55 Best Gifts for College Students To Actually Impress Them

Every product was carefully curated by an Esquire editor. We may earn a commission from these links.

SOMA

Best Skincare for College Students

Drunk Elephant The Littles Skincare Travel Set

College students are constantly on the go—this travel set from Drunk Elephant is a great gift and can fit into any backpack or any travel bag.

Best Pen for College Students

Parker Jotter Ballpoint Pen

Now 41% Off

Although subtle, this stainless-steel pen is a practical gift for all college students who will be taking a lot of notes. Even our editors love and endorse it.

Best Speaker for College Students

JBL Clip 4: Portable Speaker with Bluetooth, Built-in Battery, Waterproof and Dustproof Feature

Study sessions, dorm-room hangouts, or even just chilling by yourself, every college student needs a good speaker. This JBL is the perfect size and won’t take up too much space. Plus, the sound quality is amazing.

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Best Journal for College Students

Smythson 2024 Panama Weekly Agenda

Although we are in the technology age, I, like many people, am a sucker for a handwritten journal. It’s a great way to keep track of things like classes and tests.

Most Practical Gift

Fulton The Classic Insole

Hear us out... we know foot insoles sound like a strange gift, but these luxurious ones from Fulton will truly change the way they walk. And with a whole new life and all those upcoming classes, they need them.

Best Coffee Maker for College Students

Nespresso Vertuo Pop+

Or, if they’re lazy, opt for an easy machine. Save them hundreds of dollars on Starbucks with a Nespresso pod machine. The new Pop+ is compact enough for a dorm room and comes in a handful of colors to match their tastes.

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Most Practical Gift for College Students

HP Tango Smart Wireless Printer

An exciting gift? Not at first. But once they get to skip the line at the student union copy/print store during finals week, they’ll love you forever. Plus! It can print photos.

Best Mug For College Students

SOMA Double Cold Brew Bottle

Now 11% Off

Or just get them a bottle to make their own at-home cold brew.

Best Earbuds for College Students

Apple AirPods Pro

Now 12% Off

No teenager or twenty-something will turn down a brand new pair of AirPods.

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Best Headphones for College Students

Bowers & Wilkins Px7 S2

If they prefer an over-ear headphone, these are a bit more luxury than the AirPods Max. (And cheaper, too.)

Best Notebook for College Students

Moleskine Smart Writing Set

It’s proven that handwritten notes make memorization easier. But digital notes are a lot more convenient for organization and test prep. Moleskine’s smart notebook creates digital copies of their notes and organizes them on the cloud. Best of both worlds!

Best Bedside Gift for College Students

COURANT Catch:3

Honestly, they won’t care about an Italian leather catchall. But nothing on this list will be more useful. This thing charges their phone (most important to them), and it keeps them from losing their phone, keys, and wallet (most important to everyone around them).

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Best Air Purifier for College Students

Dupray Bloom Air Purifier

Now 17% Off

Kids these days actually love houseplants. This Esquire Home Awards-winning air purifier also doubles as a planter for their new fiddle leaf fig or monstera. But it also doubles (triples?) as a side table, too, for when they eventually forget to water that houseplant.

Best Diffuser for College Students