Thoughtful & Practical Graduation Gifts at Every Price Point
It’s hard to believe summer is right around the corner, which means graduation season is almost here! As we get ready to celebrate the graduates in our lives, I thought I would share my guide to graduation gifts. Graduation gifts are an incredible way to honor your graduates and send them onto their next chapter feeling loved and celebrated. When it comes to graduation gifts, I think it’s important to find gifts that are thoughtful and practical. I’ve gathered the best graduation gifts of the 2025 season at varying price points! I even added a list of both high school and college graduation gifts that stood out to my daughter and her friends during their own graduations. These gifts are sure to leave a lasting impression on any graduate!
See something you love? Simply click the ‘+’ button to shop! Make sure to scroll to the “Shop the Post” section at the bottom of the blog to shop for more graduation gift ideas!
Gifts Under $50
I highly recommend keeping a few of these gifts on hand, especially with all of the upcoming graduation parties! You never know when a last-minute party invite will come through! One of my daughter’s favorite graduation gifts was personalized thank you notes and stationery! This clear stadium bag and mini toolset are also bound to get a lot of use! Any of the below gifts under $50 are sure to leave a lasting impression on the graduate!
Gifts Under $100
There are so many graduation gifts under $100 that are unique, practical, and thoughtful. This personalized waffle pouch is incredibly thoughtful, and is great for storing makeup, toiletries, etc.! This graduate keepsake box also came very highly requested by one of my daughters friends! I also love travel-related gifts to get the graduates ready for their weekend trips back home! As always, you can never go wrong with a practical gift card (think Uber, Spotify, DoorDash, etc.,)!
Gifts Under $200
If you’re looking to splurge on the graduate in your life, this is a great price range with so many incredible gifts. I love the idea of things that will get a lot of use during their next chapter, such as a custom laptop sleeve, garment duffel bag, work tote, etc. For the high school graduates, this water pitcher will come in extremely handy for dorm room life. As far as the college grads go, I highly recommend a Blue Apron Gift Card!
Stand-Out Gifts for High School Graduates
When my daughter was in high school, it really felt like there was a graduation party every time we turned around. If the high school graduates in your life are embarking on college dormitory life, there’s often minimal dorm space for clutter. Hence why practicality is key! My go-to gift was always a water bottle in their university’s colors, practical and spirited! A few other practical options are:
- Mini Tool Set: This mini tool set was one of the most useful graduation gifts my daughter received. Perfect to have on hand, and small enough to store in a dorm room or apartment.
- Monogram Stadium Bag: A monogram stadium bag is a great gift under $50 that aligns with the clear bag policies of many university sporting events. Add the graduates’ monogram in their school colors for a spirited touch!
- Medicine Safe Case: My daughter got SO much use out of this safe box. It’s great for storing medications, cash, jewelry, and any other items that you wouldn’t want laying out in a dorm room.
- Handheld Vacuum: This handheld vacuum was so useful in my daughters dorm room, and still gets so much use to this day! Such a great gift idea.
- Carry-On Suitcase: A carry-on suitcase was one of the most useful gifts my daughter received at high school graduation. Great for weekend trips home or a road-trip with friends… a great splurge gift that will get so much future use.
Stand-Out Gifts for High School Graduates
Stand-Out Gifts for High School Graduates
There are so many great gifts for the college graduates that are about to embark on the real world. Many grads will begin living on their own, starting new jobs, attending graduate school, etc.,. Celebrate their graduation and help set them up for future success with gifts that are both meaningful and useful. Here are a few great options for the college graduate:
- Unique, Real-World Gift Cards: Many of the graduates in my life want one thing… money (and rightfully so)! On top of a traditional check, I like to throw in a unique gift card that will help ease the grad into the new world of post-grad. A few unique ideas:
- The Gift of a Wardrobe Refresh: This is a great way to assist the graduates wardrobe transition to fit their “adulting” lifestyle. FashionPass, Stitch Fix and Rent The Runway are great options.
- Blue Apron Gift Card: A gift card goes towards Blue Apron’s meal kit deliveries that are full of fresh, pre-portioned ingredients for easy-to-follow recipes. This makes the graduates transition from university meal plans to home-cooked meals much easier (and allows them to save on groceries).
- Personalized Towels Starter Pack: Gift them something they’ll use daily… a 6-piece towel bundle for their bathroom! This pack includes 4 personalized bath towels (or bath sheets) and 2 hand towels. A few more great options here!
- Personalized Stationary: When my daughter graduated from TCU she was given a set of personalized thank you cards, which came in so handy! Such a thoughtful and useful gift under $4
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