17 Graduation Gift Ideas to Launch Their New Lives

Gifts

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$37

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$1,095

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$15

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$30

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$198

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$40

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$19+

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$239 per year

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Open Account

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By Erica Finamore

Come May or June, the cap and gown come off and the challenge of entering adulthood creeps in. What do you gift someone who's going through one of the biggest transitions in their life? Your best option is to find something meaningful yet useful.

We turned to experts, from psychologists to interior designers and career counselors (many with college-age kids) for their recommendations. Whether it's décor for their new space, a book of advice on navigating their 20s, relaxing self-care products or even stocks, these are the things they’ll be thrilled to open come graduation day.

$149 at Amazon

$129 at Bose

$149 Save $20

New York City- and Los Angeles-based Designer Cortney Novogratz has six kids and is known around the world for creating beautiful spaces. One of her favorite essentials is a portable, waterproof Bluetooth speaker. "It's a perfect piece for traveling and that new first apartment too," she says. This "Bose speaker has amazing sound, a timeless design and will definitely be one of the most appreciated gifts any graduate can get."

$218 at Beis

$218 at Revolve

Their duffel bags are likely pretty shot from all of the schlepping back and forth to campus. Launching into full-time adulthood requires sleek luggage for all of the exciting next steps (moving, vacationing, coming back home). Novogratz recommends hardside rolling luggage similar to this one from Béis, which comes in three sizes. She notes that the simple design "will never go out of style" and recommends the "fashion-forward Navy" color.

$37 at Papier

The killer organizational skills they learned (or perhaps didn't learn) in college will be even more important in their next act, and this sophisticated leather planner is as functional as it is stylish. Novogratz's go-to is The Moderne. "This one is classic, [comes] in a selection of elegant colors and will really help with organizing their next life stage," she says. You can customize this one by having their monogram pressed on in gold, silver or copper foil.

$19 at Amazon

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$33 at Bookshop

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There are few things more universally giftable than a cookbook, and Jamie Oliver's "5 Ingredients" is quick and easy—perfect for a recent grad. Charlottesville, Va.-based clinical psychologist Meg Jay (author of one of the recommended books on this list) chose this one specifically because of its simplicity. Every recipe has five main ingredients, plus typical kitchen basics like olive oil and salt. "When 20-somethings can cook, even a little, we see more people connecting over meals, we see more healthy eating and we see more gender equality in the kitchen," she says.

$1,095 at Shinola

$1,095 at Saks Fifth Avenue

$650 at Coach

$650 at Nordstrom

Recent grads embarking upon a first job or internship will appreciate a quality work bag that they may not have the budget to invest in themselves. A work bag "that's classic gives you a more polished look and reads as prepared and professional," says Alyssa Dineen, New York City-based personal stylist and founder of Stylemyprofilenyc.com. She notes that like many Shinola bags, the Canfield Traveler Brief "is classic but with a modern twist" thanks to its striped strap. This Coach bag similarly boasts a professional shape in a "timeless" pattern: "Camou has been around in fashion for decades and won't go out of style."

$12 at Amazon

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$14 at Bookshop

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"If I were on a deserted island and could have only one book, the ‘Tao Te Ching’ would be the one," Jay says. She read this book, by Stephen Mitchell, hundreds of times in her 20s and now assigns it to students in the college classes she teaches, calling it "an ancient sort of instruction manual for life" that features "timeless wisdom." One of the book's most memorable quotes: "When you are content to be yourself and don't compare or compete, everyone will respect you."

$24 at Sephora

$30 Save $6

Self care products are always a hit—and they’re a great gift no matter what stage of life your recipient is in. Joann Zehenni, the Los Angeles-based 18-year old founder of Gemini Beauty, recommends Merit Flush Balms for a "minimalist look." She notes: "It's a great gift idea because it's a quick and easy way to add a pop of color before work." Bonus? It comes in nine shades and won't clog pores.

$198 at Cuyana

Dineen likes this bag "for a grad who has sustainability top of mind." Cuyana notes that its sling bag is knitted from 100% Global Recycle Standard-certified landfill plastic and is even machine washable, meaning they’ll get years of use from it. "This could also double as a travel bag," notes Dineen, "and Olive goes well with neutral-color workwear as well as bright colors."

$40 at Amazon

$40 at Davines

After Zehenni received this Oi All in One Milk, it quickly became one of her go-tos. "It's super moisturizing, helps frizzy hair and doubles as a heat protector," she says of the hydrating leave-in spray treatment. It's made with roucou oil with antioxidants to strengthen locks and make them shiny. "It's a game changer for taking care of your hair postgrad."

$19+ at Urban Outfitters

Whether they’re moving back into their childhood bedroom and need to ditch the BTS posters or settling into a brand new space, any grad is likely in need of décor. While art can be subjective, Los Angeles-based jewelry designer Maya Brenner likes to gift Max Wagner's beachy prints. They offer a pop of color and a moment of relaxing escapism. "Photos are a great entry into collecting and these prints are easy to love," she says.

$15 at Amazon

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$17 at Bookshop

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We all know that books can change lives, and this tried-and-true read, "The Defining Decade" by Meg Jay has helped generations of 20-somethings reach their full potential. "It provides a lot of great advice and stories about life in your 20s and the new journey you’re about to embark on," says Jade Walters, the greater Chicago area-based founding editor of career resources blog "The Ninth Semester."

$36 at Amazon

$36 at Stanley

Sure, they probably already have a water bottle, but, notes Brenner, "it's important to stay hydrated and you can never have too many water bottles." Stanley, the beloved thermos band, this will likely be their new go-to bottle. The 32-ounce stainless steel bottle has a leakproof top, insulated cap, is BPA-free and dishwasher safe.

$239 per year at LinkedIn

$180+ at MasterClass

One of the biggest stressors for grads is, of course, finding a job. It can't be wrapped up in a bow, but Walters recommends giving a subscription to LinkedIn Premium. "It’ll be a great resource for them as they go on the job hunt and unlock features on the website," she says, and it could even connect them to their dream job. And now that their required coursework has ended, a subscription to Masterclass lets them have fun learning something new, whether it's Martin Scorsese teaching film or Kris Jenner on the power of personal branding.

$80 at Amazon

A pen may not seem like a thrilling gift, but Long Beach, Calif.-based author Marjie Hadad insists it's a very thoughtful present. Hadad, an international relations consultant and author of "The Power of PR Parenting," looks at college graduation as a celebration of scholarship. "What better gift to go along with a diploma than a pretty pen?" she asks. "It's special, appropriate for the occasion and practical." She recommends this Waterman Paris Black Rollerball Pen that writes like a dream and comes in a chic case.

$19 at Uncommon Goods

If you’re looking for a lighter, fun gift, Jill Smokler, the Baltimore-based founding editor of the Scary Mommy blog, recommends the Stay Chill Slim Can Parka. Most graduates will have a pretty fleshed-out collection of koozies, but very few will have a mini coat to go around their favorite beverages. Smokler adds a pin from the graduates’ college to this cute knickknack before passing it on to make it funny and personal.

$132 at Artifact Uprising

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Heather Hagen, a Los Angeles area-based therapist and executive clinical director of Outpatient Services at Newport Healthcare, finds chic photo albums like this Layflat Album the ultimate sentimental present. "It's a great gift to remind someone that they are loved," she says. "Such gifts are straight from the heart and can be tokens of encouragement and support in times of stress or sadness." Fill their album with photos from their college years and more. It comes in a variety of sizes and fabric colors, so you can tailor your book to your grad's taste.

$50 at Neiman Marcus

$50 at Nordstrom

This leather journal is filled with simple, lined pages, so it can be used for any purpose, though Hagen notes that jotting down your thoughts is beneficial. "Journaling is extremely helpful for mental health because it is an outlet to express the emotions we are feeling," she says. "Not only will writing in a journal help to get things off our chest, but it also helps in recognizing possible triggers or coping mechanisms that helped the last time we felt a certain way." It's a great tool to help grads navigate this time of major growth.

Open Account

Entering the workforce means learning to manage money—and to save for the long run. And while you could give cash, a savings account seeded with a few hundred dollars (or any amount that feels right) can set them on their way. Buy Side's money editors note that Capital One 360 Performance Savings, which topped our ranking of best savings accounts, comes with app-based tools to help you set and track savings goals and pays 3.5% interest. Want your grad to learn about investing? A few shares of a blue-chip stock (perhaps a favorite brand like Apple or Disney) is a classic gift. While stately-looking stock certificates are a thing of the past, digital innovations like fractional shares offered by most top brokerages make it easy to give as much or little as you want.

—Additional reporting by Leslie Yazel and Ian Salisbury