Best Gifts for College Girls

Looking for the perfect gift for your college daughter? Find the best gifts for college girls in this gift guide put together by a college girl.

Make sure to check out our Ultimate Holiday Gift Guide—Find hundreds of gift ideas for EVERYONE on your list!

This year is my eldest daughter’s first year in college. I asked her to make a gift guide of things that college girls really want, and she delivered. Some things on the list surprised me (Hoverboards? Really?) but when she sent it, she also sent the following message: “All these blogs tryna say get them this or that but I’VE BEEN IN THE BATTLEFIELD, I BE KNOWIN’ THE GOOD STUFF!”

2022 Update: My same daughter, now in her fifth year of college, put together another amazing gift guide with up-to-date trends that your college girl will love. See it here: 25 Gift Ideas for College Girls

No, she’s not a gangster, but she sure does have a fun sense of humor and man I miss her.

But without further ado, let’s talk about all the gifts your college daughter really wants.

Gift Guide for College Girls

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Tapestries

These are a fun and easy way to decorate a dorm room, and because they take up a whole wall they are the only decoration you need. While the Mandala tapestries are super popular, there are plenty of other designs, like this cactus tapestry or this cute pineapple tapestry.

Restaurant Gift Cards

All college students are hungry, and what college student wouldn’t love an escape from their Ramen noodles and dorm food? A grocery card or a plain old VISA gift card works, too.

• Wendy’s gift card
• Subway gift card
• Starbucks gift card
• Panda Express gift card
• VISA gift card
• See all restaurant gift card options here. Just make sure your college kid can easily get to the restaurants you choose!

Good Headphones

Every college student needs a good pair of headphones for walking around campus, studying, and working of all that gift card food at the gym.

• Apple airpods
• Beats

Portable Projector

A portable projector allows your college student to have a home theater. And since it’s portable, it can be brought to friend’s apartments, parties, or even used for school presentations.

Amazon Fire Stick

The Fire Stick is perfect for streaming Netflix, Hulu, or music to your TV.

While you’re at it, make sure to get a Netflix subscription or a Hulu subscription so they can use that Fire Stick!

Printer

Who wants to go to campus every time they have to print something out? It is so much easier for your student to have a printer in their room and easily accessible. This one is reasonably priced and good quality. It also has a scanner and a copier, which can be essential for certain classes—like the three art classes my daughter is taking this semester.

All in one portable charger and phone case

Being on campus all day, it’s hard to plug in your phone, and the good portable chargers are often heavy. This phone case charges along with the phone whenever it is plugged into the wall. When you need to use it as a charger, you just push a button and it will charge your phone.

Just make sure you buy the right model for your student.

HydroFlask water bottle

This the “it” water bottle to have on college campuses. It is environmentally friendly, sleek, and comes in several different colors and styles.

Instant Pot

An instant pot is great for making rice, beans, and tons of other quick and easy meals that fit a college student’s food budget.

The mini instant pot comes in a 3 quart size which is perfect for college kids cooking for themselves.

Bluetooth speaker

Every college student needs a good bluetooth speaker—yes, it’s a need.

This one by Fender is an excellent speaker that’s very portable and super stylish, too. We actually have this one in our home and it packs a powerful sound! We love it.

Dorm Room Survival Snack Box

My daughter found this website where you can order food in bulk for your college student. (I think she might be hungry, judging from this gift guide, but what college student isn’t?) You can get boxes sent that are gluten-free, organic, etc. too.

Amazon Alexa

Alexa is great for college students—they can ask her a quick question or to play music. The Echo Dots are an inexpensive way to add Alexa to a college dorm room.

Eyebrow tint kit

An eyebrow tint kit is a great gift for busy college students because they might not have time to put on make-up. Having daughters, I have learned that eyebrows are the most important thing these days.

This is a great tint kit, just make sure you get the right color for your own daughter.

An Ipsy subscription

A subscription to a beauty bag like Ipsy is a super fun gift for college girls. They get new, high quality make-up to try every month, plus a new cute bag each month, too.

A hoverboard

Yes. You read that right. I was surprised to hear that, at least on the campus where my daughter attends school, hoverboards are a huge thing. Students use them to get around campus and look pretty cool at the same time.

This hoverboard also has a built in bluetooth speaker, but that might not be necessary if your college student has a good pair of headphones.

Longboard

If you don’t want to spring for a hoverboard, longboards are also pretty cool and are a cheaper way to get around campus.

This one is just girly enough for your daughter.

Ukulele

Every college student needs music in their life! A ukulele is easier to play, smaller, and less expensive than a guitar and they are pretty popular among high school and college students right now. My girls love their ukes and play them often.

This ukulele starter kit is inexpensive and comes with a high quality uke, online lessons, a tuner, and a case.

Thread Wallet phone case

Thread wallets are super cute and functional, and their phone cases are the same. With one of these phone cases, your college student can carry a few credit cards and ID just in their phone. This is often easier than a purse or larger wallet since she will have a heavy backpack, too.

Launchpad Pro

This cool launchpad pro is for musical college students who are technologically savvy and enjoy mixing their own music. All needed software is included.

There is also a less expensive version here: Launchpad Mini

Hopefully there is something on this list you know your own college daughter will enjoy! You may want to check out my gift guides for teenage girls, too—there will definitely be some good things there as well!

Best Gifts for High School Girls

Gift guide for the teenage girl

35 Perfect gifts for teenage girls