Home
>
Blog
>
Gift Ideas

Best gifts for college grads, according to a recent college graduate

A collage of gifts, including an espresso machine, air fryer, watch, wallet and Amazon eGift card.

If you’ve got a soon-to-be college grad in your life, then you probably agree: some major congratulations are in order. As you get ready to watch your grad cross that stage, you’re also probably thinking about how best to celebrate their accomplishments. Grad parties are always a good option in our humble opinion (we’re party people, what can we say?), but another great choice? A graduation gift!

We can hear the frantic questions already: What makes a good gift? Where do I look for a good gift? How do I choose the right gift? How do I find a gift that communicates the vastness of my pride in all the hard work they’ve completed? These are all fair questions.

Luckily, we spoke with a recent college grad to get the inside scoop on all things gifting, and she gave us this curated list of grad-worthy gifts, covering everything from the sentimental to the practical to the just plain cool. So, take a deep breath, take out a pen and paper and get ready to take on the gift search with ease.

The top 25 gifts for college grads

1

IMUSA Espresso Machine

$

$

29.99

$

Give your grad the gift of caffeinated mornings without the countertop constraints posed by a bulkier machine.

2

Intelligent Change The Five Minute Journal

$

$

28.99

$

Graduating is a pretty big life transition. This journal is a great mindfulness tool to support them through all the changes.

3

Women’s Open-Front Blazer

$

$

57.99

$

A chic addition to their work wardrobe—and it comes in 24 colors!

4

Eco Leather Tote Bag

$

$

28.05

$

The perfect everyday tote for work. Pro tip: Pair this one with gift #3 to really give your grad the new job starter pack.

5

16 Oz Urban Map Glass

$

$

16.99

$

A cute, nostalgic keepsake for their first post-college apartment. Choose their hometown, the city they went to college in or the place they’re moving to post-grad.

6

Custom University Campus Illustration

$

$

30.00

$

For the grad who loved being on campus, this custom illustration is a sweet reminder of their home away from home.

7

Amazon eGift Card

$

$

$

Starting at $5

An Amazon eGift card is a great way to help them get exactly what they need for this new chapter of their life.

8

Target eGift Card

$

$

$

Starting at $5

Ditto for this one. Getting settled into adulthood is HARD, but having a Target eGift card certainly makes it easier.

9

Crate & Barrel eGift Card

$

$

$

Starting at $5

They’re probs hoping to swap their old dorm decor for some more grown-up items, so a Crate & Barrel eGift card is a total no-brainer!

10

Personalized Initial Jewelry Box

$

$

13.59

$

The perfect travel jewelry box for the on-the-go grad. Plus, it can be personalized with their initials.

11

Watch Box with Drawer

$

$

19.98

$

Because you know you’ve reached a new level of grown-up when you have your own watch box.

12

Casio Men's A158WA-1DF Digital Watch

$

$

20.51

$

To help them stay on top of all those work meetings!

13

Embossed Card Holder

$

$

34.23

$

If they’re still using a silicone phone wallet they got during freshman orientation, this pebbled-leather card holder is a sturdier option while still retaining that low-profile look.

14

Hatch Restore 2 Alarm Clock

$

$

199.99

$

The trending alarm clock that makes a great night’s sleep super achievable.

15

Sound Machine Sunrise Alarm Clock

$

$

30.59

$

A dupe of the uber-popular Hatch Restore, this budget-friendly option makes waking up a breeze.

16

35-Piece Kitchen Utensil Set

$

$

42.99

$

Check some items off their apartment shopping list with this set of 35 kitchen tools and utensils.

17

12-Piece Cookware Set

$

$

99.99

$

Help them skip that phase where they’re barely scraping by with just a single whisk as the entirety of their cookware collection.

18

Standing Desk

$

$

125.22

$

If they’re WFH-ing, a standing desk is a MUST. Help them avoid premature back problems by encouraging them to stretch those legs.

19

Travel Duffel with USB Port

$

$

28.99

$

The perfect everything bag. From the gym, to work, to weekend trips, this one does it all (while also keeping their devices charged).

20

Cosori 4-in-1 Mini Air Fryer

$

$

59.99

$

Oh, the air fryer. A true friend in this big, vast world. Ease your grad’s evenings with the comfort of this quick-cooking wonder.

21

McCook 15-Piece Knife Set

$

$

47.98

$

For chopping all the veggies they’ll be putting into that air fryer!

22

Amazon Echo Dot (5th Gen)

$

$

39.99

$

A speaker, alarm clock and personal assistant all bundled into one.

23

Record Player

$

$

49.99

$

With built-in speakers and Bluetooth functionality, this record player will absolutely amp up their sound system—no pun intended.

24

Custom Scrapbook

$

$

45.00

$

As they move forward in their journey, give them something that’ll help them reminisce about all the college mems.

25

Scratch the World® Map Poster

$

$

14.99

$

An interactive and aesthetically pleasing way for them to track all the places they’ll go.

No items found.

No items found.

No items found.

No items found.

No items found.

No items found.

All of the products we feature are hand-selected by our editors! You see only what we love and what we think you'll love too. If you buy something through links on our site, Evite may earn a commission. Prices are subject to change.

No items found.

No items found.

What makes Evite SignUp Sheets different from SignUpGenius?

Developed hand-in-hand with community organizers, PTA presidents, parents and teachers, Evite's signup sheets are designed to make organizing volunteers a breeze. Here are a few ways SignUp Sheets are different than SignUpGenius:

  • 100% free: SignUp Sheets are free to use.
  • Ad-free: No popup ads ever! Our signup sheets remain clutter-free, keeping your volunteers focused on signing up.
  • No extra login required: Seamlessly use your Evite account to create and manage your signup sheets, keeping all your events in one convenient location.
  • Automatic reminders and notifications: Stay on top of your event with automated reminders and notifications for you and your participants. Perfect for busy parents, teachers and anyone juggling multiple commitments.
  • Customization options: Tailor your signup sheets to your specific event, whether it's a school fundraiser, potluck, volunteer opportunity or team activity. Add custom tasks, time slots and requirements for smooth coordination.
  • User-friendly experience: Our intuitive interface makes creating and sharing signup sheets simple for everyone, regardless of tech experience.
  • Real-time updates: Get instant notifications whenever someone signs up or makes a change, so you always know where things stand.

Choose Evite SignUp Sheets for the easiest, most streamlined way to get volunteers and signups for your next event!

What is a signup sheet?

Signup sheets are the perfect way to streamline scheduling, volunteer recruitment, class parties, snack duty, potluck organization, parent-teacher conferences and more! You can think of them as your digital assistant for coordinating events and tasks and ensuring that your event is a success.

Evite SignUp Sheets offers parents, teachers and event planners customizable online forms that organizers and volunteers can access and update effortlessly. Volunteers can choose their preferred time slots, sign up for tasks or indicate what they'll bring to the event. It only takes organizers a few minutes to create a signup sheet and send it out with a shareable link, so they can get the word out via text, email or social media—whichever way they prefer! 

Long story short, signup sheets save everyone involved tons of time, avoid scheduling headaches and ensure everything runs smoothly before and during the event.

How do I create a signup sheet?

Creating a signup sheet has never been easier than with Evite! Here’s how to create a sheet that’s sure to make your event an absolute success:

  1. Go to Evite SignUp Sheets and choose the template that best fits your needs. Evite offers multiple signup sheet templates perfect for every occasion, including:
    • Signup sheets for one day events (without different time slots), perfect for when you’re organizing a class party, potluck or end-of-season party.
    • Signup sheets for single or multiple day events (with time slots), perfect for when you’re organizing concession stand volunteers, fundraisers, parent-teacher conferences, meal train, post-game snack duty or during appreciation week.
  1. After selecting your sheet template, create a title for your signup sheet and add the date, the location, the time (if applicable), who the organizer is, the organizer’s phone number or email and an optional note describing the event to your volunteers. You can also change your signup sheet background and title image if you wish!
  1. Next, create slots for your signup sheet. If you aren’t logged into your account, you will need to do so at this point, but luckily, you can use your existing Evite account (no need to create yet another login!). What you’ll include here will depend on what your event needs, but you can include a list of what’s needed (along with optional descriptions), how many volunteers are needed, and dates and times.
  1. After creating your slots, you can then add a wish list from any retailer or include supply suggestions from Evite’s retailer partners. These are to help your volunteers find and purchase supplies quickly and easily.
  1. Finally, review your sheet, copy your shareable link and send it out to everyone on your list! Every time a volunteer signs up for a slot on your signup sheet, Evite will email you. We will also send reminders to you and your volunteers before your event so no one will forget about it, and we’ll even let volunteers know if you remove their slot or cancel your event sheet so you don’t have to!

What information should be included on a signup sheet?

When it comes to signup sheet information, there are some essentials to include regardless of what you’re organizing:

  1. A title for your signup sheet. Tip: Aim to keep your signup sheet title concise but clear. You want volunteers to read it and have a general understanding of what your event is about, and also make it easy for them to look for later if they need to reference your sheet again. You have the option to include a more descriptive note in a different field about your event, so save the more in-depth details for that!
  1. When and where the event is taking place. 
  1. The organizer’s name and phone number.
  1. Slots for volunteers to choose from. Once you choose the SignUp Sheets template that fits the occasion, the slots you’ll need for your sheet will be right there and ready for you to add the relevant info, such as dates, times, items to bring and tasks to complete. 

When adding your slot information, clearly define what people are signing up for, especially for a what-to-bring list or role assignments. If you want someone to bring healthy snacks for kids to enjoy after a game, specify that. You want your volunteers to feel confident in what they’re bringing and to make it easy for them to know what’s expected of them. It will save them time and stress (and you, too!). That being said, if you make your ask too specific (for example, asking for a hard-to-source item or something expensive), you may not end up with a volunteer for it. So be clear about what you expect, but also be reasonable!

Aside from providing the basic signup information, you can also add optional descriptions to both your entire signup sheet and individual slots. While not required, they can help guide your volunteers further and provide more information. You can add information about allergies, preferences and general info about the event. You can also add a wish list to make it easier for your volunteers to bring exactly what you need!

What are the benefits of using a signup sheet template?

Signup sheet templates offer a ton of advantages for both organizers and volunteers and with Evite SignUp Sheets, you'll enjoy even more benefits than other digital and paper signup sheets! Some benefits our signup sheet templates offer include:

  • A 100% free experience (no subscriptions required!).
  • Shareable links for quick and easy sharing.
  • No need to create another login—you can use your existing Evite account.
  • The option to add a wish list to help your volunteers out.
  • Automatic reminders—we’ll remind everyone on your behalf.
  • An easy-to-use experience with eye-catching guided templates.
  • Clean, modern designs with no pop-up ads.

With Evite SignUp Sheets, you can enjoy organizing and coordinating all your events with ease. Signup sheets streamline the signup process for everyone involved, ensuring that everything will go to plan on the day of your event while saving you precious time in the process.

View More Articles

View All