Want to give the best gift to your college friend or girlfriend? This blog post will give the best birthday gifts for college girls!

Buying gifts for someone can be hard. Buying a birthday gift for a college girl is about to be easier and less stressful. These birthday gift ideas combine popular trends and practicality. You’ll find a gift that she’ll obsess over and truly appreciate.
This list will make the shopping experience easier and less stressful! This blog post will give 31 useful gifts for college girls that also can be given on their birthdays. And if you’re a girl in college who doesn’t know what to ask for, this list will give you an idea.
31 Useful Birthday Gifts for College Girls
1.Fujifilm Camera
Make memories last forever with a Fujifilm Camera. These cameras have been around since I was in high school. I captured some great memories with my friends with that camera. It’s a nice gift for someone who wants to take fun, candid photos with friends and to remember college.
- Instax Mini 11 Camera | Strap | 2x AA Batteries | Two Shutter Button Accessories | (Film Not Included) | Fujifilm 1 Year Limited Warranty | Fujifilm instax mini Instant Daylight Film Twin Pack (20 Exposures)
- Slim body size
- Transparent ring lens
- Automatic Exposure
- One-touch Selfie Mode
2. Beauty Set
All the beauty products a girl needs are in a beauty set. Find one that matches her beauty needs and it’ll be a useful gift for sure.
3. Fleece Blanket
There’s no better feeling than being warm and cozy and a fleece blanket is the best gift to give to any college-aged girl.
- Reversible Softness: Titled the Good Housekeeping Best Bedding Awards Winner as a Fuzzy Fleece Throw, this blanket is designed with 220 GSM velvety…
4. Air Fryer
It seems like everyone has an air fryer. Having one is so useful, especially if you’re on a busy schedule. Any college girl would love to have one as a gift to make cooking easier.
- LESS FAT: Now enjoy guilt-free food. Air fry with up to 75% less fat than traditional frying methods. Tested against hand-cut, deep-fried French fries.
5. Handheld Vacuum
From cleaning a car or mess in their apartment, any college girl would definitely use a handheld vacuum.
- MULTI-SURFACE USE – Removes hair, dirt, and debris from carpets, car interiors, furniture, and high-traffic areas.Specific uses:Carpet
6. Oversized Sweatshirt
If you walk onto any college campus nowadays, you’re bound to find a few girls wearing an oversized sweatshirt, leggings, and a pair of walking shoes. This oversized sweatshirt from Amazon would make a nice birthday gift for a college girl.
- Fit Type – Loose. Size down if between Bust sizes.
7. Fuzzy Slippers
A pair of fuzzy slippers like these are always a good option for a birthday gift.
- STYLISH DESIGN: Adopt sweater knit material, combined with Khaki round button design.The home slippers for women are cute, ultra soft, perfect with fashion.These exquisite and texture bedroom slippers are available in 7 colors.Great for family use and best gift choice.
8. UGG Slippers
Trendy is one adjective to describe these Ugg Slippers. These shoes are all over TikTok and Pinterest probably due to their comfortable and also the UGG name behind it.

9. Blanket Hoodie
Again, comfort is a big thing for college students, especially while studying. A blanket hoodie would be perfect for study sessions during finals week or a slumber party between friends. This one is also cute with cats on it!
- 【Good Housekeeping’s 2024 Best Bedding Award】:Our Bedsure Sherpa Fleece Blanket Hoodie won Good Housekeeping’s 2024 Best Bedding Award for its exceptional warmth, ultra-soft flannel exterior, and cozy sherpa lining. “Perfect for ultimate comfort during colder months.” – Good Housekeeping
10. Lap Desk
This is probably the most useful gift for college students overall on this list. I have this exact lap desk and love it. It holds a laptop but also has a space for a phone. I also have space for a wireless mouse and a cushion for my wrists. This is a gift that the college girl you know will definitely use.
- Spacious Design: Measuring 21.1″ wide and 14.1″ deep, our lap desk comfortably fits most laptops up to 15.6″. Extra room for accessories ensures convenience.
- Enhanced Functionality: Packed with handy features, including a 5×9″ precision tracking mouse pad and a built-in phone slot for seamless work or video calls. Plus, enjoy ergonomic support with the integrated cushioned wrist rest.
11. Filtered Water Bottle
Every college student needs a water bottle, especially a nice insulated one like this from Amazon. This filtered water bottle will save them tons of money, too.
- BRITA WATER FILTER BOTTLE: One 26 oz. BPA-free Brita Hard-Sided Plastic Premium Filtering Water Bottle with one filter that reduces chlorine taste and odor in water as you drink
12. Glass Containers
This is the perfect gift for the friend who is always cooking or loves meal prepping. I love glass containers because of how long they last and how they help me save money cooking.
- ONE CONTAINER, ENDLESS POSSIBILITIES: The Mod Bento Lunch Container includes three removable dividers that wall off thick liquids and solids. Customize your container every time you pack and enjoy your favorite lunches or snacks.
13. Walking Shoes
With campus back in-person that means that students are back walking all day. Gift them a pair of walking shoes to help them out! I had these shoes for two three years of college and lasted a long time. I love how my current walking shoes: the Adidas Cloudfoam Pure 2.0.
- Lightweight running sneakers with a women’s-specific fit
14. Rain Jacket
Rainy days on campus are always hectic. A rain jacket would come in handy for sure!
15. AirPod Pros
Noise-canceling and portability are two traits AirPod Pros have that are so useful for college students. I know that I couldn’t go a day on campus without my AirPods. They would be great birthday gifts for college girls who love music or to focus while studying.
- RICHER AUDIO EXPERIENCE – The Apple-designed H2 chip pushes advanced audio performance even further, resulting in smarter noise cancellation and…
16. Mini Waffle Maker
These mini waffle makers have grown in popularity! Breakfast is made easier and simpler with this mini waffle maker as a birthday gift.
- MORE THAN WAFFLES: Make your favorite breakfast classics, or get creative with waffled hash browns, cookies and even biscuit pizzas. Any batter will “waffle” into single serving portions. Great for families or on the go.
17. Mug with her Initial
One cannot have too many mugs. A personalized mug with the birthday girl’s initials is a great birthday gift for college students. Target always has some that make cheap gifts.
18. Trader Joe’s Cookbook
I have this exact cookbook and can’t wait to use it! I love Trader Joe’s and shopped there throughout college. Even then, this cookbook is a great starter for beginner cooks. Then there is a college version of the cookbook here!
19. iPad
Something is having an iPad that makes you more organized. There is even a TikTok sound about iPads. It’s one of the best birthday gifts you can give to a college student.
- WHY IPAD — Colorfully reimagined and more versatile than ever, iPad is great for the things you do every day. With an all-screen design, 10.9-inch Liquid Retina display, powerful A14 Bionic chip, superfast Wi-Fi, and four gorgeous colors, iPad delivers a powerful way to create, stay connected, and get things done.
20. Personalized Friend Photo
For their birthday, gift your college friend a personalized photo of them from Etsy! A friend gave one of us for my birthday and it’s a cute gift that I love.
21. Charm Bracelet
Jewelry is always a go-to gift for any girl. Charm bracelets are coming back in style. They are sentimental and meaningful gifts. Its customizability also gives the girl the chance to express and show off her personality and style. Pandora’s charm bracelets are a classic!
22. Any Gift card
If all things fail or if you don’t know what to give to a college girl for her birthday, a gift card will be nice. College students are busy and often on a budget. A couple of dollars on a gift card like from Target or Amazon is a great gift that they would appreciate.
23. Makeup Mirror
Putting on makeup in a dorm or even apartment lighting isn’t the easiest. Having a makeup mirror would be a gift perfect for makeup-loving girls.
- Built in 21 LED bulbs; HUONUL makeup mirror provides a good brightness for makeup; dim or brighten up the lights with a long pressing of touch screen switch
24. Laptop Handbag
Laptops are a must have for college students. But adding a tote handbag will elevate any outfit to be Instagram-ready.

25. Gold Hoop Earrings
Gold hoop earrings are trending right now—especially for the That Girl and Clean Girl aesthetics. They are versatile and can be paired with a pair of jeans for an everyday look or to match a dress.
26. Phone Case
A phone case is a need, especially on a college campus. There were many days where I dropped my phone while leaving class or dropping it while walking to class. I love how this phone case from Etsy has initials on it, making it way more personalized.
27. Rice Cooker
I know that most of my college friends and I struggled to make rice correctly, so one of my friends bought me a mini rice cooker. I absolutely needed this while in undergrad, but I appreciate it so much because it’s perfect for me now in my first apartment.
- MORE THAN RICE: Oatmeal, stew, soup, quinoa, rice, and pasta. The 2-cup/half quart capacity allows for healthier portion control, or individual, quick and easy breakfast, lunch, dinner, snacks, or sides.
28. Tote Bag or Canvas Bag
Another useful birthday gift for college girls is a tote bag. Tote bags are so popular right now and it seems like every other girl on Pinterest has one. I know so many people who love collecting cloth tote bags since they come in handy tasks like grocery shopping, sitting in the park to have a picnic, moving, or just as an accessory for an outfit.
29. Cute Desk Lamp
Desk lamps are cuter and more practical than ever! If the birthday girl want to charge their phone while studying, then I recommend this desk lamp I used to have. Or if they want something cute to have while reading or chilling out, I love this cat lamp I had that can also be found on some study with me YouTubers’ desk.
- Versatile LED Desk Lamp: This modern desk lamp features 52 eye-friendly LEDs with 5 adjustable brightness levels and 5 lighting modes, perfect for reading, studying, working, or relaxing
- 😸[Best Cute Gifts for Women Mom Teen Girls Cat Lovers]: Super cute cat face made by BPA-free washable silicone gives a pleasantly soft touch, is your best gift idea for cat lover women.
Related: 21 Ways How to Make Your Desk Look Aesthetic
30. Sunglasses
Sunglasses are needed, especially while walking on a college campus. There are days during the fall and spring when the sun is blaring up in the sky and a cloud is nowhere to be found. It also helps make the birthday girl look more stylish, too!
I got my pair of sunglasses (The Hepburn Sunglasses) from Privé Revaux and love them.
31. Leggings from Lululemon
Finally, another birthday gift idea for a college-aged girl you can give is a workout set from Lululemon. Walk on a college campus and you’re going to find tons of girls sporting a part of Lululemon shorts, tops and/or leggings. It’s also a great outfit choice for a girl that goes to school on a walking campus.
Buy a pair of leggings on Lululemon.com!
That’s it for this blog post about birthday gifts for college girls!
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Loved this list! It’s so refreshing to see gift ideas that are both practical and fun. I especially appreciate the mix of trendy items and essentials. You’ve given me some great ideas for my roommate’s birthday! Thanks, Ariel!