If you have a soon-to-be grad to celebrate or are wondering what to ask for when you graduate, this is the post for you!
(See our guide to graduation gifts for him here and our guide to affordable graduation gifts here.)
We’re breaking down all of the best gifts to give her for graduation in 2024, with options that range from cute to cool, and are all-around perfect for life after college.
While a gift isn’t necessary, it will show the special woman in your life that you’re proud of her achievements and wish her the best in her future endeavors.
You don’t have to spend a ton, either; all of these gifts range in pricing, with plenty of affordable options in the mix.
{RELATED POST: 40 Incredibly Cute Graduation Dress Ideas}
Help her celebrate her graduation from college with a gift that is sentimental, functional, or both!
Read on for the 27 best graduation gifts for her in 2024 that she’ll absolutely love.
Table of Contents
Best Overall Graduation Gifts
Want to give her the best of the best? These graduation gifts check all the boxes and will enhance her post-graduation life big time.
Apple Watch
A watch is a classic graduation gift, but take it up a notch with by gifting your graduate with an Apple Watch.
Not only is this a great way to commemorate graduation, but it is also going to become a daily staple for a grad thanks to all of its amazing tech functionalities.
Aside from telling the time, they’ll be able to send texts, make calls, play music, track fitness goals, pay using Apple Pay, and so much more.
You can also customize the watch by choosing from eight different case finishes and a variety of band designs in order to match her personal style. Plus, it’s waterproof and crack-resistant!
{RELATED POST: 21 Best Graduation Gifts for Daughter (Thoughtful & Useful)}
Away The Carry-On
As she embarks on life post-graduation, she’ll be ready to take on the world with the Away Carry-On suitcase.
This is the ultimate suitcase that is both trendy (it has a devoted social media following) and functional.
With nine colors to choose from, the suitcase features 360° spinner wheels, a durable hard shell exterior, and an interior compression system. The compact size will fit in the overhead bins of most major airlines, as well as car and train trips.
P.S. – this suitcase also comes with a built-in, hidden laundry bag to keep dirty clothes separate!
Nespresso Coffee & Espresso Machine
She’s not only graduating from school, but also from cafeteria coffee.
It’s time to upgrade her with a do-it-all Nespresso coffee & espresso machine that comes with its own frother that will allow her to create barista-quality drinks at home.
This coffee & espresso machine comes with a tasting pack of capsules that includes 12 coffee & espresso capsules to get her started on making the perfect caffeinated drink at home.
She’ll love to be able to brew her own cup of specialized coffee with just the push of a button!
Apple AirPods Max
If she doesn’t already own the Apple AirPod Max, she will be thrilled to receive a pair for graduation.
This modern-day essential will allow her to take calls and listen to music and podcasts wirelessly, with noise-canceling abilities.
Whether wearing them on a walk, to the gym, while on a work or Zoom call, there’s no doubt she will get a ton of use out of these headphones.
Plus, in addition to being super functional, they’ve become somewhat of a fashion accessory, too, making them stylish girl-approved.
BEIS Work Tote Bag
If your graduate is planning on starting a new job in the near future, she’ll need a stylish yet functional work bag to take to the office.
This Work Tote is made for just that, with all the right pockets and features for utility while still looking super sleek.
This bag comes with an adjustable, detachable shoulder strap, and has a padded laptop sleeve, a key fob, a water bottle pocket, and a trolley pass, so she will be able to travel with it, too. Basically, it has it all!
The neutral color will match most of her wardrobe, making it super versatile. As a bonus, it also comes with a removable interior zippered pouch to keep smaller belongings extra secure.
Cute Graduation Gifts
She’ll adore one of these cute graduation gifts that are sweet, thoughtful, and personal to her.
Kendra Scott 2024 Graduation Stretch Bracelet
This Kendra Scott 2024 Graduation Bracelet is both a beautiful and thoughtful gift to give your graduate.
This piece of jewelry has sentimental value with its 2024 charm to commemorate her graduation year, along with style appeal.
It’s a bracelet that she can easily incorporate into her daily jewelry and feel pride for her accomplishment when she looks down at it!
Personalized Travel Jewelry Case
She’ll feel special when receiving a personalized gift like a travel jewelry case.
Pick from over 32 different colors and patterns of vegan leather and personalize it with her initials – she’s sure to use this for years to come!
This zippered jewelry case can accompany her while traveling or look beautiful on her dresser at home.
It features a linen lining and compartments for rings, earrings, bracelets, and necklaces, plus a mirror that is perfect for getting ready on the go.
This would also be a cute gift to give alongside a piece of jewelry for graduation.
Custom Graduation Mug
This adorable custom mug for graduates will delight her when she notices that its drawing looks just like herself!
Pick from a variety of hair colors and skin tones to create a lookalike of your graduate that will be depicted on the mug, along with her name and an optional custom note on the back.
She will be reminded of her achievements every time she sips her drink with this cute gift.
Related reading: 32 Graduation Gifts for Girlfriend That Will Make Her Heart Melt
Personalized Stationery
Nothing says “I have my life together” like some personalized stationery, and this customizable stationery set is absolutely fabulous.
Pick everything from the font colors to the envelope colors, and you can even have them print her return address on the envelopes, as well.
Her letters and thank you notes are sure to stand out and make a great impression with this stationery.
A Bottle of Perfume
A fancy bottle of perfume is a lovely graduation gift to give that she can enjoy as she embarks into adulthood.
You can either gift her with her favorite perfume (if you know what it is) or pick a scent that reminds you of her or that you think she’d like.
Either way, it will be a special gift that she’s sure to appreciate.
Pearls of Success Necklace
What better way to wish your grad love and success than with a tiny pearl she can wear every day?
This dainty necklace carries an important message and will serve as a reminder of all of her hard work without looking like it’s ~graduation jewelry~.
Plus, it is ultra-classic, meaning she can wear it to work or any other place she chooses.
An Art Print of Her College Town
This item is perfect for the grad who loves to decorate her apartment. An Evelyn Henson print of her college town will bring her right back home, no matter where she lives after graduation.
The best part is that Evelyn has prints of cities worldwide. Did your grad study abroad in Amsterdam? You’re covered! This will be a gift that’ll make her smile every day.
Cool Graduation Gifts
If you’re looking for a gift with a major “wow” factor, try one of these options. These unique grad gifts are as cool as they come!
CurrentBody Skin LED Light Therapy Face Mask
Now that she’s graduating, she may be interested in taking her skincare routine a bit more seriously (if she hasn’t already!) and Currentbody Skin’s LED Light Therapy Face Mask is the ultimate skincare tool to get her glowing!
As seen on Netflix’s Emily in Paris, this face mask uses dual LED light therapy to reduce wrinkles, improve skin tone, texture, and firmness, and stimulate the skin’s natural rejuvenation process.
Rather than repeatedly splash out for pricey in-office skincare treatments, she can use this mask over and over again at home.
P.S., CF readers can use code COLLEGECB for 10% off CurrentBody Skin products (including this LED face mask), so you can save on this incredible gift.
College Cityscape Glasses
Cheers to her accomplishments with these college cityscape glasses!
These are a unique find that will remind her of all her good times at college, featuring hand-drawn 360° illustrations of iconic buildings and landmarks around her campus.
She’ll love having a piece to remind her of her alma mater at home or in her new digs.
Class of 2024 Cold Cup Tumbler
How cool is this cold cup tumbler that is customized with your recipient’s name and graduation year?
Pick the color (including holographic) of the ring and of the name for an extra personal touch. It also comes with a matching straw and snap-on lid.
They’ll enjoy filling this reusable cup with their coffee, tea, or water, and if they bring it to participating Starbucks locations, they can receive 10 cents off their orders!
Instant Photo Printer
She’ll love being able to easily print out all her favorite photos from college with this instant photo printer.
It uses Bluetooth to connect to smartphones so that she can print 2×3″ photographs from her camera roll or social media with just a few clicks in the app.
Its slim, portable design will allow her to bring this with her when hanging out with friends, and it doesn’t even need ink!
Collegiate Pouch
Commemorate her time at college in the form of a beautifully designed zippered pouch featuring things unique to her school.
The designs are woven onto the 100% cotton pouch for a more substantial feel and feature buildings, logos, and other images specific to her college that will remind her of her days there.
She’ll be able to stash anything from toiletries and makeup to tech accessories in this functional pouch.
Concert or Event Tickets
One of the coolest graduation gifts is to take her to a concert or event she has been dying to go to. This is a gift that she will always remember.
And if you’re not sure which concert or event she’d want to attend, you can always get her a Ticketmaster gift card and let her choose for herself.
Useful Graduation Gifts
These ultra-useful gifts are sure to come in handy post-graduation. These “real world” essentials are totally going to upgrade her life after college.
Our Place Always Pan
This isn’t your average pan. This is Our Place’s Always Pan, which is a cult-favorite that your graduate is sure to have seen all over social media, and for a good reason.
Not only is this pan aesthetically-pleasing, but it is meant to replace eight traditional pieces of cookware, including a fry pan, a skillet, a steamer, a non-stick pan, a saucepan, and more. So if your graduate has plans of moving into her own place, this pan will save space while allowing her to fry, boil, sauté, and so much more!
It comes with a stainless steel steamer basket, a lid, and a nesting beechwood spatula that fits into the pan’s integrated spoon rest (so convenient).
This pan is compatible with all cooktops, comes in 12 chic colors, and has a non-toxic, nonstick ceramic coating, making it a must-have.
Mug & Warmer Set
Their coffee will never go cold with this mug and warmer set which, by the way, comes in totally gift-able packaging.
This set comes with a mug, base, and charger, which uses magnetic induction energy to heat the bottom of the mug to keep its contents warm.
You can pick from three charming colors, including yellow and sky blue.
Commuter Backpack
This backpack does it ALL. Aptly named the “Commuter Backpack,” it’s perfect for commuting to and from work, class, or whatever life has in store next after graduation.
It features a padded laptop pocket, a side water bottle pocket, and a trolley sleeve which allows this backpack to be securely placed over a suitcase when traveling, making it totally multi-functional. Plus, its shoulder straps are padded for a cushioned feel when wearing.
Your graduate is sure to get a ton of use out of this bag!
Air Fryer
If your grad has plans of moving into her own space after college, consider gifting her with an air fryer that will assist her in making quick, easy meals.
Not only will this one look sleek on the countertop, but it takes up minimal space and comes with a recipe book to give her ideas on what to make.
This air fryer has a digital control screen with an auto-off button that will prevent overcooking (so you won’t have to worry about her burning her dinner!) and uses hot air instead of oil to fry foods.
“Almost Adulting” Book
An advice book like “Almost Adulting” will come in clutch when she’s figuring life out post-graduation.
This book covers topics like cultivating meaningful relationships after college, building an adult wardrobe on a budget, traveling alone, and more helpful tips for the twenty-something.
She’ll be able to turn to this engaging book, written by social media influencer and vlogger Arden Rose, when she needs some guidance.
Cold, hard cash
Cash has a reputation for being an indiscreet and uncaring gift, but most graduating seniors will disagree with that sentiment and happily accept dollar bills in place of a heavily restricted, prepaid Visa gift card.
When gifting a soon-to-be grad money, you’re basically saying, “I respect you enough to not presume to know what’s best for you. Here’s cash to buy what YOU need.” And that is a simple, beautiful gesture.
Pro tip: If you want to make the cash gift process a little less awkward, consider stuffing plenty of $5 bills into a mason jar and adding a bag of your grad’s favorite candy to the mix.
Grad cap decorating supplies
Decorating one’s grad cap is a pivotal part of the senior year experience. Thanks to pricey craft supplies, it is also an unbelievably expensive one.
Even recreating one of the simpler graduation cap ideas out there will require a trip to the craft store and an extensive shopping list. Craft paper, various pages of alphabet stickers, and embellishments, which can be $3 to $7 each, add up to major spending.
To offer a gift that outlasts a cute mascot stuffed animal or a new planner, take your grad out to Michael’s and pay for her decorating supplies! Not only will she appreciate the thought behind it, but she’ll always remember your gift when looking back at her senior pictures.
A basic gym membership plan
If your friend regularly takes advantage of the gym amenities at your university, she might be disheartened to have that membership revoked once she graduates.
Ease her way into post-grad gym life by offering to help pay for a bare-bones, no-commitment gym membership and covering the initiation fee and annual membership fee. Otherwise, pitch in for her yearly plan and get her a dumbbell set for in-home workouts.
Massage/Spa Treatment
A massage or spa day is a classic gift and a great way to unwind after a long semester.
Treat your girl to the day of relaxation she deserves! You can find spa packages at local salons and spas, and oftentimes, she’ll be able to use their facilities (pool, hot tub, etc.) and make a full day of it.
What do you think of our graduation gift ideas for her?
For even more graduation gift ideas, be sure to see our other gift guides, including The 24 Best Gifts for Law School Graduation and Gifts for Med School Graduation: 30 Perfect Gift Ideas for a New Doctor.
Would you like to give or receive these gifts? Which gift idea is your favorite? Leave a comment and let us know!