It’s that time of year. School’s out and that means it’s time to go shopping. Celebrating a graduation is a truly special experience. It’s the end of one era and the beginning of another. This is an exciting time for the graduate and an emotional one for their family.
Personalized gifts for graduation are a touching way to mark the occasion and show that you care. Whether your graduate is graduating from high school, college, or beyond, the perfect gift is out there.
What Makes the Perfect Personal Graduation Gift?
Personalized college graduation gifts are a fantastic way to celebrate the big day. There’s no wrong choice here. Anything you know your graduate will use or enjoy will make a great gift, and personalization brings it to the next level. A simple trinket with your grad’s name will make it feel so special and personal.
You can go the nostalgic route and get picture frames for their favorite school memories; you can also get things they may use in the future — like dorm supplies for a high school graduate or office supplies for a college graduate. The options are endless, which is why we’ve come up with a list of potential ideas to get you started.
Here is our list of 12 ideas for unique graduation gifts.
Table of Contents
- What Makes the Perfect Personal Graduation Gift?
- Gifts for Her
- Gifts for Him
- Personalized College Graduation Gifts
- Personalized High School Graduation Gifts
- FAQs
Gifts for Her
Options for customized graduation gifts for her can be overwhelming. A young woman embarking on the next phase of life can use and appreciate so many things. To help narrow it down, here are some popular choices she is sure to cherish.
1. Personalized Photo Circle Necklace
Present her with a beautiful keepsake necklace to commemorate her big accomplishment.
What makes a photo necklace a great gift?
This photo necklace discretely holds special moments close to your heart. From afar, it looks like a minimalist necklace worn with any ensemble. But, the circle contains a beautiful photo of your choice. It can be viewed by holding it up to your eye, through your phone screen, or as a wall projection when you shine a flashlight through it.
Choose a photo from the past four years or take one on graduation day. She’ll be able to look at this photo through her necklace daily and remember all the good times she had at school. This necklace can be further customized with her preference of silver, black, gold, or rose gold chain, making this the perfect personalized grad gift.
2. Engravable Cuff Bangle For Her
Give her a piece of jewelry she can treasure for years that also celebrates her unique values.
What makes a personalized bracelet a great gift?
Nothing says “congrats” like jewelry, and a bracelet can be worn all day every day. A personalized bracelet says I thought about you and what you like and made sure to put it down in words.
You can customize this bracelet with her name, graduation date, favorite quote, or favorite words. The bracelet is slim and easily stackable, so you can get her multiple bangles to wear together. Whichever sentiment you wish to express is something she can carry with her every day. She’ll wear it and know that you are proud of her achievements.
3. Personalized Photo Phone Case for iPhone
For the young woman with an iPhone, this is a gift she can use all the time.
What makes a personalized phone case a great gift?
A phone case is a fun and thoughtful gift. You know she’ll always have her phone on her so she can use it every day. This is one of those accessories you can easily change, so she can use it whenever she feels like something different and personal.
You can choose any photo you want. A graduation photo would be apt for the day, but you can also pick from her favorite school photos of all time. That could be a photo of her playing on her school’s sports team, or a photo of her at a school event with all her friends. Whatever you choose will be an instant personal and unique gift that she can cherish for years.
Gifts for Him
Custom graduation gifts for him don’t have to be complicated. Putting his name on anything is sure to make it special.
4. Engraved Men’s Black Alloy Bracelet Photo Watch 38mm
An engraved watch is a classic piece of jewelry any graduate can enjoy.
What makes an engraved watch a great gift?
An engraved watch is something that can be treasured forever. It’s a sentimental gift for a sentimental day. He will not only look good but also be reminded every day of your love and support.
This gift is practical, too. You always need to know what time it is so you can get to class or work on time, and it’s not always appropriate to pull out your phone.
This particular model has a beautifully classic strap and can be customized with any photo. You can choose a family photo, his favorite place, or even a shot of his beloved campus. The back can be engraved with the message of your choice — happy graduation would be quite appropriate.
He can wear this watch throughout the rest of his academic or professional career. Overall, it is a lovely graduation keepsake.
5. Scannable Spotify Code Photo Blanket
He can wrap himself up in memories and music with this fun and thoughtful gift.
What makes a personalized blanket a great gift?
A fleece blanket is more fun than a mere photograph — it’s cozy! And he can use it in his new dorm or home.
There are a lot of ways to make this particular throw blanket personal. You can choose from four background colors and add any photo of your choice. It could be the album cover of his favorite song, a graduation photo, a family picture, you name it. The Spotify code could be to his favorite song of all time or something special between the two of you.
6. Personalized Engraved Photo Men’s Bifold Wallet
Whether your grad is moving into a dorm or out into the world, a wallet is a practical accessory.
Why is an engraved wallet a great gift?
A wallet is always useful, yet people rarely think about buying one. You carry one every day for your ID, money, and possibly meal cards. You can choose any photo you know he’ll love, whether it’s of his beloved pet he’s leaving behind while at college, a picture with his proud parents, or whatever you like.
If a photo isn’t quite what you’re looking for, you can also choose to have it engraved with an encouraging message, quote, graduation date, or his name. The monogram lends an adult touch, making it the perfect gift for the new grad.
Personalized College Graduation Gifts
The needs of the college grad are different from those of the high school or Master’s graduate. Here are some of the best personalized college graduation gifts any new graduate would be thrilled to receive.
7. Custom Octagon Shape Photo Crystal Key Chain
Graduating from college means embarking on a new stage of life. A personalized keychain is a small token to show you believe in their future.
What makes a photo keychain a great gift?
Mark the beginning of your graduate’s new life with this customized keychain. A good gift is something you wouldn’t get yourself.
Most people don’t put keychains on the top of their shopping list. But your keys are something you carry every day, so why not add something special to the key ring?
This keychain has an LED light, making it easy to find when the keys get lost in their bag, or it can be used to illuminate the front door. If they’re moving far away from home, or even down the street, they can have something special from you to look at every time they open the door to their new address.
Pick your favorite photo of you and your graduate and hit the order button — it’s that easy to create a cute custom gift.
8. Custom Logo Circle Ornament
Nothing says “perfect keepsake” like a custom Christmas tree ornament.
What makes a personalized ornament a great gift?
Ornaments are an always-growing collection. They just seem to multiply over time. As your grad moves on to their own home and buys a Christmas tree, they’ll need a collection of ornaments. Let them begin their collection with this sentimental keepsake. As the years go by, they’ll pull this ornament out of their decoration box every year and remember happy times at school.
Choose a graduation photo, the school logo, grad date, or a picture of them and all their friends in their cap and gown. Anything that you can think of will work.
You can also get creative and design your own logo — include your grad’s school colors, graduation year, and a personal quote. As long as it fits in the logo dimensions, it will work.
9. Custom Engraved Wood Photo Frame
You took pictures of graduation — show them off the right way.
What makes a custom frame a great gift?
Finishing college is a huge accomplishment. A special engraved plaque shows off this sentiment. This custom gift frame doesn’t just show a proud graduation day photo but artfully commemorates the day.
This particular frame looks more like an artisanal piece than other graduation picture frames. Appropriate, because they just finished a four-year marathon of study and hard work, and earned something special.
The wood frame is easy to order. Select the best graduation photo you took, then add the graduation date in the text box. There’s room to add their degree type, too. Alternatively, you can add an inspiring quote or message of love and pride.
Personalized High School Graduation Gifts
Finding the right personalized high school graduation gift is simple. The high school grad is going on to work or more school. Either way, they’re becoming a young adult; here are some perfect graduation gifts that reflect that.
10. Custom Text Magic Shiny Sequins Pillow
A dorm is a home away from home. Help them make it feel that way with a colorful personalized pillow.
What makes a custom pillow a great gift?
If your high school senior is off to college, they’ll need a lot of dorm stuff. Get them started with this personalized accent pillow.
This fun sequined pillow will brighten up even the saddest of dorm rooms. You can choose from five colors for the sequins and anything for the text.
Write an inside joke, inspirational quote, their favorite word, or simply their name. Everyone will know who the fun roommate is once they see the customized pillow on their bed.
11. Personalized Photo Magic Color Changing Mug
Perfect for those upcoming late-night cram sessions.
What makes a mug a great gift?
College means a lot of late nights and lots of coffee, and future college students need somewhere to put that caffeine. Buying a gift that you know they can use every day is always a good call. This personalized mug will surely get a workout.
A personalized mug is perfect to use before those early morning classes or during all-nighters in the common room. Nobody can take it “by accident” if it has your grad’s name or face on it. You can customize the coffee mug with your choice of color, photo, and text, so you can pick out something you know they’ll like.
12. Personalized Tote Bag Name Initial Monogram Handbag
From rushing to class to everyday travels, this tote will come in handy.
What makes a monogrammed tote bag a great gift?
This tote bag is the right size for everyday activities. The effortless design of a tote combined with the classic look of a bold monogram makes it especially stylish for any use. They can use it to tote books around campus or simply carry their wallet and keys.
Your grad can use the tote on beach outings, weekend travel, grocery shopping, or even as an everyday bag. This is a functional gift that can be taken on the go.
Once it’s thoughtfully embroidered with your grad’s name, or initials, in their favorite color, they’ll want to take it everywhere. And no one will forget their name any time soon!
FAQs
Here are some answers to frequently asked questions about the best graduation gifts.
What is a good gift for someone graduating?
Sentimental gifts in school colors are always a great option. A photobook of their favorite school memories or perhaps a commemorative ornament or keychain would be perfect.
What do you give a graduate instead of flowers?
Depending on your familiarity you can give cash. You could also give a stuffed animal or other small gifts branded with their graduation year.
What is a good last-minute graduation gift?
A gift card to their favorite store is an appreciated last-minute gift. They can be purchased instantly and used on whatever the grad might want.