20 Best College Graduation Gifts

Happiness Factor: Although most of us are accustomed to checking the time on our phone, there is something much more grown up and sophisticated about being able to get it from a watch. If your grad is excited about this next part of life’s journey, they’ll appreciate this gift.

Practical Applications: In terms of practicality, this watch does what it’s supposed to: tell time. It also looks great (customers say it actually looks much nicer than the Amazon pictures), so it’ll help your graduate exude much more confidence and style in whatever he wears.

Price: Although the watch is expensive, it’s actually pretty reasonably priced for a SEIKO.

Happiness Factor: One of the best things about a gift like this is that it helps graduates hold onto that memory of their college graduation.

Practical Applications: Once your graduate starts going on job interviews, these pearl earrings are sure to make a big impression as they add a touch of timeless sophistication.

Price: They’re expensive, but they’re also going to last a lifetime.

Happiness Factor: Millennials and Gen-Zers sure do love their technology. Anything that makes their lives less complex and more convenient is a huge win, and this beautifully-designed and fast tablet is sure to do that.

Practical Applications: This tablet is easy to use and has so many real world applications—like watching movies, taking photos, doing work, etc.—that it’s sure to get used on a regular basis.

Price: Well, for an Apple device, it’s not bad… But it’s still not cheap either.

Happiness Factor: Men don’t always think about the little things like finding a stylish-looking bag for their travel needs, but I’m sure that, if given as a gift, they’ll be super appreciative of this one.

Practical Applications: It doesn’t matter if they’re planning to clock a lot of mileage post-graduation or not. This bag will definitely come in handy whether it’s for a quickie trip to the beach or for a work conference.

Price: After seeing the reviews on this, we’d actually go so far as to claim that this bag is a steal.

Happiness Factor: For anyone who appreciates self-help-type books or who wants practical advice on how to live a positive life (financially as well as in general), this is a great gift idea for them.

Practical Applications: The reason why so many people love this book is because of how it’s told. Yes, it’s an inspirational book that’s meant to help guide people through life and teach them how to better manage finances, but it does so with interesting allegory and parable-type lessons that make them easy to digest and remember.

Price: The paperback and Kindle are really cheap, but you may want to spring for the nicer, more expensive hardcover since this is a graduation gift.

Happiness Factor: This set of musical wine glasses is sure to be a hit with your gift recipient as well as the guests they choose to entertain them with.

Practical Applications: Every new home should have a beautiful set of wine glasses, and this happens to be a unique way to get them into your graduate’s new pad.

Price: There’s no arguing that these are expensive. However, customers claim that these glasses are indeed perfectly tuned, so can you put a price on musical perfection?

Happiness Factor: Millennials are known for being frugal, so any sort of practical contribution you can make towards improving their standing in life and that doesn’t cost them anything will be well-received.

Practical Applications: This is LinkedIn Premium, which means it unlocks a whole bunch of power in your graduate’s job search.

Price: It’s a pricey service, but it’s not one you’ll likely have to pay for forever—especially since it’s meant to enhance job search results.

Happiness Factor: You may get a “Gee, thanks” in response to this, but trust me, it’s a good gift idea. Everyone should have a trusty set of tools readily available in their home.

Practical Applications: What’s more practical than a tool kit that includes all the basic tools you’d need for both home emergencies, maintenance, and setup?

Price: The Stanley brand is well-known for their high-quality tools, which makes the price of this kit so awesome.

Happiness Factor: So long as they appreciate movies and TV, they’re sure to love this gift—especially if it gets them off of your account.

Practical Applications: They might use this every day of the week or only on Sundays to catch up on their favorite binge-worthy show. Either way, it’ll get used.

Price: It depends on which plan you pick for them and how long you plan to pay the bill, but all of them are super affordable.

Happiness Factor: Your graduate doesn’t need to be obsessed with rice to get the most out of this. It steams, it slow cooks, it makes rice, it does bulk batches, and it comes with a great set of recipes that are easy to follow.

Practical Applications: There is a multitude of kitchen gadgets you could get them, but this one is so versatile that they won’t be able to keep themselves from trying it out… and falling in love. It’s also a really durable kitchen appliance, too, and one that your graduate can carry along with them as they move through each phase of their life.

Price: Considering how much you can do with this, talk about bang for your buck.

Happiness Factor: Not everyone enjoys taking pictures, but, for those who do, they’ll really love this DSLR camera. It’s also got an intuitive interface so settings are easy to control, it’s lightweight, and it’s comfortable to hold. It really is a very well-made camera.

Practical Applications: It might not be as convenient as taking your phone out of your back pocket, but it’s sure to help your graduates create high-resolution and beautiful photos just as easily.

Price: You might be able to find this on sale, but be sure it actually comes from a reputable seller.

Happiness Factor: Graduating from college can be a scary time, so showing your graduate you’re thinking only of the best for them will mean a lot.

Practical Applications: This isn’t necessarily a practical gift—especially since you can’t remove the papers containing the wishes after they’re inserted—but it’s still an incredibly thoughtful gesture. It also adds a small touch of beauty to any home.

Price: It may seem expensive for something the size of a baseball, but this is made from hand-blown glass.

Happiness Factor: No one wants to spend time looking for keys, wallets, etc. If you can help them save even just five minutes every day, they’ll be truly grateful for this gift.

Practical Applications: This gift is totally practical for the super forgetful person.

Price: You probably can’t find a cheaper or more helpful tech gift.

Happiness Factor: Artwork can make for a really nice gift if it falls in line with the recipient’s taste. However, this particular piece has nearly 2,000 reviews on Wayfair, and with a 4.8 overall rating it appears that the majority of people love this vibrantly colored painting.

Practical Applications: Some people don’t think about décor after they graduate from college. It’s just a low priority for them. So, if your graduate needs a little help in this department and you want to give their new home an exciting pop of color, this is a cool way to do it.

Price: Depends on how big the canvas is.

Happiness Factor: If they love coffee, but don’t want to deal with the hassle of going to Starbucks every morning or doing a bunch of prep and clean-up when making that perfect cup at home, this is a nice compromise. It simplifies the makes the process of making espresso and clean up is a breeze.

Practical Applications: You could probably spring for a pricey espresso machine, though your graduate will likely live in a studio apartment or with a bunch of roommates after college, so the Bialetti Moka is a great way to cut down on space while ensuring they stay caffeinated each day.

Price: K-cup machines may be cheaper, but the cost of the cups does add up. Espresso machines and other high-end coffee makers are pricey, too. This is a great in-between option.

Happiness Factor: Helbig’s contribution to the printed word is pretty cool because it not only gives your millennial or Gen-Z graduate a reason to keep reading after college, but the book is sure to provide them with insights into adult life they might not otherwise find while scouring social media or watching funny YouTube videos.

Practical Applications: Big Interview named Grace’s Guide as one of the best inspirational books to give to graduates. Positive reviews around this book also state that it does a good job of covering deeper subject matter, like anxiety, and makes tackling the subject of Life 101 a whole lot easier to digest for the short attention span of millennials.

Price: It depends on hardcover, paperback, or Kindle, but this is priced no differently than any other book you’d find on Amazon or at Barnes & Noble.