The Best College Graduation Gifts for Her, According to Recent Graduates

When I reunited with my family after the graduation ceremony, they greeted me with a delightful bouquet of graduation flowers that made me feel even more special (not everyone would sit through a three-hour ceremony just for me). This bouquet can be customized with the graduate’s school colors, making it just as Instagram-worthy as those cap-and-gown shots.

Editor’s note: Specific colors are selling out fast, so don’t dillydally if you’re hoping to match the bouquet to the graduate’s school colors.

After sleeping on a dorm mattress for the last four years, the graduate you’re shopping for deserves a heavenly set of sheets. Consider this breathable set that we’ve recommended for keeping your apartment cool (with or without AC). I received a set from Buffy last summer and have found them silky smooth and impossible to resist, especially when fresh out of the wash.

If she’s into more grown-up décor, this coffee-table book provides a guide to setting the mood with cocktails and music. Leah Goryachkovsky, a recent graduate of Columbia University, has gifted it before and says, “As people are moving into their new apartments, with their new jobs, it’s a great idea for those who are interested in hosting dinner parties or maybe even doing something special for themselves and a friend.”

Kate Bryar, a senior at Northwestern, keeps a wish list titled “When I’m in a more established place of living.” Among the items that she plans to have in that place is a reusable soap dispenser, which she says is “one of those little things that elevate an apartment.” While she doesn’t have a particular dispenser in mind, we’ve previously recommended this option.

For a brunch celebration with friends and family or as a housewarming present for her new place, consider this gift box full of Jewish-deli goodies such as pastrami, smoked salmon, and freshly baked chocolate babka.

A graduate with a sweet tooth would appreciate this collection of ice creams with “elevated childhood flavors,” such as Powdered Jelly Donut and Fluffernutter Pie.

Sage Aronson, a member of Barnard College’s class of 2024, is looking forward to decorating her new home. “I’m thinking very diligently about crafting an aesthetically pleasing space where each item has meaning or a specific reason why I purchased it,” she says. In particular, she’s eyeing these Pantone ceramic bowls, which she describes as modern, beautiful, and warm.

If you’d like to give the graduate some dishes for her new place, and ones she’ll cherish for years, I’d recommend this dinnerware set that Strategist senior editor Winnie Yang has used for over a decade and half.

I received this set of spices as a gift from my parents a couple of years ago and have used them to make everything from a soothing beef pho to a hearty coconut-chicken curry to tender turkey meatballs. It has earned a permanent spot in my adult kitchen.

Consider a basic knife set like this one, which is our favorite affordable set of knives. Bryar, who included nice knives on her wish list, says, “I spend a lot of time in the kitchen, so having a nice knife would make me more excited to do my meal prep.”

Almost all the graduates I spoke to mentioned needing a set of pots and pans for their new apartment. Material makes our favorite affordable cookware set, which includes a nonstick pan, sauté pan, and saucepot — all the basics they need.

Jenna Petracco, a recent graduate of Florida Atlantic University, says, “An air fryer is a necessity.” Petracco had one in college and found herself using it at least once a day to heat up sides and leftovers. This option is our favorite.

If she hasn’t already learned how quickly those barista-made iced coffees add up, she will soon. A coffee machine is the perfect solution for Goryachkovsky: “When you’re running to work, it’s much better than stopping by a shop and paying the dollars for coffee,” she says. “It’s just like a little treat in the morning, something to make your day better.”

This petite butter dish from Le Creuset is on my wish list, and I think it would be a lovely item to use as I sip my morning coffee and eat my toast.

As an early graduation present, Bryar’s parents gifted her this Apple Watch, which she says is “pretty small, which I like, because I wanted it just for workouts and to control my music.”

Of course, if you’re still stuck, a subscription to this very publication would make a great gift for the grad who wants to stay up to date on the world around her—from Intelligencer’s local political coverage to the Cut’s latest viral essay. She’ll also get unlimited access to games and subscriber-only newsletters. If she’d prefer print, the print and digital yearly subscription is just $20 more.

Whether her bag of choice for college lectures was a canvas tote or durable backpack, she’ll need a proper work bag for the next chapter of her life. Emily Bologa, a recent graduate of Flagler College, is interested in Kate Spade’s work totes, which fit all her criteria: over the shoulder, large enough to carry her laptop and notebooks, sophisticated, and black — “because it matches with everything.”

If she’s not looking to wear a class ring, there are plenty of long-lasting options that will always remind her of this milestone. Recent grad Lane Obringer says, “I think really long-lasting, durable jewelry that you can associate with your graduation and say, ‘Oh, I got this as a really nice grad gift, but it’s not tied to Notre Dame in any way,’ is good.” She’s been eyeing this ring for months because she likes to wear mixed metals.

Like many graduates, Bryar is planning on going abroad after she completes her degree. Her travel itinerary includes visiting 12 countries and using this travel pack along the way. “A lot of the backpacking backpacks are top down, so it’s pretty hard to get to the stuff at the bottom,” she says. “But this one opens like a suitcase in the middle and lays flat on two sides.”

A celebration as great as graduation calls for some bubbly, and this bottle is extra-special because it can be customized with multiple colors, the graduate’s college logo, and name.

Due to Etsy restrictions, this bottle is full of sparkling cider, but Goryachkovsky also recommends the DIY route. Along with adding the school’s logo and a personalized message, she says you could “have people sign the bottle, include the grad’s favorite things about college, and maybe inside jokes depending on who’s gifting the present.” Then, of course, “you can either have it on display or use it to share a toast to the grad’s future and celebrate their accomplishments.”