37 Best Stocking Stuffers for College Students in 2024
Shop from this list of the best stocking stuffers for college students that comes straight from the college kids we teach. College students may not give you a list anymore, but you still want to give them gifts they’ll love and use.
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Great Stocking Stuffers for a College Dorm Room
College students may not have a lot of space to call their own when they’re away at college, but you can help them feel more at home with good stocking stuffers for their dorm room or apartment.
Bluetooth Devices
This is the ultimate portable Bluetooth speaker. College students can carry it everywhere.
The sound is incredible, it's waterproof and dust proof, and you get 5 hours of playing time!
We love JBL speakers and this is no exception. It's small but mighty and comes in several colors.
My college students deliver marketing speeches each semester, and two students talked about a Logitech mouse this fall. They only share about things they love and use all the time.
I keep an older version of this one in my work bag so I have it handy when I'm working on my laptop. It's really comfortable, pairs quickly and has a 2-year battery life.
I love that it's red so it never gets mixed up with anyone else's mouse! Also comes in blue and black.
Card Games
College students spend a lot of time in their dorm rooms with friends. These card games include both new and classic picks that will give them some screen-free ways to hang out.
It's as ridiculous and fun as it sounds! When I played with some college and high school students, it was really competitive, hilarious, loud and physical!
You don't want to be the last one to slap the pile of cards. It reminds me of Spoons which can get pretty intense depending on who's playing.
This is definitely not a family-friendly game, but college kids love playing it and it's a best-selling game for young adults. Think of it as an R-rated version of Apples to Apples.
It's so popular that you can buy a ton of expansion packs like the Nerd Bundle, College Pack, Theatre Pack and more.
Especially popular in the Midwest, Euchre is a fun card game that's good for every college kid to know how to play.
Our college students set up Euchre tournaments with friends on campus or even their families when they're home on break.
It's the perfect card game to tuck into a Christmas stocking.
Want more game ideas? Check out our list of best board games for teenagers!
Bathroom Gifts
She may not have the luxury of a bath if she's sharing a bathroom in her dorm or apartment, so shower steamers are a great gift.
We love this adorable packaging!
For a great way to wake up and get ready for the day, the Energize pack includes 12 tablets in three scents: grapefruit, cocoa orange and citrus.
Also available in Calm (lavender), Relief (eucalyptus & mint), Essence (tea tree) and Amore (rose, jasmine, chamomile)
Thanks to TikTok, scalp massagers are crazy popular, especially this one from Heeta. Not only does it help with dandruff and itchy scalp, it's relaxing.
This one is gentle but firm, easy to hold and works for all hair types. Almost as good as having a stylist wash your hair...almost.
If you don't know about this, you should. And your college girl already does. One of my college students raved about it in a speech!
This is the original citrus scent but lots of other scents are available if she's not a citrus fan.
They also have scents for men. Trust us--your college guy's roommates will love you!
Practical Stocking Stuffer Ideas for College Students
If you’re looking for a practical gift, we gathered our students’ favorite tech, travel and clothing suggestions that make perfect stocking stuffers.
If your college kid doesn't already have a MagSafe wallet, this is the one to get! My students love magnetic wallets for their phone case and this one is the best one out there.
It has a really slim design, holds 3 cards and converts to a stand with 3 viewing angles. So cool!
Works well with all versions of iPhone12, 13 and 14.
Make their luggage easier to find and harder to lose with these personalized leather luggage tags. We love all the colors and designs, and we believe the best gifts are personalized!
Whether they're traveling back and forth from campus, studying abroad or joining you on a family vacation, this practical Christmas gift will remind them of home.
Plus, you get to support an Etsy 5-star small business with this purchase!
Every college student I know loves a chance to be a kid again, even in small ways.
Like wearing silly holiday socks when they're at home on Christmas morning.
YETI Rambler water bottles sit on lots of desks in my college classes. This one holds 18 ounces and fits in a standard size cup holder.
Larger versions are available but they won't fit in a cup holder, so it depends on what's important for your college student.
The chug cap is included and requires only a quick half-twist to get the bottle open.
The DuraCoat color won't fade, peel or crack and it's dishwasher safe (for those weekends when they're at home doing their laundry.)
Choose from 20 colors!
Gift Card Ideas for College Students
It might not seem like the most exciting stocking stuffer idea, but we guarantee your college kids will be thrilled on Christmas morning to get physical gift cards! You really can’t go wrong with coffee, pizza, gas, and Amazon!
We asked our college students for their top picks:
I can't figure out how our college students fund their Starbucks addiction...maybe gift cards?
They love it as much as we do! Don't forget to add a 6-month free trial of Amazon Prime Student!
She'll love being able to pick out her own beauty products online or in a Sephora store.
- Amazon Gift Card
- Starbucks Gift Card
- Sephora Gift Card
- Dunkin’ Donuts Gift Card – This is my college-aged niece’s go-to spot for iced coffee and wake-up wraps.
- DoorDash, Uber Eats or Grubhub Gift Card – Chances are good your college kids already have an account with one or more of these delivery services. If you know their favorite place to eat near home or campus, you can find out who that restaurant uses for delivery in that area.
- Sheetz Gift Card or Gas Gift Card – They always need gas money. It’s a bonus if they can get some decent food, drinks and snacks there too. Sheetz is a great option here in Ohio and a few other states!
- Visa Gift Card – If you’re not sure what they’d want, a Visa gift card lets them choose.
Inexpensive Stocking Stuffers
Your college kids will use and appreciate these affordable gifts. If you’re looking for the perfect stocking stuffer at the last minute, try these inexpensive gifts.
My students have to give an impromptu speech trying to sell something in their backpacks. Every semester, a few speeches are all about Aquaphor.
This lip repair balm is incredible! It's fragrance free and paraben free. No wonder it's the #1 dermatologist recommended brand.
This is one of those little things that they'll always use and appreciate. Burt's Bees lip balm is an all-natural favorite and we love their holiday lip balm gift set!
She can keep one one from this assorted set in her dorm room and toss the others in her backpack, car and workout bag (or in the pocket of multiple coats).
If you're shopping for guys, try the ultra conditioning lip balm.
Here's a fun gift idea! Coloring books are a great stocking stuffer idea for stress relief and not just a way to procrastinate while streaming their favorite shows.
But at least this procrastination activity is harmless and might even do them some good when they have extra time.
You can always buy a regular lottery ticket and they'll love the chance to win some cash. But we'd love to encourage you to try something a little different for this holiday season!
When you give a LottoLove scratch off card, your college student plays the game to find out what they won for someone else--it's a winning card every time!
LottoLove donates to their charity partners when the card is purchased.
They've donated tens of thousands of literacy tools, gallons of clean water and nutritious meals, plus nearly 4 million hours of solar energy.
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I love Pela phone cases! I thought about doing new phone cases for stocking stuffers this year.
I have a niece and a nephew in college so this is a nice reference list.