• Study Break badge

We hope you love our recommendations! Some may have been sent as samples, but all were independently selected by our editors. Just FYI, BuzzFeed and its publishing partners may collect a share of sales and/or other compensation from the links on this page.

63 Gifts Any College Student Will Really, Really Appreciate

Awesome gifts for the Swifties, the techies, and every college student in between.

What a year! The holidays are finally here! And while we’re doing our best to make sure the products we feature will arrive in time, shipping times are especially tricky this year, so we suggest shopping as early as you can.

Stock and shipping times can vary depending on where you live, which product you purchase, and more. So order earlier than you think you need to and be sure to double-check the retailers’ websites for shipping information to ensure that your gift will arrive in time for when you need it.

1. A Five Minute Journal that won't only help them plan for the week, but will help them embrace positive thoughts, gratitude, and apply change to get what they want (and deserve!) in life.

The journal with the white cover

2. A zodiac constellation tapestry perfect for anyone who's really into astrology and is in need of some dorm room decor. This wall hanging displays their zodiac sign in a super cute way.

The Taurus wall hanging in black against a gray wall

3. What Do You Meme?'s Incohearent card game for a fun game night with their friends! Designed to be played with two or more players, this game is all about figuring out the pop-culture references in the form of gibberish. The perfect game for a party or low-key night in.

4. A selfie ring light that'll help brighten their frame for online classes and provide the perfect lighting for selfies. It's small enough to fit in purses and backpacks too!

5. A string light curtain, because dorms are already dark and dingy, why not help them brighten things up? These lights have eight different modes (twinkle, flash, fade, etc.) and will definitely add the perfect ambiance.

reviewer's yellow-toned string light curtain behind their bed

6. A mini projector so they won't have to watch everything from their laptop when trying to wind down. With the right adaptor, it can connect to their phones, too! Their dorm room will be the designated movie night spot from now on (thanks to you 😌).

7. Rosetta Stone language software for those who want to learn a new language. They'll be able to access short lessons right on their phone and go at their own pace!

8. A mini Olaplex Anniversary Hair Kit to help them get a salon-like hair treatment right at home (or dorm?). This set comes with a moisture hair mask, shampoo, hair perfector, and bond-building treatment — all made to strengthen and nourish their gorgeous locks.

the four bottles included in the hair treatment kit and a Dermstore bag

9. A Revlon One-Step Hair Dryer and Volumizer Brush, because it will make ALL the difference when they're blow-drying their hair, when they've just showered and have to rush to class, or are just having a bad hair day. It produces gorgeous blow-out results and works for all hair types!

10. A pair of Sherpa-lined joggers that'll be their new go-to pants during the winter (or if they're just always cold in general) because of the fleece lining and adjustable drawstring.

11. A pair of glowing light saber chopsticks to make their ramen cups a little more enjoyable. These chopsticks really glow too! Perfect for a Star Wars fan.

12. A mini fridge that's the perfect size for sitting inside a cramped dorm room. It can fit snacks, beverages, and if your giftee is really into skincare, it's great for beauty products too!

13. A Keurig K-Mini coffee maker so they can make a quick and delicious cup of joe before they head off to class. Will they get up early enough to stop at the cafe? Debatable. But will they have an easy, single-serve coffee maker at home? Yep!

14. Or a cold brew pitcher if they're strictly iced coffee fans. All they'll need to do is put grounds into the filter, add some water, and let it sit overnight. They next day they'll have some yummy cold brew!

a reviewer shows a full cold brew maker sitting beside a glass of iced coffee.

15. And a portable canvas cup holder that'll carry their iced coffee while they're out and about around campus. If they loved iced coffee (or any cold beverage, really), they know the struggle of having your hands full, cold palms, and water dripping on their clothes — this helpful invention solves that!

16. An adorable double-layer bear glass to make their mornings brighter and their drinks a little more fun. It can handle everything from morning OJ to hot afternoon tea.

A hand holding the short glass, which has a clear outer layer like a regular glass and an inner layer shaped like an upside-down bear head with ears, eyes, a nose, and mouth. Filled with milk, the head looks white

17. A nonstick mini electric pot with an included spatula for making quick and delicious meals like pasta, oatmeal, eggs, and more.

18. A potable charger so that their phone is ALWAYS charged, no matter where they are or how long they've been out. It's slim, compact, and has a charge that lasts 17+ hours.

19. A pair of AirPods Pro headphones, because wireless noise-cancelling headphones are sacred to studying without distractions! These babies are small, convenient, and connect with your iPhone (and other cell phones with bluetooth) effortlessly.

20. An Instax instant camera so they can capture fun college memories (trust, me it goes by fast). They'll love being able to look back at moments on film almost immediately.

a white Fujufilm instax camera laying beside film, candles, and other desk decor

21. A Cheryl & Co. Christmas cookie tin to give them all the treats and sweets they deserve after a hard semester of studying.

24 cookies with red, white and green frosting sitting in a matching tin that reads "Happy Holidays."

22. A candle gift box that smells great and doubles as cute decor. With scents like French Lavender and Peaches and Cream, you may need to gift another set next Christmas, because they'll be lighting these candles daily.

three candles in a shipping box. One purple cat candle, one pink heart candle, and one pink bubble candle.

23. A cool rainbow planter because it's so cute, you might want to get one for yourself! It's handmade and hand-painted to make it extra special.

24. A long-line wool coat so they have a go-to piece for immediate chic-ness, especially on those cold nights.

reviewer wearing the long coat in tan with a leopard shirt and brown boots

25. A 'Taylor's Version' sweatshirt for the student who's a die-hard Swiftie. It's the perfect nod to Taylor Swift's re-released music and is a 10/10 gift for the person playing her music nonstop.

a beige crewneck sweatshirt that reads "Taylor's Version Est. 2021"

26. Silk pajamas so they can feel luxurious even if they're relaxing in a crowded dorm room. This set of PJs are lightweight and made of breathable material for added comfort.

27. Fur-lined boots to keep their feet nice and toasty without spending the big bucks on a pair of Uggs.

a model wearing the camel-colored pair

28. A four-pack of pizza socks because 1. you know they'll always need socks and 2. pizza is probably their favorite food these days. They'll even love how soft these hilarious socks are!

29. And a burrito blanket while you're at it! This blanket has taken over the internet for being warm, cozy, and just plain fun. It's a #1 best seller with over 39,000 5-star reviews.

30. A knit weighted blanket so they can have a better night's sleep. Because it's knit and has open spaces, this blanket will keep them relaxed without making them too hot. When not in use, it's the perfect throw for their couch or bed.

A model laying down with the gray blanket over them

31. A set of satin pillowcases to ensure their hair and skin protection continues while they're sleeping! With satin, there's less friction which means no more tangled hair and the cooling effect will help them sleep soundly.

32. Dashing Diva gel nail strips that last so long, your giftee might get tired of the color. These glossy strips come in tons of cute patterns, solid colors, and mix match packs — perfect for when they want cute nails but can't make it to (or afford) the salon every couple of weeks.

Amanda showing her nails with three different designs. First image is white and cow print, the second image is tortoise shell, and the third is solid teal with text that reads "3 weeks after application. Still looks SO good!"

33. A candle that smells like Harry Styles, because duh, it's Harry Styles! You've got your choice between eight scents, but obviously the fan favorite is Watermelon Sugar (high 🎶). Any fan of Harry Styles will love it!

a white soy candle in a jar with a black top and a pink label that reads "This smells like Harry Styles".

34. But if no candles are allowed, an essential oil diffuser that will have their dorm smelling like lavender, citrus, or whatever their relaxing scent of choice may be. This diffuser changes color, can last up to three hours, and has an auto-shutoff feature perfect for when they forget about it.

The 100ml diffuser sitting on a book beside two essential oil bottles. The diffuser has a wooden base and a cream-colored top.

35. A pack of aromatherapy shower streamers because it's not likely that they have a bath tub if they're living in a communal space. These streamers give the same relaxing feel as bath bombs, but for the shower! They can help soothe before the day begins, calm after a long week, and uplift before a night out.

Aix various colored steamers sitting around a purple box that reads "Shower Steamers by Cleverfy".

36. A tri-fold vanity mirror that'll make getting ready way easier. They'll love the LED lights, adjustable stand, and the stand's catch-all tray perfect for bobby pins, hair ties, lip gloss, etc.

37. Glossier's Skincare Edit to give the gift of a cult-favorite beauty brand that they've been dying to try. It includes mini versions (all travel-friendly!) of fan favorites like the Milky Jelly Cleanser and the top-rated lip balm Balm Dotcom.

38. Baimei Jade Rollers because they're simple, easy-to-use beauty tools. The muscle relaxing, fine line reducing rose-quartz is something that they can use while watching TV, reading, or after their nighttime routine.

39. An initial necklace if you're looking to give something that's stylish and sentimental. This dainty gold piece is something they can wear everyday, with any outfit. And P.S. It's handmade!

A model wears the gold necklace with the initials P and M attached to it.

40. A Bluetooth-enabled record player so when they aren't playing a vinyl record from their collection, they have the option to play something from their phones. It comes in 19 colors, too! So you're bound to find one they'll love.

A light blue record player with a norah jones record on it

41. A thumb book page holder to ease the annoying task of constantly adjusting the moving pages while reading. No more creasing pages and the holder can be personalized!

42. A TikTok Challenge game because they're probably already on TikTok 24/7, so you might as well help them make a game out of it! The rules are simple: choose a card with a video idea (they range from dancing to comedy and more), film the TikTok, and post it — that's it! Whoever gets the most views wins.

The card game laid out showing example challenges and the black box it comes in that reads "TikTok challenge".

43. GameStop Xbox Game Pass Membership which gives them access more than 100 games a month, for no extra cost. They can play their favorites nonstop or discover something new.

an image of four different video game scenes, with the gray Xbox Game Pass card sitting in front of them,

44. A Fenty Beauty gift set for the student/part-time make-up guru. This set includes a cream blush and mini Gloss Bomb in 'Resting Peach Face.'

the open blush pack and lip gloss tube standing beside the gift box it comes in

45. Tower 28 ShineOn Iced Latte Lip Jelly Duo because they'll get the classic, always-in-style clear gloss (Chill) and a gorgeous milky caramel color (Chestnut) that will make their lips pop. Tower 28's glosses are high on shine, keeps lips moisturized, and they're nonsticky!

two lip glosses standing up beside their gift box

46. A set of unicorn-inspired makeup brushes to make applying their makeup way more of a ~magical~ experience. The set comes with 10 brushes (everything from a fan brush to an eyeshadow brush) and a carrying case.

a set of makeup brushes with purple handles that look like unicorn horns

47. A pair of happy face slippers that'll put a smile on your face and keep your feet warm. These lightweight cuties have a soft plush inside and outside, with an anti-slip rubber sole.

48. Or Crocs with a fun print, because they can wear them at home and to class too. You've got adorable options like clouds, camo, cherries, floral print, and much more.

49. A fur bucket hat for when a beanie will totally clash with their stylish fit. This hat comes in tons (and I'm talking TONS) of various prints and colors your giftee is bound to love.

50. A tie-dye lounge set, because the combination of rainbow colors and comfy clothes will definitely put them in a good mood. The pants have pockets (yay!) and an elastic waistband, while the top is a warm long-sleeve crewneck.

51. A backrest pillow filled with memory foam that'll support them while lounging. Movies in bed, puzzling on the floor — you name it.

A blue and grey stand up pillow with arms and a handle on the top.

52. A lap desk with a built-in mouse pad, wrist supports, and phone/tablet holders, because it's inevitable that they're doing homework on their bed with such limited space — this will make it much more comfortable for them.

53. A Tile Mate for the student who loses their keys, phone, or wallet all the time. When attached to their keychain (or placed in their wallet), they'll be able to know where it's located or reverse-search on the Tile Mate to find their phone. Genius, right?

the Tile Mate on a set of keys, beside a phone with the open Tile Mate app

54. A four-pack of cozy wool-blend socks that'll keep their feet extra warm on the cold and rainy days.

a model wears the red socks outside

55. A pair of Converse x Comme des Garçons PLAY Sneakers to gift a cool twist on the classic Chuck Taylors. The sporty style is great for running errands, grabbing drinks, and dressing down an outfit.

the converse show in black, showing the red CDG Play heart on the right side

56. A slouchy cardigan that's a cute basic they'll get tons of wear out of. Reviewers rave that it's super lightweight, comfortable, and versatile.

a model wearing the slouchy gray cardigan

57. A smart reusable notebook because every college student knows the struggle of transferring handwritten notes to their computer. With this notebook, whatever is written can go to cloud services like Google Drive, Dropbox, iCloud, and more. When it's transferred, they simply erase with a damp cloth and reuse for their next class!

a model writes on a blank page of the reusable spiral bound notebook

58. A pair of Sony wireless noise canceling headphones that have Alexa voice control and a mic for phone calls. With over 19,000 5-star ratings, reviewers say the quality is unmatched.

59. Or budget-friendly noise cancelling headphones if you aren't ready to splurge on a gift just yet. They can connect their phone or laptop via Bluetooth to get a quiet studying sesh in.

60. A mini donut maker so they're able to make their favorite treat whenever they want. This cool appliance can make seven donuts at once, and is there anything better than that? (Nope!)

61. A compact air fryer for quick and delicious meals in the dorm! This Dash air fryer won't take up much space, but it will make (or reheat) some amazing meals.

The air fryer in black, featuring an analog timer, round temperature dial, and convenient handle for removing the basket

62. A wine bottle bag for (of age) wine lovers who love fun accessories just as much. This cotton crochet floral tote can hold their favorite bottle while they're on their way to the next holiday party.

a model holding the tote with a bottle of wine inside

63. American Giant's Blizzard Full Zip jacket, because not only is it literally made to withstand the coldest weather, it'll last long after their college years too.

Reviews have been edited for length and/or clarity.

Looking for the perfect gift for any occasion? Check out all of BuzzFeed’s gift guides!

the gift guide banner