Christmas Gift Guide: College Student Edition

College Advice

Christmas time is here! Finding gifts for college students can be a little tricky. The gifts you get can vary widely based on your favorite college student's personality and interests. We hope this article can guide you to some gifts that will make them feel thought of and help them throughout the semesters to come!

There are three main categories of gifts for college students: residence and real life gifts, study time and tech gifts, and fun and personal interest gifts. Keep reading for a bonus section of gifts!

Residence & Real Life Gifts

Moving away from home means students spend a lot of time building a space that feels comfortable, peaceful, and personal. Dorm and daily-life essentials make a huge difference in helping them feel grounded during a busy season of life. These gifts are practical, but they also communicate care — whether it’s warmth, comfort, convenience, or a touch of home.

Simple items like blankets, lamps, and kitchen basics can transform a small space into a cozy haven where they can study, rest, and recharge. If you want gifts that will make life easier, this is a great place to start!

Blankets: Who wouldn’t want to study while snuggled up in a super soft blanket? Try to match their decor style, or if they are full of school spirit, get a blanket from the DBU Bookstore!
Mini Projector: These are great for creating a cozy atmosphere. They make movie nights fun, and they can even be used for group study sessions or projecting a study vibes video on their wall. Check out these options >>
Coffee Makers: College students love (and need) their caffeine! Keurigs, Nespressos, French presses, milk frothers, or teapots are all great options. Pair it with a new mug or tumbler, some coffee grounds/pods, and even some fun syrups! Please note: Only residents of apartments, brownstones, or townhomes are allowed to have a coffee maker in their unit.
Essential oils and a diffuser: since DBU students are not allowed to have candles in their residences, essential oils and diffusers make the perfect gift to help make their homes smell cozy! Consider scents like eucalyptus and lavender for stress relief, or brighter ones like orange to spark energy, and cinnamon to inspire thoughts of Christmas.
Streaming Service Subscription: We all need a break. Consider gifting a subscription to their favorite streaming platform! Options include Spotify, Netflix, Hulu, Disney+, Paramount, Apple Music, Audible, and many more.
Water Bottles: Ever heard of emotional support animals? College students have emotional support water bottles (they go everywhere with them). Look for something stainless steel so it keeps water cool and is durable enough to last them through the rest of college. Nowadays, so many water bottles on the market offer unique colors, so try to find one that suits their personality best!
Clothing: Between changing seasons, professional dress days, and casual days in between, college students always need something to add to their wardrobe. School sweatshirts from the DBU bookstore are always a hit and can be worn most of the year!
Cooking and Dining: Students always need practical items like silverware, food storage containers, stainless steel drink tumblers, dishes, baking essentials, cookware, etc. Note: Dorm residents do not have access to ovens or stovetops.
Cleaning supplies: Encourage students to keep their residences clean with some fun basics like a dustbuster, scrub daddy sponges, cleaning solutions, and stylish cleaning tools.
Sick Day Essentials: Care for students by getting them some essentials before they get sick (they definitely will). Some DayQuil, NyQuil, chicken noodle soup, tea bags, and other comfort items will mean a lot when they are under the weather.

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 can be loaded remotely. Send new pictures from home from time to time to remind them that they're loved.
Personalized Accessories: Monograms are in style, and a great idea to remind them to think of home is some personalized luggage or packing cubes. These and other personalized travel gifts are a great gift to make students feel more adult and will encourage them to travel more. Sites like Mark & Graham and Marleylilly offer some great, high-quality options.
"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 that they can hold on to throughout college.

Study Time: Academic & Tech Gear Gifts

College students spend countless hours studying, writing papers, and working on projects, so the right gear can make those long days much more manageable. The right tools can genuinely boost productivity and even reduce stress! Many of these tools also double as creative or entertainment outlets, offering balance during a fast-paced semester.

Note-Taking Tablets: These are such a useful tool for students who prefer to keep their notes digitally! Note-taking tablets ensure everything stays organized and readily accessible for studying without having to have the right notebook on hand.
Noise-Canceling Headphones: The right headphones can make or break a study session. Staying focused at the right times is imperative, especially in a busy library where you're bound to see friends walk by. If your student prefers silence over music, consider something like Loop earplugs.
Markers, Pens, Sticky Notes, and Highlighters: They make some amazing stationery items these days! Some students obsess over the latest highlighters, see-through sticky notes, pen collections, and notebooks to make their notes the best they can be. These double as Bible study tools as well, which is always good to encourage. Consider options from Mr. Pen, Tombow, or iBayam pens.
E-Readers: As you might recall in our tech gadgets list for college students, e-readers are a great option. Options include a Kindle or a Nook, which can hold numerous books for something fun to read, whether on the go or during a needed study break.
Study Accessories: Studying in the same spot day after day can get tiring. Help your college student change it up with a lap desk, a laptop stand, a nice wireless mouse and keyboard, or even a quality desk chair.

Study Breaks: Fun & Personal Interest Gifts

The years spent at college are hopefully some of the best memories a student will make in their life. With such a heavy focus on academics during these years, it is easy to forget the hobbies and activities they loved before classes began. Gifts that encourage their favorite pastimes give students a breath of fresh air when they can take a break from their studies.

For Artists: Acrylic/oil paint, paint brushes, canvases, 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.
For Photographers: 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, or a portable mini photo printer.
For Sentimentalists: Journals and scrapbooking material. 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. These are pages that can hold memories they will read back on for years to come.
For Foodies: Consider fast food and restaurant gift cards. DBU is close to tons of options, including a few favorites like Chipotle, Chick-fil-A, Torchy's Tacos, Raising Canes, Whataburger, Chuy’s, Chili’s (it’s so back), In-N-Out, and many more.
For Coffee lovers: Consider gift cards to their favorite coffee shops! A few local favorites include the DBU Coffeehouse, White Rhino, Moravian Coffee, Starbucks, and dozens more.
For Nature Lovers: Does your favorite college student prefer to spend time outdoors? Consider tickets to a few of the local beauties scattered around DFW, like the Cedar Hill State Park, the Dallas Arboretum, the Fort Worth Zoo, the Fort Worth Stockyards, or the Dallas World Aquarium.
For Amusement Seekers: if they prefer to get their dose of fun surrounded by activity, consider tickets to a few of the livelier parts of DFW, like Six Flags Over Texas, Hurricane Harbor, Professional Sports Games (Rangers, Stars, Cowboys, Mavericks), Concerts, or Theater tickets.

Bonus: Books & Bibles Gift Guide

College students surely have no shortage of books to read, but gifting them books that align with their interests or spiritual development can give them a welcome break when they find time to stop studying. Below is a list of recommended reading from some DBU faculty, staff, and alumni if you need some inspiration!

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 2023 and 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 Journaling 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.

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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)