30 Graduation Gift Ideas for Every Type of 2024 Grad

Set your grad up for success with personalized, high-quality stationery. After all, between all the gifts they’ll receive for graduation and the amount of interviews and networking they’ll be doing, they will definitely have the opportunity to send more than a few thank you notes in the near future. The key here is to pick a stationery design that matches your grad’s aesthetic. Minted has a huge variety of designs, and you can choose from different card shapes (round edges, square, framed, etc.), styles, monogram options, sizes, and even paper types. Once you’ve selected the card you like, you can customize the color of the card and add your grad’s name or monogram.

While it is a good bet that nearly all of the tableware your graduate used throughout college could use an upgrade, we love giving new grads a special, one-of-a-kind vase. Artisinally made vases make for such great gifts because it is something your new grad is likely not going to buy for themselves (especially on an entry-level salary!), but is something that will bring a sentimental smile to their face every time they use it.

Whether it is a picture of them surrounded by the family they built for themselves while away at college or of them with their actual family, your graduate will definitely appreciate a high-quality framed photo. And don’t worry if you can’t pick just one favorite snapshot, Minted offers plenty of photo art collages that have room for all of their college favorite memories.

Gas station lighters, begone! Help your grad level-up their home by gifting them a supply of high quality matchsticks, and a super-cute holder to store them in.

Celebrate moving out of dorms or college-town apartments that banned candles by stocking your grad up with a few chic options to light at their new apartment. If you know your graduate’s taste is adventurous or fun, go for a set of tapered candles in funky colors or unique shapes for them to use to decorate bookcases or to put out on the table when they host their first dinner parties. Or, if your grad’s taste is a little bit more reserved, opting for a scented candle or pillar candle in a neutral color is always a good idea.

Whether they’re inheriting furniture from their college apartment or are ready to upgrade to something more grown-up, help your grad protect their new space by giving them a set of chic coasters. Minted’s marketplace has a ton of fun options for every type of interior design style, from playful to classic.

As your grad enters a new phase of their life, gifting wall art is the perfect way to help them level up their interior design game. Move over movie posters and imagery of album covers, it’s time for some beautiful adult decor! Minted’s collection of fine art prints includes more than 3,000 limited edition pieces created by talented artists. Look through themes like abstract, landscape, watercolor, figurative, sketch art, and so much more to find a style and piece that you think matches their decor taste (or, let’s be honest, sets the tone for their decor taste). Once you’ve found the perfect print, you can further personalize it by selecting the size and frame option that best will fit their new space.

Make nights in with your grad’s roommates and friends more fun by giving them an upgraded version of their favorite game. From ceramic chess and mancala sets to travel-friendly (but no less chic) backgammon that they can take with them to the park and the beach, Minted has something for every type of gamer.

Help your grad graduate from their frat party era by replacing their stash of solo cups with a set of personality-forward drinkware. (Bonus points if they are one-of-a-kind or made by an artisan!)

Bring your grad’s new post-college space to life with the gift of a houseplant. The key here is to do your research — pick a plant that you know is easy to care for (your new grad is likely going to be busier than ever!), and that can thrive in spaces that are potentially low light. Then, be sure to pair the plant with an equally cute plant pot.

Graduation is a time of year when school spirit is at an all-time high, so help your grad carry those feelings into their new chapter by gifting them a custom pennant, flag, or banner. Show off how proud you are of where they’ve been and where they’re headed with a pennant or flag that has their high school and college on it. Or get one made that features their favorite sports teams, fictional characters, artists…your imagination is the limit!

If your high school graduate is off to college in the fall, get their wardrobe ready by kitting them out with gear from their new school. Going with a classic sweatshirt from their college’s student store is a failsafe option — and is something they’ll be sure to reach for again and again for everything from tailgates to keeping warm in the freezing library.

Whether your grad is getting ready to head to college or out into the working world, they likely have some travel ahead of them. Minted’s collection of custom bags and pouches is the perfect high school graduation gift idea because if there’s one thing a grad-on-the-go needs, it’s a chic way to transport important materials to and from home effortlessly. Choose from a tote to help your grad get to and from the library (or their office), a duffle for them to carry on weekend trips home, or a dopp kit that will come in handy everywhere from dorm bathrooms to volunteer trips.

No matter which style you choose, be sure to personalize it with a custom foil-pressed leather tag with the grad’s name or initials on it!

For the graduate who is less-than-organized, giving them a few bluetooth trackers — like Apple AirTags or Tiles — is a great idea. Encourage them to put one in their wallet, on their keys, and anything else that they just can’t seem to keep track of. Your grad (and their mom) is sure to thank you!

From football games and Greek life to exploring a new city, your grad will be snapping even more photos than they usually do come fall. Help them share those memories IRL — and decorate their new dorm or apartment with personal touches — by gifting them a printer that allows them to print Polaroid-style photos straight from their phone.

Help your new grad’s home feel a little bit more like, well, home by gifting them a few fun and unique throw pillows to use to decorate their space. Go for a pillow that is packed with personality that they can use to help their bed stand out in their dorm room…or to make their university-issued desk chair feel a little bit more comfortable.

Going off to college is an exciting time, but it can mean that there may be a few hard goodbyes for your grad to make as they step into their independence. And one of the hardest? The beloved family pet. Help your grad bring a little bit of home with them, wherever they’re going, by commissioning a custom pet portrait of their furry BFF. Minted works with a variety of independent artists who can help capture a pet in all their cuteness — simply upload a photo to get started.

Fuel late-night study sessions and help your grad get to 8 a.m. classes on time by gifting them a mini coffee maker or electric kettle. Just be sure to pick one that is as low-profile as possible to make sure that they’ll have space for it in their dorm, and don’t forget to stock them up with a few of their favorite coffee or tea flavors!

Help your grad keep track of her keys and jewelry with a cute trinket dish. To elevate this gift from something nice to something truly special, look for a dish that features details meaningful to her — think a design that features something that will remind her of her home state, if she’s moved away, or one that features her initials.

Similarly, throw pillows featuring your grad’s name makes for another great graduation gift. This is especially true if your grad is off to college and will want to personalize her dorm, or is moving in with multiple roommates.

Chic embroidered napkins are the perfect gift idea for the grad who is a hostess in the making. Look for ones that feature sweet details like an embroidered monogram or go quirky with ones that feature fun iconography like champagne bottles or even hotdogs.

This is the perfect gift idea for the college freshman who wants to put her stamp on everything. To get it just right, do some research into the color scheme or decor style she has planned for her dorm, and then find a tissue box cover within the same palette or vibe.

Graduation gift ideas like this one will help the new grad get grounded and organized in this new chapter of their life. Minted’s collection of personalized journals has 400+ designs, making it easy to find one that matches your grad’s taste. Choose from designs that have bold typography, floral patterns, and geometric arrangements. Minted also gives you the option to customize the front of your notebook with photos so you can surprise the grad with images that hold great memories. Customize it further by adding their name to the front of the notebook, and setting up the interior pages to match what your grad needs most: a weekly planner, address book, or blank space to jot down their thoughts and feelings.

Whether you go for a necklace featuring her birthstone or a signet ring with her initials, jewelry is something your grad is sure to treasure forever — and take with her into this new chapter, as well as all of the ones to come after.

While most young men may not know what to do with a trinket dish, we all know that they could use some help staying organized. Gift them a rugged leather tray or catch-all embossed with a personalized monogram to give them a place to land their keys, wallet, and watch as they come home.

No matter if your graduate is moving away from home for the first time, or is moving out of a college home that he shared with all of his friends, a custom home portrait is a wonderful gift idea. This piece of art can be hung in a dorm room or new apartment post-college as a reminder of where they came from and all the great memories they made. Start with a good picture of their home, then select from several styles for the art piece — which can include text or unique luxe printing techniques like letterpress. Once you’ve finalized your design, you’ll then be able to select a frame and size that fits your grad best.

Help your grad keep track of what’s his in a dorm or apartment full of new roommates by giving him a one-of-a-kind personalized mug. Minted offers a huge selection of mugs made by artisans from around the world — select a style that matches your grad’s vibe, and then further customize it by featuring his initials.

It’s time to leave that old fleece sports-themed blanket behind! Help your grad step into a new — more adult — phase of his life by giving him a cool (but no less cozy) throw blanket. Go for one that features a few of his favorite colors or motifs, and encourage him to drape it across the end of his bed, or even hang it as a tapestry for an easy way to fill a blank wall.

Keep your graduate on time for class, work, and everything in between by gifting him a stylish artisanally made clock. A clock designed to sit on a bookshelf or mantle like this one is perfect for those moving into dorms or apartments where they won’t be able to hang anything from the walls.

Minted’s completely custom art allows you to upload the text of your grad’s favorite author, songwriter, move lines, or family saying and make it an artfully framed masterpiece. Choose from a few different print options such as standard printing, letterpress, or foil-press, and then select the layout, size, frame, and color of the font to completely customize the final look of your wall art. Your grad will be able to hang this on the wall of his new dorm, apartment, or office as a stylish keepsake.(If you need some help picking the perfect quote to feature, check out Minted’s guide to the 120+ best graduation quotes and sayings!)