Graduation is right around the corner! I also can’t believe that it has been a year since I graduated. I thought it would be a great idea to share some graduation gift ideas that any student would love. Whether you are shopping for a high school graduate or trying to find the perfect gift for a college graduate, there is sure to be something for everyone!
It can be hard to find the perfect graduation gift that you think graduates will actually use and love. These are all gift ideas that I wish I had gotten or that I did get and absolutely love!
This post is all about the best graduation gift ideas for 2021 graduates.
*This post contains affiliate links which means that we receive a small commission at no additional cost to you. Read our full disclosure here
Best Graduation Gift Ideas This Year
1. Pots and Pans
As someone who loves to cook, a good set of pots and pans was one of my favorites. These are great graduation gift ideas for anyone moving into their first apartment after college!
2. Bath Robe
I have basically lived in my bath robe since freshman year of college. It is perfect for anyone who has to walk from their shower back to their dorm room. Even now, I wear my fluffy bath robe for the entirety of my morning routine every day!
3. Reusable Water Bottle
A good quality water bottle is a great graduation gift idea. I don’t go anywhere without ice water so an insulated bottle is ideal to take with me to work every day.
4. Tile Key Finder
I actually got this for Christmas a few years ago but I love it so much. This is the perfect graduation gift for the friend that is always losing their keys.
5. Air Fryer
An air fryer is such a fun way to change up recipes and find new ways to make your tried and true favorites. This will quickly become a recent college grad’s kitchen staple!
6. Quality Vacuum
No more crappy dorm vacuums. With a big girl apartment comes big girl cleaning… aka a good quality vacuum. It makes cleaning so much easier and dare I say fun?!
7. A Work Bag
Having a cute and classy work bag makes you feel so professional. This is one of the most functional graduation gift ideas for any graduate that’s jumping right in to the full time work life.
8. Personal Development Books
Being an adult is hard. It comes with a lot of new challenges. After graduating, I went through an entire identity crisis. Personal development books have been so helpful for me to discover who I am and grow a ton.
9. Cute Candles
You can never go wrong with candles (unless they are ugly and smell bad lol). Volcano candles are my absolute favorite candles and smell so good! Plus they have some of the cutest packaging which makes it the perfect graduation gift.
10. Comfy Blanket
You can never go wrong with a comfy throw blanket. Any recent graduate will love to snuggle up in bed or on the couch with a cozy blanket.
11. Crockpot
Again, another kitchen essential in my apartment. A crockpot makes some of the easiest meals ever because you can throw stuff in it in the morning and come back to a gourmet meal at night without a second thought!
12. Journals
Journaling has become such an important part of my morning routine. Any recent grad will be going through a lot of changes after they graduate and a cute journal or notebook is the perfect way for them to keep track of all their feelings and emotions.
13. Keurig
Give the coffee lover in your life a Keurig for all the early mornings they have. Throw in a few pods with it and they will be set for a while!
14. Acupuncture Pen
Okay so this is so random and it was actually something I bought myself, lol. But when I started working at a desk all day I got a constant pain in my shoulder (probably from bad posture) and found out about this guy. It is the absolute best money I ever spent and the pain goes away IMMEDIATELY!
15. Instant Pot
An Instant Pot is an absolute game changer! It takes something that would usually take hours to cook and cuts the time in half! The only thing I don’t love is that it’s kinda big and takes up a lot of space in a small kitchen. But honestly I’d buy it again and again because of the time it saves me cooking.
16. Planner
A planner is a great gift for any recent graduate who loves to organize and plan ahead. Whether it’s keeping track of class assignments in college or girls night out for the college grad, a planner is beneficial to remember all the important things in life.
17. Luggage
I feel like a good set of luggage is essential. If you have a recent graduate that loves to travel, get them a carry on suitcase. They will use it on weekend trips or when they come home to visit for the holidays.
18. Cute Jewelry
Jewelry elevates any outfit. If you have a fashionista friend that loves to accessorize, a cute necklace and some bracelets would be perfect graduation gift ideas.
19. Pajama Set
Let me tell you something: I got my first matching pj set this year for Christmas and it. is. amazing! Every time I wear it I feel like such an adult that has her whole life together HAHA.
20. Fun Games
Game nights are one of the ways I love to spend time with friends. Board games always get super competitive and end with a ton of laughs.
21. Alexa Echo
I recently got super into turning my apartment into a smart home. There are so many fun things you can do with the Echo. However the best part is the reminders feature that makes sure you never miss a thing which is perfect for the girl who has a lot going on at all times.
22. Slippers
Slippers are nice to have to walk around the house and lounge in. It saves your feet or socks from getting dirty and keep your toes warm. I have these and have worn them into the ground lol
23. Toolkit
Every graduate needs a toolkit. I got this little one for my apartment and it has come in handy so many times. It is small enough to store out of the way and has pretty much everything you could need for small things around the house.
24. Gift Cards
If you are worried about getting your graduate something they might not like, gift cards are a great graduation gift idea. There are tons of options and they can spend it however they want.
25. Meal Subscription Service
Let’s be honest, most grads won’t be spending their time in the kitchen. I am actually one of the few people I know my age that loves to cook and create new recipes. A meal subscription box like HelloFresh can make it so easy with everything being prepped already at delivery. Plus it gives recent grads new recipe ideas they can continue to make!
26. Amazon Prime Membership
I remember how devastated I was when I had to make the switch from Prim Student to a regular Amazon Prime membership. This is the best of all graduation gift ideas because it saves the recent grad money and allows them to keep all their benefits as a prime member!
You can gift an Amazon membership here.
This post provided you with the best graduation gift ideas of this year.
Want more like this?
–5 Insane Hacks For The Best College Apartment Organization
–3 Personal Development Books For Young Adults
–How To Save Money As A College Student
