Shopping for a roommate, a little sister heading off to school, your Secret Santa or the whole friend group? The best gifts for students are small, useful and actually on trend. Nobody needs another mug. Everybody needs warm hands on the walk to class.
Every pick below is under $25, and most work for anyone because there is no size to guess.
Cozy gifts for cold walks to class
Comfort is having a moment. A Vogue Business trend tracker, cited by UkrMedia in late September, counted more than 125,000 TikTok posts under #CozyAesthetic. Cold-weather accessories are the easiest way to give in to it.
- Fuzzy Cable Knit Ear Warmer Headband ($22.99). Warm ears with less hat hair, a good pick for anyone who refuses to wear a beanie. It comes in six colors, including burgundy, olive and rust.
- Knit Touchscreen Gloves ($12.99). Three touchscreen fingertips mean they can text, pull up a mobile ID and change the song without taking them off. A great add-on gift.
- Striped Cotton Stretch Crew Socks ($18.99). Fun socks are a classic for a reason, and stripes are all over campus style coverage this fall.
Jewelry and hair gifts that feel personal
Jewelry is one of the easiest gifts to get right because it does not need a size. This season leans bold: Vogue highlighted charm-heavy necklaces in its fall accessories coverage, and oversized pearls fit the same bolder mood.
- Big Faux Pearl Necklace with Crystal Heart Stone ($22.99). A statement piece that dresses up a plain sweater, and an easy pick for anyone with a holiday party on the calendar.
- Layered Chain Necklace with Heart Pendant ($14.99). Comes in four colors, so it works as a matching gift for best friends.
- Tortoise and Cream Acetate Claw Clips, Set of 4 ($18.99). Cosmopolitan's hair trend report says stylists want clips that feel like an actual piece of jewelry, and tortoise is a classic. Four clips also means they can share.
Practical gifts they will use every day
- RFID Blocking Zip Card Holder with Carabiner ($16.99). Student ID, debit card and dorm key on one clip. A solid pick for guys who never want to carry a full wallet.
- Colored Sheer Tights ($19.99). Elle called this fall a colored tights renaissance, with burgundy and purple leading. It is a fun, low-risk way to try a trend, and the tights come in burgundy, purple, cobalt and more.
How to wrap it so it feels bigger
Small gifts look more thoughtful when they come as a set. Tuck a pair of tights or socks inside a gift bag with a handwritten note, or clip the claw clips onto the ribbon so they double as decoration. For a group gift, split one set of four clips between friends and wrap each one in tissue. A little effort on presentation goes a long way when the gift itself fits in your palm.
Gift ideas by person
- For the roommate: touchscreen gloves + striped socks.
- For the best friend: the heart pendant necklace in two colors, one for each of you.
- For the friend who is always cold: ear warmer headband + gloves.
- For the guy who is hard to shop for: the card holder with carabiner + socks.
- For the one with a party every weekend: the big pearl necklace or a pair of burgundy tights.
- For Secret Santa: the claw clip set. It is under $20 and easy to share.
How to stretch a gift budget
- Bundle two small gifts. Orders of $35 or more ship free in the US. The ear warmer and a pair of tights together come to $42.98, so you skip the $4.99 shipping fee.
- Shop for the group at once. Buying several gifts in one order is the easiest way to clear free shipping.
- Order with time to spare. Orders ship from US warehouses and usually arrive in about 3 to 11 business days. Build in extra time before winter break.
- Keep the receipt handy. Unworn items can be returned within 30 days if the color is not quite right.
For more under-$25 ideas, browse Under $25 or the full Accessories shop.