24 Gifts Under $100 to Give Your College Student That They Will Actually Use

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October 9, 2019

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It is actually not that hard to please college students. College students are juggling their classes, social lives, and work on a tiny budget. So, the best gifts take a little of that pressure off of them.

Take a look at these cool gifts that college students everywhere are hoping to be gifted.

1. Care Package

This cool gift is packed full of variety! Photo courtesy of Carepackages.com

Price: Boxes as low as $22 and Premium boxes available for up to $100.

Recommendation: College 101 and Move-In Package, $34

Packages come in a variety of sweet and savory and big in small. Sending a student you know one of these will make them feel the love.

2. Waterproof Portable Speaker

Bluetooth speakers are a staple in the life of a college student, making them a fantastic gift.

Price: These speakers start at around $20 for the most basic quality and can be as expensive as a couple hundred dollars. However, there are plenty of great options under a hundred.

Recommendation: JBL Flip 4 Waterproof Portable Bluetooth Speaker

Students need something that they can use to bump cool tunes everywhere including the pool and the shower.

3. Carry On Suitcase

Give your students the ability to hop on a plane to take advantage of opportunities without being held back.

Price: You can find a basic, very nice hardshell carry on for around sixty bucks.

Recommendation: AmazonBasics 20-Inch Hardside Spinner Luggage

College students can use their suitcase on a quick weekend getaway, a fun-filled spring break, or to come home to visit you! Gifting them a carry on size means they get to skip baggage claim.

4. A Bundle of their College’s merchandise

Give your student the best gift by giving them all the fan gear they need to support their college team. Photo courtesy of businessinsider.com

Price: Varies depending on the school, the student, and the items.

Recommendation: Fanchest College Team Memorabilia Package, $59

College merchandise can be expensive, so gifting a student a box full of it will allow them to show their full school spirit while at college-themed events.

5. A Wireless Charging Case

This is a great gift for anyone, not just college students! Photo courtesy of techcrunch.com.

Price: $20 - $40

Recommendation: Mophie Power Capsule External Battery Charger , $30.83

Students can put all their devices in one portable case and allow them to charge effortlessly.

6. Framed memories

Framed photos serve as a piece of decor, a keepsake, and a piece of home for college students

Price: Varies widely

Recommendation: Use framebridge.com to buy custom frames, share your photos, and have them delivered in frame and ready to gift.

Gifting your student a photo of your favorite memory with them will make them feel close to home.

7. Cold Brew & Iced Coffee Maker

College students need coffee to survive, so you are sure to make them happy with this cool gift!

Price: They go for as little as $15 and for as much as $90.

Recommendation: Takeya Deluxe Cold Brew Iced Coffee Maker, $16.99

I don't know a single college student who doesn't drink coffee, giving them their own iced coffee maker will help them save by stopping them from spending five bucks a day at Starbucks.

8. Tumbler to Keep Drinks

Every student needs a tumbler to keep their water ice cold and their coffee hot.

Price: Tumblers come in all different materials, sizes, and designs. You can grab one at the dollar store for a few dollars or get nicer quality one for a bit more.

Recommendation: Yeti Rambler 20 OZ Tumbler , $29.99

Since we're no longer in the business of polluting our oceans with plastic water bottles, a tumbler is a necessity in the life of a college student.

9. An Amazon Prime membership

Give the gift of free shipping on everything your student might need. Photo courtesy of variety.com.

Price: Plans start at $39.99

Recommendation: One Year of Prime, $119

A prime membership will not only give students free 2-day shipping, but it will give them access to a ton of movies and TV shows online for free.

10. A Device to Find Their Things

Attach it to your keys, phone, and whatever else you lose often! Photo courtesy of mashable.com.

Price: $18 - $50

Recommendation: Tile Mate with Replaceable Battery - 4 pack

These nifty little things allow you to track the location of anything you put it on.

11. Concert Tickets

Everyone loves concerts, that’s why it is a gift that can never go wrong!

Price: Widely Varies depending on artist, time of year, and location.

Recommendation: Try a local festival with a cool lineup, that way they're sure to find an artist they like.

College students are on limited budgets so if an artist come into town that they want to see, it's likely they can't afford it.

12. Extra-long, Reinforced Phone Charger

You can never gift someone enough phone chargers!

Price: $12 - $40

Recommendation: Native Union Belt Cable XL - 10ft for iPhone, $34.99 Native Union 10ft Ultra-Strong Charging Cable with Weighted Knot for Samsung, $34.99

With the tight budget, the last thing a student wants to spend their money on is a phone charger. Getting them in extra long, extra durable one is the best way to go.

13. A Weighted Blanket

Sleeping with a weighted blanket relieves anxiety, and college students have an abundance of it so they can use all the help they can get. Photo courtesy of Bustle.com.

Price: $25 - $100

Recommendation: YnM Weighted Blanket (20 lbs, 60''x80'', Queen Size), $59.41

This comforting blanket can help any college student feel more relaxed in those tiny beds.

14. Microwave-safe Ramen Cooker

It's simple, but this cool gift is essential to college students living on a budget.

Price: Under $10

Recommendation: Rapid Ramen Cooker, $6.99

Ramen is an affordable and iconic meal for college students everywhere. They need a way to cook them!

15. Spotify Subscription

Gift your student Unlimited Ad-Free tunes! Who wouldn’t love this?

Price: Subscription gift cards are available in time periods of three, six, and twelve-month periods ranging from $30 - $99.

Recommendation: 12 Month Premium Subscription, $99

College students listen to music 24/7. Gift them 12 months of free, unlimited, and adless music and podcasts.

16. Message in a Bottle Flash Drive

Every student needs a USB drive, so it may as well be a cool one. Photo courtesy of spyscape.com

Price: $10

Recommendation: Message in a Bottle 8GB Cork Flash Drive, $9.99

This unique gift is purely a conversation started and keepsake. They will think of the person who gave it to them every time they use it.

17. Scratch Map

This map will fulfill your student’s wanderlust in a unique way. Photo courtesy of dudeiwantthat.com.

Price: $12 - $45

Recommendation: Gold Scratch Off World Map Wall Poster with US States, $35.99

This poster will allow every trip it's recipient takes to feel like a great accomplishment!

18. Universal Phone Mount

This cool gift is designed to hold any phone anywhere - your car, your bedside table, and anywhere else you can clip it.

Price: $10 - $30

Recommendation: Cell Phone Clip-on Stand Holder With Grip, $12.99

Since your student's phone will most likely double as their TV, giving them this will allow them to mount their phone to their bedside table and watch hands free.

19. Backpack or Tote

Every student needs a backpack or tote that is sleek and acceptable to take to their internships and job interviews.

Price: $25 - $150+

Recommendation: Bopai 15 inch Super Slim Laptop Backpack, $56

This one is self-explanatory. In school, you need a backpack. It is nice to get college students a more mature sleek design that they can use in the workplace.

20. First Aid Kit

This gift is something not every college student thinks they want, but will definitely need.

Price: $10 - $100 depending on how extensive the medical need is.

Recommendation: College First Aid Medical Kit, $49.95

College students often don't think about their need for first aid supplies. Be the person that saves the day by providing one before they need it.

21. Under-Bed Personal Safe

A place where your student can keep all of their valuables. Photo courtesy of collegedormessentials.com.

Price: $30 - $100

Recommendation: ECR4Kids Lock and Roll Portable Under-Bed Personal Safe, $75.17

Dorm rooms are not the most private. It is likely that your student is living with one or two other people. Give them a place to keep their valuables and important documents is just plain thoughtful.

22. Indestructible External Hard Drive

These devices can mean shelling out a hefty amount for a student, so gifting them this would be super helpful.

Price: $50 - $200 depending on size and lifespan of drive

Recommendation: WD 1TB My Passport Ultra Silver Portable External Hard Drive, $59.99

An external hard drive provides a place to backup photos, papers, and other assignments that students are in jeopardy of losing.

23. Adobe Creative Cloud Subscription

While this gift is over $100, this gift still makes the list due to its never-ending value to students.

Price: $100 - $600

Recommendation: The entire collection of 20+ creative desktop and mobile apps, $239.88

Students can use these programs for the rest of their college career- and lives!

24. Card Games

Get your student this fun card game to play with their friends.

Price: $20 - $30

Recommendation: Cards Against Humanity, $25

This fun game is a staple in college resident life.

Send any one of these gifts to a college student you know and I promise it will be a hit!

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Care Package Ideas

September 30, 2019