The Best Graduation Gifts for Him Are More Useful Than a Degree

A premium dress shirt that'll help him ace that interview or corporate dress code.

If your grad is leaving college, now's the time for him to learn that there are better drinks out there than Red Bull and vodka. And he can make all those superb drinks with this streamlined cocktail set.

Whether he's following the hybrid work model, is fully remote, or has to go to the office five days a week, his new laptop bag will have the swagger to get him from A to Z looking sharp.

Those days of wearing sweats all day are over, but Alex Mill managed to make a pair of "capital P" Pants that are actually comfortable and help him look like his life is together even when he's not.

No more relying on mom and dad's cooking or the dining hall. Welp, we're pretty sure he's not going to be doing any grocery store runs, so let Blue Apron do all the shopping (and most of the food prepping) for him.

Honestly every gifting occasion is the right time to get a guy some new underwear.

Chances are he won't actually start vacuuming any time soon, but when he does with the V15 Detect, he'll actually enjoy the chore. Why? The laser in the cleaning head lights up naked-to-the-eye dust particles, turning vacuuming into a game of Pac-Man.

Prepschool vibes for the recent high school grad with Ivy League ambitions.

Spend $329 now and save him thousands on chiropractor appointments in the future.

The implication is that this gift will inspire to go to the gym, but we're realizing it might be too cozy and comfortable, so much so that he'll end up lazing on the couch all day.

If there were one knife to rule them all, it'd be this one. It even cameoed in The Bear, and we know that show is as close to a real-life kitchen as possible.

Please remind him that this is a whisky meant to be savored and enjoyed.

Hopefully he starts making it rain with that new high-paying job, but even so, he'll need some protection from the actual rain.

A little boost of energy never hurt anybody, and it's certainly better than the 5-Hour Energy he used to get him through those 8 a.m. lectures.

A little reminder of the academic life he's leaving behind.

Getting him a “work jacket” might be pretty on the nose as he enters the, ahem, workforce, but boy, he'll look so good in this.

Something he can use to get the party started in his dorm room rager era, which comes with GQ's enthusiastic stamp of approval.

A handsome keychain, for when you're handing him the keys to a new car, your summer home, or the storage unit he needs to empty out by the 5th.

His choice of framing for that diploma, sentimental photo, or first big check.

You may be kicking him off your family health insurance plan soon, but you can at least help him reduce his dentist bills down the line.

May his bean juice supplies never run out.

A massive upgrade from dining hall dishes, encompassing everything a bachelor might need to feed himself.

You can't help him nepotism his way into his dream job or internship, but you can ensure that he's on time to class, unruffled, with his papers all ready to go.

An ode to the place where he spent his days cramming, or just the perfect way to cover up the lingering scent of pizza boxes.

Dorm room attitude, grown man craftsmanship: This chair bridges the gap between where he's been and where he's headed. It'll also give you somewhere to sit when you visit.

Help him burn the midnight oil into grad school and beyond with an entry-level, space-saving espresso coffee maker.

It isn't the Rimowa luggage you know he wants, but Away's solid spinners are still a mighty upgrade from the average roller.

One of our favorite slim leather wallets serves as a gentle reminder that, financially speaking, your college grad is officially on his own now.

The shoe of the moment is one that he'll be wearing well past his first entry-level job.

Upgrade any dingy twin XL sheets he's hanging onto with a full suite of high-quality bedding for his starter apartment.

The lazy guy's alternative to ironing lets him steam wrinkles into submission, without taking up too much real estate in the closet (and transfers into an iron should he need to crisp up his work shirts).

These noise-cancelling, wireless headphones have all the charm of dad's old pair but with the modern upgrades a man of discerning taste needs in 2023. Namely, killer sound and Bluetooth pairing.

Spark his first great love affair with a sports coat.

Way cooler than an actual grad ring, no matter where he's graduating from. For a more personal touch, there’s also an option to add a monogram or engraving.

Even more life-affirming than Oh, the Places You'll Go, with plenty of kernels of wisdom for new graduates to carry into the next chapter.

After grinding for four years, this young man deserves a gadget that lets him play hard, too.

The multi-purpose, but also durable and ding-able, graduation present that every new apartment needs.

Sure, a perfectly-cut navy suit isn't the pinnacle of wavy tailoring, but it's still a wise investment for job interviews, weddings, and all manner of formal functions.

For the budding cast-iron obsessive, here’s an endlessly useful pan that's large enough for steaks and stir-fry. It’s the perfect graduation gift that he’ll have for years to come—if he seasons it properly, of course.

Instead of buying him the dress shoes he'll wear once a year, get him the boots he really wants—which'll also help him look a little more grown up.

Our all-around favorite memory foam mattress is one of the most useful investments when it comes to college graduation gifts, especially if he's more used to nodding off on a friend's futon than a proper bed.