The ONLY College School Supply List You Need For Fall 2026

Are you heading off to college this year and don’t have a clue what to bring to a college class? Don’t worry, I got a college supply list for 2026 in this blog post!

When I first started college all I could find were tons of college dorm packing lists or what not to bring to college lists, but not many college school supply lists. Even though most people are staying in dorms, I think it is important to know what to bring to class. Without your courses, you most likely won’t be staying in a dorm in the first place, so school matters.

A college school supply list isn’t too different from one that you’ll see from high school. The main difference is that you’ll have less to carry around.

So, this blog post will give you all the college school supplies that you need as a college student. This is a general list that will help most students who are starting college (or returning) on what to bring to class.

College School Supply List: A List of School Supplies For College Students

1. Backpack

Having a backpack is one of the first college school supplies that came to my mind. You must have a good, durable backpack, especially if you want one that will last all 4-5 years. As a college student, you’ll be walking around campus for hours and will need a space for your other supplies.

I recommend getting a North Face Borealis Backpack. I used this backpack for about 2 years and loved it (and still use it). It was an upgrade from my North Face Jester Backpack, which didn’t have enough space for me during college.

2. Laptop

Nowadays, it’s vital to have your own laptop in college. Professors expect you to have a laptop. My university college said that students were required to have a specific computer for some classes because we used Adobe products and other video editing programs.

Anyway, try to save and buy your own laptop. My first college laptop was the Apple MacBook Air. I talked to the Apple team, and they said these laptops were made with students in mind. It’s made to run heavy programs while also having the power to run streaming services because they know that college students do that, lol.

Overall, find a laptop that works for you.

2.5 An iPad & Keyboard & Apple Pencil

This is a 2026 edition update. Looking back, I might have gotten an iPad for college for some classes. There were plenty of people who used tablets and iPads to get their degrees and take notes. I have an iPad now, and it’s such a nice thing to have for certain projects compared to my heavy laptop.

Related: Best Dorm Gifts: 37 Ideas On What To Gift a College Freshman

3. Notebook

Okay, I know I just made a section about laptops, but you’ll still need a notebook. Look, you’re not going to be able to get away with it in some classes. IDK what my history professors had against laptops…but some professors will ban laptops/encourage you to take handwritten notes.

You’re going to have at least one class or professor who will make you take notes in a notebook. I recommend the Five Star 5-subject notebook. It had enough space to last two semesters and possibly even three, depending on the class.

4. Pens

Another item to have on your college school supply list is a pen…maybe more than one because you will lose them. Again, some professors have some serious beef against laptops. Get a pack of pens that you can use to take notes. 

My favorite pens are the G-2 Pilot Pens. I used them throughout college and still do at my job.

5. #2 Pencils

Next up are pencils. This should be obvious, but it kinda isn’t. You will need a specific type of pencil for exams and scantrons. Yes, you will probably have a class that uses scantrons. Not all your exams will be online. Buy a pack of #2 pencils because nothing is worse than walking into the testing hall, looking around, and seeing that everyone has a #2 pencil to take the exam, and you don’t.

(No, seriously, a girl walked in on one of my Economics class exams and asked whether it was exam day…and it was. She didn’t have a #2 pencil or a Scantron. Yeah.)

6. Planner

You should definitely have a planner in college. It’s an essential. Planners help you stay organized and remind you of assignments’ due dates.

As always, I recommend Ban.do’s Academic Planners because I used them throughout college.

7. Highlighters

When studying, highlighters will be useful to (obviously) highlight the important things you need to remember. This is also a study hack that I used a lot during college. It was useful for when I was skimming books right before a test.

My recommendation? Always the Midliner Highlighters. Expensive? Kinda? But they are the best I’ve ever used. There are my to-go highlighters still to this day.

8. Pencil Case

Don’t want your pencils to get lost right before a quiz? Get a pencil case.

9. Folder

Another school supply for college that you need to stay organized is a folder. Folders came in handy when my professors used to hand out tons of papers.

10. Index Cards

Index cards will become your go-to for studying in some classes.

11. Flash Drive/ 1TB

Back up your files, please. Flash drive sounds so old. Just figure out a way to back up your stuff. I used to have a 1 TB drive for all my files. It’s a bit more expensive, but it’ll last forever (or until you run out of space).

12. Sticky notes

Sticky notes were my thing in college, especially for online classes and reading long texts. They were more useful than I expected. I used them to write down my daily to-do lists, summarize articles, and do math at times. I recommend getting some help with both studying and organization.

13. Calculator

If you are taking a math class, get the calculator that your professor recommends. Not much here. They also come in handy for your monthly budget.

14. Extra Chargers

This is a college school supply that I ignored most of college. I can definitely tell you that your laptop charger is probably the most important thing that you need to carry with you. Have a backup charger to lessen the chance of losing it.

15. Laptop Case & Cover

Protect your expensive laptop, please. I learned the hard way.

My go-to laptop cover brand:

My favorite laptop case brand:

16. Mini-Stapler & Staples

So I was a Mass Communication major…my professors were super picky. They would dock points over a paper not being stapled. So, I MUST recommend that you get a mini-stapler.

Trust me, the last thing you want is to run across campus to the library before class to find a stapler in the library or go hunting for one in your class’s building before your professor picks up your paper. This is the EXACT mini panda stapler I have and used to staple my essay papers in college!

17. Paper Clips

Keep your papers organized with paper clips. It’s a college supply that is overlooked, but you don’t understand…it’s like you can’t find a paper clip when you need it the most.

18. Printer Paper

Dorms and apartment complexes have free printers. But the catch was that there won’t be any paper in them! This was common across all free printers on campus. If you paid, there was most likely paper in there.

Get a paper of printer paper for yourself. I had one that lasted all four years of college. Do not underestimate the number of times you’ll need to print your assignments or tests or study guides.

Related: The Most Honest, Realistic College Dorm Room Packing List

19. Earbuds/Headphones/AirPods

Finally, you will need earbuds, headphones, or AirPods. Just get a pair. Cafes, classrooms, libraries, or wherever you want to study will be nosy. Some classes also require you to have them.

I recommend getting AirPods because I used them for the last 2-3 years and honestly can’t live without them. They connect through Bluetooth and are small enough to slide into any bag or pocket you have.

20. Laptop Desk

An extra item to add to your college school supply list is a lap desk. This is handy. I had a laptop desk throughout college, and it seriously helped me out while studying or doing homework on my bed or couch. Lap desks are great to place your laptop on instead of your lap and help your laptop fan run and not overheat, versus on the couch’s fabric or your pants.

Final FAQs About College School Supplies:

Q: What school supplies do I really need for college?

A: Honestly, a backpack, a laptop, a notebook, and pencils. This is the bare minimum. You can buy everything else throughout the year. 

Q: Do you need a laptop for college?

A: As I mentioned before, you will need a laptop. It will be easier for you to have one in the long run. It especially depends on your major. I studied Public Relations, so it was important that I had one because all I did in my classes was write papers and make presentations. My university college also required one.

I remember freaking out because I had no money to buy one when I started college. I saved up and bought one. Apple and several laptop companies have student discounts for college students. I recommend shopping around for one and buying a refurbished laptop, which is what I did my first year.

This blog post was a college school supplies list 2026 edition.

Loved this post, make sure to pin it to save it for later ⬇️

Before you go, read more college content on this blog:

• 17 Must Haves For Dorm Rooms | What You Actually Need For College
• 29 Unexpected Things To Bring To College | What You Can’t Forget When Packing
• The Ultimate College Clothes Packing List | What Clothes To Bring To College