From Affordable to Splurge-Worthy: The 32 Best Graduation Gifts for High School & College Grads

Entertainment
All products and services featured are independently chosen by editors. However, Billboard may receive a commission on orders placed through its retail links, and the retailer may receive certain auditable data for accounting purposes.

Graduation season has arrived! The last few years have been challenging for all students, so it makes sense that the class of 2023 has so much to celebrate. When it comes to gift options, you can’t really go wrong with gift cards or a maybe a streaming subscription, but if you’ve been searching for a wider variety of thoughtful, affordable or splurge-worthy gifts, we’ve put together a list of over a two dozen of the best gifts for high school, college grads and more.

Explore

Explore

Billboard

See latest videos, charts and news

See latest videos, charts and news

From meaningful keepsakes to must-have gadgets, see our roundup of great gift ideas below.

Amazon

2023 New Graduation Gift Money Holder, DIY Double-Layer Cash Holders with 25 Holes

$13.99 $14.99 7% OFF

Cold, hard cash is a welcomed gift for most (if not all) graduates. This money holder includes more than 25 slots that you can fill up with bills.

.

Amazon

Joycuff Graduation Bracelet

$11.87 $15.97

Joycuff has snagged over 26,000 positive customer reviews at Amazon, and this personalized cuff is among the fan favorites! The budget-friendly, grad bracelet features an uplifting message and it arrives in a cute little gift box.

Uncommon Goods

The 10-Year Plan Deck

$10

“Life is what happens when you’re making plans,” but it doesn’t hurt to write your goals down anyway. This unique card deck inspires graduates (and anyone, really) to formulate a life plan for the next decade. The deck includes a guidebook, 30 prompts and a journal to track you progress.

Walmart

Beats Studio Buds

$169.95

Beats Studio Buds are now available in a transparent design, in addition to ebony black/gold and ivory. The popular earbuds deliver immersive sound for listening to music but also taking calls and more. The battery lasts for up to 36 hours (27 hours in the case and nine hours outside of the case).

Amazon

Apple iPad (9th Generation): with A13 Bionic chip, 10.2-inch Retina Display, 64GB, Wi-Fi, 12MP front/8MP Back Camera, Touch ID, All-Day Battery Life – Silver

$269.99 $329.00 18% OFF

For the new grad who could use a tablet or notebook. This ninth generation iPad is on sale for less than $300. The device is equipped with a 10.2-inch retina display with an ultra-wide front camera, A13 Bionic chip and a battery that lasts all day for reading, browsing the web, watching videos, streaming music and more.

Personalization Mall

This personalized frame is perfect for commemorating academic achievements. The glass frame features reverse-laser engraving; it measures 8 x 11 inches document and a 4-inch x 6-inch photo — and it’s on sale for $23. Find more frames here.

Best Buy

Sony ZV-1 20.1 Megapixel Digital Camera

$749.99

For the grad who could use a professional camera, Sony’s ZV-1 20.1 megapixel digital camera is perfect for dedicated vloggers and novices. The 4K digital camera captures video and photo, fast-action optical speed and 44x digital zoom. The camera has high-speed, continuous shooting capabilities with 20.1 MP sensor and up to 24 fps of continuous shooting and a three-inch LDC screen.

Coach

Coach Venturer Bag in Signature Canvas

$349 $698 50% off% OFF

You can’t go wrong with a sturdy weekend bag. Designed to keep you organized for short and longer trips, this Coach duffle bag features a removable shoulder strap with ample space inside and a convenient side pocket. Click here for a selection of affordable duffle bags.

Sephora

Replica by the Fireplace

$85

Looking for an affordable cologne? Maison Margiela’s Replica is a unisex fragrance with a large fan following. The “By the Fire” scent features spicy and woody notes of clove oil, chestnut, pink pepper, orange flower and vanilla layered above a woody base.

Nordstrom

Versace Bright Crystal Perfume

$from $32

Have more room in the fragrance budget? Versace’s Bright Crystal Perfume has earned hundreds of positive customer reviews for its fresh and floral scent. Bright Crystal perfume serves up a lovely fruity and floral fragrance featuring pomegranate, lotus flower, peony, vegetal amber, acajou and musk.

.

Nordstrom

Looking for a gift that’ll go with a cap and gown? Try these silver cuff links shaped like tiny grad caps.

.

Amazon

A new adventure begins! Gift a graduate with a motivational bracelet that comes with an inspirational card to help motivate them through this new chapter.

.

LJ Jewelry

LeahJessica Hand Cut Name Necklace

$175 $

Looking for a more expensive piece of jewelry? Try a personalized necklace like the one featured above LeahJessica Jewelry. The Southern California-based jewelry brand carries necklaces, earrings, rings, bracelets and other pieces that are perfect for gifting, no matter the occasion. The LJ Hand Cut Name Necklace can be made in rose gold, sterling silver, 14k yellow, white or rose gold and measures approximately 7mm.

Polaroid

Polaroid Go Instant Camera

$89.99 $99.99 10% off% OFF

Life is all about capturing memories, and who doesn’t love a picture-perfect selfie? The pint-sized Polaroid Go instant camera measures 5.9-inches tall and 3.33-inches wide, making it small enough to slip right into a pocket or bag. This pocket-sized camera is available in white, black or red.

.

Target

The Bucket List Journal

$33.99

It’s never too soon to start checking off that bucket list! This gift-worthy keepsake allows you to keep your adventures in one place. The Bucket List Journal has enough space to document 20 bucket list experiences and it comes packaged in a mini keepsake bag with a foil-printed mini pencil.

Papier

Happy Stripes Wellness Journal

$35

Regardless of whether you’re graduating, retiring or just getting started, finding joy is a key component to happiness. Gift a lucky grad with a wellness journal covered in “happy stripes.”

Marshall Major IV Bluetooth Headphones

$139.99 $149.99 7% off% OFF

For long commutes, studying, working or gaming, headphones make a great gift, and you can usually find a decent pair on sale like these Marshall Major IV Bluetooth headphones, or Beats Solo 3 Wireless Headphones ($129). Both are designed to immerse listeners in rich sound, plus they’re durable and foldable and provide up to 80 hours of battery life.

.

Amazon

Crosley Voyager Vintage Portable Turntable

$79.95

Vinyl records are still a popular form of music media, so if you know a grad who could use a record player, this vintage-style Crosley Bluetooth turntable is a thoughtful gift item that can be treasured for years to come. It’s also available in a bunch of different colors. See more record players and turntables here.

Calpak

Calpak Luka Laptop Bags

$108

Another nod to the grad who’s going places! Calpak’s Luka Laptop Bag is equipped with padded shoulder straps, multiple compartments, heavy-duty zippers and a luggage sleeve. The bag is available in over a dozen colors including watermelon, khaki, green apple, celery, winter sky, dijon, matte black, chocolate, rose quartz and oatmeal.

Etsy

Personalized Vintage Suitcase

$287.88

Know anyone who needs a nice luggage set? This vintage, personalized suitcase from Etsy includes a matching hat box. The set is available in a handful of colors including pink, blue, green, plaid and floral.

Nixon

Nixon Sentry Chrono Watch

$350

Smart watches are great, but there’s nothing like a classic timepiece. Nixon’s Sentry Chrono watch features a 45mm dial, stainless steel case and double-lock clasp. The watch is available in gunmetal, matte black/gold, gold/blue-sunray, all gold, and all gold/black.

Amazon

MyPupSocks Personalized Graduation 2023 Blanket, 30×40

$16.99

Personalized gifts are the absolute best! This graduation blanket is available in 30 different colors and designs and in five different sizes. The blanket pictured above measures 30 inches x 40 inches.

Best Buy

Sonos Era 300 Speaker

$449

Gift a grad with rich, immersive sound in the form of a 9.85 pound speaker. Sonos Era 300 offers up wall-to-wall sound without taking up too much space. Available in black or white, Era 300 can power through all of your favorite playlists with ease. It’s equipped with dual woofers, four tweeters and compatible with Apple Music, Spotify, Tidal and Amazon Music. If you’re shopping for a handheld, portable bluetooth speaker, try the Marshall Emberton. 

Amazon

Graduation Party Decorations – 2PCs Signature Board for Class of 2023

$12.99 $20.00 35% OFF

The nice thing about this graduation board is that it works as a party favor, a personalized grad gift or a fun alternative to the typical graduation book. The board measures 11 inches x 17 inches and at less than $15, you’ll have room in the budget for a second gift.

.

Amazon

I Graduated Can I Go Back To Bed Now T-Shirt Graduation T-Shirt

$19.95

It’s not easy crossing the finish line. Gift your grad with a funny T-shirt that expresses just how it feels to pass all of your classes and walk the graduation stage. This cotton tee is available in 10 different colors and in sizes ranging from S-3X Large.

New Balance

New Balance Unisex 580

$129.99

A fresh pair of kicks for the graduate! New Balance‘s Unisex 580’s features an OG design with a modern upgrade. The retro-style shoe is available in blue and black.

Marc Jacobs

Marc Jacobs Medium Tote Bag

$195

The Tote Bag by Marc Jacobs has an adjustable strap providing convenient carrying capabilities for the roomy canvas tote that folds flat for easy storage or travel. This tote is available at MarcJacobs.com, Nordstrom, Amazon and other retailers.

.

Masterclass

Yes, it might seem odd to gift classes to a new graduate, but this isn’t your average course! Choose from over 150 classes in categories that include music, wellness, sports & gaming, writing, science & tech, business, arts and entertainment. Mariah Carey, John Legend, Questlove, Christina Aguilera, Gordon Ramsay, Gloria Steinem, Hillary Clinton, Bill Nye, and Lewis Hamilton are some of the popular Masterclass courses available.

Amazon

Apple 2023 MacBook Pro Laptop M2 Pro chip with 10‑core CPU and 16‑core GPU: 14.2-inch Liquid Retina XDR Display, 16GB Unified Memory, 512GB SSD Storage. Works with iPhone/iPad; Space Gray

$1,935.50

For the post-grad in need of a new computer, MacBooks are among the best. This 2023 model is equipped with a 14.2-inch display screen and the Apple-designed M2 Pro chip offering a faster and more improved CPU, GPU and machine learning performance.

Amazon

Google Pixel 7-5G Android Phone – Unlocked Smartphone with Wide Angle Lens and 24-Hour Battery – 128GB – Snow

$559.99 $599.00 7% OFF

If you happen to know a grad who needs a new smartphone, Google Pixel 7 is worth every penny.

.

Walmart

Speaking of gaming, perhaps you know someone who wants a new Playstation? There’s no denying that the PS5 is still one of the hottest consoles on the market. Find more PS5 retailers here and click here to shop TVs on sale.

Amazon

Dowinx Gaming Chair Type LS-6689

$248.18 $289.99 14% OFF

Having the right equipment can vastly improve your game. This gaming chair makes a nice graduation gift for gamers and it’s one of the more affordable, and highly-rated options that you’ll find at Amazon. It features an ergonomic design with an adjustable, swivel seat and a weight capacity of 350 pounds. Find more gaming gift ideas and deal at Amazon’s Gaming Week hub.