The Best College Back To School Basket Ideas

If you have a college student who is going back to school, you’re probably looking for some good college back to school basket ideas. Here are some of the best things to put in a back to school basket for college students!

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college back to school basket

One of the nicest things you can do for a college student during back to school season is to give them a college back to school basket.

Since college students usually have limited space to store things, you want to make sure you only put things in a care package that they need/ will use.

Here are the best things you can put in a back to school care package for college students that they actually want!

This post is all about the best college back to school basket ideas.

1. Snacks

You cannot go wrong with putting snacks in a basket for college students. When I was in college, this was always the #1 thing I wanted in a care package. This snack box has all kinds of snacks that a college student would love, and it has amazing reviews on amazon.

2. Cozy Blanket

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A cozy blanket is another thing that would be really nice to add to a care package! Even if they already have some cozy blankets, it’s always really nice to get a soft new blanket to curl up in.

3. Lip Balm

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This would be a great thing to put in a care package for any college student. Everyone needs to have some extra lip balm on hand! This is another thing that was on my own personal care package wishlist when I was in college.

4. School Supplies

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You could also include some basic school supplies in a back to school basket. Some pens and some notebooks are a safe bet for things they’ll most likely use! It’s always good to have some extras on hand when you’re in college.

4. Hand Sanitizer

College students go a lot of places that aren’t necessarily the cleanest, whether that’s to classes, the bar, football games, etc. Some form of hand sanitizer is definitely something I would include in a college care package! This hand sanitizer spray is super popular and really easy to use because you can just spray it on your hands.

5. Coffee

If your student is a coffee drinker, this would be a really thoughtful thing to include in a back to school basket! When I was in college I always wished for some starbucks coffee pods, but I always had to go with the cheapest ones I could find since I was pretty broke. Getting them some yummy, nice coffee is sure to be appreciated!

6. Stress Supplements

Since most college students deal with a lot of stress and anxiety, some stress supplements are something they would definitely get use out of. I’ve used these stress supplements myself and I loved them! This is something most people wouldn’t think to add to a college care package, but it would help a student a lot.

7. First Aid Kit & Medicine

These are probably the top most useful things you could put in a college back to school basket. When I was in college I hardly ever had medicine on hand when I needed it because 1. I was too broke to afford a bunch of different kinds of medicine and 2. the spaces I lived in were small and didn’t have much space for a fully stocked medicine cabinet.

So, a first aid kit (if they don’t already have one) and a kit with essential medicines like this would be super useful to give a college student! If your student has the space for it, I highly recommend getting them some full sized medicines for them to have on hand.

8. Tumbler Cup

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Every college student needs a reusable cup or bottle to make sure they’re drinking enough water. This brand of tumbler is the one you’d probably see the most on college campuses! It’s super popular right now, so it would be perfect to include one in a back to school basket.

9. Slippers

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It’s always nice to include a pair of slippers in a care package for college students. My freshman year of college when I lived in the dorms I ended up having to get some slippers because I didn’t have any.

These are essential if they’re living in the dorms because it isn’t super sanitary for them to be walking around barefoot, but they’re a nice cozy gift to give regardless of whether they’re living in the dorms or not.

10. Inspirational Book

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If your student is a reader, it would be really cute to include an inspirational book in their back to school basket! I read this book right after I graduated college, and I wish I’d read it sooner! It changed my mindset a lot around the power of your every day habits. I highly recommend this book for college students.

11. Gift Cards

Gift cards are always good to put in college care packages. What gift cards you get will depend on what your college student likes, but amazon gift cards, coffee shop gift cards, visa gift cards, and food gift cards are usually a good idea.

12. Hygiene Essentials

When I was in college I loved it when I would get essentials as gifts. My grandma always gave me some new shampoo/ conditioner, deodorant, toothpaste, etc when I would visit her, and it was the absolute best.

This pre-made hygiene essential pack would be so perfect for college girls!

13. Socks

Socks are another thing you can’t really go wrong with adding to any type of care package. Everyone will appreciate some fresh new socks.

I wear these socks every day because of how comfortable they are! They have built in cushioning.

14. Card Games

If your student likes to play card games, this would be the perfect thing to include in a back to school basket. This is something anyone could have fun doing with their friends, but it’s especially perfect to get for someone living in the dorms since they’re around a lot of people they could play with.

15. Drinks

This is another thing that you’ll have to base on what your individual student likes, but adding some of their favorite drinks to a care package would be so thoughtful! When I was in college I was obsessed with these Starbucks frappuccino’s.

16. Portable Charger

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This is a genius thing to include in a college back to school basket. Every college student needs to have a portable charger on hand. Even if they already have one, it wouldn’t hurt to have an extra!

This post was all about the best things to put in a college back to school basket.

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