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College graduation is right around the corner, and that means it’s time to celebrate 🎉
With all of the work that goes into earning a diploma – the countless hours of studying, the tough lectures with tough professors, the craziness of midterms and finals season – graduation can be a great opportunity to look back at everything a student has accomplished over the last four years. But college graduation isn’t just a time to reminisce – it’s also an opportunity to look at the bright future that lies ahead of your favorite student.
If someone you know is graduating with the Class of 2022, chances are you want to get them a college graduation gift they’ll actually use. Sure, most college kids would be excited to receive an envelope with some cash to put towards a deposit on their new apartment or paying off student loans, but sometimes that doesn’t feel quite personal enough to fit such a special occasion.
Not quite sure where to start shopping for grad gifts? Or maybe your grad doesn’t quite know what post-college life has in store for them yet?
Don’t worry, OCM has you covered. We’ve compiled a list of 60+ college graduation gifts anyone leaving their undergrad days behind would be thrilled to receive.
So let’s jump right in!
1. Upgraded Bedding for Their Upgraded Bed
🎓 Perfect Grad Gift For: Anyone leaving #DormLife behind
Twin XL bedding is perfect for dorm rooms, but after graduation your student will probably need an upgrade. Whether they’re moving back in with mom and dad or moving into a place of their own, new apartment bedding will help new grads feel right at home wherever they lay their head.
Click Here to Shop Apartment Bedding >>
2. Diploma Frame to Highlight Their Achievements
🎓 Perfect Grad Gift For: Everyone
After spending years working towards a degree, most new grads are excited to finally hold their college diploma in their hands. A frame that’s worthy of the diploma going in it might be a little out of budget for new grads, which makes it a fantastic college graduation gift. There are plenty of types of college diploma frames out there – traditional single-diploma frames, sleek modern diploma frames, frames with room for a tassel or photograph – so you’re sure to find something that fits your grad’s style.
💡 Pro Tip: Do some research before you buy! Most college diplomas are 8 ½” x 11”, but some degrees and universities award diplomas that are different sizes. You can find more information on diploma frame sizes here.
Click Here to Shop Diploma Frames >>
3. Sleek Storage That’s Fitting for Post-Grad Life
🎓 Perfect Grad Gift For: Grads who are still figuring it out
What does post-grad life look like for your favorite (former) student? They may not know yet, which can make college graduation and the months that follow it a whirlwind. After they move out of their college dorms, they may find themselves packing and unpacking all over again as they figure out where their next steps will take them. Make moving a little less of a hassle with sleek storage options that will help them get all of their stuff where it needs to go, and look good doing it.
Click Here to Shop Storage Trunks >>
4. College Mascot Bobblehead for Their New Desk
🎓 Perfect Grad Gift For: Sports fans & grads with lots of school spirit
Everyone has a couple of personal items on their desk at work – a family photo, a desk toy, something to bring a little personality to their 9-to-5. If your grad is headed straight into the workforce, help them start their collection of desktop doodads with a fun reminder of their alma mater.
Click Here to Shop Mascot Bobbleheads >>
5. Wireless Earbuds
🎓 Perfect Grad Gift For: Music lovers and gym-goers
Looking for a gift your grad can use literally anywhere? Your new grad will rock out with these wireless earbuds while they’re working, working out, or even running errands.
💡 Pro Tip: Pair a new set of earbuds with a gift card to your grad’s favorite music streaming platform to cover all their listening needs!
Click Here to Shop Wireless Earbuds >>
6. Sentimental Grad Kit
🎓 Perfect Grad Gift For: Everyone
Graduation Day goes by fast. Your student has spent years preparing for this moment, and it’s over within just a few hours. Get them a college graduation gift that helps them preserve the memories you make together on graduation day with sleek photo frames, a cuddly plush, and a mug that will remind them of everything they’ve achieved every morning when they reach for that first cup of coffee.
Click Here to Shop Grad Kits >>
7. Kitchen Tool Set
🎓 Perfect Grad Gift For: Grads moving their experiments from the chem lab to the kitchen
For many grads, getting out of school also means getting out into the world for the first time. That means it’s a great time to fill in the gaps in their apartment essentials. Whether their roommate was the one who brought the kitchen gear or they lived in a dorm without cooking space, a set of kitchen tools will set your grad up for culinary success.
Click Here to Shop Kitchen Tools >>
8. Tassel and Photo Frame
🎓 Perfect Grad Gift For: Everyone
Make commencement unforgettable with this modern brushed aluminum photo frame. Not only does it display those happy Graduation Day memories for the world to see, it also preserves one of the most important symbols of what your grad has accomplished: the tassel from their graduation cap.
Click Here to Shop Tassel Frames >>
9. Office-Friendly Air Purifier
🎓 Perfect Grad Gift For: Grads who are headed to their first office job
Whether the office your grad will be working from is on a corporate campus or in their apartment, a chic tabletop air purifier will help them create a space where they can be productive.
Air purifiers remove airborne irritants like dust, pollen, and pet dander, plus they help eliminate pesky odors, which is helpful if you find yourself living with a coworker who microwaves fish for lunch every day 😬
Click Here to Shop Air Purifiers >>
10. Coaster Set
🎓 Perfect Grad Gift For: Grads moving into grown up apartments with grown up furniture
Sure, it’s no big deal if your water bottle leaves a ring on that standard-issue dorm room desk, but once you move into your own place (and buy your own furniture) that’s a very different story. Coasters are a practical college graduation gift, and when you choose a fun design like this, they’re a gift any grad would be glad to have.
Click Here to Shop Coasters >>
11. Alumni License Plate Holder
🎓 Perfect Grad Gift For: New grads navigating a new commute
After graduation, your favorite college student is ✨officially✨ an alum. Help them celebrate their new status with some gear for their car.
Click Here to Shop Alumni License Plate Holders >>
12. Alumni Auto Kit
🎓 Perfect Grad Gift For: New grads with new wheels
On campus, most students get from building to building on foot, but after graduation all of that changes. Make your grad’s commute a little more lively with a fun college-themed auto kit to commemorate commencement.
Click Here to Shop College Auto Kits >>
13. Business Card Holder
🎓 Perfect Grad Gift For: Grads dealing with a little bit of imposter syndrome
Diploma? Check. Full-time job? Check. Confidence boost? Check.
Starting your first post-college job is a big step, and it can be nerve-wracking. Remind your grad that they are a well-qualified professional – and that you’re proud of their accomplishments – with a mature business card holder they can proudly display on their desk.
Click Here to Shop Business Card Holders >>
14. Sewing Kit
🎓 Perfect Grad Gift For: Everyone
Sometimes fashion emergencies happen. Help your grad be prepared to deal with a button that pops off their jacket before work or the snag in their blouse with a handy sewing kit they can keep in their apartment.
Click Here to Shop Sewing Kits >>
15. Tool Kit
🎓 Perfect Grad Gift For: Everyone
Once your grad moves out of their college dorm, they might not be able to call maintenance to deal with things that go wrong in their space. Whether it's dealing with minor repairs, hanging decor, or putting together furniture for their new apartment, giving your grad a few essential tools will help them be prepared for whatever life throws at them.
Click Here to Shop All Tech >>
16. PopSockets
🎓 Perfect Grad Gift For: Grads who never go anywhere without their phone
Here’s something many students and professionals have in common: their phone is their favorite accessory. Give your grad a fun way to remember their college days every time they check their texts or emails with a college-inspired PopSocket.
Click Here to Shop PopSockets >>
17. Mascot Plush
🎓 Perfect Grad Gift For: Animal lovers
New grads may not be able to buy that house with a yard for a furry friend right off the bat, but they probably have room for a cute plush friend. A mascot plush makes a great college graduation gift that will keep them company no matter where post-grad life takes them.
Click Here to Shop Mascot Plushes >>
18. Lunch Box
🎓 Perfect Grad Gift For: Foodies
On a college campus, students can stop and grab food whenever and wherever they want. Give your grad the option of taking their favorite food with them to their new full-time gig when you give them a new lunch box as a graduation gift.
Click Here to Shop Lunch Boxes >>
19. Grad Photo Booth Set
🎓 Perfect Grad Gift For: Grads on the go
Is your grad taking off right after the diplomas are handed out? Give them a way to celebrate their achievement no matter where they are. This photo booth kit has everything your student needs to commemorate commencement with an Insta-worthy photo sesh.
Click Here to Shop Grad Kits >>
20. Sterling Silver Fountain Pen
🎓 Perfect Grad Gift For: Freshly minted professionals
Mechanical pencils and dollar store pens are fine for taking notes in college, but if your grad is starting a professional career, they might need something a little more polished from here on out. A beautiful sterling silver fountain pen engraved with the name of their university is an elegant college graduation gift that will help them leave their mark on their new field, whatever that field might be.
21. Letter Opener
🎓 Perfect Grad Gift For: Freshly minted professionals
Junk mail never goes away, but after college your grad will likely find more and more important documents coming at them via snail mail too. A sterling silver letter opener is a sleek desk accessory that will help them stay on top of their mail pile at home or in the office.
Click Here to Shop Letter Openers >>
22. Bookends
🎓 Perfect Grad Gift For: Bookworms
College students accumulate quite a few textbooks over the course of their degree, which can continue to be a helpful resource even after they have their diploma in their hands. Bookends make a great college graduation gift – whether those books end up in an office or a new apartment, bookends will keep them safe and display them for the world to see.
Click Here to Shop Bookends >>
23. Essential Oil Diffuser
🎓 Perfect Grad Gift For: Self care enthusiasts
Post-grad life isn’t just about work – it’s important to find ways to unwind after a long day, too. Essential oil diffusers make a stylish and relaxing addition to any young professional’s apartment.
Click Here to Shop Oil Diffusers >>
24. Keepsake Box
🎓 Perfect Grad Gift For: Everyone
As your college grad sorts through the contents of their dorm room to decide what items they’re keeping, chances are they’ll stumble across plenty of mementos. Give them an elegant place to store all of those college memories with a beautifully crafted, high-shine pewter keepsake box.
Click Here to Shop Keepsake Boxes >>
25. Drinkware
🎓 Perfect Grad Gift For: Everyone
Moving out of the dorms should also mean leaving that stash of mismatched plastic plates and cups behind. Help your grad stock their kitchen cabinets with elegant glassware when you gift them an engraved set of wine glasses, rocks glasses, or tumblers for graduation.
Click Here to Shop Drinkware >>
26. Wireless Desktop Organizer
🎓 Perfect Grad Gift For: Grads whose electronics are chronically low on battery
Make missing important calls and messages a thing of the past. Give your grad a head start on professional organization with a desktop organizer that doubles as a charging station.
Click Here to Shop Desktop Organization >>
27. Bluetooth Speaker
🎓 Perfect Grad Gift For: Grads who prefer working with a little background noise
Sometimes the best way to get through a long work day is to put on some music and put your nose to the grindstone. If you’ve never seen your grad without a pair of headphones on, a bluetooth speaker would make a great addition to their desk at the office or at home.
Click Here to Shop Bluetooth Speakers >>
28. Tie
🎓 Perfect Grad Gift For: Grads who are headed to the office
Sweats and basketball shorts may work for hanging out on campus, but after graduation your favorite student may find that it’s time to swap their favorite college tee for a collared shirt. Give them a way to elevate their school spirit for formal occasions when you gift them a new tie for graduation.
29. Charm Bracelet
🎓 Perfect Grad Gift For: Trendy grads
Y2K fashion is making a comeback, and that means charm bracelets are once again a hot item for trendsetters everywhere. Give your student a little reminder of their college days that they can take with them wherever they go.
Click Here to Shop Bracelets >>
30. Necklace
🎓 Perfect Grad Gift For: Grads who found a home on campus
Even after the graduation robes have been put away and the dorm rooms have been packed up, the memories your grad made on campus will stay with them. With an elegant college-inspired necklace, they can keep a reminder of their college days close to their heart no matter where the future takes them.
Click Here to Shop Necklaces >>
31. Travel Mug
🎓 Perfect Grad Gift For: Grads on the go
Coffee people and tea people may disagree on what to put in their favorite mug, but they can all agree that a hot drink is the perfect way to start your morning. Help your grad get up and at ‘em as they head off to their new job with a stylish travel mug.
Click Here to Shop Travel Mugs >>
32. Umbrella
🎓 Perfect Grad Gift For: Grads heading to rainy regions
Don’t let gray skies rain on your graduate’s parade! If your favorite student is starting their career in one of the rainier corners of the world, make sure they’re prepared whatever the weather with a practical college graduation gift like an umbrella.
Click Here to Shop Umbrellas >>
33. Watch
🎓 Perfect Grad Gift For: Everyone
What’s the perfect accessory for any professional outfit? A sleek watch, of course! Give your favorite graduate a gift that will help them stay on schedule as they start their professional career.
34. Lamp
🎓 Perfect Grad Gift For: Grads who are decorating a new space
If you’re looking for a meaningful college graduation gift, a beautifully crafted desk lamp should do the trick. Symbolic of the light of knowledge your grad can now use to guide them in their work, this gift is thoughtful and elegant all at once.
Click Here to Shop All Home Furnishings >>
35. Slate Serving Tray
🎓 Perfect Grad Gift For: Foodies
One of the most exciting things about setting up your own space after college graduation is being able to invite people to visit it. Give your grad the tools they need to be the host or hostess with the most when you gift them a beautiful textured serving tray that will be the center of all their future dinner parties.
Click Here to Shop Slate Serving Trays >>
36. Wall Clock
🎓 Perfect Grad Gift For: Grads who appreciate the finer things
It’s hard to cultivate an air of professionalism and sophistication when you’re sleeping on a twin-sized mattress in a dorm, but after graduation your favorite former student can elevate their home and office decor however they like. Help them upgrade their furnishings with an elegant hardwood wall clock that commemorates their alma mater.
Click Here to Shop Wall Clocks >>
37. Desk Box
🎓 Perfect Grad Gift For: Grads with chronically messy desks
In the workplace, even the messiest grads need to learn how to keep their desk clean to keep up a professional appearance. A timeless walnut deskbox will help them keep any untidy bits out of sight so that they always come across organized and prepared.
Click Here to Shop Desk Boxes >>
38. Key Ring
🎓 Perfect Grad Gift For: Everyone
As a student, your grad may have carried a student ID or keycard to get into campus buildings and events, but once they leave campus a key ring might come in handy. A sterling silver key ring boasting the emblem of your graduate’s university makes a great college graduation gift.
Click Here to Shop Key Rings >>
39. Photo Wall Grid Kit
🎓 Perfect Grad Gift For: Grads living that #WFH life
If you want to be successful working from home, it helps to put together a workspace where you can be productive. Give your grad a head start on keeping their home office organized with storage for all of their essential tools and wires. Plus, grids like this one have space to clip photos and show off mementos and decorations, so they can add some personal flair to their WFH setup.
💡 Pro Tip: Pair a wall grid like this one with some office supplies and sentimental photos of you and your grad for the ultimate home office starter kit.
Click Here to Shop Wall Organization >>
40. Nightlight
🎓 Perfect Grad Gift For: Grads with new living situations
Perfect for the hallway or bathroom in a new apartment, a nightlight like this hand-painted glass option casts just enough light to help your grad navigate their new space in the ark.
Click Here to Shop Nightlights >>
41. Professional Backpack
🎓 Perfect Grad Gift For: Grads who swapped their college campus for a corporate campus
At this point in their college career, it’s likely that your student’s backpack has seen better days. Upgrade them to a professional-looking pack that will keep their gear safe and dry on their way to work.
Click Here to Shop Backpacks >>
42. Purse
🎓 Perfect Grad Gift For: Grads with lots of gear to carry
Backpacks and briefcases not quite your graduate’s style? Put a feminine spin on professional attire when you give your grad a professional-looking purse for their college graduation.
43. Duffle Bag
🎓 Perfect Grad Gift For: Grads on the go
If your grad leads an active lifestyle, a bigger bag could make an excellent college graduation gift. A duffle like this stylish quilted bag has plenty of room, whether they’re headed to the gym, traveling for work, or traveling for fun.
Click Here to Shop Duffle Bags >>
44. Coffee Maker
🎓 Perfect Grad Gift For: Coffee lovers
Is caffeine the secret weapon that has helped your college student power through to graduation? Make sure they have a fresh cup of joe ready in minutes every morning before work when you upgrade their coffee maker to something sleek and fitting for a young professional’s apartment.
Click Here to Shop Coffee Makers >>
45. Coffee Mug
🎓 Perfect Grad Gift For: Everyone
Coffee mugs are always a great gift option. Whether your recent graduate prefers coffee, tea, or hot cocoa, a new mug will be a welcome addition to their kitchen.
💡 Pro Tip: Round out your gift with some extra goodies – a coffee mug fits lots of candy, tea bags, and other treats!
Click Here to Shop All Mugs >>
46. Cookware
🎓 Perfect Grad Gift For: Aspiring home chefs
There are plenty of places to grab food on a college campus, but after graduation your student will probably find themselves making dinner at home more often. Make sure their kitchen is set up with everything they need when you get them a complete cookware set for their college graduation.
Click Here to Shop Cookware >>
47. Wall Art
🎓 Perfect Grad Gift For: Everyone
Graduating from college means starting a new chapter. Even if your student is moving back home or staying in their college apartment for a few more months, some fresh decor can help them feel like they’ve turned the page and gotten started on the next step in their life.
Click Here to Shop Wall Art >>
48. Jigger
🎓 Perfect Grad Gift For: Aspiring mixologists
Add a little school spirit to the other spirits in your grad’s bar. An engraved jigger makes a beautiful addition to their collection of barware and a great college graduation gift.
49. Stein
🎓 Perfect Grad Gift For: Beer lovers
Many students celebrate their 21st birthday during college. Not only is a stein engraved with their university’s emblem make for a stunning graduation gift, it also commemorates where they were when they hit one of one of the milestones of early adulthood.
50. Julep Cup
🎓 Perfect Grad Gift For: Aspiring mixologists
Help your favorite newly minted young professional elevate their home bar with a polished pewter julep cup. Whether they are entertaining or trying crafting their own creative cocktail recipes, they will think of you each time they pull it out of the cabinet.
Click Here to Shop Julep Cups >>
51. Ornaments
🎓 Perfect Grad Gift For: Everyone
The ornaments a family puts up around the holidays are collected over the years and give a glimpse of what’s important to them. After graduation, your grad sets off to start their adult life – and that should include starting an ornament collection of their own. What better way to start an ornament collection than with one that commemorates the university that prepared your student to step into the professional world?
Click Here to Shop Ornaments >>
52. Headband
🎓 Perfect Grad Gift For: Everyone
Keep your favorite new alum warm even when the weather turns cold with a cozy headband in their alma mater’s colors. Whether they’re cheering on their team from the alumni section at a college football game or just bundling up to run errands around town, a headband will keep them warm and stylish all winter long.
Click Here to Shop Headbands >>
53. Scarf
🎓 Perfect Grad Gift For: Everyone
Heading to work in the winter can be rough. Give your favorite grad a college graduation gift that will brighten their day on those cold, dark winter’s mornings with a colorful college scarf.
54. Gloves
🎓 Perfect Grad Gift For: Everyone
Does your favorite grad’s winter wardrobe need an upgrade? A pair of cozy knit gloves is always appreciated, particularly if they’ll be making a chilly drive to the office on cold winter mornings this year.
55. Decal
🎓 Perfect Grad Gift For: Everyone
From elementary school on, getting a sticker is a symbol of a job well done. Give your favorite student a college graduation gift that takes it up a notch with a decal they can put on their car window or laptop case.
56. Headboard Pillow
🎓 Perfect Grad Gift For: Grads who need a place to unwind after work
Is your grad headed right to the workforce? Give them a graduation gift that will help them create a cozy space to unwind after a long day. This fuzzy sherpa pillow unzips into two euro pillows, so weather they’re propped up in bed to answer some late night emails or curled under a blanket for a relaxing evening in, they’ll be all set.
Click Here to Shop Headboard Pillows >>
57. Hitch Cover
🎓 Perfect Grad Gift For: Outdoorsy grads
Is your grad always on the go? If you see outdoor activities like boating or jet skiing in their future – or if they love a good tailgate – a college-themed hitch cover could be a great graduation gift.
Click Here to Shop Hitch Covers >>
58. Valve Covers
🎓 Perfect Grad Gift For: The grad with subtle school spirit
School spirit doesn’t have to be loud and in-your-face. If your grad has school spirit but prefers to show it in a more subdued way, these valve covers are the perfect gift. Now they can add just a touch of school spirit to their car.
Click Here to Shop Valve Covers >>
59. Salt & Pepper Shakers
🎓 Perfect Grad Gift For: Everyone
Is your grad putting together their kitchen? Help your favorite former student spice up their kitchen decor with school spirit salt and pepper shakers.
60. Puzzle
🎓 Perfect Grad Gift For: Board game enthusiasts
Putting together a post-college apartment is kind of like putting together a puzzle – and having some board games and activities on hand for quiet evenings or when company comes over is an important piece. That’s why a puzzle that commemorates their alma mater makes a great college graduation gift.
61. Paperweight
🎓 Perfect Grad Gift For: Freshly minted professionals
Here’s your chance to solve a few of your favorite grad’s workplace headaches before they even start. Their papers won’t scatter on them if they’re prepared with a beautiful pewter paperweight engraved with their alma mater’s emblem.
Click Here to Shop Paperweights >>
62. Cutting Board
🎓 Perfect Grad Gift For: Grads who love to cook
Something that’s missing from many college dorms is fresh fruits and veggies – and a board to chop them on. Make sure your grad’s new apartment has everything they need to whip up delicious culinary creations when you gift them a sturdy cutting board with their university’s logo engraved on its surface.
Click Here to Shop Cutting Boards >>
63. Custom Graduation Care Package
🎓 Perfect Grad Gift For: Everyone
Gifts of food are a no-fail option for any special occasion, and Graduation Day is no different. Send your favorite students all of their favorite snacks to help them power through finals, moving out of their dorm, and anything else life throws at them in the home stretch of their college career.
Click Here to Shop Custom Care Packages >>
There you have it – lots of college graduation gift inspiration. We hope this list has helped get you thinking about what the soon-to-be grad in your life would love as a gift. And from all of us at OCM, congratulations to the Class of 2022! 🎓
