college grad gift guide

The best gift for a college grad is money. That being said, here are a few commemorative ideas to mark such a big milestone and a few to help with adulting.

julia gash college mug

$21 | University Bookstore

Julia Gash does the best job capturing traditions and landmarks on campuses. Her patterns are placed on plenty of items (totes, dish towels, cups, etc.), but the mugs are my favorite. They're dishwasher safe and remain vibrant after lots of washes.

$20 | Uncommon Goods

pink salt shot glasses

No one would buy themselves fancy shot glasses, which makes them a great gift. These pink Himalayan salt shot glasses add flavor to spirits -- all you need is the lime and tequila!

cocktail cubes

$30 | Sur La Table

A great pair with the pink Himalayan salt shot glasses, these cocktail cubes are very festive, delicious, and easy to use. You just add the alcohol and have a restaurant-style cocktail at the ready.

simple cookbook

$30 | Barnes & Noble

Meal prepping goes hand-in-hand with adulthood. Tieghan Gerard's Half Baked Harvest cookbooks feature my go-to recipes and are super simple. I am also a fan of The Homesick Texan, Simply Julia, the Pioneer Woman cookbooks, the 5 Items or Less Trader Joes Cookbook, and Salt, Fat, Acid, Heat.

customized bottles

$79 | Etsy & Maker's Mark

Hand-painted and customizable bottles are celebratory and a special keepsake. There are lots of options on Etsy -- the one on the right was designed by CammyCays for my friend's sister, dad, and grandma's joint birthday party. For a more masculine look, Maker's Mark has a graduation-specific bottle to customize. The painted bottles are also straightforward to make yourself and not break the bank. I made the one on the left with masking tape, glass-friendly primer, acrylic paint and markers, and a glass sealant.

nice watch

$100 | Fossil

Watches are timeless accessories for everyone -- especially before starting a job. Fossil watches are high-quality and not exorbitantly expensive for men and women. Note that the one on the right is the Raquel style and $50 more expensive than the men's option pictured.

$120 | BYLT

men's work pants

Now is the time to stockpile pants that are comfortable and appropriate for work. BYLT's everyday pants are for almost every occasion -- and are my boyfriend's favorite. There are dozens of colors to pick from, too.

fancy coffee machine

$140 | Williams Sonoma

Apartment items are good college graduation gift ideas -- including a fancy coffee machine. I got my boyfriend this coffee machine when he graduated college, and it still works perfectly and makes delicious coffee. It's on sale as on 4/16, but be on the lookout for future sales!

longchamp work bag

$155 | Longchamp

I've tried several work bags but always come back to this one -- which I've had for over a decade. The Le Pliage Original Large tote bag fits everything I bring to work -- laptop, lunch container, water bottle, notebooks, books, and more. It also folds up into a tiny rectangle, which is great for travel and storage.

commemorative brick

Varies ($155+) | University site

To physically leave your mark on campus, plenty of universities offer bricks for purchase that can be engraved. Most institutions will send you an email when it's complete and a map/tracker when it's placed, so you can see it yourself.

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gift guides

GIFT GUIDES

college grad gift guide

julia gash college mug

$21 | University Bookstore

Julia Gash does the best job capturing traditions and landmarks on campuses. Her patterns are placed on plenty of items (totes, dish towels, cups, etc.), but the mugs are my favorite. They're dishwasher safe and remain vibrant after lots of washes.

$20 | Uncommon Goods

pink salt shot glasses

No one would buy themselves fancy shot glasses, which makes them a great gift. These pink Himalayan salt shot glasses add flavor to spirits -- all you need is the lime and tequila!

cocktail cubes

$30 | Sur La Table

A great pair with the pink Himalayan salt shot glasses, these cocktail cubes are very festive, delicious, and easy to use. You just add the alcohol and have a restaurant-style cocktail at the ready.

simple cookbook

$30 | Barnes & Noble

Meal prepping goes hand-in-hand with adulthood. Tieghan Gerard's Half Baked Harvest cookbooks feature my go-to recipes and are super simple. I am also a fan of The Homesick Texan, Simply Julia, the Pioneer Woman cookbooks, the 5 Items or Less Trader Joes Cookbook, and Salt, Fat, Acid, Heat.

customized bottles

$79 | Etsy & Maker's Mark

nice watch

$100 | Fossil

Watches are timeless accessories for everyone -- especially before starting a job. Fossil watches are high-quality and not exorbitantly expensive for men and women. Note that the one on the right is the Raquel style and $50 more expensive than the men's option pictured.

$120 | BYLT

men's work pants

Now is the time to stockpile pants that are comfortable and appropriate for work. BYLT's everyday pants are for almost every occasion -- and are my boyfriend's favorite. There are dozens of colors to pick from, too.

fancy coffee machine

$140 | Williams Sonoma

Apartment items are good college graduation gift ideas -- including a fancy coffee machine. I got my boyfriend this coffee machine when he graduated college, and it still works perfectly and makes delicious coffee. It's on sale as on 4/16, but be on the lookout for future sales!

longchamp work bag

$155 | Longchamp

commemorative brick

Varies ($155+) | University site

To physically leave your mark on campus, plenty of universities offer bricks for purchase that can be engraved. Most institutions will send you an email when it's complete and a map/tracker when it's placed, so you can see it yourself.