The Best College Planners for the Most Locked In Semester Ever

The Top 8 College Planners for Effective School Organization

Struggling to find an academic planner that you can actually stick with?

In this post, I’m sharing the best planners for college students, from cute designs to effective layouts and quality affordable agendas, including options for a variety of different planning preferences.

I’ve been obsessed with all things organization since I started using a planner in college: it made a world of difference in my ability to get things done and not be a hot mess all the time. I’ve been reviewing college student planners for over 9 years and here are my top picks based on real-world scenarios.

Best College Planner Options

1. Poprun Hardcover Weekly Planner

   

   $21.99

   Understated, structured yet flexible, and affordably priced, the Poprun Spiral Hardcover Weekly Planner strikes the right balance for most college students. Each weekday has hourly time slots and open writing space. The freeform space is perfect for jotting down key dates, deadlines, to-dos, and anything you need to stay organized.

   Best of all: the vertical weekly layout helps you easily spot gaps in your schedule, so you can figure out when to tackle homework or squeeze in study sessions. This agenda is an excellent tool for managing your time: keeping you locked in and thriving, even during the busiest weeks!

   Pros:

   • Vertical weekly overview
   • Hourly time slots (6am-8pm)
   • Open writing space for weekdays
   • Focused, distraction-free design

   🫤 Drawbacks:

   • Lacks student-specific pages

   View on Amazon

   12/18/2025 08:28 am GMT

2. Papier Academic Diaries

   

   $32–$37

   I think we can all agree that cute stationery makes everything better. Papier has an excellent variety of trendy and cute academic planner designs to choose from this year. “Enchanted” is my favorite one, the look is so classy! Better yet, this weekly college planner includes space for your class schedule, deadline tracking, and assignment mapping. 

   It’s a good choice if you want a more personalized planner for school. With any Papier agenda, you can choose between hardback binding or spiral binding with larger, tearaway pages. There’s really something for everyone. 

   Pros:

   • Aesthetically appealing covers
   • Academic year or undated
   • Options for personalization

   🫤 Drawbacks:

   • Monthly pages are grouped together
   • Paper quality varies

   View on Papier

   Price accurate at time of publishing

3. Erin Condren Academic Planner

   

   $32.50–$47.50

   If you want something cute, personalized, and highly functional, you can’t go wrong with an Erin Condren School Planner! They're super popular and have sooo many cover options. It features a vertical weekly layout, as well as dedicated pages for your class schedule and monthly tracking of projects/exams. Plus, Erin Condren has a huge selection of lovely accessories (I adore the dashboards) and planner stickers that make organization fun and engaging.

   This is the best planner for nursing school, college students who want an immersive planning experience, and those who find joy in pretty things.

   Pros:

   • Personalisable, different size and style options
   • Multiple calendar options: July-June, Sept-Aug, and Aug-July
   • Optional inserts for added functionality: productivity pages or nursing study pages

   🫤 Drawbacks:

   • Coiled styles can be bulky

   View on Erin Condren View on Amazon

   Price accurate at time of publishing

4. Day Designer Daily Planners

   

   $58–$68

   Day Designer is my recommendation if you want a daily planner for college. Using a one per day format: the daily layouts give you a ton of writing space for all the things, complete with hourly scheduling, to-do lists, notes, and more.

   Not only are these organizers fully featured, but also sturdy and beautiful, you’ll be obsessed right away! However, it IS a high-end planner and the price point is rather steep. If you're busy to the max, the organization is worth it.

   👉💰Budget Picks: The Blue Sky x Day Designer Collab Daily Planner, OR the Blue Sky Livewell DAILY Planner.

   Pros:

   • High-quality materials
   • Durable, yet elegant
   • Monday start on monthly pages
   • Lower-priced collab versions are available at stores like Target (cute options this year!), Walmart, and Office Depot

   🫤 Drawbacks:

   • High price
   • Bulky for carrying around

   View on Day Designer View on Amazon

   Price accurate at time of publishing

5. Rocketbook Reusable Academic Planner

   

   $39.99

   The bulk of college coursework is online, so wouldn't it be nice if you could handle everything digitally? With the Rocketbook planner for school you can, and streamlining your productivity couldn’t be simpler!

   It features 48 reusable pages so you can buy one college planner and you’re set, one-and-done. Using a Rocketbook to stay organized is like having a weight lifted off your shoulders–mentally and literally, as its hybrid capabilities = less stuff to carry in your backpack.

   VERIFIED REVIEW: “I bought my rocket book…to help with my hectic life, and it has proven to be my favorite thing in the entire world! With college classes, a full-time job, and an ADHD diagnosis, the app and planner help me plan months and weeks in advance.”

   Pros:

   • Combines physical with digital planning
   • Connects directly to cloud services
   • Highly-rated companion app
   • Eco-friendly: no more paper waste

   🫤 Drawbacks:

   • Takes some getting used to
   • Ink takes a few extra seconds to dry

   View on Amazon View on Rocketbook

   12/18/2025 03:24 am GMT

6. Lemome Weekly Mid-Year Planner

   

   $19.49

   If you’re tired of over done notebooks and want something to write down tasks without too many bells and whistles, try this one from Lemome! 

   Inexpensive and highly-rated, this no-frills planner comes with many practical features–most notably the 88 pages for notes. It’s trimmed down enough to cut out the “fluff”, but substantial enough to keep a busy college student completely organized. The leather binding is great for the price and no doubt that pen loop comes in handy. It even comes in a pocket-size if you prefer a basic planner that’s small. 

   Pros:

   • Budget-friendly but quality feels more expensive
   • Elastic pen loop
   • Lots of open space

   🫤 Drawbacks:

   • No student specific pages
   • Bare-bones structure

   View on Amazon

   12/18/2025 10:23 am GMT

7. Blue Sky Livewell Planner

   

   $24.99

   One thing that makes Blue Sky Planners so great for students is how readily available they are. So if you forgot to snag a planner for back-to-school, it’s no biggie! Target and Walmart come in clutch. 

   Look for one of these Blue Sky Planners that say, “Livewell,” on the front. This version has a VERTICAL weekly layout which is ideal for college life organization.

   Pros:

   • Comes in different sizes
   • Easy to find in stores
   • Freeform weekly layout
   • Budget-friendly

   🫤 Drawbacks:

   • Student-specific pages only found in certain versions

   View on Amazon View on Target

   Price accurate at time of publishing

   12/18/2025 03:25 am GMT

8. Leuchtturm1917 Week Planner

   

   $28.50

   Oh, to be able to plan your day hour-by-hour without any extra pages weighing you down! Known for their quality goods, Leuchtturm1917’s academic diary beautifully blends together function and minimalism.

   Straight to the point with its double-page weekly spreads, this agenda will help you take control of your student life and ensure you always know what’s next on your schedule. Overall, it's a great value for undergraduates and comes in a handful of attractive colors too.

   Pros:

   • Convenient weekly overview with days of the week in columns
   • Detachable sheets for notes
   • Hourly time slots, 7am–11pm

   🫤 Drawbacks:

   • Slightly lower GSM rating, ink ghosting occurs with some pens

   View on Amazon

   12/18/2025 03:25 am GMT

Comparison Table

For ease of comparison, I compiled the specs for all the top picks into a table. Get a detailed overview of the features for each planner down below.

Our Pick Pin	Pin	Popular Pin	Pin	Pin	Pin	Pin	Pin
Poprun	Day Designer	Erin Condren	Papier	Rocketbook	Blue Sky	Lemome	Leuchtturm1917
See It	See It	See It	See It	See It	See It	See It	See It
Format: Vertical Weekly, Hourly, Monthly	Format: Daily, Hourly, Monthly, Annual	Format: Horizontal Weekly, Monthly	Format: Vertical Weekly, Monthly	Format: Daily, Vertical Weekly, Monthly, Annual	Format: Vertical Weekly, Monthly, Annual	Format: Horizontal Weekly, Monthly, Annual	Format: Vertical Weekly, Hourly, Annual
Calendar: 12 Months: Jan–Dec or July–June	Calendar: 12 Months: July–June or Jan–Dec	Calendar: 12 Months: Jul–June, Aug–Jul, or Sep–Aug	Calendar: 12 Months: Aug–July or Undated	Calendar: Undated	Calendar: 12 Months: Jan–Dec or Jul–June	Calendar: 12 Months: Jul–June	Calendar: 12 Months: Jan–Dec or June–July
Binding: Wire-O	Binding: Wire-O	Binding: Softbound or Coiled	Binding: Hardback or Coiled	Binding: Coiled	Binding: Coiled	Binding: Hardcover	Binding: Hardcover
Size: 8.5" x 6.25" or 10" x 8"	Size: 6.6" x 8.3" or 9" x 9.75"	Size: 7" x 9" or 5.8" x 8.3"	Size: 6" x 8.5" or 7" x 9"	Size: 8.5" x 11"	Size: 5" x 8", 7" x 9", or 8.5" x 11"	Size: 8.25" x 5.75"	Size: A5, A4+, B5, or B6+
Weight: 14 oz	Weight: 1.9lbs or 2.6 lbs	Weight: 1 lb or 1.6 lbs	Weight: 15.5 oz	Weight: 12.4 oz	Weight: ~1 lb 7 oz	Weight: 6 oz	Weight: 12 oz to 2 lbs
Paper Quality: 100 gsm	Paper Quality: 100 gsm	Paper Quality: 118 gsm	Paper Quality: 90 gsm	Paper Quality: N/A	Paper Quality: 140 gsm	Paper Quality: 100 gsm	Paper Quality: 80 gsm
Extra Pages: Year plan Expense Password Contact	Extra Pages: Self-assessment Goals Ideal month & week	Extra Pages: Class schedule Projects & exams Productivity Notes Optional: nursing study	Extra Pages: Class schedule Deadlines Goal review Assignment plan Notes	Extra Pages: Class schedule Project tracker Reflections Mind map Priority matrix Graph Lined Blank	Extra Pages: Notes Contacts	Extra Pages: Contacts Notes	Extra Pages: Notes
Customizable: ❌	Customizable: ❌	Customizable: ✅ - partially	Customizable: ✅ - limited	Customizable: ❌	Customizable: ❌	Customizable: ❌	Customizable: ❌
Stickers Included: ❌	Stickers Included: ✅ (2 sheets)	Stickers Included: ✅ (1 sheet w/ coil bound)	Stickers Included: ❌	Stickers Included: ❌	Stickers Included: ✅ (1 sheet)	Stickers Included: ✅ (monthly tabs)	Stickers Included: ✅ (for labeling and archiving)

Our Pick

Pin

Poprun

See It

Format:

Vertical Weekly, Hourly, Monthly

Calendar:

12 Months: Jan–Dec or July–June

Binding:

Wire-O

Size:

8.5" x 6.25" or 10" x 8"

Weight:

14 oz

Paper Quality:

100 gsm

Extra Pages:

• Year plan
• Expense
• Password
• Contact

Customizable:

❌

Stickers Included:

❌

Pin

Day Designer

See It

Format:

Daily, Hourly, Monthly, Annual

Calendar:

12 Months: July–June or Jan–Dec

Binding:

Wire-O

Size:

6.6" x 8.3" or 9" x 9.75"

Weight:

1.9lbs or 2.6 lbs

Paper Quality:

100 gsm

Extra Pages:

• Self-assessment
• Goals
• Ideal month & week

Customizable:

❌

Stickers Included:

✅ (2 sheets)

Popular

Pin

Erin Condren

See It

Format:

Horizontal Weekly, Monthly

Calendar:

12 Months: Jul–June, Aug–Jul, or Sep–Aug

Binding:

Softbound or Coiled

Size:

7" x 9" or 5.8" x 8.3"

Weight:

1 lb or 1.6 lbs

Paper Quality:

118 gsm

Extra Pages:

• Class schedule
• Projects & exams
• Productivity
• Notes
• Optional: nursing study

Customizable:

✅ - partially

Stickers Included:

✅ (1 sheet w/ coil bound)

Pin

Papier

See It

Format:

Vertical Weekly, Monthly

Calendar:

12 Months: Aug–July or Undated

Binding:

Hardback or Coiled

Size:

6" x 8.5" or 7" x 9"

Weight:

15.5 oz

Paper Quality:

90 gsm

Extra Pages:

• Class schedule
• Deadlines
• Goal review
• Assignment plan
• Notes

Customizable:

✅ - limited

Stickers Included:

❌

Pin

Rocketbook

See It

Format:

Daily, Vertical Weekly, Monthly, Annual

Calendar:

Undated

Binding:

Coiled

Size:

8.5" x 11"

Weight:

12.4 oz

Paper Quality:

N/A

Extra Pages:

• Class schedule
• Project tracker
• Reflections
• Mind map
• Priority matrix
• Graph
• Lined
• Blank

Customizable:

❌

Stickers Included:

❌

Pin

Blue Sky

See It

Format:

Vertical Weekly, Monthly, Annual

Calendar:

12 Months: Jan–Dec or Jul–June

Binding:

Coiled

Size:

5" x 8", 7" x 9", or 8.5" x 11"

Weight:

~1 lb 7 oz

Paper Quality:

140 gsm

Extra Pages:

• Notes
• Contacts

Customizable:

❌

Stickers Included:

✅ (1 sheet)

Pin

Lemome

See It

Format:

Horizontal Weekly, Monthly, Annual

Calendar:

12 Months: Jul–June

Binding:

Hardcover

Size:

8.25" x 5.75"

Weight:

6 oz

Paper Quality:

100 gsm

Extra Pages:

• Contacts
• Notes

Customizable:

❌

Stickers Included:

✅ (monthly tabs)

Pin

Leuchtturm1917

See It

Format:

Vertical Weekly, Hourly, Annual

Calendar:

12 Months: Jan–Dec or June–July

Binding:

Hardcover

Size:

A5, A4+, B5, or B6+

Weight:

12 oz to 2 lbs

Paper Quality:

80 gsm

Extra Pages:

• Notes

Customizable:

❌

Stickers Included:

✅ (for labeling and archiving)

College Student Planner FAQs

Do college students use planners?

Yes, college students do use planners! In fact, according to a Grand Canyon University survey, 65% of college students use them.

Are planners good for college students?

Research shows that yes, planners are good for college students. A college planner helps you keep track of your class schedule, assignment due dates, upcoming quizzes and exams. Plus it makes it simple for you to plan when you’ll study and when you’ll set aside time to do homework.

What type of planner is best for college?

The best type of planner for college is an academic planner with a vertical weekly page layout.

What is the difference between an academic planner and a regular planner?

The difference between an academic planner and a regular planner is that an academic planner follows the academic year. This type of planner also typically has built-in student resources such as class schedule pages, assignment/project planning pages, or extra note pages.

How do you use a daily planner for college?

You use a daily planner for college by writing down all your commitments for the day in the corresponding time slots: classes, appointments, social hangouts, work, etc. Then use the to-do list to write down tasks you need to get done. Finally, you see where you have down time in your schedule and parcel out your to-do list tasks accordingly.

Just don’t forget to plan in time for breaks, rest, and play too. (: It’s super easy to use a planner in college, especially when you get into the habit!

Final thoughts on the best planner for college

So that wraps up this post on the best planner for college students. I hope all that information has helped you pinpoint the right choice for YOU! But honestly, I’m so curious about what your individual process is like for choosing a planner. 

If you have time to leave a comment, I have some 🔥burning questions:

1. What features do you look for in a planner? Is it the overall look, the ways the pages are designed, the size? 
2. Which specs are most helpful in a comparison table?
3. What planner specs aren’t important to you?
4. Lastly, which planner are you using for school this year: one from the list or a totally different brand?

I would love to hear your thoughts, even if you wanna answer only one question. It totally makes my day to here from readers. (:

Related:

• College Essentials Packing Checklist for Incoming Freshmen
• 32 Insanely Good Dorm Room Storage and Organization Hacks

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Charlotte "Charlie" Lake( Editor in Chief )

Charlie, co-founder of College Life Made Easy and author of 175+ Things to Do Before You Graduate College, has spent over 8 years exploring the personal and cultural aspects of college life. She specializes in college student advice, lifestyle pointers, and style inspiration. She’s also obsessed with staying organized and mastering the art of gift-giving. Charlie lives in the Pacific Northwest. Learn more about her on the About Page.