(Updated 2023)
Whether going off to college for the first time or returning for a new school year, or as a pick me up during the semester, students always appreciate being thought of. A College Gift Basket filled with helpful items that students may not remember to bring along is always a winner. Here are 40 ideas of useful things to put in your gift baskets.
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Batteries
Binder Clips
Bubble Gum and/or Mints
Chip Clips-The KitchenAid Gourmet Set of 4 Small Bag Clips 
Chlorox® Wipes
Clear Tape and Duct Tape-Duck Brand makes duct tape in more than 45 school colors and logos, as well as, Decorative Patterns, 
Clipboard
Deck of Cards
Dish Towels
Drink Coasters-These cool Record Coasters
Dry Erase Board and Markers
Dusting Cloth-These Microfiber Cleaning Clothes are easily reusable by simply rinsing out them out.
Ear Plugs
Flip Flops
Glow Sticks-Because glow in the dark is just plain fun.
Lingerie Bag for Laundry
Lint Roller
Lip Balm
Mini First Aid Kit-This First Aid Only All-purpose First Aid Kit will do the trick for those every day scraps and run ins.
Paper Clips
Poncho
Removable Wall Hangers-The Command Large Utility Hook, White, 3-Hooks 
Roll of Quarters-Although many campuses have gone largely to card swipe systems, you will still find vending machines from time to time. Also, great for laundry if machine take the quarters.
Safety Pins
School Colors or Logo Coffee Mug
Small Address Book
Small Flashlight
Stain Remover-These Shout Wipes – Portable Stain Treater Towelettes – Pack of (24) Wipes
Stamps
Stapler
Sticky Notes
Stress Ball
Thermos-The THERMOS FOOGO Vacuum Insulated Stainless Steel 10-Ounce Food Jar is perfect for a meal on the go.
Thumb Tacks
Tool Kit-This Cartman Orange 39-Piece Tool Set is perfect size to easily store away, but offers enough tools to fix a wide variety of things.
Travel Umbrella
Tube of Sunscreen
USB Drive
Ziploc® Bags
Zippered Storage Bags-These Ziploc Space Bag, Flat, Large, 3 Count
For more handy intel on what to bring or send to college:
Dorm Room Checklist of Essentials
45 Things to Put in Tailgating Gift Baskets
Those zippered mesh storing bags look great for storing my electronic cables. I will have to order some for me.
My first grandson starts college in the Fall on a baseball scholarship. I was thinking about him. All good suggestions. Thanks for sharing.
I thought the mesh bags seemed great for electronics cables as well.
Great ideas!! Just sent my only child of to college. Thank you.
So glad to provide some ideas. Know must be an exciting and bittersweet time for you.
What a great post! Sticky notes are so great and useful for being organized. Thanks for sharing this list with us at the Merry Monday link party. I hope you’ll join us again this week. Sharing your post on Twitter!
Thanks so much for sharing on Twitter and featuring. Love me some Merry Monday!
Absolutely great ideas! Both of my kids are off to college now. My nesting instincts are still strong, so this will definitely help. Maybe I’ll include self-addressed envelopes with those stamps and increase the odds of an old fashioned letter coming in the mail.
Thanks for sharing!
Thanks much for the self-addressed envelope suggestion. Great idea.
This is a great list, thank you! 🙂
Thank you. So much fun to put together.