High School Graduation Gift Guide

High School Graduation Gift Guide

BIG Ideas:

  • High school graduation is a huge time in a student’s life as they begin the transition to adulthood.
  • Money can be a great gift, especially for students living on a limited budget in college.
  • Brazos can help parents and students get the money they need to make college possible – and more affordable. 

Time flies when you’re having fun and raising children. It probably seems like just yesterday, you were putting your child on the school bus to kindergarten and now they’ll soon be graduating from high school.

How the heck did that happen?

But high school graduation is an exciting and huge life milestone. It marks the culmination of hard work for your child (and for you) – and a HUGE step toward their growth and independence. So, it’s natural to want to get your child something special to celebrate.

To help inspire your gift-giving, we’ve curated a list of ideas – from the practical to the thrilling. So, whether your student will attend college or take some time off to discover their interests with a gap year, you’ll find the perfect gift.

Let’s get browsing.

Technology. Looking to help your student stay connected? You can’t go wrong with technology. Here are some options:

  • A laptop, since those college papers won’t write themselves.
  • A new cellphone, tablet, or smartwatch. Feel free to plug in your contact information to make it easier for your child to phone home.
  • A step tracker. You can challenge your student to a step contest.
  • Bluetooth speaker so they can blare music in their own home.
  • Noise-canceling headphones to block out dorm noise.
  • Portable charger to ensure they’re always plugged in.

Dorm essentials. If your student is planning to live away at college, there’s no shortage of essentials you can get for their dorm, including:

  • Comforters, sheets, and blankets
  • Appliances, such as a coffee maker, clothes steamer, toaster, or mini fridge
  • Dorm décor – from lava lamps to wall art, you’ll find no shortage of cool décor.
  • Plates, bowls, cups, and silverware.

Travel items. If the student is planning to travel or live away at school, you can help make it easier for them with these items:

  • A travel suitcase
  • A good backpack or laptop case
  • Packing cubes
  • A nice passport case or wallet

Gift cards. You can never go wrong with gift cards. Popular ones include:

  • Amazon cards
  • Walmart or Target cards
  • Airline cards
  • Prepaid Amex, Mastercard, or Visa gift cards
  • Uber Eats or DoorDash cards
  • Gas cards if your student will have a car
  • App store cards
  • Streaming service gift cards, such as Spotify, Disney+, Netflix, or Hulu
  • Uber or Lyft gift cards

Practical gifts. Though practical gifts may not seem as fun, they can make the transition to adult life easier for your student. Here are some ideas:

  • A toolbox to help with repairs in their dorm or apartment.
  • A vacuum. If you really want to impress your child, get a robotic one that does the work for them.
  • A sewing kit. Even college students can lose buttons.
  • A first aid kit. Safety matters.

Cool experiences. Looking for a creative gift idea? Give your student an experience they won’t forget, like:

  • A post-graduation vacation – Hello, Disney
  • Concert tickets
  • Skydiving or a hot air balloon ride
  • Tickets to a Broadway show
  • A cooking class, especially if they’ll have an apartment
  • Football game tickets

Heartwarming gifts. If your student will be leaving the nest, you can give them a piece of home with these gift ideas:

  • A photo book with all the photos of your child’s life milestones
  • An electronic picture frame. You can add your favorite pics of your student and update photos from home.
  • An inspirational book of poetry or stories

Fun and games. Looking for more gift ideas? Your grad can have fun with:

  • A video gaming system and games
  • Board games – from Monopoly to Pictionary
  • Puzzles to give them a mental break from studying

As you can see, there’s no shortage of gift ideas. But there’s another gift you can give the student in your life: Money. It may seem impersonal, but most students live on limited budgets in college and could use the extra cash. A gift of money can help them build savings they can use throughout the semester.

Brazos is Here to Help You Make the Gift of Education Possible

For more than 40 years, Brazos Higher Education has been helping make education more affordable for students. As a Texas non-profit, we offer great rates and no fees on private student loans to help families bridge the gap where financial aid leaves off. Contact us to learn more.