Graduation gifts come in all shapes and sizes. There are plenty of traditional gift ideas that continue to be popular but some ideas are a little more off-the-wall, like plastic surgery.

While you may not want to spring for a new face for your college grad, there are lots of other things they will both appreciate and use. Let’s look at some gift ideas for college graduates.

An Extended Vacation

Most college students cram a lot of hard work into a few short years. Between homework, school activities, and maybe a part-time or even a full-time job, they may not have had much of a chance to travel.

The time after graduation is perfect for an extended vacation to see new and exciting parts of the world. They probably haven’t settled into a routine yet and may not have a job or family to hold them back. This is the perfect time to expand their horizons with some traveling.

Some New Transportation

Many college students get by with an older car that isn’t always the most reliable form of transportation. Or if they live on campus, they might not even have their own transportation.

Once they finish school and get into the working world, they might need a vehicle they can rely on to get them to and from work every day, or to and from client sites if their job requires it.

A new vehicle will give them something reliable, hopefully with a good warranty in case they do run into any problems. That way, they have one less thing to worry about while they’re getting themselves established in the world.

Clothing Subscription Box

Another change many students face when transitioning from college life to working life is having to upgrade their wardrobe. The t-shirts, jeans, and sweatpants that got them through school may not be the ideal choice for their first job.

A clothing subscription box can help them build their wardrobe over time. For a monthly subscription fee, they’ll receive an assortment of clothes based on the preferences they identify when they first join.

Services like Nordstrom’s Trunk Club and Stitch Fix will send a selection of clothes every month. They can keep what they like and send back anything they don’t, building a solid wardrobe over the course of several months.

Jewelry

Jewelry has been a popular graduation gift for decades, for good reason. With proper care it can last a lifetime, giving the student something to remember their college years by. Many types of jewelry will also hold their value, if not increase in value, over time so it can be a good investment as well.

You can also get something more personalized such as a custom necklace or bracelet. You could even design your own gemstone ring for something a bit more unique.

Housewares

Many college graduates will be moving from a dorm room into their first real home. With that move, they will need many things – furniture, linens, kitchenware, cookware, and so on.

There are plenty of thoughtful gift ideas for their new home but you should consider quality over quantity. A high-quality gift now could last them for many years, if not the rest of their lives, so it’s worth spending a little more on something that will last.

That could be a set of high-grade kitchen knives or cookware if they enjoy cooking or it could be some nice bedding and other linens. These types of gifts may not seem especially glamorous but many students will appreciate having necessities like this once they move into their own place. And they may not know what they need but don’t have until someone with a little more life experience shows them.

A Job-Related Gift

You can also consider job-related gift ideas for young adult college grads. This could be something with a universal appeal like a new laptop computer or it could be something specific to their chosen career.

For example, if their job requires them to wear certain types of clothes or a uniform that they have to provide for themselves, that could make an excellent graduation gift.

You could also consider gift ideas that will appeal to virtually everyone like a high-quality briefcase or handbag. These items could last for their entire working life if taken care of. If you choose something with a classic design that will never go out of style, they could still be using it on the day they retire.

Monetary Gift Ideas for College Graduates

Monetary gifts aren’t very personal but they can be very practical for new graduates. Whether it’s cash or a gift card for something they’re likely to need, this type of gift can help them get their life started without having to go into debt to do it.

It will let them decide what they need most so they’re not stuck with something they don’t have any immediate use for.

If you have the means, you could also invest money on their behalf to help with a downpayment on their first home, the purchase price of a new car, or any number of other things. If you plan ahead, you could be investing a bit at a time over the years they’re in college, so they end up with a tidy sum at the end of it all.

It’s the Thought That Counts

Hopefully, these gift ideas for college graduates will give you some inspiration but don’t get too hung up on the gift itself. As the saying goes, it’s the thought that counts. A gift from the heart will be more meaningful than some impersonal item that will be obsolete and forgotten in a few months or years.

Think about the person, not the event. If you’re buying them a gift, you probably know them pretty well so think about what they would appreciate. A nice journal and pen set could mean more to some people than a new car or a trip halfway around the world.

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