Many amazing women breaking glass ceilings and changing the world all started their journey by graduating, which is such a noteworthy accomplishment of its own. These young ladies of the class of 2022 deserve a big extra pat on the back for getting through this huge milestone and achieving this monumental goal despite dealing with an on-going pandemic.
Whether they graduated from high school or college, we are certain that these new grads, are ready to put away their books, face their future and start living. So, let’s join these women in celebrating their rite of passage with stylish, inspirational or practical gifts for their post-school phase of life.
Regardless of what path they will take or if they are going straight to starting a career, job hunting, taking time off to travel or moving into a dorm to continue their education, you can send them off with a thoughtful gift to show them how proud you are. Something that looks good, is designed well and they can take with them into their new adventure, apartment or job!
So if you are searching for a gift for your daughter, niece or friend, scroll below to see a list of our hand-picked selections, which we know that she will actually love (and use)!
A laptop sleeve to start her career in style
This elegant laptop case by Cuyana made with luxurious Italian double-faced leather is the perfect gift for the graduate starting a job in the big city. Whether it’s at a law or architecture firm or a design or advertising agency, she will absolutely love this laptop sleeve because it’s not only super stylish, it’s also super functional.
Like its name implies, Tech Carryall has enough space to carry everything, your Macbook, charger, headphones, pens, papers and more. It comes in three colors Black, Cappuccino, Light Stone and in two sizes: 13” and 15”- 16” Plus you can also add a monogram on the front center of flap!
A beautiful wireless charging tray
Another stylish item to enhance her post graduation life is the CATCH:3 wireless charging station loved by Oprah Winfrey. This is the ideal device for her bedside that will help her always keep her phone charged. You have the option to select the tray in either Italian-sourced leather or fine Belgian linen, both with a designer-quality and minimal and modern look. If she likes to keep her things in order and loves having a nice decor, this is definitely the best graduation gift for her.
An attractive coffee maker because it’s essential
If your graduate starts her morning better with a cup of joe or she’s going back to college for grad school and will need a little caffeine to get her through it, this small and stylish single-cup maker by Keurig is a fabulous gift. It doesn’t take much space, which is great if she will be in a dorm or sharing an apartment with roommates, plus she will be saving lots of money by skipping the coffee shop everyday. We are sure that she will absolutely love this essential and super attractive kitchen appliance!
A Smart Sleep Assistant so she is well-rested
Being that sleep is so important to our success and mental health, Hatch’s Restore Smart Sleep Assistant is such a great bedside companion to start a new life. This device is everything you need to get a good night sleep and stay away from scrolling on your phone until wee hours of the night. It has a clock and alarm, a smart light, meditations and sounds of nature and more. This is a great gift to help your graduate be well-rested and create a healthy sleeping routine so she can face the new challenges of the day ahead.
A practical and pretty (in pink) carry-on luggage
With revenge travel still in full force and new grads making up for lost time, luggage is the perfect graduation gift! College graduates are more than ready to see the world (our country)! In the color Pink Sand, this carry-on luggage with a hardshell by CALPAK is pretty and practical! It has a TSA approved lock and it has a Hard-sided front compartment with laptop sleeve (fits tablets and laptops up to 16”). It has enough room to fit the right amount of outfits for a week! She will love it and she will love your for it!
Monogrammed travel passport case to inspire her wanderlust
For the graduate that’s about to jet set to a new adventure abroad, this stylish monogrammed passport holder and luggage tag series from Mark & Graham is a thoughtful gift option. It will help them keep everything organized and ease any pre-travel anxiety. If you are feeling generous, you can get them the whole series or mix and match from items such as the passport case, leather Wristlet, luggage Tag, leather Pouch and a leather cosmetic pouch.
A pair of versatile white leather sneakers
These handcrafted white leather sneakers from Rag & Co, a sustainable company in Cali, will go with just about any outfit! She could wear them to her internship, the happy hour or even for her summer and weekend hangouts with friends. This wardrobe staple is a great and useful gift, that she will actually use. They are not only stylish, they’re comfy!
A companion classy heated mug
We totally agree with the description of this mug on its site: “Smart Heated Mug Kit for busy people who have high standards and good taste.” It is an excellent gift that will keep you graduate company while she’s productive searching for jobs, working or studying! This cute gift kit comes with the mug with thermal sensors, the smart headed pad so the mug stays warm, a lid and drip tray, a gold plated stirring spoon and you have the option to send the gift with the brand’s Self Care Elixir tea!
P.S. This brand is so kind and empowering that a portion of their proceeds will go to support enrichment programs to elevate women businesses and founders. And that is so cool that it was featured on The Ellen Show.
A relaxing Himalayan Salt & Rosewater diffuser or candle for her new home
You can show your graduate your appreciation by gifting them something that will make their new home smell great and offer them a chill vibe. In general, Himalayan salt is said to provide a relaxing and calming experience. We think she will love any product from this Nest New York collection. It also includes a blend of rosewater, geranium, salted amber, and white woods all ingredients that will fill her working or studying space with a peaceful energy.
A portable JBL speaker for the smart party graduate
Is she outgoing and popular, does she bring the party with her? Does she do Tik Tok dance videos? If so, she will love this as a graduation gift! The JBL Charge 5 portable speaker has an incredible battery life of 20 hours, which means endless hours of fun! It’s also IP67 waterproof perfect for the summer pool parties and beach days and it comes in 6 trendy colors making it a more stylish and attractive device for your graduate to take wherever she goes!
A cute daily planner to organize her goals
As graduates end one chapter and begin a new phase in their life, gifting them with a daily planner will help them plan and organize their days ahead so they can feel confident to tackle everything needed to achieve their dreams. With this adorable and classic 16-week daily productivity planner from Papier, your graduate can “strike a healthy work-life balance.” She can schedule her classes, appointments, track her goals or even just reflect on her personal growth.
A lucky bamboo plant for good energy
Send her off with some well wishes of a little good luck, which she can take to her dorm or new apartment. According to Chinese traditions, it is said that the number of stalks give have different meanings...Two stalks mean love, three symbolize Fu (happiness), Lu (wealth), and Soh (long life), five represent wealth in life and so on...This plant is also really easy to take care of and will improve the Feng Shui in her new environment. We found a really cute one at Livelyroot.com and you can also pick the size and the color of the pot.
A sweet memory from home to take with her
At the office or at her new apartment, this adorable Moments Clip from Kodak Moments is a sweet gift that will remind her of home. Whether she puts a photo of the whole family or her four legged sibling in front, this magnetic, two-piece clip actually lets you hold up to ten of your printed moments, meaning she can swap them every day!
P.S. When you order the clip it comes with 10 customized 4x6’ classic prints!
A quality (and cool) on-the go tumbler
This 20oz Tumbler Rambler by Yeti is one of those functional gifts that will definitely get used (probably right away). It’s perfect for those new grads on-the-go...to the gym, interviews or commuting to work or school. They can take it with them wherever and with its double-wall insulation, they can have either hot beverages like coffee or cool smoothies and icy drinks to beat the summer heat. It’s BPA-free and dishwasher safe and it comes in a variety of awesome colors. Our favorites are Seafoam and Bimini Pink.
A Designer-quality leather laptop backpack
Handmade in Los Angeles by experienced local artisans, this Luis Steven Small Laptop Pack made with premium Italian pebble leather is fabulous gift for a recent grad. She can wear it as a backpack or to her new office job with its vertically oriented “briefcase style”. This elegant laptop bag can carry a 13”/14” computer or tablet, and it also fits perfectly under the airline seat, meaning it can go wherever she goes!
An espresso maker she can take with her hiking or anywhere!
If you are looking for a gift for a graduate that loves hiking and the outdoors but also needs her cup of coffee, this quirky, yet stylish Wacaco Nanopresso Portable Espresso Maker is a fantastic gift. Not only does it make good coffee, it’s so travel friendly and easy to use that your graduate can take with her on camping trips or roadtrips. It’s actually so cute and compact that you can just drop it in your tote bag and head out to the park for a picnic....set your blanket down, get your favorite book and drink your cafecito.
A good pair of noise-canceling headphones so she can focus
A good pair of noise canceling headphones is truly an ideal gift for a recent graduate. She will be able to focus studying when her roommates make noise or work better when there is construction outside. Of course, she could also listen to her fav music or podcasts. The JBL Live Free 2 True Wireless headphones are a good option because they offer quality and crisp sound, are waterproof and sweat proof, and have an impressive 35 hours of playback (7 hours in the earbud; 28 hours from charging case).
A comfy pair of iconic Birkenstocks
This is perfect gift so she can enjoy her summer days before getting real about getting back to school in the fall or starting that new job. These sandals are not only cute, they are also lightweight and designed to provide arch and heel support so they are comfy all day long. The Birkenstock Arizona EVA Sandal comes in 4 adorable & seasonal colors: Coral Peach, Cloud/Dusty Blue, Khaki and a Coral Multi Color. Get her these, we think she will love them! *Available on HSN
An all purpose desk lamp for late nights studying or working
The LumiCharge II LED desk lamp does so much that we know any new grad would love to have it on their desk. It’s the ultimate functional desk lamp. It has a charging station, wireless charger, universal phone dock, a display with date, time and temperature. It’s has multiple levels of brightness and even a bluetooth speaker. I don’t know about you but we believe it’s the perfect device for those late nights on the computer finishing projects. *Also available on Amazon