46 graduation gift ideas that are just as smart as they are | CNN Underscored (2024)

Class Year Personalized Socks

The excitement of high school graduation is as much about where you’re going as where you’ve been. Show them you’re as excited about their fall destination as they are with crew socks customized with their next alma mater, class year and name. They come in 15 colors.

An essential that first-time dorm dwellers often forget is a shower caddy.After all, they won’t be able to just leave all their toiletries in the bathroom anymore. All those necessities fit into this handy tote and its mesh pockets.

Yes, their phone is their alarm, but consider this the gift they didn’t know they wanted. Rather than a rude awakening, Hatch escorts them gently awake with a faux sunrise. It can be set to white noise and soothing sounds as well, plus several other light options, like a just-right glow for night-time studying that won’t bother roommates.

Popdarts Original Game Set

Popdarts are suction darts that stick to anything smooth, and come off with a satisfyingPAH-PPP. They can be played indoors or out, but either way, they don’t damage surfaces, so they won’t have issues with the RA.

Let's face it, overhead dorm lighting isn't the most relaxing or aesthetically beautiful thing to come home to. Let you grad add some ambient light to their space with the help of this neon frame sign, which can also help show off their favorite notes, photos or poster.

Goodnight Dorm

Touted as “all the advice I wish I got before going to college,” this fully illustrated hardcover beginner’s guide to college is as funny as it is smart.

Kodak Instamatic Instant Print Camera

Those early days with new college friends deserve to be remembered, and what better to do that with than this easy-to-use camera. Photos of the fun appear on sticky paper super fast. They’re sure to be splashed all over their side of their room by the time you visit for family weekend.

Dorm life often means communal bathrooms and shared shower stalls. These Croc sandals are perfect for making your designated shower shoes. And even if you're lucky enough to have your own bathroom, having a pair of durable and easy to slip on sandals makes walking the dorm halls that much easier.

Everyone loves the comfort of a plush robe, but these come in especially handy if your grad has to venture down their hall to get to the bathroom or shower.

Not everyone is a master chef. But grads can up their cooking game with a little help from this cookbook, which uses ingredients that can be found at any Trader Joe's location nationwide.

Blue Apron Meal Delivery Plan

Dinner no longer comes by way of a card swipe. Help them avoid the pizza delivery trap with a meal kit subscription. Blue Apron stands out as the best for beginners. The recipes are healthy and appealing, yet not too time-consuming or full of unfamiliar ingredients.

Away The Carry on

That duffle that saw one too many spring breaks really needs to be replaced. This beauty has 360-degree spinner wheels, it charges a phone (!), and is unusually nice-looking, making it a no-brainer winner for the best carry-on suitcase of the year. That’s a good thing if it doesn’t fit in the only closet in your grad’s starter apartment. It comes in nine colors.

Stone Drink Dispenser

Saluti! If your grad is ready to set up that first apartment, this cobbled granite and stainless spirits dispenser will see plenty of use and get compliments galore. It’s handmade in Maine.

A college diploma is no guarantee of having It All Figured Out. Many of us only started seeing what our paths should be then. Help them along the way with this 5 Minute a Day journal where they can keep track of feelings, major milestones and everything in between without any major writing commitments.

An ancient symbol of protection (and trending jewelry emblem) is the focal point of this Bohemian-style ring.

Rumpl Original Puffy Blanket

A blanket for a graduation gift? Yup. Well, yupthisblanket. It rolls up into practically nothing and weighs just as little, ensuring it will be taken along on any and all outdoor activities in your graduate’s bright future. And unlike most blankets, it’s machine-washable. Check out our full review of Rumpl here.

Each time they pull out this slim, stylish case, whether to offer their new business card or to pick up the check at their first work lunch, they'll get a chance to remember your gifting generosity.

If your grad loves to entertain, this projector is perfect for cozy movie nights or supporting their favorite sports team by putting the game on the big screen. Pair it with this screening kit so they can bring the fun outdoors too.

Great for whipping up a quick meal after a busy day or for trying out new recipes, this Ninja Air Fryer is perfect for foodie grads and is also our pick for best overall air fryer.

Got a grad with wanderlust? This pass grants free regular admission to more than 2,000 federal recreation sites across the country, including all of the U.S. stunning national parks.

Help your grad get their new home or apartment in order with this sheet set bundle from Brooklinen.

Twelve South AirFly

Got a grad that loves to travel or just landed a job that will race up their airline miles? This Twelve South gadget makes flying that much more comfortable by letting you connect your own bluetooth headphones to the headrest monitor with ease.

Figs Zamora Jogger-Style Scrubs

Nurses need scrubs. But that doesn’t mean they have to settle for standard issue. Figs is the favorite, if the 2,700 near-perfect reviews are any indication. They’re soft and stretchy, and unlike most, they’re actually flattering, available in sizes from XXS petite to XXL tall. They hold up to the constant washing too, say reviewers.

Pretty Pictures Gifts Personalized Lanyard

ID badges are a must-wear in medical facilities. It needs to be at the ready, but also secure. This personalized badge reel is the trifecta of gift-giving: thoughtful, personal and practical.

Carrie Clover Stethoscope Tag

Here’s a truly on-point present: a customized stethoscope tag. You can choose up to 24 characters, including letters and symbols, as well as a birthstone. Bonus: It comes in a nice velvet pouch.

Comrade Compression Socks

These are not grandma’s compression socks. True, they serve the same function —improving blood flow and soothing tired legs —but these look good. The veteran nurses we know swear by them. We like the ombre and tie-dye knee-highs, but they come in scads of colors and patterns for men and women.

Monbento Original Bentobox

Nurses can barely get to the bathroom, let alone sit down for a proper lunch hour. Toting along small bites is a given. This bento box, available inplenty of other colors, is just the thing, with two divided tiers. Designed in France, it’s heat- and impact-resistant and has an airtight seal. Plus it’s dishwasher-safe. You can pick them up amatching carry bag too.

Gale’s Frontline Nurse Shoes

A nurse’s shoes must be comfortable above all. But they also need to be tough and sturdy, and easy to clean when they get home. Gale’s shoes check all those boxes, and come in an array of colors. They just might kiss you when they open these.

Coffee is the nectar of the gods to nurses (two words: night shift). They probably have a basic, beat-up travel mug in their car already, but they deserve an upgrade. This Yeti cup is a sturdy pick for traveling around but also works just as well when they want to enjoy a cup at home.

After a long shift, your nurse deserves to come home and fully relax. This washable Lunya set currently comes in seven colors and is the perfect luxe way to unwind and stay cool throughout the night.

Obvus Solutions Minder Foldable Keyboard

Your hands-on grad will often be on the go. So what better gift than a portable (foldable!) featherweight keyboard? This slender Bluetooth-enabled model with an integrated touchpad will keep them connected with ease.

A waterproof, heavy-duty flashlight is worth its weight in gold to anyone working in the trades. Enter this Lux-Pro. It has four modes and is rechargeable, with beams that let you see up to 400 meters away.

Cheryl’s Cookies Graduation Gift Tin

Seriously, who doesn’t smile when they get cookies, let alone Cheryl’s? These classic chocolate chip, buttercream frosted, devil’s food, salty caramel and peanut butter delights are the answer if you have no idea what your giftee could use. Or they’re known for their sweet tooth.

Yeti Daytrip Lunch Bag

Eating on the job is standard practice when you work in the trades. So a lunch bag will be used every single day. This toughie can handle it, with serious insulation and magnetic closures. Its leak-proof lining is food-safe, of course, plus it’s water-resistant.

Extra-early mornings are likely to be a way of life for your trade school grad. This sleek tray, available in Belgian linen and Italian leather finishes, can charge Android and Apple phones and Airpods, while also leaving room to keep keys and other important items corralled.

Thermos King Hot or Cold Beverage Bottle

Another must-have, summer or winter, is a Thermos. You’ll be doing them a real favor by gifting them the gold standard. It’ll last forever, and save them money over time.

Mini Money Tree

Is that graduate starting their own business? Then this idea is perfection: a money tree! This perky plant has a stout trunk, and is quite hardy, even if that new entrepreneur doesn’t have an especially green thumb. (It’s also pet-friendly.)

Make your grad's early mornings that much more enjoyable with a great cup of coffee from Trade. Craft a custom subscription pack made for however they like to take their morning brew.

It’s traditional to bring a bouquet of flowers to the ceremony.But why not bestow a bouquet that can be a keepsake? We think this dried-flower bouquet is adorable and will bring back celebratory memories whenever the grad glances at it.

Dauphinette Four-Leaf Clover Paperweight

You wish that special graduate all the luck in the world. Don’t just say it; show it. This resin paperweight, whether it’s actually securing papers or just being a cool little piece of decor, is how to do it. Those are real four-leaf clovers inside.

The days of imbibing from a red plastic cup are gone, for better or worse. If you tend toward classic gifts, pair these flutes with a bottle of bubbly. The nonleaded crystal makes them extra sparkly. Stunning!

I Love Paper Kits Graduation Cap Charm

Every graduate has a special someone (or three) who made all the difference in their journey. Help them honor those folks with this sweet cap charm to hold their photos. It comes in five finishes and up to three photo frames.

For the graduate who loves their bling, consider an initial necklace as stunning as their personality. This 14-karat gold-plated necklace sports an initial-engraved pendant to add a customized touch.

Aura Carver Luxe Digital Picture Frame

Help your friend show off all those school-day memories in this highly-rated smart frame. Using Aura’s AI tech, it can identify related photos and display them side by side. Speakers are integrated, and the art-deco-esque frame fits in with any decor.

Cheers Confections Countdown Box

It’s like the graduation version of an Advent calendar!That lucky friend will have a new treat to open up for eight straight days. Whether it’s the salted caramel popcorn, chocolate-covered blueberries, dark chocolate truffles or another delectable, expect a streak of thank-you texts.

Whether you have a minimalistic bestie or just want to give them something to help stay organized, this commute clutch is the perfect combination of practical and fashionable. Plus, it comes with an optional monogram for extra personalization.