Best Gift Ideas for High School Graduates

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My twins will be graduating high school this month. My, how time has flown! I’ve been looking for gift ideas for high school grads that they are sure to appreciate. I’ve assembled this list of the best gifts for high school graduates and high school graduation. I think any high school grad is sure to appreciate these high school graduation gift ideas!

College Gear Gifts for High School Grads

Any high school graduate heading off to college would appreciate gear and other memorabilia from the college they will be attending!

Items that will be well liked include college t-shirts, hoodies and sweatshirts, college stickers and college drinkware like travel mugs, coffee mugs and glassware. Many college’s bookstores are online, and ordering college clothing and other gear from home is quite easy.

If you can’t get what you like at the online college bookstore for your grad, you might even be able to purchase items on Amazon. For instance, one of my twins will be going to Bryn Mawr, and there are Bryn Mawr T-Shirts and Bryn Mawr College Sweatshirts available on Amazon.

My other daughter is going to Smith College in the fall. There are a lot of inexpensive cute Smith College stickers (and Bryn Mawr College stickers) available on the website, Redbubble. The site has stickers, clothing and memorabilia for many colleges.

Another great place to look for college items is on Etsy. I found a great shop on Etsy, 2 Blue Owls Designs, that sells beautiful Bryn Mawr pins and notecards. (Bryn Mawr is also my alma mater.)

XL Twin Sheets

Most colleges have XL twin mattresses in their dorm rooms. That means first years who have either a regular twin or perhaps a full bed at home will need new sheets to fit the college mattress.

You can get a California Den Twin XL Sheet Set on Amazon for just about $40. I have two sets of California den King sized sheet sets at home, and they are quite nice. The sheet sets are 400 thread count, 100% cotton, and are quite comfortable.

Popcorn Popper

When we toured the colleges where my children are attending, I noticed that there is often a room on each floor with a microwave that the students can use.

Any student heading off to college in the fall is likely to welcome a Silicone Microwave Popcorn Popper.

These poppers are collapsible and are easy to store, and can be used to pop up a big bowl of fresh popcorn. (You pour the popcorns kernels right in the bowl of the popper, put on the included lid, and pop them in the microwave for a few minutes.)

Once the popcorn is done, the popper serves as a convenient and good-looking serving bowl. So handy! I have one of these poppers at home myself and have given one as a gift, too!

Single-Serve Coffee Maker

One of my twins already lives on coffee, so I am sure she would love her own single-serve coffee maker for college.

You can get a Electric Kettle

An Electric Kettle can be used to quickly boil hot water for tea, hot chocolate and instant ramen soups. My family relies on our Mueller electric kettle!

Our Mueller Electric Kettle is made with sturdy borosilicate glass. The water boils quite quickly, the kettle has a pretty blue glow when it is heating. There is also an auto shut off system for safety, so your kettle won’t try to boil dry.

Power Bank

A Portable Power Bank compatible with your grad’s mobile phone and other devices would be a useful gift. For instance, this Anker Portable Charger can provide 2.5 charges for an iPhone, Samsung Galaxy, iPad mini 5 and more. A lightweight charger like this one could be kept in your grad’s backpack, so your student’s devices will always have enough power when needed.

Interchangeable Watch Bands

For a practical yet stylish gift, consider a soft silicone watch band from Barton Watch Bands. They’re comfortable for all-day wear and come in various colors, making them a versatile addition to any wardrobe—perfect for the active lifestyle of a new graduate. Plus, they’re affordable and can be easily paired with a smartwatch or a classic timepiece without breaking the bank.

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