The best college graduation gifts for life in the real world
Hooray for a grad gift they'll actually use.
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.
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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
All products featured here are independently selected by our editors and writers. If you buy something through links on our site, Mashable may earn an affiliate commission.
Graduation season is creeping up on us and that can mean only one thing: it's time to figure out what to give your favorite grad to welcome them to post-college reality. Graduates are about to enter the often overwhelming (and sometimes terrifying) world we call adulthood, and you're tasked with giving them something to help ease the transition. The trick is to find that sweet spot between something your college grad will really need in life and something they'll actually want to use. New graduates might not even know what they need to survive post-grad life — but that's where you come in.
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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.
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Credit: JALL
Sunrise alarm clock
Best for heavy sleepers
Their best friend is the “snooze” button and they can never press it enough times. To give your new grad a more peaceful start to their day, gift them this gentle alarm clock. It wakes them up slowly by mimicking the sunrise in their bedroom and seven different sounds of nature.
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Credit: IROBOT
A Roomba
Best for delegating a chore
What if they just... didn't have to vacuum? With a Roomba, that dream can become a reality. The Roomba 694 is an especially impressive pick: It's self-charging, compatible with Google Assistant and Alexa, and really good for pet hair. (If they just adopted their first pet, they'll be extra grateful.)
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Credit: UNCOMMONGOODS
Tool kit
Best for minor home fixes
When you live on your own, you have to start figuring out how to fix things yourself. That's where YouTube comes in. But repairs, both minor and major, call for the right tools. The contents of this vegan leather case can help your grad mend everything from the zipper on their favorite pair of jeans to the broken leg on their Craigslist-purchased furniture.
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Credit: HYPERCHILLER
HyperChiller
Best for iced coffee lovers
The HyperChiller can chill any liquid, from coffee to wine, in under a minute. No need to go to Starbucks. To use, just pour water in the cup and freeze it. Once the HyperChiller is frozen, add any liquid, then wait 60 seconds. Your grad is gonna be so pumped when they realize they can have iced coffee whenever they want.
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Credit: BOSE
Bose noise-canceling headphones
Best for when they need to focus
The Quiet Comfort 35 wireless headphones from Bose take full advantage of industry-leading noise-canceling technology to block out distractions. Whether your grad is on a plane or taking mass transit, they'll eliminate outside sound, or control precisely how much noise to let in.
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Credit: KODAK
Instant print camera
Best for capturing memories
New grads are about to enter a time where they'll likely be making new friends and new memories. Help them capture those times with this camera from Kodak. It takes photos and prints them automatically onto inkless photo paper that doubles as a sticker. Unlike some other instant print cameras, this one is small and ultra portable, so your graduate can take it anywhere.
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Credit: AMAZON
Amazon Prime membership
Best for a gift that keeps on giving
Amazon Prime may be a step up from an Amazon gift card. With Prime, your grad can get free two-day shipping on over 100 million items. There's also access to thousands of movies and TV shows, free Kindle ebooks, unlimited photo storage and millions of songs. What better way to enter the "real world" than by having access to all that?
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Credit: LISA GRANT
A cookbook for beginners
Best for beginner chefs
After spending four years surviving on dining hall meals, cooking might be a bit of a challenge. Luckily, there are cookbooks like this one that provide simple recipes that involve just a few ingredients. Along with recipes, this book also includes pages dedicated to basic cooking skills and kitchen tips.
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Credit: BOTTLEKEEPER
Bottle insulator
Best for keeping drinks cold
College grads have likely spent the last four years consuming an ungodly amount of booze. Give them a classier way to keep their beer cold than a free koozie they got from their college bar. BottleKeeper is an insulated covering for standard 12-ounce bottles. It keeps beverages cold and sealed, and the lid has a built-in bottle opener.
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Credit: OSTER
Electric wine opener
Best for wine lovers
Help your grad celebrate their achievement in sophisticated style with Oster's electric wine opener. Designed to fit practically all wine bottles, removing the cork involves almost zero effort. There's a foil cutter to remove the wine seal, a wine bottle opener to penetrate the cork, and a straightforward switch to remove the cork from the bottle automatically. Cheers.
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Credit: ANOVA CULINARY
Sous vide precision cooker
Best for making cooking easy
This sous vide precision cooker will help grads make meals that come out moist, tender, and all the other gross words that describe delicious food. To use, attach the sous vide to a pot, fill the pot with water, drop food in a sealed bag, and start cooking. There are controls both on the device and within its mobile app.
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Credit: AMAZON
Amazon gift card
Best for broke grads
Gift cards might seem like a cop-out gift, but trust us when we say a new grad will greatly appreciate one to Amazon. They can use the gift card to treat themselves to something on their wishlist or to buy apartment necessities. You can choose how much money to put on the gift card, then then have it delivered electronically.
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Credit: AMAZONBASICS
Jumper cables
Best for those who drive
Don't let your grad get stranded with a dead car battery. There comes a time where every driver should have their own pair of jumper cables. (OK, that time is the moment you get a car.) But, if you know a grad who is still operating a vehicle without jumper cables, this is the perfect excuse to gift them some.
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Credit: NEST BEDDING
Luxury sheets
Best for nesting
If your grad is moving out of the dorms, it's definitely time for a bed upgrade. A great place to start is with sheets. These Nest Bedding sheets are made from organic sateen, which will feel like a dream to sleep in. Bonus: The sheets are made responsibly and packaged with eco-friendly materials. Your grad will feel good hopping into bed and you can feel good about your purchase.
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Credit: STITCH FIX
Stitch Fix subscription
Best for improving their wardrobe
Stitch Fix will pair your grad with a stylist to help pick wardrobe pieces based on their style, size, and budget. The clothes are delivered to their doorstep and they're able to purchase items they like or send back ones they don't. It's a great service for women and men, and you can get them started with a gift card at an amount of your choosing.
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Credit: APPLE
A new laptop
Best for becoming a professional
Laptops tend to degrade a bit after four years of use, so a college graduation is a great time to get a new one. Recent grads might be looking to upgrade their computer as they enter the workforce, so check with them to see what kind of model they might be looking for.
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Credit: FARBERWARE
Nonstick cookware set
Best for a streamlined kitchen
If they've lived off-campus, new grads probably already have some cookware. But it doesn't hurt to get them a whole new set as they step into adulthood. This one from Farberware is 15 pieces including pots, pans, lids, a baking sheet, and kitchen utensils.
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Credit: VISA
Visa gift card
Best for grads who ask for money
Cold, hard cash is what most new graduates want, even if they won't come right out and say it. Visa gift cards can be used in stores and online (unlike cash), and you can preload them with whatever amount you want. You can even customize the card or send one virtually, and the recipient can keep refilling the card if they want to.
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Credit: Nordic by Nature
Reusable sandwich bags
Best for packing lunches (again)
No one tells you that part of being an adult is having to make your own lunch again. Give them a sustainable way to pack and carry their meals with these reusable snack bags. They come in a variety of colors to suit every taste and can be thrown into the dishwasher for easy cleanup.
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Credit: SHINE
Shine app
Best for managing post-grad stress
Being thrown out into the real world can be scary and lonely. Shine is an app designed to help people learn how to treat themselves as a friend, boost confidence, and increase daily happiness. It does this through motivational messages, audio meditations, and daily check-ins. This gift will help your favorite graduate manage the stress of post-college life.
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Credit: BOOMBOX
Boombox custom keepsake box
Best for a sentimental gift
Sometimes sentimental, personalized gifts are the best. Boombox is a service that allows you to create a keepsake box for a recipient. There are different styles of boxes to choose from, and you can either invite collaborators or go it alone to write letters and upload photos. Everything you want to include is put together within the box and ready to be presented to the grad of the hour.
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Credit: GOLDBELLY
Goldbelly gift card
Best for random food cravings
You don't have to be a local to enjoy local food anymore. Goldbelly allows us to order famous foods from around the United States and have them shipped anywhere nationwide. So if your friend is really craving Magnolia's bread pudding from New York or some Crave Cupcakes from Texas, send them their way with a giftcard. No matter where they are, they'll have the graduation snacks that they actually want.
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Credit: PHILIPS
Electric toothbrush
Best for keeping up hygiene
An electric toothbrush is a true sign of adulthood. The Philips Sonicare removes up to seven times more plaque than a manual toothbrush, but it's safe and gentle enough to use on sensitive areas, orthodontics, and dental work.
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Credit: Conair
Clothes steamer
Best for a good first impression
Showing up to an interview or work with wrinkled clothes is unprofessional and can lead to a bad first impression. This steamer will help grads get tough wrinkles out of their clothes, and it's more convenient than an iron — just run the steamer over clothes as they're hanging.
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Artificial ivy garland
Best for the forgetful plant lover
When you’re fresh out of college, you have more important things to remember than watering your plants every week. But greenery adds a touch of charm to any space. Give them the best of both worlds with artificial plants that never need to be cared for.
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Credit: LEVOIT
LEVOIT Air Purifier
Best if they have a messy roommate
They may be outgrowing college habits, but that doesn’t mean the people they live with have done the same. This air purifier is a godsend for those early adulthood apartments that just always seem to smell, no matter how often you clean them.
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Credit: NILLKIN
Laptop sleeve and stand
Best for the future freelancer
If they’re entering a career that may require a lot of working in coffee shops or libraries, they’ll love this clever laptop carrying case. Not only does it protect their computer while they’re in transit, but it also doubles as a computer stand (with mousepad) for when they’re working long hours.
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Wooden cooking utensil set
Best for their new kitchen
This set of wooden cooking utensils includes six pieces they’ll use every day, like a spatula and a slotted spoon. And all the pieces are designed to be durable, so they won't break while they're trying to scrape burned rice off the bottom of a pan.
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Credit: SPREAD PIXIE DUST
Wall mount shower phone holder
Best if they *really* love their phone
They won’t put their phone down. Not even for a shower. This shower wall mount means they won’t have to. Whether they like listening to music, watching videos, or answering texts while in the shower, this clever contraption keeps their phone safe. It even has a flexible touch screen and an anti-fog window.
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Weighted blanket
Best for stressful days
The early days of adulthood can be incredibly overwhelming. Which is likely why sales of weighted blankets have skyrocketed over the past few years. Weighted blankets help combat insomnia and can help them fall asleep and stay asleep. So your grad can put off their worries until tomorrow.
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Credit: Meg Jay
The Defining Decade
Best for guidance
The idea of being a "twenty-something" has evolved so rapidly that it can be hard to focus on what truly matters in this pivotal post-grad period. Clinical psychologist Meg Jay seeks to guide young folks through life-defining choices and discoveries — from both a scientific and anecdotal approach — and provides the tools necessary to help them make the most of their transformative twenties.
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Credit: Samsonite
Convenient carry-on
Best for travelers
They're probably more than ready to spread their wings and fly — whether that means moving to a new city for their dream job opportunity or taking some time to explore the world before they settle down. This convenient carry-on with a padded laptop compartment fits under most airline seats for quick boarding and deplaning, making it the perfect sidekick for business trips and weekend getaways alike.
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Credit: GRADUATIONMALL
Diploma and tassel frame
Best for making a keepsake
They worked hard to earn that degree, so make sure they have a worthy place to display it for all to see. This cherry wood frame with gold detailing allows them to show off their diploma and tassel behind real glass. It’ll commemorate their achievement in a sophisticated and professional way, whether hung at home or in their future office.
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Credit: Rohan Gunatillake
A deck of mindful moments
Best for daily gratitude
Becoming a full-fledged adult can be a bit overwhelming at times, so it's important for young people to keep themselves grounded. Whether it's a tough day at work or strained relationships, this deck of more than 50 prompts makes mindfulness and gratitude an accessible practice that'll help to empower them and encourage daily positivity and calm.
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Credit: Dr. Suits
A parody of the workplace
Best for a laugh
While Dr. Seuss' classic "Oh, the Places You'll Go!" is a popular grad gift meant to inspire adventures ahead, this parody from Dr. Suits brings a healthy dose of realism. Through clever verse and Seuss-ian illustrations, they'll uncover the post-grad struggles that await them — but with an uplifting tone that'll leave them ready to tackle the workforce.
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.
