The Best College Graduation Gifts for Him, No Matter Your Budget

By Oscar Hartzog

Oscar Hartzog

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College graduation gifts should function differently from other gifts. In addition to being a fun “I love you,” graduation gifts should be a useful tool for the daunting task ahead: adulthood. Learning to feed yourself, decorate an apartment, or dress for a new job are all new, scary things. But the best graduation gift — be it a grocery delivery service, a good sofa, or a grown-up suit — can make those new adventures much easier.

The Best College Graduation Gifts for Him

If you’re shopping for a young man, we’re here to help. Ahead, we’ve rounded up some of the best graduation gifts for him. We’ve also included gifts for a range of budgets.

A healthy diet

Learning to feed yourself healthy food is very difficult for a first-timer. Thrive Market makes it easier. The service delivers organic, non-GMO groceries to your door, which not only helps your new grad stay healthy but also makes grocery shopping a little easier.

A personalized briefcase

$149.99 $199.99 25% off

Bulky, worn-out college backpacks won’t fly in most offices. If your new grad needs a new bag, get him one of these affordable, high-quality leather briefcases. The best part? They’re customizable, making them a more interesting gift than something from the mall.

More knowledge

$10

If they want to keep learning after school, get your grad a subscription to MasterClass. The premier online learning platform, MasterClass, gives its members access to hundreds of courses in just about every category. All courses are also taught by people at the top of their field, and many of them are famous for their craft.

A toolbox

$59.99 $99.99 40% off

There are no handy parents or dorm facilities staff after college. A good toolbox will be something your graduate will use often — especially right after they move into a new place.

Nike golf shoes

$200

If your graduate is a golfer, just give him what he wants: a fresh pair of golf shoes. These Victory Tour 4s from Nike are the hot pair right now; Rory McIlroy just wore them while winning the Masters.

A sofa for their new place

$1,499 $1,899 21% off

Sofas are the heart of any apartment decor, but they’re also usually the most expensive piece. A good one, like this sofa from Article, is the best way to kickstart your graduate’s home-decor journey.

Comfy sheets

$249.62 $387 35% off

Another great home goods gift for grads is a great set of sheets. These percale sheets from Brooklinen are a bestseller and a personal favorite with a cool, crisp feel, and a reasonable price tag.

A pan scraper (really)

$5.99 $7.99 25% off

A good friend of mine received a pan scraper for his college graduation, and he uses it almost every day. If you’re looking for a budget-friendly gift after all those tuition payments, this is a great one.

A Costco membership

$65

Bulk-buying at Costco is a great way to keep costs down, which is something that almost every recent grad will appreciate. However, there’s a good chance they won’t go in on that membership, making it a very useful gift.

A grown-up credit card

No one should be using a debit card after college. Helping your grad get set up with a credit card fit for an adult is a great way to not only give him some new responsibility, but also let him start earning points for travel. The American Express Gold Card is a great option, since your grad can get 4X points on restaurant and grocery purchases (which will likely be a large portion of their budget).

A promotion-ready suit

$800

A good suit can go a long way. One of the best — for college grads or anyone else — is J. Crew’s Crosby. The Italian wool suit features a classic cut that your new graduate can wear to the office or fancy dinners, and it’s a great balance of quality (to last) and price at $800 for the jacket and pants together.

Casual office attire

$148

Many offices have transitioned to the chinos and quarter-zip uniform. If your graduate is going into one of those offices, get him this quarter zip from Peter Millar that our editor (and her finance bro boyfriend) recently ranked as the best one on the market.

A lifelong watch

$1,045

Watches are a timeless (no pun intended) graduation gift for a reason. They’re special, and they’re something that he can wear for decades. One of our recommendations is this Hamilton Khaki Field Murph. It’s a serious watch that enthusiasts will appreciate, but not so fancy that his new coworkers will claim nepotism.

A better way to get around

$1,395 $1,495 7% off

E-bikes have become a very popular means of commuting and getting around — especially in cities and suburbs where public transportation is lacking. If your grad needs a better means of transportation (that’s not a car), give them this lightweight Ride1Up Roadster v3. It’s a ton of bang for your buck at under $1,500, but delivers a smooth ride, plenty of speed, and a much more stylish look than most e-bikes.

Manly jewelry

Men’s jewelry is in right now, with dudes rocking bracelets, rings, necklaces, or all of the above. This is great news for anyone looking to buy a gift for a man in their life. Mejuri is one of the best places to buy jewelry for men, offering an ample but curated selection of rings, bracelets, and necklaces.

A go-to carry-on

$295

A good carry-on suitcase will get plenty of use from a post-grad. Away has been leading the suitcase world for a couple of years now, putting out stylish, high-quality luggage that’s not too pricey.

Their pets, anywhere

$62.97+

Want to give your grad a little bit of home, wherever they move off to? Turn the family pet into a stylish portrait. This Etsy seller creates custom pop-art style pet portraits, giving your grad some decor that reminds them of home.

Money to travel home

Flights are more expensive than ever, which can make it hard for a new grad to travel home. Getting them a flight gift card will make that a little easier when they get a bout of homesickness.

Money to travel with friends

While your grad will want to visit home, they’ll also want to see new places with friends. Airbnb is likely how they’ll do that — help them pay for it with a gift card.

Great speakers

$189.99

A good sound system is something your grad might not splurge on, but it’ll make their time at home much more enjoyable. These affordable bookshelf speakers are ideal for smaller spaces, and they work for music over Bluetooth or with the TV.

Peace and quiet (and music)

$428.00 $459.99 7% off

Another piece of audio gear that’s almost required for working, commuting, and relaxing at home (with roommates) is a good pair of noise-cancelling headphones. Sony’s WH-1000XM6 are the best ones right now in terms of value and performance.

Fresh towels

$25.60

It took me far too long after graduating to get a decent stock of bath towels. Don’t let that happen to your grad by getting them some good ones right off the bat.