16 Gifts For College Students They Will Absolutely Appreciate

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College students are always juggling multiple projects, extracurriculars, exams, jobs, internships, and social life. And honestly, while they deserve a much-needed break, a useful present wouldn't be so bad either. Whether they're an incoming freshman or a senior embarking on their last university adventure, gifts for college students should be practical and helpful. To help you come up with some ideas, we've rounded up the best gifts for college students — from the coolest tech on the market to self-care finds. Help the college student in your life relax and unwind with cozy essentials like a pair of soft pajamas or a weighted blanket that looks and feels so comforting. Level up their study habits and note-taking with a Rocketbook notebook. And if they've been spending too much time at Starbucks, treat them to a cool new coffee machine. We even included some fun finds like the Nintendo Switch. Keep reading to shop our top gifts for college students — and maybe even for yourself too.

— Additional reporting by Lauren Harano and Haley Lyndes

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Best Practical Gift For College Students
amazon.com

Best Practical Gift For College Students

Rocketbook Multi-Subject Smart Notebook ($23, originally $48)

This Rocketbook Multi-Subject Smart Notebook will be their go-to for lectures. It's a scannable multisubject reusable notebook equipped with dividers so that they can stay organized while getting through a day of back-to-back classes. They can export the pages of the notebook to their email or Google Docs and then just wipe them clean and start all over. It comes in plenty of cool colors as well.

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Best Self-Care Gift For College Students
amazon.com

Best Self-Care Gift For College Students

Ice Roller for Face and Eyes ($19)

Whether they are prone to facial tension or love a good pamper session, this ice roller is a lifesaver. They can keep it in their dorm-room fridge for a moment of cooling, soothing relief. It's something they'll use all the time to relax or minimize that inflamed zit.

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Best Sleep Gift For College Students
amazon.com

Best Sleep Gift For College Students

Sleep Headphones ($23, originally $31)

If they have trouble sleeping with the light on, they'll get a lot of use out of these Sleep Headphones. The eye mask is cushioned and contoured to support the delicate eye area and blocks out light for a pitch-black environment. It's equipped with built-in speakers, so they can listen to music without wearing additional headphones. It comes in other colors as well.

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Best Skin-Care Gift For College Students
amazon.com

Best Skin-Care Gift For College Students

I Dew Care Let's Get Sheet Faced Face Sheet Mask Pack ($21, originally $27)

This sheet mask set is perfect for those who love to indulge in some self-care. It includes 14 masks that they will love to pamper themselves with after a long, stressful day. Whether they need to hydrate the skin, add some radiance, or calm irritation, there's a sheet mask for every concern.

05
Best Gratitude Gift For College Students
amazon.com

Best Gratitude Gift For College Students

"The Five Minute Journal" ($21, originally $30)

You've probably seen this "The Five Minute Journal" everywhere, but it really does work. If they love to journal or want to embrace being more mindful in their daily life, they'll appreciate this gift. There's something so satisfying about starting and ending the day with gratitude and reflection. Read the in-depth review of the The Five Minute Journal.

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Best Cozy Gift For College Students
amazon.com

Best Cozy Gift For College Students

Sioro Long Sleeve Silk Pajama Set ($30)

You can't go wrong with a pair of trendy, luxe PJs, and this Sioro Long Sleeve Silk Pajama Set is so soft and lightweight, you'll probably end up buying yourself a pair, too! It is delicate on the skin and won't cause friction or irritation. These come in a variety of colors as well.

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Best Gift For College Students Who Love Iced Coffee
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Best Gift For College Students Who Love Iced Coffee

Mr. Coffee Iced Coffee Maker With Reusable Tumbler and Coffee Filter ($40)

If they can't go without their iced coffee, rain or shine, they need the Mr. Coffee Iced Coffee Maker, which comes with a reusable tumbler and coffee filter. It brews a perfectly chilled cup in less than four minutes. Just add water and your favorite coffee grounds to the machine, fill the tumbler with ice, and brew. Finish off with milks, sweeteners, and syrups.

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Best Tumbler For College Students
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Best Tumbler For College Students

Stanley Quencher H2.0 FlowState Stainless Steel Vacuum Insulated Tumbler ($45)

Just like the rest of the internet, Peloton instructor Kendall Toole and Studio McGee designer and cofounder Shea McGee are huge fans of the Stanley Quencher H2.0 FlowState Tumbler — and so are we. It's a gift that every college student will enjoy using in the classroom, at the gym, or even in their dorm room. It's an insulated stainless-steel cup that actually fits in most cup holders. It keeps drinks hot for seven hours, cold for 11 hours, and iced for nearly two days! They can drink it from the straw opening or the wide mouth opening.

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Best Lounge-Worthy Gift For College Students
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Best Lounge-Worthy Gift For College Students

The Comfy Original ($50)

College students will love lounging in their dorm in The Comfy Original. Yes, it's both a blanket and a sweatshirt, and it comes in a variety of colors. It has a giant hood, an oversize fit, and a huge pocket in the front. Plus, there's a teddy version for those extra-cozy vibes.

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Best Coffee Gift For College Students
amazon.com

Best Coffee Gift For College Students

Keurig K-Mini Coffee Maker ($60, originally $100)

Dorm life means living with limited space. Although they probably won't be able to fit a whole espresso machine in their room, this Keurig K-Mini Coffee Maker is perfect for their coffee needs. Not only does it come in a variety of cute colors, but its sleek design also lets them enjoy coffee without the clutter. It's only five inches wide, so it can fit in narrow spaces.

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Best Portable Speaker For College Students
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Best Portable Speaker For College Students

JBL Flip 5 Waterproof Portable Bluetooth Speaker ($80, originally $130)

The JBL Flip 5 comes in a variety of color choices, like black, gray, and blue. This speaker is dust proof and waterproof and allows for 12 hours of wireless playtime. Whether it's rain, spilled drinks, or beach sand, this speaker can handle it all.

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Best Earbuds For College Students
amazon.com

Best Earbuds For College Students

Apple AirPods Pro Wireless Earbuds With MagSafe Charging Case ($259)

Get them these Apple AirPods Pro; they're the number-one bestseller on Amazon. They'll get good sound quality and up to 24 hours of listening with the MagSafe charging case. Perfect for those who already have Apple products, these will let them block out noise for immersive sound or switch to transparency mode to hear what's happening around them. The AirPods are also sweat and water resistant, so they can work out with them.

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Best Comforting Gift For College Students
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Best Comforting Gift For College Students

Bearaby Cotton Napper ($199-$269)

A weighted blanket like the Bearaby Cotton Napper will keep them warm and comforted while away from home. It's made out of organic cotton and perfect for anyone who has trouble sleeping at night or just loves the relaxing effects of a weighted blanket. The weight is evenly distributed throughout the blanket, and it comes in a variety of colors and weights. It's the perfect gift for college students.

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Best Gamer Gift For College Students
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Best Gamer Gift For College Students

Nintendo Switch OLED Model With White Joy-Con ($350)

The Nintendo Switch is perfect for gaming on the go and in the dorm. It has three modes of playtime — TV mode, tabletop mode, and handheld mode — for gaming whenever, wherever. When played in handheld and tabletop modes with the seven-inch OLED screen, they can enjoy an enhanced experience with the system's built-in speakers. It comes with a wide adjustable stand, a dock for TV mode, and 64 GB of internal storage.

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Best Noise-Canceling Headphones For College Students
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Best Noise-Canceling Headphones For College Students

Apple AirPods Max ($480, originally $549)

Every college student will benefit from a pair of noise-canceling headphones, and these Apple AirPods Max are an editor favorite. They're designed with comfort in mind with a knit-mesh band and memory-foam ear cushions. They have active noise cancellation and transparency modes, so they can choose between an immersive experience or hearing their surroundings. The headphones have on-head detection and a built-in microphone that lets them seamlessly switch between devices. They come in space gray, silver, sky blue, pink, and green. Read our in-depth review of the Apple AirPods Max here.

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Best Alarm Clock for College Students
Target

Best Alarm Clock for College Students

Hatch Restore 2 ($200)

Those 8 a.m. classes hit hard in college. For that reason, college students need an alarm clock that doesn't wake them up in the same disruptive tone their iPhone does. Enter: Hatch Restore. This alarm clock is the best tool for waking up feeling rested each morning. It offers soothing alarm sounds like "forest birds" and "morning singing bowl," and also wakes people up with a sunrise. According to their site, 83 percent of customers reported that their sleep improved after purchasing the Hatch Restore — what more could a college student ask for?