College is a time for pulling all-nighters, slumping into class in hoodies and sweatpants after a few days of no shower, and existing on ramen noodles and energy drinks. Or at least that’s the cliché. College students are loaded down with workloads and a balance between academics and social life. Suffice to say that they would love a break for a gift that means something coming from one of their favorite people (that’s you). While not every college kid fits the mold for a typical on-campus experience, cheap gifts for college students are still widely appreciated by university goers everywhere.
Toilet Bowl Night Light
We’ve all been there… stumbling to the toilet at night, maybe stubbing a toe along the way because we can’t see. This night light puts an end to casualties, like a beacon for your midnight wee. It’s motion-activated and programmable to a rotation of rainbow colors. Silly? Sure, but effective
Sweet Date Spread
There are two kinds of dates in college. The kinds you go on, and the kinds you have alone in your dorm room with a jar of… you guessed it, dates. But these are delicious. Scoop this spread onto a spoon or smear it across some toast – yummy either way.
Door Hanger Notepad
For those forgetful college kiddos, this notepad hangs right on the doorknob – no way they can miss it. Write memos, silly sayings, or homework reminders. Perfect for the college student that’s leaving in a hurry. Never forget books, notes, and important folders again! Pad comes with lots of “forget-me-not” sheets.
Ramen Cooker Bowl
Ramen is a college kid staple. Chicken, shrimp, beef… it’s all good, all cheap, and all convenient for the student in a rush. This cooker bowl is functional and practical, enabling the recipient to boil up some ramen in the microwave. Perfectly cooked every time and includes some cool chopsticks.
Academic Planner
College students should focus a little energy on organization, especially if they are taking full loads of classes each semester. This academic planner features an amazing constellation design on the cover, and the interior has 113 blank pages across a 13-month calendar for 2022 to 2023. Includes two sticker sheets!
LED USB Clock Fan
The best furniture, especially for a dorm room, is multi-purpose and multi-functional. This clock fan, for instance, sends a nice breeze your way, while also telling the time with a cool “wavy” display. It’s USB-powered and connects to your college kiddo’s laptop port. Plus, it includes a nifty one-year warranty.
Sustainable pick
Owl Soup Bowl
Everyone loves owls! These soup bowls are hand-washable and handcrafted from ceramic, made to resemble adorable owls in either white or orange. Great for ramen, dumplings, and chunky soups, each bowl includes a pair of chopsticks for optimum nom-nom. Since each owl bowl is handmade, each one is subtly unique.
Morris Memo Holder
This little burro’s name is Morris, and he loves to remind college kids about their deadlines with miniature memos. Decked out in red, this donkey’s saddle is sheet after sheet of tiny notepads, perfect for keeping track of homework assignments and other must-remember essentials. Includes 140 sheets of memo paper.
Earbuds Backpack Keychain
It’s adorable and useful, so college kids have the best of both worlds in this backpack keychain for their earbuds. Clip it on and stow away musical pods. It zips up to keep earbuds safe, and it’s available in either royal blue or fire engine red. So cute, so convenient!
7 in 1 Gadget Pen
One pen with seven functions? Yes, please! This pen writes like any other pen in smooth, sleek black, but it’s also a bottle opener, device stylus, impromptu phone stand, Phillips head screwdriver, miniature flat-head screwdriver, and ruler. It’s compact, fits perfectly in your pocket or backpack, and writes extremely well.
General Toolbox
We love pink, but this toolbox is available in blue, orange, and red too. There are 39 tools, all essential to everyday life needs around a house or dorm room. Each purchase donates $.50 to Breast Cancer Research, which is why pink is so popular. Upgrade with a first-aid kit!
3D Munchies Cookbook
Sometimes all-nighters feature a little herbal refreshment… in which case, bring on the munchies! This cookbook is a psychedelic trip that requires 3D glasses and an appreciation for hippie-dippy artwork with a food focus. Decipher how to make all of your munchie favorites, like parm-crusted grilled cheese or queso blanco.
LED Neck Reading Light
Clip-on bedtime reading lights can get lost in the bed, so allow us to introduce you to an LED night light that you can wear. Accessorize your neck with a bedtime companion that enables you to see and read well into the wee hours. It’s a college kid’s best friend!
Movie Night Popcorn Kit
Even college kids need downtime with their besties. This popcorn kit is perfect for a movie night that features snacks, friends, and the best films. The kit includes three different kinds of popcorn kernels and five different types of seasonings, like spicy sriracha, caramel corn, and classic sweet and salty.
Mini Whiteboard Calendar
Living in a dorm room can be challenging in terms of spaciousness, but this miniature whiteboard is the best method for keeping track of deadlines and important dates. It’s a calendar that college kids can write on and wipe clean at their leisure. Comes with color-coded magnets for better organization!
Bedside Lamp + Wireless Charger
Drawing inspiration from circular makeup mirrors, this touch lamp is a circle of three levels of brightness. But it’s also a wireless charger that sits flat and safe on any desktop or nightstand. Works with LEDs, and the light can double as an impromptu phone stand for movies in bed.
Coping Skills for Anxiety
With college comes challenges, excitement, and accomplishments, but there’s also lowkey depression, anxieties, and stressors galore. These coping cards help college students take a step back, breathe, and learn better ways of relieving their negative brain fogs. While stress relief is one card bunch, there’s also emotional intelligence and communication.
Personalized College Map
For the college grad that you couldn’t be prouder of, this personalized wall hanging features a heart over the university of attendance. There’s an optional personalization for a graduation date, as well as custom color and additional text. Let your grad know how happy you are for their academic successes!
Personalized Tablet Cover
Handcrafted from leather, this tablet cover, which is most popular for Apple products, is durable, sleek, portable, and water-resistant. College students can tote it with them anywhere, and you can personalize this gift with their name, or a special phrase, on the side. Also features a side pocket for extras.
Crave Box Snacks
Few things are better than being at college, surviving on ramen, and receiving a box of goodies and treats from your loved ones back home. The Crave Box is a 50-piece assortment of salty, sweet, and savory yummies, all hand-picked to satisfy whatever your college kiddo happens to be craving.
Bedside Shelf
Not every dorm room is spacious enough to accommodate a nightstand, and that’s where this bedside shelf comes in handy. It’s adjustable to fit onto the side of a bed frame, and it can hold several pounds of books, drinks, and whatever else a college kid would need for all-nighters.
Bluetooth Beanie
Give your college student the gift of on-the-go music or their favorite podcasts. This beanie is warm and cozy, with a built-in Bluetooth pair of headphones for that’s controlled with a touch control over the right ear. One charge lasts for 16 to 20 hours with quick sync to smartphones.
Multipurpose Backpack
Every college kid needs a reliable, durable backpack for their adventures from one class to another. This one is multi-purpose and multi-functional with a water-resistant design, USB charging ports, and locking mechanisms for compartments for laptops and other tech devices. The biggest perk? Students can connect power banks for oomph!
College Care Package
Self-care is oh-so-important, and college students are stressed to the max. Gift yours with a reminder to be kind to themselves. Perfect for around the time of final exams, this box can be personalized with candles, chocolates, bath bombs, shower steamers, and daily sheet masks. Add a message of encouragement!
Erasable Notebook
Dubbed the Rocket Book – it’s a weekly planner, notebook, task list, to-do notepad, and reminder all in one. It’s reusable, inclusive of a pilot wipe-off pen and microfiber cloth. Available in one of 9 bold colors, but we are loving the beacon orange, Neptune teal, and atomic red. Need it!
Mini Pocket Bluetooth Printer
Printers might seem like devices of the past, but there’s still a big need for this kind of tech, especially as an on-the-go college student. These are portable and come with 6 rolls of miniature, likewise-portable paper, perfect for printing in black and white wherever you need a hard copy.
Straw Dinnerware Set
Dinnerware like plates, bowls, utensils, and cups, might seem like a moot point for college students, but it’s actually a great idea to have a base of food utensils for the dorm room. There are 4 of each product here (bowls, plates, cups, and utensil sets), all lightweight and unbreakable.
Sustainable pick
Stainless Steel Lunch Box
Classic for college kids that appreciate variety in their lunch boxes! This stainless-steel must-have is modular and portable, meaning it’s bento-style with three containers that fit together in a nesting fashion. Those Russian Nesting Dolls? Yeah, kind of like that, but less creepy and way yummier. Eco-friendly, plastic-free, and hand-washable.
Mathematical Glasses Set of 4
For the academic nerd that you love, these glasses feature mathematical equations in a set of four. Each equation is different, so your college kid can imbue their beverages with the likes of Einstein or Newton. The hidden math joke is that each glass features ounces that are solvable equations.
Electric Hotpot
The hotpot is a godsend for any college student, and here’s why – it heats in seconds to adjustable temperatures that act the same way that an oven would. You can cook entire meals in a hotpot, especially with the new and improved sauté pan. Nonstick and easy to stow away.
LED Desk Lamp with Charger
There’s something soothing about rotational colorful lights, particularly when you can rely on them for other things, like wireless phone charging and telling time. It’s an LED desk lamp, portable charger, night light, clock, and calendar all in one. Saves space and the LED is dimmable to a soft glow.
Sustainable pick
Microfiber Laundry Ball
Microfibers are comprised of plastic and chemical particles, which can become lodged in washers and dryers during rinse and spin cycles. These laundry balls are eco-friendly ways to ensure your clothes come out soft and clean, but also leave the microfiber particles out of the waterways. It’s earth-friendly and health-conscious!
Adjustable Laptop Stand
Tech is, of course, super important for college students, but so is the furniture for storage and stands. You need a place to put your laptop for work as much as you need the laptop. This adjustable stand withholds several pounds of laptop and a few extras. A portable favorite!
Hydroflask Reusable Bottle
Hydroflask is a popular water bottle brand, and this stainless-steel reusable water bottle is one example of why. Available in 24, 32, and 40 ounces, it comes in a wide range of colors, like classic black, alpine blue, carnation, pale blue, or olive. Choose from a wide-mouth sip or a leakproof straw lid
Emergency First Aid Kit
A First Aid kit is essential to anyone, anywhere, but it’s especially handy as a must-have for college students. There are 175 pieces in this zippered, portable pouch, complete with OTC meds for headaches, pain, and upset stomach, as well as creams, bandages, and non-latex gloves – among other important things.
Sustainable pick
Compact Air Fryer
Eco-friendly and sustainable, these bins are made from Agora furs, which is a replenishing material from bunnies. No rabbits were harmed in the making of these bins! Each bin’s handwoven and beautifully crafted, making them unique from one another. To clean, gently wipe with a barely damp cloth and air-dry
Wall Pong
Wall Pong is a space-saving play on the classic college drinking game: Beer Pong! It hangs on the wall, holding six solo cups filled with whatever liquid you want. Throw the ball and sink the shot. Or miss and drink up. It’s easier than hauling around a beer pong table!
