Christmas Gift Ideas for the College Students on Your List

The season for celebrating the birth of Christ is here, and with it comes a chance to give our friends and loved ones gifts that celebrate the joy they bring into our lives. If you have college students in your family, or you're a student yourself and want to share gifts with friends, you may wonder what to buy for college students this year. Fortunately, almost anything practical and personal will make the cut, so get creative and use these ideas to inspire your shopping list.

Gifts for an On-Campus Residence

If your classmates or loved ones live on campus, they'll need practical and fun gifts to spruce up the space and make it feel like home, regardless of whether they live in a dorm, an apartment, a townhome, or a brownstone.

Blankets and Rugs

A perfect gift for Christmas, blankets, and rugs can add warmth to a dorm room — both literally and figuratively! College students don't often buy these accessories for themselves, so this is your chance to give them something practical and meaningful they'll appreciate all winter. You can even select a style to match their school colors (red, white, and blue for DBU!).

College students need high-quality, cozy sleep! Right now, weighted blankets are a staple for many students. Weighted stuffed animals are also a trend due to the comfort they bring to stressed students. Several studies show weighted blankets and stuffed animals help decrease anxiety and improve sleep quality.

Ergonomic Accessories

Studying in the same spot day after day can get tiring, especially with dorm furniture that's likely several years old. Consider gifts like a gel seat cushion, keyboard rest, a specialty computer mouse, or a laptop stand. You can typically find a range of styles and colors to fit their personality.

Mini Projector

Whether it's movie night with their friends or a study session that involves re-watching a lecture, college students need a way to project images larger than a laptop screen. Give them a portable mini projector they can sync with a device and display on a blank wall in their dorm room.

Water Bottles

College students are always on the go and carry their water with them all of the time. Some popular water bottles are the Owala water bottle, Stanley Cup, and Bucket List Bottles. You can also add accessories to them, like a Stanley Cup protector and straw covers. A Britta water filter will also ensure their water is fresh. 

Coffee Makers

College students love their caffeine. Popular coffee makers are Keurig and Nespresso. Other ideas are French presses, milk frothers, or teapots if they prefer tea. Don't forget to get a mug or syrups to go with it! One thing to note: only DBU students who live in an apartment, brownstone, or townhome can have a coffee maker in their unit.

Things No One Asks for But Need

As a college student, you realize you finally have arrived at adulthood when you start requesting practical gifts. That's why things like silverware, food and storage containers, lap desks, and lamps make excellent gifts. 

"One of those lap desks for doing homework in bed is great too!" adds DBU Freshman Judah Whapham.

Other practical household items include dishes, drawer organizers, laundry detergent, essential oils and a diffuser, cleaning supplies, your college student's favorite snacks, and a care package of the essentials in case your college student gets sick.

Ideas to Encourage Adventure

College students need help remembering to leave their dorm rooms or the library to explore the city and neighborhoods around campus. If they're lucky, they can explore even further from home by taking a summer trip to another country for study or mission work. A few thoughtful Christmas gifts can help encourage these adventures in the coming year.

Local Restaurant Gift Cards

While this adventure might be a little closer to home, college students need an excuse to leave campus and broaden their typical culinary routine. Do some research and find the best restaurants in their area and gift a bundle of $15 certificates — just enough for a taste test through town!

Ask your student where they love to eat and give them a gift card. A few favorite places to receive gift cards for eating include:

• Chipotle
• Chick-fil-A
• Torchy's Tacos
• Raising Canes
• Whataburger

Don't limit gift cards to just food. Leslie Rhoades, DBU Senior, says, "Gift cards are always the best way to go!" So, ask your college student where they love to shop so they can find something new for themselves.

Sightseeing Tours and Local Attractions

Many college students don't make it beyond a 10-block radius of campus, so give the gift of adventure with a sightseeing tour for them and a group of friends. Some websites compile the best local tour options so you can choose one that fits your budget and preferred theme — everything from historical landmarks to local artisanal shops can be included. Even students local to the area will appreciate this new perspective on their hometown.

Cedar Hill State Park

Cedar Hill State Park, a beautiful forest in southwest Dallas, is a popular park with nice trails. It requires a small $7 entry and has a great view of Joe Pool Lake. This park is a great spot to have a picnic or go on a hike!

Bishop Arts District

The Bishop Arts District, about 20 minutes from DBU, is the perfect destination for a day out shopping! It is known for its creative restaurants, galleries, and historical architecture. This serves as a must-visit destination for those seeking fun in Dallas!

Local Attractions

School is not all about academics. Students love exploring the DFW metroplex. Ask your student if they'd like tickets to see their favorite band in concert, attend a sports game, visit local museums, go to Six Flags Over Texas or Hurricane Harbor with friends, or go see a movie at the local movie theater.

Students can also visit the Dallas Arboretum or many of the nearby parks, such as Pioneer Plaza, Pacific Plaza, or West End Historic Park. Other popular attractions include the Fort Worth Zoo, Fort Worth Stockyards, and the Dallas Aquarium.

Tools for Academic Success

If you're stuck figuring out what college students need for Christmas, tools for their academic success are always a safe choice. Consider some of these options that make studying more manageable and fun.

Note-Taking Tablets

For college students on a budget, an ultra-thin note-taking tablet is usually out of reach. These tablets make it easy to take notes during class and transfer them to digital copies for sharing and studying later, all without the distractions of other apps common with traditional devices.

Noise-Canceling Headphones

What do college students need when they are constantly studying in crowded campus locations? Quality noise-canceling headphones. The gift of concentration, focus, and silence is unmatched, especially during exams! 

Markers, Pens, Sticky Notes, Highlighters, the Works!

Don't underestimate the power of gifting a collection of small study essentials for Christmas. College students use these supplies frequently, so a fresh stack of color-coded sticky notes will come in handy before you know it. Specialty items like erasable highlighters or a monogrammed zipper pouch will make studying feel more fun.

• Mr. Pen has lots of great options.
• Tombow markers and pins are great for drawing. Tombow products can be found at Amazon and Hobby Lobby.
• iBayam pens are good for journaling and writing in your Bible.

E-Readers

As you might recall in our tech gadgets list for college students, e-readers are a great option. Whether you buy your college student a Kindle or a Nook, an e-reader allows your student time to relax and chill while doing something fun. They can load numerous books for something fun to read, whether on the go or for a needed study break.

Ideas to Encourage Their Inner Creative

Every person is creative in their own way. Maybe they love photography or are excellent artists. Or maybe they like building things for fun. Regardless of the type of creative your college student is, there's a Christmas gift for everyone.

Gift Ideas for Artists

Acrylic/oil paint, paint brushes, canvases, aprons, portfolios, graphite/charcoal/colored pencils, micron pens, pencil/brush organizers, chalk/oil pastels, sketchbooks, drawing paper (Bristol, watercolor, illustration), and acrylic/jelly gouache are all great options for the artist in your life.

Cameras

Film Cameras and Polaroids are back in style! While your college student is making memories, they should also have the gift of capturing them! To go with the camera, we suggest film, camera cases, albums, and a portable mini photo printer. Scrapbooking supplies are a great addition, too!

Journals and Scrapbooks

While most college students live in a fully digital world, the appeal of a tangible journal or scrapbook for keeping memories is not wasted on them. Choose a guided volume for your friend who has a specific trip coming up or a blank book that they can use any time the mood strikes.

Books

Some favorite Christ-centered and inspirational books that make excellent gifts for college students include:

• What's Best Next by Matt Perman 
  • "What makes his work so compelling is that he consistently brings to bear the Gospel in the midst of our daily activity and stresses that our ultimate motivation for work and productivity isn't individual gain or higher standing, but is instead the Glory of God and good of others." - Dr. Killingsworth, Dean, Gary Cook School of Leadership
• Draw the Circle by Mark Batterson  
  • A great devotional for kickstarting your prayer life. The faculty and staff at DBU went through Mark Batterson's book together a few summers ago, and it's been a favorite ever since.
• Win the Day by Mark Batterson
  • "A guide on how to kickstart your dreams and make your goals achievable through implementing effective daily habits." - Desi Henk, Assistant Vice President, Center for Career & Professional Development
• The Chronicles of Narnia by C.S. Lewis
  • A fun fictional book series that points to several Biblical events.
• The Well-Watered Woman by Gretchen Saffles
  • "The Well-Watered Woman was gifted to me by my roommate for my 20th birthday. Typically, I never find myself reaching for a book outside of my academic reading; this book, however, has captured my attention. Gretchen Saffles portrays the fullness and peace we can find through our Father during times of uncertainty. As a college student who tends to worry about the future, I have been encouraged and challenged by the scripture and personal testimonies Saffles recalls in her book. I highly recommend gifting this book to a college student who needs to be reminded that their thirst can only be quenched by our Heavenly Father." - DBU Sophomore Jenna Primm.
• Mere Christianity by C.S. Lewis
  • "Mere Christianity presented concepts about theology that I have never thought of before and makes you excited to search the Bible for the truth of God's word." - DBU Freshman Judah Whapham
• Pilgrim's Progress (in modern English) by John Bunyan
  • "A classic allegory of Christian and his journey to the Celestial City." - DBU Alum Matthew Tarpley 
• God's Design for Man and Woman by Andreas J. Köstenberger and Margaret Elizabeth Köstenberger 
  • "God's Design for Man and Woman is a biblical-theological survey, meaning it walks through all the passages of the Bible pertaining to biblical manhood and womanhood and interprets them according to Scripture," - DBU Alum Sarah Tarpley
• The Freedom of Self Forgetfulness by Timothy Keller
  • A short but dense journey into finding true Christian joy. 
  • "Keller uses Paul's teachings to break down the concepts of pride and ego." - DBU Alum Wayne Briggs
• Gentle and Lowly by Dane Ortlund
  • Crossway describes the book as an opportunity to "take us into the depths of Christ's very heart for sinners, diving deep into Bible passages that speak of who Christ is and encouraging readers with the affections of Christ for his people. His longing heart for sinners comforts and sustains readers in their up-and-down lives."
• The Emotionally Healthy Leader by Peter Scazzero
  • A book used in the coursework for the Master of Arts in Leadership. 
• Women of the Word by Jen Wilkin
  • A great book that presents a set of practices that will help you develop good habits for studying Scripture.

View additional book recommendations from the DBU faculty and staff from earlier this year and in 2018.

Bibles

A Bible is a great gift for your college student. Maybe they still use the Bible they had growing up, or they recently decided they wanted to find ways to expand their study time. A Notetaking Bible is the perfect gift for any student who enjoys jotting down sermon notes, quiet-time thoughts, and prayers right next to scripture on the provided lined margins. A study Bible is great for more in-depth Bible studying. Crossway has various Bible options. Christianbook, Mardel, and Lifeway are other great places for choosing the perfect Bible for your college student.

Streaming Services

Students love finding ways to decompress and take breaks from their academic studies. Consider the following streaming service options for your college student:

• Spotify Premium Student with Hulu: Great for podcasts, study music, etc.
• Entertainment streaming options, such as Netflix.
• Apple Music, which offers a student subscription option.
• Perhaps your students want to read for fun, but audiobooks are more their style. Consider gifting them an Audible subscription or at least one audiobook of choice.

Clothing

College students are always looking to add to their clothing collections! Equip your student with clothing, shoes, and accessories to help them enter their spring semester feeling confident and prepared. Whether it is clothing to keep them warm on their way to class, professional dress for an important interview, or a new bag to help them stay organized, your students will find great use for such practical items.

• Winter Clothing: Keep your college student warm this winter!
• Shoes: UGG Tasman Slippers and New Balance Sneakers are great choices.
• Professional Dress: Jackets, ties, dresses, etc.
• Bags: Belt bag, tote bags, backpack, etc.
• Show School Spirit: Crewnecks are always a hit at DBU's Bookstore. Other great ideas to show school spirit are stickers, jewelry, hats, and other memorabilia!

Thoughtful Gifts to Remind Them of Home

Sometimes, what college students want for Christmas is a reminder of home. No matter how happy they are living independently, a special gift from home can help boost their mood after a challenging class or during a tough week.

Digital Photo Frame

Instead of giving a photo album or several framed prints, give your college student a digital photo frame that you can load remotely. You can send new pictures from home every so often to remind them they're loved.

Personalized Accessories

Recipients of all ages love to receive personalized gifts, and college students are no exception. Add a touch of home to their college experience with a state flag keychain, a phone case that features a photo or special landscape, or a travel mug with personalized positive affirmations.

A sentimental gift idea for your college student away from home includes "open when…" letters. These letters could be written by friends and family to encourage your college student through good days and stressful days. You can include cards for their first day of class, birthday, holidays, finals week, and even a letter to open when they miss home. Including pictures in these letters is a meaningful touch they can hold on to throughout college.

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Whatever gift you choose this Christmas for the special college students in your life, remember that giving with an open heart is the best way to celebrate the love that Christ gave to us all.

"Each one must give as he has decided in his heart, not reluctantly or under compulsion, for God loves a cheerful giver." (2 Corinthians 9:7, ESV)