9 Gifts for College Students That Are Guaranteed to Get an “OMG”
Crazy Good Presents Ideas for 2022
Picking out Christmas gifts for college students comes with its challenges.
You probably have valid questions like…
What’s the best gift for a college student? What do college students want for Christmas? How do I choose something they’ll really use?
Finding the perfect gift for a young adult is tricky!
If only they had a letter to Santa you could take a peek at. But that’s not the case.
I have the next best thing, though:
In this post, you’ll find 9 really good gifts for college students.
If you’re curious (or in a hurry):
✅ The Top Picks
Best Practical: Tile Sticker Bluetooth Trackers
“Great invention. Have them on everything and now manage to find things I can’t find e.g. phone/keys/wallet.”
Best for Productivity: Microsoft Surface Pro 7
“It is perfect for taking notes…The battery lasts me a whole day of continuous use. Would definitely recommend for any student out there.”
Best for the Music Obsessed: Sony Wireless Noise Canceling Headphones
“It helped to concentrate on my studies and eradicate unnecessary sounds from my neighborhood (car traffic, loud music, etc.). The noise cancellation and sound quality are incredible.”
Best for Socialites: Fujifilm Instax Mini 9 Instant Camera
“This is a great travel-sized ‘memory making’ camera.”
Best for Year-Round Use: Colombia Waterproof Breathable Rain Jacket
“My son needed a rain jacket he could carry in his backpack on his college campus…he has been so thankful for it.”
Best for Type A Personalities: Erin Condren Academic Planner
“So helpful for when I’m working on school stuff and so easy to keep me on track with my school work!”
Best for the Coffee Connoisseur: Nespresso VertuoPlus Espresso Machine
“This machine makes the best coffee of my LIFE. I *love* my morning coffee and this machine is actual magic.”
Best Self-Care: Philips Sonicare ProtectiveClean Electric Toothbrush
“It’s really a great value without reducing the performance.”
Best for Fun Lovers: BroBasket Beer or Spirits Sampler
“It was even better than I expected and he is still telling people how much he has enjoyed it weeks later.”
Good Gifts for College Students
1. Tile Stickers (for keeping track of important stuff)
Have you ever spent more time than you’d like looking for your misplaced glasses, wallet, remote, or keys? Only for it to turn up once you’ve given up searching?
I know that I’ve certainly been in that type of situation many times. It can be frustrating at the very least.
Maybe that’s something you can relate to. And/or maybe that sounds like a certain college student you know.
Most of the time it’s more of an annoyance. But if a laptop, textbooks, or something else important goes missing – that can turn into a big problem.
Modern solution:
Cue the Tile Sticker – it’s a small finder that adheres to pretty much anything.
Highlighted Features:
- 3-year battery life
- Waterproof
- Sticks to virtually any clean, flat surface
- Amazon Alexa & Google Home enabled
- Core finding features are free with the app
⟶ get more info & read reviews
Prone to spells of forgetfulness or not, students will find that Stickers come in handy.
In fact:
Theft and on-campus burglaries are a common occurrence at colleges all over the county. Data shows that, on average, 41 burglaries occur every day.
And, according to a study from Get Safe,
“53.3% of burglaries that took place on college campuses between 2012 and 2014 occurred in student housing. The remaining 46.7% took place in other on-campus locations, like offices and store rooms.”
With that in mind, I think it’s a good idea to have a preventative measure in place. Just in case.
The endless possibilities for Tile Stickers are what make them a great option.
For instance:
Some things a student might want to stick one on include, their campus ID badge, laptop, backpack, professional camera, or tablet. College kids can find tons of creative Tile Tracker uses at school.
✅ Need the best price? The Sticker 8-pack is on sale today and you’ll get a FREE Google Nest Mini ($50 value) with your order. Hurry because the deal is only being offered while supplies last – expires on 12/31/19.
2. Microsoft Surface Tablet Laptop
A Microsoft Surface is a two-in-one device; it’s a tablet and a laptop.
And let me tell you, these babies get a lot of love from the college community.
Key Reasons Why the Surface is a Favorite:
- Portability (the Go version weighs only 1 pound)
- Handles tasks quickly
- Excellent note-taking capabilities (it integrates flawlessly with OneNote, debatably the best note-taking app for students)
- Great screen resolution
It’s a great computer but it’s not without some criticism.
Reviews on battery life are mixed. Some say the device easily lasts for over 6 hours without being recharged, while feedback from others say it runs out of juice in less time.
I’m sure task load and usage play a factor in battery life. YMMV.
All in all:
The Microsoft Surface is the perfect little companion for helping students conquer their courses.
Art majors will be enamored with the stylus for drawing. Engineering students will find the tablet extremely useful for class projects, as well. And every college kid in between will find it enjoyable to use on a day-to-day basis.
To sum it up:
Having the best of both worlds is what makes it so well-rounded. The Surface Pro and Go models are both ridiculously good presents for college students.
⟶ read a review from an actual college student
3. Wireless Noise Canceling Headphones
College can be a constant bombardment of the senses.
Between classes, group projects, a social life, possible work shifts, and commuting – sometimes a kid just wants a break from it all.
A pair of noise canceling headphones is like a little oasis from the chaos. Listening to a podcast, music, or an audiobook will do the trick whenever a student needs to take a breather.
They’re really nice to have when traveling by plane, too. A solid pair of noise canceling headphones makes the airport so much more bearable.
Here’s two pairs you can’t go wrong with:
- Sony Wireless Noise Cancelling Headphones with Alexa voice control (2 colors) – info page
- Bose QuietComfort 35 II Wireless Headphones with Alexa voice control (3 colors) – info page
They honestly both have STELLAR reviews. Choosing between them might come down to just a color preference.
in the picture:
Bose QuietComfort 35 II Wireless Bluetooth Headphones, black
available in 3 great colors – get more info.
TIP: Look for headphones labeled as “renewed” – they’re usually the best bang for your buck.
4. Instant Polaroid Camera
Polaroid pictures are back in trend! Or maybe they never went out of style?
Either way:
Teenage and college-age girls are into it big time right now. Taking candid’s with friends is a great way to treasure memories in an authentic way.
Polaroids also make great wall décor to use in a dorm room later.
You can easily score some brownie points by wrapping up a cute Fujifilm Instax Mini 9 Instant Camera to put under the tree for Christmas.
With all the fun color options, finding the perfect one shouldn’t be too hard.
5. Waterproof & Windproof Rain Jacket
You never know how good something is until you don’t have it anymore…
Like a rain jacket that actually keeps you dry.
Your average college student has very little to allocate towards buying new clothes. It’s why they really look forward to getting cliqued Christmas socks.
A gift of a raincoat may not seem all that life-changing, but for a college student, it can make a world of difference.
I’m a fan of the Columbia brand because it’s made to LAST.
✅ Recommended College Gifts:
One of these breathable jackets should easily last all throughout college – if not longer.
6. Academic Student Planner
The life of a college student gets busy fast.
There are a LOT of moving parts, deadlines, and due dates to keep track. If they don’t have an organizational system things can easily snowball out of control.
That’s where an academic planner comes in.
Writing down these things takes a huge mental load off the brain. Trying to remember every bit of important information is near impossible without tools.
A planner is the #1 thing all college students need. Because life is better when it’s organized chaos.
Plus:
The new year is right around the corner. A practical Christmas gift could help a student kick it off on the right foot!
Erin Condren planners are a fantastic choice. They have the biggest selection of cover choices you’ll find anywhere.
And:
The cover can be personalized at no extra cost. It doesn’t hurt that Erin Condren planner accessories are super cute, either.
⟶ see all the customizable planners here
☑️ TIP: check out this page here for the latest deals, I’ve seen some nice sales over the years. (If you can get a planner for more than 25% off, GRAB IT – they’re so worth it)
7. Perfectly Sized Coffee/Espresso Machine
Keurigs are cool, but an espresso machine? Now that’s a WOW gift!
Especially for a college student.
Because you can rest assured that it’s frothy coffee making abilities will not go to waste.
An espresso and coffee machine all rolled into one is the gift that keeps on giving. Caffeine on demand is like manna from heaven when you’re in school. Roommates and friends will jump at the chance to get a turn filling their mugs.
With barista grade brews ready at the touch of a button, I don’t see why collegiate girls and guys would ever want to go to Starbucks again. (well, except for pumpkin spice lattes because they’re so yummy)
Coffee loving youth will agree that this Italian invention is a good gift idea. A really good idea even.
And:
While an espresso machine has the sound, look, and feel of fancy; there are many models that have pricing comparable to Keurig brewers.
There are lots of different types and sizes out there, though.
What’s going to work best for a college student is a machine that’s on the more compact side. Dorms and first apartments don’t have much extra room to spare.
These models are GREAT options:
- Nespresso Essenza Mini Espresso Machine –
info page - Nespresso VertuoPlus Coffee and Espresso Maker –
info page
Each brewer has hundreds of highly positive reviews!
8. Electric Toothbrush
I know – a toothbrush gift doesn’t immediately come off as the epitome “cool”.
But it sure is useful. And it’s definitely an upgrade from a manual toothbrush.
Electric toothbrushes are proven to be more effective at removing plaque. Which means fewer toothaches in the future. Not to mention fewer headaches from receiving less (or no) dental bills.
And:
A recent study found that boosted confidence is a side effect of improved OH.
See, an electric toothbrush IS a good gift idea for a college student after all.
Guys and girls can reap daily benefits for years to come. I’ve had my current electric toothbrush for over 5 years now and it’s still getting the job done.
9. Sampler Gift Basket
Finally:
This last Christmas gift is for the beer, spirits, or food-loving college student in your life. BroBaskets are the go-to choice. The brand offers a wide variety of awesome basket arrangements.
Boozy themed gifts are their specialty. And a young adult will never be disappointed to receive food, trust me on this one. It’s always a winning gift.
A sampler basket is an unexpected surprise that college guys will welcome. And girls, too of course!
Good Gifts for a College Student Conclusion
Use one of these gift ideas for Christmas this year and you’re sure to impress the recipient.
For real, these are truly good gift ideas for college students. If there was a wish list you could look at, this is what would be on it!
More college gift ideas:
- Unique Stocking Stuffers College Students Will Get Excited About
- 50 Fail-Proof Gifts Ideas for a College Girl
- 100+ Awesome Ideas for a College Care Package
- Christmas Gifts for Female Best Friend That She Probably Won’t Stop Talking About
About Charlie
Charlie is the co-founder of College Life Made Easy and author of the book 175+ Things to Do Before You Graduate College. She’s a 2015 graduate who teaches overwhelmed students and parents of students how to confidently navigate the whole college thing. As a former broke college kid, she’s passionate about helping students develop the skills they need in order to thrive (instead of just survive), stress less, and actually enjoy the full college experience.