How to choose a graduation gift they’ll love
![Congrats Grad! written on a graduation cap with a diploma](https://ideas.hallmark.com/wp-content/uploads/2019/06/Choose-a-graduation-gift.jpg)
Graduation gifts can be easy to send: Tuck some money in a Hallmark card (or add some to a Hallmark + Venmo Card) and you’re done. But what if you want to give a different kind of grad gift—something a bit more personal, creative, unexpected or meaningful? Here are some tips for selecting memorable gifts your favorite high school or college grads will appreciate.
Inspired? Create and share by tagging @HallmarkStores.
Think about what’s next for the grad
Knowing their plans—even loosely—can help narrow your search for the perfect grad gift.
From school to school
Is the graduate going from high school to college, or undergrad to grad school? Consider a graduation gift to make the transition from home to dorm or apartment a little easier. Give a gift that helps them:
- Get organized: Monogrammed laundry bag, closet or desk organizers, under-bed bins, bathroom caddy or tote.
- Keep memories: Journal, photo frame, scrapbook, shadowbox, pin board.
- Entertain themselves: Portable speakers, headphones or ear buds, game or music gift cards, streaming service subscription, digital assistant, portable charger.
- Make midnight snacks: Mini-fridge, toaster oven, microwave, mini-blender, tableware set (plate, bowl, mug, glass, silverware), food storage set.
- Decorate a room: Bed or bath linens, throw pillows or blankets, reading lamp, area rug.
From student to student of life
Taking a “gap year” before starting at a university is more and more common—and not all college grads rush right into the workforce. Give a graduation gift to let them:
- Travel the world (or the city): Monogrammed tote or backpack or carry-on bag, luggage organizers, passport holder, travel wallet, collapsible water bottle.
- Tell their stories: Journals and pen, sketchbook and art supplies, instant camera, action camera, photo printer, postcard stamps and pen.
- Experience something new: Gift cards for transportation or restaurants, event tickets (theater, music, sports, etc.), subscription to audio books or online media.
From studying to adulting
And, of course, some leave the classroom setting for their first real job. They’ll appreciate presents that give them a jumpstart on their new lives. Give graduation gifts that help them:
- Make a great first impression: Leather portfolio or tablet cover, fancy pen, paper planner.
- Enjoy their time off: Gift cards for movies or nights out, subscription for streaming service, gift certificate for their favorite outdoor activities (golf, mini golf, disc golf, pickle ball), good books, supplies for a favorite hobby.
- Tools of the trade: A set of basic hand tools for tradespeople, good knives for cooks or chefs.
- Start a new home: Since people are waiting longer to get married, consider the kinds of things you’d find on a wedding registry, like kitchenware and home goods.
- Fix and hang things: Set them up with a starter tool box and some supplies: nails and screws, picture hangers, and spackle. Or equip them for emergencies with a plunger, bucket, shop towels, and some duct tape.
- Take some pressure off. Gift cards for groceries, clothing, office supplies or big box store where you can get the basics.
Give a meaningful keepsake
If you’re close to the student, giving a graduation gift they’ll have for a long time can remind them you’ve always got their back. A few ideas:
- An engraved watch or pocket watch
- An engraved pen
- An engraved piece of jewelry: earrings, cufflinks, necklace, bracelet, keychain
- A “line a day” journal, with space to write a single memory, thought, or idea each day for multiple years
- A leather bag or briefcase
- A wood, leather, metal, or glass box, bowl, or tray for their dresser or nightstand
- A leather-bound Bible
- Vintage or leather-bound edition of a favorite or inspiring book
- A leather tool belt or quality tool box
- A recording of family members, especially elders, sharing family stories and history or photo album that tells a family story.
To make it even more special, pass along a family heirloom (be sure to tell its story).
Offer what only you can give
Whether they realize it yet or not, graduates can benefit from your life experience, knowledge, and expertise. For a one-of-kind graduation gift, give them your time.
Dinner and stories
Take the graduate out for a nice dinner—whether that means white tablecloths and fancy plates or the best fried chicken in town. You can:
- Listen to their dreams. Ask questions. Be curious about their experiences. Find out what they’ve learned and are excited about.
- Share what you know. If they’re going into a field or trade you’re familiar with, find out what they want to know. Offer your wisdom, share connections, and recommend resources.
- Help them network. Set up time with someone you know who can help them get where they’re going.
Help and support
Find out something they need that you can do. Maybe it’s:
- Moving in or out. If your super-power is packing, give them a hand filling up boxes and loading the back of their car. If you have a truck and a free afternoon, spend it getting the graduate where they’re going. Spring for pizza and beer or lemonade.
- Grown-up stuff. Be a sounding board or mentor for adult living. Walk them through the basics of finding a place to live, setting up utilities, paying bills, budgeting, meal-planning, cooking, cleaning…the things we take for granted but learned at some point (maybe the hard way).
- Checking in. Graduating from high school or college is a big leap—and sometimes, graduates just need someone to listen and bounce ideas around. Set up a monthly coffee or cocktail and be their mentor, soft shoulder, or smart friend.
- Lifting up. When young people run up against the realities of unfairness or injustice in life, be there as a shoulder—and an example of how to face hardship and keep moving forward in faith that it’s going to be okay
Good impressions
- Setting up a new place. Grab your power tools and help them hang shelves. Or offer your skill at painting and creating a gallery wall to help them make their first apartment feel like home.
- Putting themselves out there. Spend an afternoon helping a recent grad finesse (and proofread!) their resume or LinkedIn profile. Do some role-playing to prepare them for job interviews, including how to dress and present themselves.
- Dressing for success. If you’ve got an amazing sense of style, share it. Offer hair and makeup tips and wardrobe advice. Help them organize their closet, put together work-appropriate outfits, and figure out what pieces they need.
You can’t go wrong with money
Recent graduates can almost always use a financial boost, whether it’s for completely practical reasons or a much-deserved post-school splurge. A few suggestions for giving:
- Include it in a card with a wish. We’ve got some ideas for messages.
- Give money in an unexpected way. Cash doesn’t have to be cold or hard. Try these creative ideas. Or check out Hallmark’s College Survival Guide with tips and pockets to hold money, gift cards, and stamps. Finally, a Hallmark + Venmo Card is a convenient but still thoughtful way to show them how proud you are.
- Find the perfect gift card. A graduation gift card can be really helpful (home stores, college book stores, etc.), super-indulgent (spas, entertainment, restaurants), or wide open (pre-paid credit cards).
- Make it long-term. Open a savings account, buy stocks, or send savings bonds.
Need more graduation (or even AFTER graduation) ideas? We have some you’ll love:
Shop Graduation
See allYou may also like
See more-
Anniversary 25th wedding anniversary gift ideas
Traditional: Silver Modern: Silver
-
Christmas Family gift exchange ideas to express your creativity
We’ve got family gift exchange ideas to make gifting fun and easy.
-
Halloween You’ve been booed: Halloween boo bag kit ideas for all your boo crews
Creepy costumes, scary decorations, plastic pumpkin buckets brimming with candy—there’s no time like Halloween! Along...
-
Sympathy Sympathy gift ideas for offering your condolences and support
Many times, we don’t know what to say after a loss. It can be difficult to determine what will comfort a hurting frie...
-
Gifting Grandparent gift ideas they’ll love and remember
Here are some tips and suggestions for grandparent gifts—what you can give to the persons who give so much to us.
-
Card Ideas 17 ways to personalize a card with tuck-in gifts
It’s no surprise we think cards are a wonderful way to support and celebrate each other. Getting a card in the mai...
-
Mother's Day Meaningful, personal Mother's Day gift ideas for every mom you know
It can be tough to come up with gift ideas for Mom. Most of us want to give her something meaningful: a gift that sho...
-
Baby Gifts for new parents: Thoughtful things to give and do
We know what to get for babies: onesies and blankies and binkies. But what about the newly overwhelmed moms and dads?...
-
Gifting Gift ideas to celebrate parents
How do you say “I love you” to parents that mean so much—the ones who’ve handled plenty of diaper changes (the really...
-
Gifting 15+ creative ways to gift mugs
I think lots of things are underrated, like mint chocolate chip ice cream (which does NOT taste like toothpaste, FYI!...
-
Easter Easter basket ideas for all ages: DIY decorations, gifts and more
Excited to get hopping on those Easter baskets? We love to see it. And we love to inspire it, too! So we’ve put toget...
-
Graduation The College Survival Guide: Make the perfect graduation gift even better
The College Survival Guide was created to turn the most-requested high school graduation present (money) into a de...
-
Birthday 25+ ideas for creative, personal birthday care packages
When a friend’s birthday rolls around and you can’t be together to celebrate, the next best thing is to bring the cel...
-
Valentine's Day 200+ Valentine’s Day gift ideas for everyone in your heart
In junior high, I made a giant Valentine’s Day collage for my first girlfriend. She loved it. Was it amazing or dorky...
-
Christmas 100+ inexpensive Christmas gift ideas
I was a Christmas-gift-giving cautionary tale. It was the last day I could hand off a gift in time for the holiday. I...
-
Christmas Christmas care package ideas to make a present personal
We all know someone who could use a little extra care at Christmas: maybe it’s a friend going through a tough time or...
-
Christmas 30+ Secret Santa gift ideas for when you don’t know what to get them
It’s that time of year again—you’ve been cajoled into at least one Secret Santa gift exchange. If you’ve done this be...
-
Anniversary 50th wedding anniversary gift ideas
Traditional: Gold Modern: Gold
-
Anniversary Anniversary gifts by year
There are a lot of anniversary gift lists out there. Most hit the major milestones with traditional and modern the...
-
Anniversary 85+ anniversary gift ideas to celebrate the day you said “I do”
Look, here’s the situation—my wife and I have been together more than 20 years, which means there have definitely bee...