If you know a college student, one of the best ways to show them you care is by giving them a college gift basket. It’s a fun way to remind them that you miss them or celebrate going back to school or the end of the semester. Here are 30 of the best college gift basket ideas every student will love!
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This post is all about the best college gift basket ideas
If you know someone headed to college or have a friend, family member, or significant other away at college, a gift basket is the perfect way to show them you care about them. Every college student will appreciate a sweet gift basket, no matter the occasion.
A college gift basket is a good idea when someone is headed back to college, when you want to help them celebrate milestones throughout the semester, or when you want to simply show them you care about them and miss them. After reading this post, you’ll have all the best college gift basket ideas to put your college gift basket together and choose all the items any college student will love!
Best College Gift Basket Ideas for Their Dorm
#1 Throw Blanket
One of the best college gift basket ideas is a dorm gift. A dorm gift basket makes for the perfect off-to-college present for college students. A cute throw blanket is the perfect addition to their dorm room decor. Pick a style that’ll match their unique aesthetic, and is comfy, and cozy.
#2 Keurig
Another super useful college gift basket idea for going off to college is a Keurig. Being able to make your own coffee in the morning before college classes can save a ton of time and money. It’s convenient and is something any coffee or tea-loving college student will love and use a ton.
#3 Slippers
Every college student will spend a fair amount of time in their dorm. But, dorm floors are not always the cleanest or comfiest. Not to mention there will be plenty of times they’ll have to walk in the dorm hallways. A cute pair of slippers is a comfy way to protect your feet and stay comfy walking around the dorms, making it one of the best college gift basket ideas.
#4 Shower Shoes
Going along with slippers, shower shoes are another college essential that goes perfectly in a college gift basket. They’re something every college student needs and will use almost every day. A cute pair of shower shoes is the ideal gift for any college gift basket since it’s something every student needs living in the dorms.
#5 Silk Pillowcase
The next item for college gift baskets that college students will appreciate is a silk pillowcase. It’s thoughtful and a great dorm gift. It helps protect your skin and hair and is a cute way to show any college student you care.
#6 White Noise Machine
College dorms can get noisy. One way to help a college student sleep through the noise is by getting them a white noise machine. You can easily add this to any college gift basket. It’s the perfect going-off-to-college gift basket idea that college students will actually use.
#7 Sleep Mask
Going along with the white noise machine, another gift for college students to add to a college care package or college gift basket is a sleep mask. This will come in handy when their roommates have late nights studying and they want to get some sleep or when they want to take a nap during the day.
#8 Laptop Case
If you want to get a college student you care about a gift they’re sure to use, a laptop case is a great college gift basket idea. They’ll definitely need a durable case to protect their laptop every day as they walk back and forth across campus and bring it to class on a daily basis. It’s a must-have when you go to college, making it the perfect addition to any college gift basket.
#9 Card Games
College students always need some fun things to do while away from home. One of the best ways to help them stay entertained is to gift them some fun card games. They can play these with friends any night of the week to have a bit of fun and have some things to do in their free time.
#10 Lots of Snacks
One thing college students love is snacks. College students are practically famous for late-night snack runs. Adding a ton of snacks to a college gift basket is a great way to show them you care. They’ll easily love this gift.
#11 Skincare Essentials
Stocking up on your favorite toiletries and skincare essentials is a must when you go off to college. Getting a college student some of their favorite skincare products before they head off to college or helping them restock on some of their favorite skincare items is one of the best college gift basket ideas that they’ll love.
#12 Cute Water Bottle
Another one of the best college gift basket ideas is a cute water bottle. Every college student will use this daily to bring to class. A cute water bottle will make any college student’s day.
#13 College School Supplies
If you’re planning to create a college gift basket or college care package for a student going off to college, add some college school supplies. A cute pencil case, pens, and desk supplies are good gifts to give them when they’re heading off to college since they need them and will use them daily.
#14 Bathrobe
Another gift college students will use almost every day is a bathrobe. It’s the cutest going-off-to-college gift that every student needs. They’ll keep this in the dorms when they have to take a shower. It’s useful and a good addition to a gift basket for college students going away to school.
#15 Apple Airtag
Losing your ID feels like a write of passage in college. An Apple airtag is an easy gift that college students can put on their key ring or in their ID holder to keep track of it. It’s a practical gift that every student needs when they head back to school.
#16 Rain Gear
One of the things that college students often forget to bring to college is rain gear. I did, and I spent several occasions walking to class soaking wet from forgetting to bring an umbrella to school. Getting them a raincoat and an umbrella is a good practical gift and an easy way to show a college student you care when they head off to college.
#17 Roku
Every college student will want a TV and streaming services in college. A Roku has all the streaming services students need to stay entertained while away at school. It’s an easy gift that every student will love!
#18 Nail Kit
One thing that’s always difficult in college is finding and getting to a nail place. If you know a college student who likes to do their nails, getting them a gel nail kit is a great way to help them pamper themselves and do their nails on their own.
#19 Jewelry
A good item to put in a college gift basket that college girls will love is jewelry. Some cute dainty jewelry will help them accessorize their outfits for nights out and it’s something every college girl will appreciate if they like to accessorize.
#20 Collage Kit
One of the best parts of going off to college is decorating your college dorm room. One of the best college gift basket ideas for students heading off to college and living in the college dorms is a collage kit. This way they can decorate their dorm walls to fit their unique style.
#21 Cute Pajama Set
A cute pajama set is a must when heading off to college. It’s a great way to pamper any college student and is something they will use daily. A silk and comfy pajama set will deck out any college gift basket or care package for students heading off to college.
#22 Stress Relief Aromatherapy Bracelet
Stress is a part of college. There’s no way around it. An easy way to help a college student out with managing this is with an aromatherapy bracelet. This is something they can wear daily or whenever they’re feeling stressed to help relax and help reduce stress.
#23 Lip Balm
Every college student needs a lip balm they can take with them every day to class. Classes can mean long days and lip balm is a must to bring with you each day. Laneige lip mask or a pack of hydrating lip balms is a good way to pack a college gift basket since it’s something college students need.
#24 Instant Photo Printer
Capturing all your memories at college is a must. An instant photo printer is the perfect way for college students to capture all their college memories right from the start. They can scrapbook them or hang them up in a photo collage in their dorm. It’s such a wholesome and useful gift to help college students remember every moment of college with their new friends.
#25 Scrapbook
One of the best college gift basket ideas to pair with an instant photo printer is a scrapbook. This is a fun hobby for college students to relieve stress and relax. But, it’s also an easy way for them to capture all their memories as they happen in college. Gift it to any college student before they head off to school.
#26 Stress Relief Lotion
If you don’t go for an aromatherapy bracelet, stress relief lotion is a great alternative. College students can keep it in their dorm or in their college backpack for on-the-go. This way it’ll help them relax while on the go or after a stressful day.
#27 Candy and Sweets
If you want a college gift basket idea you can’t go wrong with, candy and sweets are the way to go. Pack a college gift basket or college care package with lots of desserts such as cookies, chocolates, or candy. These are yummy snacks and great goodies at the end of the day to pick any college student up.
#28 Travel Mug
A travel mug is another must-have item for college. College students will use it daily on their way to class or to grab and go in the morning. It’s thoughtful and something every student needs and will love as an off-to-college gift.
#29 Face Masks
A good gift to add to a college gift basket anytime of the year are face masks. They’re a good way to encourage college students to pamper themselves and practice a bit of self-care.
#30 Microwavable Meals
Last on the list of best college care package ideas are microwaveable meals. These a easy to grab in a pinch when they wake up late or don’t want to make a run to the dining hall. It’s something that won’t go to waste and can be gifted any time of the year in a college gift basket or college care package.
If you want to show a college student you care, a college gift basket is one of the best ways to do it. Pick some of their favorite items and surprise them with some other gifts to head off to college or put in a care package at any point in the semester to make them feel special and cared for.
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