Luxurious and Useful Graduation Gifts for Grad Students
Can you believe it’s graduation season?! Congratulations, class of 2022! 🥳 I had my last graduation 5 years ago when I finished my PhD. I graduated with my master’s 7 years ago and my bachelor’s 10 (!!!) years ago! I’ve been out of grad school for as long as I was in grad school. 🤯
I thought it’d be fun to round up an assortment of luxurious (and useful!) graduation gifts for the grad student in your life—even if that grad student is yourself! Finishing a Master’s or PhD is a HUGE accomplishment and calls for an extra special gift. Some of the best gifts for grad students include bags, shoes, and jewelry, but experiences are also wonderful gifts! Let’s dive in!
Best Graduation Gifts for Grad Students
WORK BAG
All PhD graduates and some Master’s graduates enter the workforce after graduation. Depending on their job, they may be commuting to/from the office and are in need of a nice bag to carry their things. A fancy tote bag roomy enough for a computer and anything else they may bring to work is the perfect graduation gift! Splurging on a beautifully constructed, timeless work bag may not be something they do on the regular so it would be really special and meaningful to receive one as a gift.
Some of my favorite brands for beautiful work bags include Mansur Gavriel and Cuyana, which are both on the higher end. Kate Spade is a good mid-range brand, and you really can’t go wrong with Madewell if you’re looking for quality on a smaller budget. (I love my medium transport tote!) Another option for beautiful leather totes around the same price point as Madewell is a locally-owned company called Portland Leather Goods.
Mansur Gavriel small zip tote (also available from Nordstrom, Neiman Marcus, and Saks Fifth Avenue) | $500+
Cuyana messenger bag | $300+
Kate Spade essential large work tote, New York zeezee large work tote, voyage large work tote | $200+ | Bradley large tote | $100+
Madewell transport tote (also available from Zappos and Nordstrom) | Madewell zip-top transport tote (also available from Zappos and Shopbop in black or saddle) | $100+
Madewell medium transport tote (also available from Zappos and Shopbop) | Madewell zip top medium transport tote (also available from Zappos), Shopbop, and Nordstrom) | $100+
Madewell zip-top transport carryall (also available from Zappos) | $100+
SHOES
Luxurious shoes are another graduation gift option and are especially thoughtful if the recipient is a big fan of shoes but can’t afford a big splurge. If their workplace requires fancy footwear, it’s worth it to spend a little more money on brands that construct beautiful shoes that are made to last and that are actually comfortable to wear. Fancy shoes could also be purchased prior to graduation to be worn AT graduation (or at your thesis/dissertation defense)!
Salvatore Ferragamo shoes are timeless (I love my Vara pumps!) but definitely spendy. Direct-to-consumer brand Sarah Flint designs absolutely beautiful shoes at reasonable price points that the recipient will own for years to come. On a budget? I own a pair of Cole Haan pumps that are incredibly comfortable! I’m such a big fan of their shoes.
I’m a Sarah Fint brand ambassador! Use code SARAHFLINT-BAKIMIS for $50 off your first order.
Salvatore Ferragamo Vara bow pump (also available from Shopbop, Nordstrom, Neiman Marcus, and Bloomingdale's) | $700+
Sarah Flint Natalie flat, perfect round toe pump, perfect pump 50 mm | $400+
Cole Haan park pointed toe pump, Brigit pump, grand ambition pump | $100+
JEWELRY
Jewelry is another luxurious graduation gift idea. Opting for something unique and personalized just for your recipient is the way to go; birthstones are an excellent for this! You definitely really want to know their taste before gifting a specific piece of jewelry (gift cards can be given if you don’t know exactly what they want, of course). Simple, everyday necklaces and diamond or pearl earrings are timeless and will be worn for years to come.
Brands to check out for higher-end jewelry include AUrate, Mejuri, Julie Voss, and Kate Spade. They all offer a variety of jewelry between about $100 and $1000 with lots around the $300-500 mark. (Kate Spade is the least expensive of the bunch with almost everything at $200 and under.) AUrate and Mejuri are great for the minimalist grad, while Julie Voss and Kate Spade have a few fun statement pieces. Valerie Madison is a small, locally-owned jewelry brand based in Seattle that offers absolutely beautiful jewelry for any occasion!
AUrate gold huggies, birthstone necklace, white diamond stud earrings | $100-$1000+
Mejuri lightning bold studs, bold pearl toggle necklace, serpentine chain necklace | $50-$1000+
Kate Spade social butterfly statement linear earrings, bouquet toss cluster line bracelet, New York dot scatter necklace | $50-$300
EXPERIENCES
If your recipient prefers experiences or doesn’t yet have post-graduation career plans, an experience is a wonderful gift! Splurge on a spa day complete with a facial, massage(s), nails, etc. You could also tack a staycation on with the spa day and stay at a fancy hotel in town.
A popular post-graduation gift is a TRIP! Whether you travel somewhere domestically or abroad, now is a great time to squeeze in a trip before you/they start what’s next. If they already have a trip planned, throw in a couple hundred for a nice(r) hotel, dinner out, or other experience they may want to do on the trip but can’t quite afford. I’ve never once regretted any of my trips! It might seem like a lot at the time, but you’ll cherish the memories forever and be so glad you traveled before you started working and it becomes a lot harder.
What’s the best/most thoughtful graduation gift you received? Or that you gave to someone else?