Best Gifts for the Student in Your Life
Based on insights gathered by Bright Horizons College Coach experts, the following list offers practical and meaningful gift ideas to support and inspire the student in your life this holiday season. We are sure you will find something for all stages of their educational journey!
All Ages
- Contributions to 529 college savings plan grow tax-deferred, and withdrawals are tax-free when used for qualified education expenses.
- Supplies for hobbies, talents, and skills. Art supplies, sports/exercise equipment, bakeware, cooking utensils, music or acting lessons, and gardening tools are ways to encourage a student’s unique interests and nurture their personal development.
- Investment vehicles. What better way to teach students about investing than to get them started with an investment option, ie. stocks, mutual funds, individual retirement accounts (IRAs), etc.
- College planning or personal finance books. A few of our favorites are the Fiske Guide to Colleges 2024, Finance 101 for Kids: Money Lessons Children Cannot Afford to Miss, and The Psychology of Money: Timeliness Lessons on Wealth, Greed, and Happiness.
- Test prep resources. Study guides, practice tests, and online tutoring from Arbor Bridge and Revolution Prep bolster a student’s confidence and preparedness to tackle the SAT and ACT.
- Digital platform gift cards. Digital content providers offer access to a wide array of services and content. These gift cards can be used to purchase e-books, learn a new language, track expenses through premium financial literacy apps, and to subscribe to time management tools and numerous other productivity and educational applications.
- Gym membership. Physical activity is a great way to relieve stress and give students a balance: school works out their brain, so let them have some time to work out their body, too.
- Gift cards to local restaurants, attractions, and food delivery services provide students with convenient dining options and encourage exploration of life beyond campus.
- Payment towards student loans/interest is a gift that truly lightens the financial load for college students and recent graduates grappling with debt.
- Dining hall meal points. College students may find their meal plans insufficient, so adding points to a meal card helps stave off hunger and promotes nutrition needed for active schedules and late-night studying.
- Residence hall supplies. Storage bins and under-bed organizers keep things tidy in tight spaces. Tech gadgets, such as a compact printer, extra phone chargers, a book light, or a power strip with USB ports, are useful. Noise-cancelling headphones come in handy when studying with a roommate, while a French press or cold brew kit can be delightful, especially for students living off campus.
- Care packages. Campus Housing departments may offer a catalog of care packages that you can have delivered straight to a student’s residence hall. You could also go the DIY route and curate a package with baked goods, season tickets to athletic events, stress relief kits, or anything else that’s a sweet reminder of home.
- Self-care luxuries. A professional haircut or massage can relieve stress during midterms and finals.
- Bookstore credit or gift certificates to places near campus that rent textbooks. In addition to books, students can get school supplies, as well as collegiate clothing and swag from the campus bookstore.
- Transportation. Depending on how the student gets around, consider gas/fuel cards, a public transit pass, or ride share service gift cards. For those far from home, consider airline gift cards.
- Professional development services. Supplementing a classroom education with career coaching for résumé writing and interviewing skills may give your student an edge. Some may also benefit from public speaking lessons or from a gift of interview-appropriate clothes or gift cards to stores selling professional attire.
- Cash. Add an extra layer of security by giving your student cash in hand when arriving to campus for unforeseen circumstances or emergent needs.
