This post may contain affiliate links. The Review Wire may collect a share of sales if you decide to shop from them. Please see my full disclosure policy for details.
Looking for an alternative to the socks and sweater doldrums of the Christmas giving season? Here are some excellent Christmas gift ideas for a college student.
Useful Christmas Gifts for College Students
A Thermal Mug: A thermal mug will be just the thing to keep a college student warm as they trudge to class in the morning snow. Many coffee shops will fill reusable thermal mugs, or the gift-giver could also consider giving the student a French coffee press so they can make their own quick brew in the mornings. Tervis Collegiate Thermal Mugs
A University Sweatshirt: University students live in their university sweatshirts, and it sometimes seems that the uniform of choice among students is a hoodie emblazoned with the school’s name. Sweatshirts and hoodies are good souvenirs of students’ university years and keep students warm during the winter. Ivysport Collegiate Apparel
Beginner Cookware: For students beginning life in their apartment (or with roommates), a beginner cookware set will help them to cook healthy meals for themselves and maybe the start of a lifetime love of cooking. While this may not earn you as many brownie points as say, an iPod, it can be a useful gift. Essential Total Kitchen 83-Piece Combo Set
An Amazon.com Gift Certificate: An online gift certificate to the world’s most popular online store means that a college student can order anything he/she needs or wants and have it delivered right to his/her doorstep. From textbooks to video games, Amazon has it all. Christmas Amazon Gift Cards
Fun Christmas Presents for University Students
An iPod: A surefire way to make a college student love you, the iPod allows students to be plugged into music, whether they are riding the subway, walking to class, or, God forbid, attending class. IPods come in a range of prices, from the affordable Shuffle to the full-featured iPod Touch or iPhone. A gift certificate for the iTunes store (iPod’s digital music and media store) will also be appreciated and can be purchased online or from stores like Costco and Walmart. iPod Touch
A Digital Camera: Although a little pricey, a camera is an excellent gift for a college student who may not be able to afford one. A small compact-sized digital camera is useful, while a digital SLR (DSLR) will be the dream gift for a budding photographer. Digital SLR Cameras
Games: Board games such as Taboo and Never Have I Ever are popular board games among students, while video-game consoles such as the Nintendo Switch allow students to play along with their roommates. Nintendo Switch and Collegiate Themed Board Games
Meaningful Christmas Gift Ideas for the Student
A Gift to Charity: Many university students are also social activists, and may appreciate it if you donate to one of their favorite charities in their name. Some non-profit organizations will send a card to the student when you give in his/her name.
Fair-Trade Products: For students concerned with the plight of workers in third-world countries, fair-trade products may be the right choice for a Christmas gift. Companies whose products have been endorsed as fair-trade pay laborers and workers a fair living wage. A good resource: Ten Thousand Villages. Some examples of fair-trade products include fair-trade fashion, fair-trade jewelry, and fair-trade decor. Ten Thousand Villages and Amazon
gloria patterson says
A lot of great ideals here and I am sure my niece might like most of them. But my problem is I never what she has. So the Amazon card would be the best gift for her.
Nidhi C says
Awesome gift ideas. I am going to buy some of them for my nieces and nephew.
Michelle Elizondo says
I am looking for great gift ideas for my neices. I like that you gave me a list to choose from.
Jessica Walker says
Thank you these are very helpful ideas. My daughter will be starting college soon and when family asks what to get her for Christmas or even her birthday I will definitely have this saved to give them some ideas.
Rochelle Haynes says
These are some good ideas