Best Gifts for New College Grads – The Most Sought After Presents

Graduating university is a big rite of passage, and it’s a huge moment in a young person’s life. Their years of hard work has paid off, and they’re about to enter the workforce. It’s an exciting time! If one of your loved ones is about to graduate from university, you may be wondering what to get them to celebrate this momentous occasion. Fear not – we’re here to give you our top tips for gifts for graduates, so you can pick the perfect present for the young scholar. 

Celebrate their amazing achievement 

Graduating college is a pivotal moment in a person’s life, and you naturally want to celebrate with your loved one. A thoughtful gift will show them that you care about them and are proud of them, and naturally you’ll want to pick the perfect gift to celebrate what they’re achieved. Take a little time to think about what to get them, but keep in mind that it’s the thought that counts. No matter what present you end up getting, the graduate will appreciate the gesture and be happy that you’re celebrating with them. 

Distance is no hindrance 

You may be concerned that you might not be able to be with the grad on their big day. These days, distance won’t get in the way of you celebrating this day with your loved one. Even if you don’t live in the same city – or the same country – you can still be a part of the graduate’s day and show them you love them. If you’re stateside and they’re studying abroad in the UK or anywhere else, you can easily use a package forwarding service to get packages sent to the UK. Alternatively, you can order the present online to be delivered directly to them – these days, ordering a gift online is as easy as can be. 

What’s the best gift for a graduate?

There are a range of great gift options for a university graduate, and you should pick what you feel is best suited. You know your loved one best, and you know what they might like. If you don’t want to ask them outright, anything from Bed Bath & Beyond is probably a safe bet – it’s full of grownup wares to replace their worn-out dorm room gear.

Some of the most popular college or university graduate gifts

  • Money
  • Jewelry especially custom designed or personalized pieces like Limoges Jewelry offers
  • Custom artwork or framed print, like a framed map of where the grad went to school
  • Collage of framed prints and college memories from Minted
  • A watch
  • Gift cards (in a graduation cap envelope) 
  • Homeware like an amazing, grown-up coffee maker 
  • A sturdy piece of chic luggage (for carry-on)
  • An Instagram photo book 
  • A nice robe (luxuriant hotel spa quality) to upgrade their ratty dorm robe 
  • Succulents (tip: Aloe Vera are gorgeous and impossible to kill) 
  • Cooking classes (maybe it’s something you can enjoy together)
  • Meal kit delivery or meal planner service

Any of these gifts would be great — in addition to a beautiful bouquet of flowers, of course! 

If you’re stuck, think practical

If you’re not sure what to buy for your loved one, keep in mind that they’re about to enter the workforce and start their real existence as adults with responsibilities. For a lot of young graduates, this also involves moving from dorms to an apartment or house. Suddenly, they may find themselves in need of a lot of homeware and practical items, and getting the graduate something they can use is therefore a great idea. At Newegg, you can get a great deal on electronics, which is a great gift because you know the young graduate will find it useful – especially if you gather some intel ahead of time and find out specifically what products they’d like to get. 

Or maybe you’re interested in buying the grad some great new clothes to help them start off their professional (adult) life on a stylish note. While more and more workspaces are blue jean casual or remote, plenty of employers still have a more formal business dress code. 

A new grad will certainly want a nice suit or professional office attire to wear for interviews and career fairs. And while they may be able to wear crocs and beat-up jeans to the office once they’ve got the job, they’re not going to get the job wearing ratty clothes. Furthermore, when they’re young and starting out they need people to take them seriously. An older colleague may be able to wear a Polo shirt and cargo shorts, but for a young twenty-something, this is not advised when you’ve already got age and inexperience working against you. 

Practical Gifts for New University Graduates

  • Money (of course) 
  • Gift card to a store like Brooks Brothers or Macy’s to purchase some career wear 
  • Lightweight bicycle that can be used for commuting 
  • Stylish new laptop bag or other nice work bag 
  • Docking station (that can handle a watch, earbuds, tablet, and smartphone) 
  • A book about making the most of your 20’s 
  • Pair of comfortable yet trendy work shoes
  • High-quality noise cancelling headphones (roommates, noisy bus commutes, and work sessions in coffee shops may all be in the very near future)
  • Grown-up couch (to replace the stained hand-me-down)
  • A new laptop – the college one is probably 4 or 5 years old at this point

Bottom Line

New gift or not, graduating from college is an exciting time. Some love and encouragement, and a free hot meal or two, will certainly go along way.

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