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Great gifts for college grads

Great gifts for college grads

Chicago Tribune22-05-2025

It's college graduation season, and that means it's time to come up with gift ideas for the college grad you want to congratulate on a job well done. So much hard work goes into achieving that diploma, so it's only natural to want to acknowledge this major milestone with a gift.
When it comes to rewarding their hard work, you can go with something that's practical, meaningful or even a little fancy. While a recent survey shows cash is the top gift among the over $6 billion spent each year on graduation gifts, some people prefer to give something their new grad can unwrap. That's why we've gathered some ideas to help you come up with the perfect gift for the new grad in your life.
Samsonite Omni PC Hardside Expandable Luggage
Nothing says embarking on a new life journey like a good piece of luggage, and this expandable 28-inch suitcase with spinner wheels is the perfect choice. It comes in several colors and has a 10-year warranty, so your grad can travel with confidence.
Beats Studio Buds
A reliable and high-quality pair of earbuds can be invaluable for a newly minted grad. They can drown out unwanted sounds with the noise-canceling feature to help them focus on their new job or in grad school. They provide up to eight hours of listening time on a single charge, making them super convenient.
Productivity Store Daily Planner
Some young adults may prefer to keep their daily schedule digital, but there is something about paper and pen that has timeless appeal. Show a new grad that the old-school way of keeping track of important events still works with this planner that includes space for daily to-do lists along with monthly calendars.
Bentgo Classic All-In-One Stackable Lunch Box
A new grad on a budget will surely appreciate a good lunch box to help them tote food to the office (and avoid spending their monthly budget on expensive meals out). This bento-style lunch box is stackable and dishwasher-safe, making it a convenient option.
Rachael Ray Cucina Nonstick Cookware Pots and Pans Set
A college grad moving into their first 'adult' apartment will definitely need a decent set of cookware to get their kitchen properly outfitted. This set is nonstick and includes frying pans, sauce pans and a stock pot along with lids and utensils.
Nespresso VertuoPlus Coffee and Espresso Machine
If there's one thing most adults of any age need, it's a dependable coffee pot. This one is countertop-size to save space and can make coffee or espresso. It can make four different sizes of coffee and is compatible with Nespresso pods.
Black + Decker Home Tool Kit
Every adult just starting out in life needs a solid tool kit to tackle minor household repairs. This set features 66 different hand tools, including a cordless drill, a hammer, screwdrivers and more.
Canon EOS Rebel T7 DSLR Camera
Because some events call for more than a phone camera, set up the new grad in your life with a reliable and high-quality digital camera. This one has built-in Wi-Fi and features 24.1 megapixels for clear, beautiful photos.
All-new Amazon Kindle Paperwhite
Reading is a wonderful hobby to keep up with long after graduation, and this Kindle Paperwhite will help encourage a college grad to spend time with their nose in a book. The device can last 12 weeks on a single charge and helps make reading comfortable on the eyes and very accessible. New grads can download Kindle books from Amazon or hook up with their local library's app to read for free.
BestReviews spends thousands of hours researching, analyzing and testing products to recommend the best picks for most consumers. BestReviews and its newspaper partners may earn a commission if you purchase a product through one of our links.
Distributed by Tribune Content Agency, LLC.

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Great gifts for college grads
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It's college graduation season, and that means it's time to come up with gift ideas for the college grad you want to congratulate on a job well done. So much hard work goes into achieving that diploma, so it's only natural to want to acknowledge this major milestone with a gift. When it comes to rewarding their hard work, you can go with something that's practical, meaningful or even a little fancy. While a recent survey shows cash is the top gift among the over $6 billion spent each year on graduation gifts, some people prefer to give something their new grad can unwrap. That's why we've gathered some ideas to help you come up with the perfect gift for the new grad in your life. Samsonite Omni PC Hardside Expandable Luggage Nothing says embarking on a new life journey like a good piece of luggage, and this expandable 28-inch suitcase with spinner wheels is the perfect choice. It comes in several colors and has a 10-year warranty, so your grad can travel with confidence. Beats Studio Buds A reliable and high-quality pair of earbuds can be invaluable for a newly minted grad. They can drown out unwanted sounds with the noise-canceling feature to help them focus on their new job or in grad school. They provide up to eight hours of listening time on a single charge, making them super convenient. Productivity Store Daily Planner Some young adults may prefer to keep their daily schedule digital, but there is something about paper and pen that has timeless appeal. Show a new grad that the old-school way of keeping track of important events still works with this planner that includes space for daily to-do lists along with monthly calendars. Bentgo Classic All-In-One Stackable Lunch Box A new grad on a budget will surely appreciate a good lunch box to help them tote food to the office (and avoid spending their monthly budget on expensive meals out). This bento-style lunch box is stackable and dishwasher-safe, making it a convenient option. Rachael Ray Cucina Nonstick Cookware Pots and Pans Set A college grad moving into their first 'adult' apartment will definitely need a decent set of cookware to get their kitchen properly outfitted. This set is nonstick and includes frying pans, sauce pans and a stock pot along with lids and utensils. Nespresso VertuoPlus Coffee and Espresso Machine If there's one thing most adults of any age need, it's a dependable coffee pot. This one is countertop-size to save space and can make coffee or espresso. It can make four different sizes of coffee and is compatible with Nespresso pods. Black + Decker Home Tool Kit Every adult just starting out in life needs a solid tool kit to tackle minor household repairs. This set features 66 different hand tools, including a cordless drill, a hammer, screwdrivers and more. Canon EOS Rebel T7 DSLR Camera Because some events call for more than a phone camera, set up the new grad in your life with a reliable and high-quality digital camera. This one has built-in Wi-Fi and features 24.1 megapixels for clear, beautiful photos. All-new Amazon Kindle Paperwhite Reading is a wonderful hobby to keep up with long after graduation, and this Kindle Paperwhite will help encourage a college grad to spend time with their nose in a book. The device can last 12 weeks on a single charge and helps make reading comfortable on the eyes and very accessible. New grads can download Kindle books from Amazon or hook up with their local library's app to read for free. BestReviews spends thousands of hours researching, analyzing and testing products to recommend the best picks for most consumers. BestReviews and its newspaper partners may earn a commission if you purchase a product through one of our links. Distributed by Tribune Content Agency, LLC.

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