts, and access apps and notifications. You can go for the model that just connects to WiFi or dish out a little more for the one with cellular connection.
Opens in a new window
Credit: Amazon
50-inch 4K smart TV
Best for home entertainment
Another home upgrade here in case the grad has been watching Netflix on her laptop or a less-than-stellar TV. This smart TV is 50 inches, which is a really decent size for a new apartment living room or bedroom. It displays 4K Ultra HD content and has video streaming apps built in.
Opens in a new window
Credit: APPLE
MacBook Air
Best for productivity
Laptops tend to degrade after a few years and your graduate has likely been using the same one for the last four. Upgrade her to a new MacBook Air. It's thin and lightweight and features a Retina display, Touch ID, the latest keyboard, and has all-day battery life.
Opens in a new window
Credit: ANKER
Anker portable charger
Best for the grad on the go
Phones are a necessity at this point — don't let your favorite grad be left with a dead one. This portable charger from Anker can juice up her phone all the way multiple times on just one of its own charges. It's small enough that she can slip it into her bag and keep it on hand wherever she goes.
Opens in a new window
Credit: AMAZON
Amazon Fire TV Stick
Best for streaming
If a whole new TV is out of your budget, you can still *kind of* give the gift of a smart TV. The Amazon Fire TV Stick plugs into the HDMI port and gives standard televisions smart capabilities with access to streaming services and internet browsing.
Opens in a new window
Credit: Apple
Apple iPad
Best for on-the-go
A new laptop might not be the most feasible gift, but you can still surprise her with some new technology. This iPad has a 10.9-inch Retina display with up to 10 hours of battery life. It's available with either 64GB or 256GB of storage, with or without cellular, and in several different color options.
Opens in a new window
Credit: AMAZON
Kindle Paperwhite e-reader
Best for the reader
Buying a Kindle as a grad gift is basically like gifting someone an entire library since she'll now be able to access millions of titles and listen to books with Audible. If you're not sure what genre your grad likes, get her all of them. The Kindle Paperwhite is thin, lightweight, and even waterproof.
Opens in a new window
Credit: EVERLANE
Backpack
Best for a bag upgrade
We know that a recent college grad has been carrying a backpack for most of her life, but this is the perfect time to upgrade to a more professional style. Depending on the line of work your grad is going into, she might need a good, put-together bag. This one comes in three color options.
Opens in a new window
Credit: SHUTTERFLY
Photo book
Best for saving memories
If the grad has a bunch of senior photos she doesn't know what to do with, pop them into a photo book. This is a great, thoughtful way to display all those photos that might otherwise be lost to a Facebook album. Plus, you can write captions and sentimental notes throughout the book.
Opens in a new window
Credit: BOOMBOX GIFTS
Boombox custom keepsake box
Best sentimental gift
Similar to a photo book, this one pulls at the heartstrings a bit. It's a box filled with letters and photos all dedicated to the graduate. You can gift this alone or have collaborators work on it with you to give the grad a special keepsake box of memories.
Opens in a new window
Credit: SHARI'S BERRIES
Shari's Berries
Best for the sweet tooth
Chocolate-covered strawberries are a gift that can be enjoyed immediately. They're often something people crave but don't buy themselves. Treat your favorite grad to some decadent treats to celebrate her accomplishments.
Opens in a new window
Credit: THE BOUQS COMPANY
Flowers from The Bouqs Co
Best for saying congrats
Nothing says "special event" quite like a bouquet of flowers. The Bouqs Company offers a huge selection of flowers from farmers across the country, so you're sure to find some that fit your grad's style no matter her favorite flower. There's even a whole section of "congratulations" bouquets.
Opens in a new window
Credit: GIFTCARDS.COM
Visa gift card
Best for the grad with debt
Everyone talks about the broke college student, but what about the broke graduate in an entry-level job with student loan payments? That's who really needs some monetary help. Provide a little cushion for your grad as she enters the real world.
Opens in a new window
Credit: GIFTCARDS.COM
Restaurant gift card
Best for a free meal
After four years of campus food and ramen, treat the grad to some restaurant food. Okay, she's definitely eaten out at some point in the last four years, but it's still nice to have a reason to eat at a restaurant. And adult life doesn't come with a meal plan.
Opens in a new window
Credit: GIFTCARDS.COM
Bed Bath & Beyond gift card
Best for a new apartment
Graduating college often means moving to a new place. And stocking a new home with furniture and other essentials is not cheap. Help the grad out with a gift card to Bed Bath & Beyond where she can pick up some items to get her new house feeling like home.
Opens in a new window
Credit: YNM
Weighted blanket
Best for relaxation
One tough adjustment from college to adult life is transitioning to a regular sleep schedule. Weighted blankets are designed to help people sleep better by making them feel swaddled (like a hug) and may even help with the release of dopamine (the happy hormone.)
Opens in a new window
Credit: CLASSPASS
ClassPass credits
Best for the active grad
ClassPass gives your grad the ability to get a workout at different gyms, so she can try out locations without the commitment. This also gives her more freedom to attend different types of fitness classes around her city. Speaking of cities, ClassPass isn't available everywhere, so make sure your grad's location is on the participating list.
Opens in a new window
Credit: CASPER
Casper pillow
For great sleep
As your grad is stocking her new home, one of the last things she's going to want to drop a lot of money on is a pillow. This luxury pillow from Casper supports all sleeping positions and responds to movement throughout the night. Plus, it's super comfortable.
Opens in a new window
Credit: Utopia Towels
Towel set
Best for the home
Give your new grad's bathroom a fresh start with a set of matching towels. This set comes with two bath towels, two hand towels, and four washcloths. There's something so adult about having matching sets, and this one comes in lots of different color choices.
Opens in a new window
Credit: HAMILTON BEACH
Two-way coffee maker
Best for daily energy boosts
This coffee maker can handle a grad who can run on one cup or needs a whole pot of joe to make it through the morning. It acts as a single-serve with a spout tall enough to fit a travel mug and can also fill a 12-cup carafe, which is included with the machine.
Opens in a new window
Credit: iRobot
Roomba robot vacuum
Best for a tidy home
Give the gift of convenience with a vacuum that takes the work out of cleaning. The Roomba 694 allows your grad to schedule cleaning across multiple floor types. The robot vacuum can even sense concentrated areas of dirt and work harder in those sections.
Opens in a new window
Credit: Hilife
Portable steamer
Best for neat clothes
If you know a new grad who hangs her clothes in the bathroom while they shower to combat wrinkles, upgrade her to a real steamer. This one is ready to use in two to three minutes and works with tap water. Plus, it's powerful enough to straighten out stiff cotton, linen, and denim.
Opens in a new window
Credit: ASAKUKI
Essential oil diffuser
Best for aromatherapy
Add some zen to the graduate's life with an essential oil diffuser. This one cycles through seven colored lights and has multiple mist diffuse modes and timer settings. It also comes with a set of six aromatherapy oils to bring calming or invigorating scents to any room.
Opens in a new window
Credit: INSTANT POT
Instant Pot
Best for making easy meals
Even if your grad isn't the best cook, she'll be able to make some pretty stellar meals with an Instant Pot. It's seven appliances in one, including a slow cooker, pressure cooker, and sauté pan. She's able to set the Instant Pot on a timer and come back to it when her food is ready. It's a great gift for someone who wants to meal prep for one.
Opens in a new window
Credit: BILLIE
Shaving kit
Best for personal care
Sometimes the best gifts are the things your girl would buy for herself anyway. By gifting an everyday item like a razor, you take some of the financial burden off her regular expenses. With Billie, you're able to get a one-time kit or gift monthly refills for a gift that keeps giving.
Opens in a new window
Credit: IPSY
Ipsy subscription
Best for makeup mavens
Makeup is expensive and even the cheap stuff adds up quickly. Ipsy is a monthly subscription service that delivers five sample beauty products in the mail for $13 per month. You'll help the grad discover new products and save some money by not having to restock her collection as often.
Opens in a new window
Credit: Amazon Basics
Luggage set
Best for the grad on the go
Get your graduate ready for any post-grad vacations or trips home with a hard side luggage set. This one comes with 20-inch, 24-inch, and 28-inch suitcases with spinner wheels. The set is available in four different colors.
Opens in a new window
Credit: CARTMAN
Tool kit
Best for the handywoman
Everyone should have a good toolbox readily available, whether that's to hang up wall decor, build furniture, or perform some minor home improvements. This kit comes with 39 pieces, including a hammer, interchangeable screwdriver, scissors, pliers, and more.
Opens in a new window
Credit: GOOGLE
Google WiFi system
Best for staying connected
The Google WiFi system eliminates your grad's need for a router. It provides seamless coverage throughout the home, eliminating dead zones and buffering. And it's easier than going through a provider to set up a router.
Opens in a new window
Credit: BLUE APRON
Blue Apron
Best for making life easier
Blue Apron takes the guesswork out of the question, "What's for dinner tonight?" The service sends everything your grad needs to make a full meal and will allow her to try new foods that she might not seek out on her own. The number of meals she gets depends on the amount you put on the gift card.
Opens in a new window
Credit: GIFTCARDS.COM
Spotify gift card
Best for the music lover
Graduating college is an exciting time, until you realize you lose all your student discounts. Help ease the transition of paying full price for music by gifting a Spotify gift card. The card only has one value option of $60, which should cover six months of the service.
Opens in a new window
Credit: SWEET HOME COLLECTION
Sheet set
Best for a good night's sleep
New sheets make sleeping even more enjoyable than it already is. This set comes with a fitted sheet, flat sheet, and two pillowcases that have the comfort and softness of 1,500 thread count Egyptian Cotton. The fitted sheet also has reinforced elastic to help it stay in place. This sheet set comes in a variety of colors and sizes to fit your grad's needs.
Opens in a new window
Credit: GIBSON HOME
48-piece dinnerware set
Best for entertaining
Home items are not the most exciting gifts, but they are appreciated. You'll give the grad the ability to pocket money she would have spent on dishes to spend on something else. Plus, dinnerware sets don't come cheap, so you're doing her a solid by taking care of it.
Opens in a new window
Credit: T-FAL
18-piece cookware set
Best for fledgling chefs
Along with dinnerware, cookware is essential to a home, but not the most fun thing to buy for yourself. Which is why it makes such a good graduation gift. This set from T-fal includes different sized pots and pans as well as a few kitchen utensils.
Opens in a new window
Credit: LODGE
Cast iron skillet
Best for intermediate cooks
In addition to a standard cookware set, it's nice to have a cast iron skillet to handle some bacon or a morning frittata. This pan especially comes in handy if your grad doesn't have access to a grill but wants to whip up steaks or burgers. This skillet is pre-seasoned and comes with a silicone handle cover.
Opens in a new window
Credit: Kensie
Carry-on luggage
Best for expanding her horizons
Whether she's making a big move, planning some celebratory travels, or starting a job where she'll be taking lots of business trips, this pretty carry-on suitcase will help her do it all in style. It’s hard-sided to keep her stuff safe, and expandable to suit her needs. Plus, it comes in lots of different colors.
Opens in a new window
Credit: Bloom Daily Planners
Planner
Best for getting organized
If organization is important to your grad (or you wish it were), this planner will come in handy. It's undated, so she can start using it right away, and its monthly and weekly views will help her get all her to-dos sorted neatly. Plus, it comes with stickers and 20 additional pages for reflection, including a habit tracker and finance trackers.
Opens in a new window
Credit: GRACE BONNEY
"In the Company of Women"
Best for inspiration
This book looks great on a shelf or coffee table, but it's also full of inspirational interviews with more than 100 influential women. These women from different creative fields discuss their paths to following their dreams and chasing passions. The book acts as a good source of motivation for women at any stage in their lives, but especially for young women entering their careers.
Opens in a new window
Credit: WHAT DO YOU MEME?
What Do You Meme?
Best for fun
Just because she's graduating college, doesn't mean she has to leave games behind. This Cards Against Humanity style game tasks players with creating the funniest meme with photo and caption cards. This game is an especially hilarious gift for anyone who has spent the better half of their life with the internet.
Opens in a new window
Credit: QUIP
Quip electric toothbrush
Best for pearly whites
Electric toothbrushes have become pretty fancy — and quite pricey. Quip strips down to the basics with its sonic vibrating electric toothbrush. It looks like a standard brush in both style and size, but it'll help keep your favorite grad's mouth feeling cleaner. Quip runs on a subscription basis, so brush head refills can be sent to your grad every three months.
Opens in a new window
Credit: MINTED
Personalized stationery
Best for the professional
After receiving gifts, the grad is going to have some thank you notes to write. Equip her with some fancy, personalized stationery to do so. Or have her save it for any handwritten notes and letters she might send in the future. Either way, she'll feel grown up with her own letterhead stationery.
Opens in a new window
Credit: MVMT
MVMT watch
Best for adding style
A good-looking watch can make a person's style feel more cohesive and can add a level of sophistication when needed. If your grad is on the hunt for a job, a professional watch is a great gift to wear for interviews. MVMT watches are solid everyday accessories but also work well for special occasion dressing.
Opens in a new window
Credit: Kasa
Smart plugs
Best for voice-controlled convenience
These plugs will give your grad's house or apartment smart home functionality. She can plug in everyday items and power them on and off through a mobile app or using Alexa or Google Assistant. She can also set timers for the plugs to turn on and off at specific times, which can actually help lower her electricity bill.
Opens in a new window
Credit: HOT TOOLS
High-quality hair dryer
Best for epic tresses
Hot Tools is a brand often used by professional hair stylists, so you can trust that you're gifting the grad a good-quality hair dryer. If she's entering a 9-to-5 job, a good hair dryer can significantly improve her morning routine as it cuts down drying time while leaving her hair feeling healthier.
Opens in a new window
Credit: JARED
Diamond necklace
Best for a touch of class
You really can't go wrong with diamond jewelry when it comes to celebrating big milestones. This gorgeous pendant will act as a reminder of her accomplishments *and* the awesome person who got it for her (AKA you).
Opens in a new window
Credit: Cedar Crate Market
A witty candle
Best for a laugh
Remind her what a brainy babe she is with this punny candle. Not only does it celebrate her awesome achievement, but it also encourages her to slow down, relax, and relish in her accomplishment with its soothing "Caribbean Retreat" scent. Plus, it has a burn time of 50-60 hours so she can enjoy lots of those little moments.
Opens in a new window
Credit: KTMOUW
A stylish laptop tote
Best for the chic commuter
If she's off to start a new job, this chic, faux-leather laptop tote will help her commute in style. It has plenty of space for her laptop, tablet, notebooks, and all her daily essentials. It's also available in a bunch of different colors so you can get it in her favorite hue.
Opens in a new window
Credit: Hatch
Hatch sunrise alarm clock
Best for creating a routine
Help her get a handle on her post-grad routine with this sunrise alarm clock and sound machine. She can unwind at night with the soft-glow reading light, white noise, and nature sounds, then wake up naturally with the "sunrise" — no matter what her work schedule may be.
As Director of Special Projects, Nicole Cammorata helps guide Mashable's editorial innovations, licensing programs, and specialty series. Previously, she was the site's Executive Editor and its very first Shopping Editor before that. Nicole is also Mashable's resident gifting expert and gets a thrill out of helping readers find the perfect present. She received a B.S. in Journalism from Boston University and an MFA in fiction writing from The New School. She lives in Maine with her husband, their three young children, and a backyard full of flowers.
Miller Kern is the Deputy Editor of Shopping and Reviews at Mashable, where she writes and edits reviews, roundups, deals, and news stories about tech products, including headphones, skincare devices, laptops, sex toys, e-readers, robot vacuums, and more. She's been covering all things shopping and tech, including shopping holidays like Prime Day and Black Friday, for Mashable since 2019. Miller can tell you which products are actually worth your money. She also explores trends in the shopping sphere, such as dupes and viral TikTok moments.
