9 of the Best Gift Cards to Buy College Students

By Alexandra Brown on December 19, 2014

The holidays are just around the corner, and finding the perfect gift can sometimes be extremely stressful.

If you’re buying for a significant other, you might be stuck on what would make for the perfect gift. If you’re buying for a friend, maybe you know them really well but are still unsure. If you’re buying for parents, well, it can probably be assumed that anything you give will be appreciated in some form or another.

Generally speaking, however, gift cards are always a safe bet, especially if you’re not completely sure about what to give.

You can also be certain that any college student will be happy to accept the type of gift they can go off and spend on their own.

Here are 9 different types of gift cards to give to college students that they will undoubtedly appreciate:

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1. Staples/Office Max/Office Depot

A great idea for a gift card for a college student is the classic office supplies gift card. We as college students are in need of new supplies such as pens, pencils, highlighters, note cards, folders and notebooks not only at the start of each semester, but at various times throughout the semester, when we’re running low.

Also, it’s fun to shop for office supplies in my opinion. There are so many options! A gift card to any one of these stores would not go to waste if given to any college student.

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2. Starbucks

Coffee is a must for a lot of students to start their days productively, and finish successfully. Students would use a gift card like this to grab coffee on the go, between classes, or even to buy small items like pastries and donuts if they missed breakfast for some reason.

Even if the student isn’t a coffee drinker, Starbucks also sells tea, cold drinks, hot chocolate, and more. A Starbucks card is always appreciated.

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3. Walgreens

Walgreens basically sells a little bit of everything, so a gift card to the store would not be wasted. College students are constantly getting sick and needing things like cough medicine, aspirin, etc. which can all be found at Walgreens. Basic toiletry items are also sold here, like face wash, shampoo and conditioner, body wash, and toothpaste, which will inevitably run out at some point.

The store also has its own small selection of grocery items, which could come in handy to a student who hasn’t had time to make a full trip to the grocery store any given week.

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4. iTunes

College students, just like most people, love their music, whether they’re listening for pleasure, before going out, or for studying. Giving them the gift of an iTunes card would allow them to purchase music that they’ve maybe been meaning to add to their collection, but haven’t had time.

Giving an iTunes card could also be a more personal gesture if you know the person you’re giving it to has a love for music.

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5. Chipotle

The Mexican grill has become an enormously popular choice among fast food, especially to college students. Giving this card would allow students to treat themselves after a rough day or week, and take a break from preparing home-cooked meals.

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6. Urban Outfitters

Urban Outfitters is a clothing store that is widely popular among high school and college students, and would make for a great gift, for both men and women. A lot of colleges/universities have these stores either on their main streets, or in malls nearby, so you can’t go wrong.

This card would make for a great gift, especially if you’re not sure about sizing or style preferences, but you know that whomever you’re buying for is a huge fan of the store. I know I am.

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7. Panera Bread

A Panera Bread gift card would be useful to students who are a fan of the chain restaurant, and who might spend too much of their own money there throughout the week. A gift card would come in use to students wanting to pick up breakfast items on the go or coffee, or who want to sit down to lunch with friends.

The chain also offers a warm, quiet atmosphere and free Wi-Fi useful for studying, which would come in handy to students looking to switch up their study spot.

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8. GameStop

If you know the student you’re buying for loves gaming, a gift card to any game store would most likely be much appreciated. They wouldn’t have to use their own money that could probably be better spent somewhere else, and they would probably love you for it.

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9. Best Buy

A Best Buy gift card would be perfect for any college student who’s constantly dealing with electronics like laptops, cameras, cell phones, etc. A gift card to this store would be well spent.

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