The links in this best gifts for college students post are affiliate links and I will receive a small commission if you make a purchase after clicking on a link. 

This year my daughter is a second-year college student. Before she started her first year, we did a great job anticipating needs and shopping before she left for school, but there were additional purchases made as she settled into her classes and dorm living.

She’s figured out exactly how late she can sleep now that she’s mastered mobile ordering breakfast and coffee from the on-campus café before skateboarding to class. Apple Air Tags have solved the problem of misplaced keys as she lives her best life across the country. She now knows to keep cold & flu remedies and Advil stocked because nothing is worse than having to source some from a friend down the hall when you feel yucky.

But lessons learned, right? College is all about adulting and our kids embracing their new independence as adults.

Best Gifts for College Students

Whether in their first or last year of school, living in an off-campus apartment for the first time, or have just recently heard that they were accepted (I see you parents of kids who applied to schools ED or with rolling admission!) the best gifts for college students are ones that make adulting easier, positively impact campus life, or are beneficial to apartment or dorm living.

The 13 items on my best gifts for college students are ones they can use on or off campus and well after graduation because they’re practical and useful. Keep reading for your chance to win a HD77 Ultra-Premium Bluetooth Speaker (worth $79.97), courtesy of Treblab!

American Tourister Luggage ($145 for a 3 piece set)

If your college student has been limping by with old luggage, give them the gift of a new set that they can call their own. We’ve had American Tourister luggage for years and our bags have survived being checked and carried on through multiple airports in different countries and continents. We’ve always appreciated the multi-directional spinner wheels that allows them to roll upright with easy mobility. The exterior handles make them easy to lift whether into an overhead bin or off a luggage carousel at baggage claim. Interior pockets help things stay a bit more organized and cross straps do a nice job of compressing items and keeping them in place. This three-piece set includes a 21″, 25” and 29” Spinner, all with a 10 year Limited Warranty to see them through college and beyond!

HP Sprocket Portable Instant Photo Printer ($79.99)

My daughter’s dorm wall features a collection of posters and postcards from her travels, favorite family photos from over the years, and new pics featuring her and her friends. The HP Sprocket Portable Photo Printer is a must for any college student because it’s an easy to use, compact way to create gorgeous full-color photographs for displaying, gifting, or sticking in a journal. The free app (iOS or Android) can be used to send images straight from your smartphone to the HP app to customize and print. Zink Zero Ink premium paper resists smudging, tearing, and fading, while upgraded Bluetooth 5.0 allows friends to share and print their photos using Sprocket.  

3 in 1 Charging Station for Apple Devices ($29.99, get an additional $10 off with coupon from Amazon)

Help keep devices charged and tame the cord clutter with this handy 3 in 1 charging station for Apple devices. This charging station features spaces for an Apple iPhone, watch, and AirPods to charge simultaneously thanks to the case-friendly charger stand. A high quality 15W fast charger and a 3.94 foot type-c charging cable fully charge devices in just 2 to 3 hours. The docking station has a 120° adjustable phone stand and 360° rotatable backrest, allowing Apple products to sit vertically or horizontally, and supports multiple usage scenarios so the iPhone can be used for FaceTiming, watching videos, etc. while charging.

Mini Fridge with Freezer ($199)

Since there may be parents of high schoolers who have been recently accepted into college reading this post (congrats BTW!), it’s not too early to start thinking about the things your student needs next. One of those things is a mini fridge! My daughter and her roommate decided on a mini fridge with a freezer for the best of both words. The freezer is just the right size to hold a bunch of frozen Trader Joe’s entrees for late night studying or on weekends when you get hungry before Sunday brunch is served. The fridge is the classic cube size that we remember from our college days with just enough room for snacks and beverages. If a relative isn’t sure what to get your student, have them get the microwave that can sit perfectly on top.

Hey Dewy Wireless Humidifier ($59.95 but $49.95 for pearl white on Amazon)

Hey Dewy’s Wireless Facial Humidifier is a must have wellness tool to maintain skin hydration. It’s perfect for college students living in dry climates, at altitude, or anyone who finds themselves needing a little more moisture in the air during the cold, dry winter months. Hey Dewy features an 8 hour mist on a single 4 hour charge, ultrasonic wave technology for quiet and efficient cool mist control, continuous and intermittent settings, and soft evening LED illumination. Small in size yet powerful, Hey Dewy’s compact size makes it a great choice for small dorm rooms, first apartments, and even makes a perfect travel companion that can easily fit in your carry-on or suitcase. Cool continuous mist dispersed from Hey Dewy helps college students stay hydrated and healthy throughout the year.

CORDBRICK ($14.99, automatically save 10% more WHEN YOU USE THIS LINK)

For devices that don’t fit on the aforementioned 3 in 1 Apple charging station, CordBrick is the perfect for solution for all other cords that could easily slip behind their desk or nightstand. This patented device and cord solution is made of silicone and weighted with steel so it weighs down and gathers cord ends with a weighted, specially designed BRICK of silicone. CordBrick makes my Best Gifts for Teens list because we recently got 2 CordBrick samples and are loving the simplicity and versatility! The 6 special channels are designed for holding: 4 cords and wrapping/grabbing 2 cords and phones. All 6 channels can fit Apple AirPods, and things like pens, too. Its unique design allows it to adapt to ANY charging situation and since there’s no adhesive, it can be used multiple times. It comes in several colors, including glow-in-the-dark (limited availability), making it the perfect stocking stuffer for anyone with a phone. Get 10% off your total purchase using this link or use TECHSAVVYMAMA at checkout which is one step past the cart page.

HD77 Ultra-Premium Bluetooth Speaker ($89.97, black speaker is currently $69.97 from Amazon + 10% off coupon)

Students want powerful speakers they can use to fill a room with sound or project when enjoying time outside. The Treblab HD77 Bluetooth Portable Speaker features one-touch Bluetooth connection and a high-quality, dual-bass stereo surround sound that does not diminish at high volumes. The 5200mAh internal battery can power 20HR of continuous play and is meant for outdoor use thanks to its IPX6-rated waterproof design. The Treblab HD77 Bluetooth Speaker Wireless can also connect with a second HD77 speaker to provide excellent 360 HD sound coverage for any occasion. Keep reading to the end of my Best Gifts for College Students post to learn how you can win a HD77 Bluetooth Speaker Wireless from Treblab!

Tesalate Beach Blanket ($99)

While it may not be beach season, Tesalate Beach Blankets are versatile for all-season use and make a great gift for students who don’t want bring sand and dirt inside with them. Their beach blankets make my Best Gifts for College Students list because of the impressive fabric technology. Despite measuring 63” square, this super absorbent double-sided towel holds up to a liter of water yet dries in half the time of a regular beach towel. It’s also incredibly compact for its size and sand resistant – all thanks to Tesalate’s AbsorbLite™ fabric. We have two Tesalate beach blankets in our home that we’ve been using for years and love them! I know they make a great gift for college students who will enjoy using them at the beach, studying on the grass, or at musical festivals.  

Cold Brew Coffee Maker with Removable Insulated Carafe ($59.99)

Help save your college student some money on the cold brew that they love thanks to the Asobu Cold Brew Insulated Portable 40 oz Brewer. To use, fill with standard medium coarse ground coffee, pour cold filtered water in a circular motion three times ,and leave it to steep for 12 or more hours. The longer it steeps the richer and more flavorful your coffee will be. Once the coffee is brewed it easily gets released into the on the go mug and your coffee stays fresh and cold for hours. The coffee maker comes along with an easy take on the go spill proof mug so you can enjoy your cold brew at home, in the office, park or on the road. The airtight and leak proof lid keeps your coffee securely where it belongs while the double walled copper insulated construction ensures your cold brew stays ice cold for hours.

Z7 Pro Hybrid Over-Ear Noise Cancelling Headphones from Treblab (normally $179.97 but currently $139.97 from Amazon)

If you have a college student who prefers over-the-ear headphones, Treblab’s Z7 Pro Hybrid Over-Ear Noise Cancelling ones make a great gift. These Bluetooth headphones have state of the art noise cancelling features such as 6 environmental sensors that auto-switch to transparency mode. They’re made of extra-soft vegan leather and cloud-like memory foam and provide 45 hours of playtime, making them perfect for all-day study sessions or ones lasting into the night without disturbing sleeping roommates or housemates. They can quick charge in just 20 minutes for 5 hours or fully charge in 2.5 hours via USB-C.

Pura 4 Smart Fragrance Diffuser (starting at $69)

Fragrance has the power to change the energy and atmosphere of a space, transport you to new places, enhance moods and feelings, and evoke special memories. This year gift your college student Pura 4, a smart fragrance diffuser that uses innovative smart features paired with premium, clean scents for modern, customized, and high-end scents. Pura 4 pairs with the Pura app so fragrance intensity can be adjusted, schedules and timers can be set, and scent experiences are consistent based on the temperature in your space. Puralast technology allows your diffuser to learn from your feedback to efficiently fill your space with your desired scent intensity for up to 120 hours per smart fragrance vial. I love Pura’s smart fragrance technology and the clean scents made with ingredients safe for both kids and pets. Also shop their scents from brand partners like Anthropologie, Votivo, Caswell-Massey, and more

Asobu Tower Mug ($33.99)

I’ve only had my Asobu Tower Mug and already I’m in love! This 20-ounce mug features an easy to grip handle that still allows it to fit in the cup holder of the car. The stainless steel insulated and has a ceramic inner coating that prevents metal aftertaste from transferring from the stainless steel to your coffee, like other mugs do. Double durable insulated walls ensure the feeling the heat of your tea or the cold of your cold brew while holding the mug never transfers to your fingers. The lid is made of non-breakable Tritan BPA FREE plastic that pushes on, fits tightly, but comes apart for easy and thorough cleaning.

Finer Liner Small Bin Liner Kit ($25.99)

Every student who has moved into on-campus housing will appreciate Finer Liner. The Finer Liner Small Bin Liner Kit is a genius idea that provides an economical, easy-to-use, and refillable source of biodegradable trash bin liners for each small trash can in your house or apartment. To install the dispenser in the bin, peel the protective film off the glue tab at the bottom of the refillable dispenser and stick the dispenser to the bottom of the small trash bin. To use, pull up the first liner, use, and repeat. Each kit contains 40 liners (4 rolls of 10 liners each) and Refill Packs (also 4 rolls of 10 liners each) are available.

2023 HOLIDAY GIFT GUIDES

AGE-APPROPRIATE GIFT GUIDES

• Toddlers & Preschoolers
• Early Elementary Ages (grades K-2)
• Tweens (ages 9-12)
• Teens (ages 13+)
• College Students 

SPECIALTY GIFT GUIDES:

• Best STEM Gifts for Kids
• Best Gifts for Outdoor Lovers
• Gifts for Teachers
• Gifts for People Who Love Their Dogs (inspired by Goldie and Murphy, of course)

Bluetooth Speaker Giveaway!

To celebrate the adulting that our college age kids do, Treblab is providing a HD77 Ultra-Premium Bluetooth Speaker  (worth $79.97) as a giveaway!  

To enter, visit the Treblab store on Amazon and leave a comment sharing a gift you’d most like to get this year and why. Use the Rafflecopter form below for extra entries. Treblab will send the winner their HD77 Ultra-Premium Bluetooth Speaker when the Rafflecopter giveaway ends.

a Rafflecopter giveaway

FAVORITE HOLIDAY GIFT GUIDES FROM LAST YEAR

Need other ideas? Here’s a look at last year’s gift guides:

• Toddlers & Preschoolers
• Early Elementary Ages (grades K-2, ages 5-8)
• Tweens (ages 9-12)
• Teens (ages 13+)
• College Students 
• STEM Gifts for All Ages (preK-tween)
• Best Age-Appropriate Advent Calendars for Kids
• Best Subscription Boxes for All Ages
• Gifts for Teachers
• Gifts for People Who Love Their Dogs (inspired by Goldie and Murphy, of course)
• Fair Trade Holiday Gifts
• Best Gifts for Unplugged Fun
• Gifts for Outdoor Adventures
• Gifts for Gadget Lovers
• Gifts that Give Back
• 9 Gifts that Make it Easy for Families to Give Back

I hope you enjoy this year’s picks and wish you happy and stress-free holiday shopping!

Note to PR: The period for accepting items for age specific gift guides has ended but I am happy to accept items for review to consider for specialty guides. Please be specific about the products you’d like me to consider reviewing in your pitch and if you’re able to offer a reader giveaway. Giveaway items will be directly shipped to readers upon conclusion of the giveaway. Thanks for understanding I’m on a short deadline to get most gift guides wrapped up before Thanksgiving and do not have the bandwidth to return samples during this extremely busy time of the year.