14 Personalized Gifts for College Students

Choosing gifts for a college-goer can be pretty tricky. Particularly with the wide array of gifts to choose from, things can get complex and baffling for most of us.

So, if you’re busy figuring out the best gift ideas for college students, here’s a list that might help you.

Gift Ideas Index

Personalized gifts are a thoughtful way to show someone you care. But you need to consider the recipient’s preferences. Make sure the gift is something they will appreciate and use. The item may also take longer to create or ship, so you’ll need to plan ahead.

Also see this checklist of uni essentials (things to pack).

Activity Gear

The social and physical activities available for college students seem to just keep growing. Some of the things that could be useful, depending on their interests, are snow hats, a beach towel, sports socks, a drinking funnel and a chessboard. A name, nickname, college logo or personal message can turn ordinary activity gear into an individual gift. Get them ready for the fun times.

Custom Campus Map

A framed or printed campus map can mark the student’s residence, favourite café, lecture buildings or other important places. Another option is a map showing the distance between college and home. Add names, dates or a short message to turn the map into a record of their college years.

Dorm Room Door Sign

A personalized door sign can make a plain college room easier to identify and more welcoming. Use the student’s name, nickname, course, hometown or an appropriate warning about entering without snacks. Choose something lightweight that can be attached without damaging the door.

Food Containers

Every college kid faces a situation in life where meals are strictly confined to ramen, lentils and mac and cheese. In such situations, gifting a good food container to your college buddy can be a great idea. Add their name, a photograph or an in-joke to make the container personal. It will store food safely and can be taken out for meals between classes.

Football

A football can be a real winner. Having a ball can help a student make friends and is an ice-breaker with guys even, and maybe especially, if your college student is a girl. Go for a gridiron ball in the United States and a soccer ball in Europe. If he or she is attending university in Australia, it’s an Aussie Rules ball in the south and a rugby ball in the north. Initials, signatures from friends or the colours of a favourite team can personalize the gift.

Goodie Bag

You can come up with a goodie bag to light up the face of your favorite college buddy. Fill up a small, multi-pocket tote bag with items of daily necessities like toothpaste, toothbrushes, moisturizers, flip-flops, razors, lip balms and every other thing that you can think of. Add handwritten notes, favourite snacks and a few private jokes to make the collection personal. Your friend will love having a bag that meets their daily needs so perfectly.

Laptop Sleeve With Their Name

A laptop sleeve printed or embroidered with the student’s name can be useful in classrooms, libraries and shared accommodation. You could also add a photograph, college reference or design connected to their field of study. Check the laptop dimensions rather than relying only on the advertised screen size.

Microwave Pasta Cooker

As I already said, college life is never complete without mac an’ cheese. Most college-goers survive on ramen and pasta throughout a large part of their college sessions. So gifting them a microwave pasta cooker will make life simpler and easier. A name, funny label or short message can give an otherwise basic kitchen item a personal touch. Other cooking-related ideas are here.

Phone Case With a Personal Joke

A custom phone case can feature a favourite photograph, pet, nickname or joke that only close friends understand. College students carry their phones everywhere, so the gift is likely to be seen and used every day. Just make sure you know the exact phone model before placing the order.

Pillows and Cushions

This is one gift where you can never go wrong. Customize pillows or cushions using some happy snaps. You can also choose pictures from your college student’s favorite movies or TV shows.

Don’t let them forget about you and include an image of yourself in the gift. You can even use this gift as a reminder of birthdays and important dates. Use your imagination and help decorate the college dorm or private bedroom as a home away from home.

Portable Pizza Pouch

College students swear by pizzas and, in this regard, there can be no better gift than a small, personalized and portable pizza pouch. Add a name, pizza slogan or ridiculous private joke. The pouch will ensure that the person is always prepared for any kind of pizza-related emergency.

Power Bank With a Message

A portable power bank can rescue a college student when their phone runs flat between classes, at the library or on a night out. Personalize the case with their name, a photograph or a short message that will make them smile whenever the battery warning appears. Check that the model works with their phone and has enough capacity for at least one full charge.

Shot Glasses

College keeps all of us worked up. At times, situations get a tad more difficult and we are in dire need of a shot. So gifting a couple of shot glasses can make an adult college-goer more than happy. Do not confine your choices to boring and typical designs. Try something cool and quirky. You can even customize the glasses with a personal message or reference to a shared experience.

Subscription Box

A subscription box is a great personalized gift for a college student because it allows them to discover new things on a regular basis. Some ideas for subscription boxes include:

• Activity box: A monthly delivery of activities and challenges for self-improvement or personal development.
• Beauty box: A monthly delivery of beauty products such as makeup, skincare and hair care items.
• Book box: A monthly delivery of a new book in a genre of their choice, along with a few related goodies.
• Hobbies box: A monthly delivery of materials and instructions for a new hobby, such as knitting, painting or cooking.
• Snack box: A monthly delivery of a variety of snacks from around the world.

Overall, a subscription box can be a great way to show that you care about their interests and want to help them discover new things. The student will think about you every month when the box arrives and they get the chance to try something different.

So what are you waiting for? Try these amazing gift ideas and make your college-going buddy happier than ever.

Related: Easy Healthy Recipes for College Students