It’s holiday shopping time, and if your mom is as on-the-ball as mine, your wishlist has been requested (before Halloween, actually). It’s hard to know what to want as an adult, and it’s also difficult to come up with useful, tasteful, and budget-friendly presents for others. And when those others are academics? The struggle can be real. So today, we reveal the 2025 academic gift guide. If you need gifts for professors, grad students, and your other academic besties, read on!
We will start with the most budget-friendly gift ideas for academics and work our way up!
Under $50 presents for professors & grads
If you’re looking for gifts for professors or grad students that express appreciation at the end of the semester or school year, these are probably your best bet! For under $50, I love consumable presents. Most of us have a decent amount of teacher merch already, so instead, why not try…
Nice tea (can also purchase this or coffee at a local shop for a nice touch!)
Good pens or a notebook (trust me on these pens)
Desk chocolate (we all need desk chocolate, trust)
These last two are all about adding fun, screen-free time, which we are all sorely in need of!!!
An easy-to-learn, cooperative card game
A beautiful winter puzzle
Under $100 gift ideas
These might be gifts for your grad school besties who maintain a group chat 10 years later, or they might be things you wishlist yourself, but as we climb higher in price, my gifting philosophy is always to give people a nice little upgrade to something they already reach for a lot. Like…
A laptop sleeve (budget pick here!)
Nice university gear (maybe from their undergrad days…we never buy our own merch!)
Polished sweats for writing days
Steal and frame their diploma (the best act of service around tbh)
Under $200 gift ideas
Woah, you must like this person a lot. Maybe there’s a special nerd in your family who needs a Christmas present! Here are some under-$200 gifts for professors and grad students:
A nice new work bag
A watch (really nice as a graduation gift, too–a little upgrade so you don’t have to use your phone to check the time while teaching)
What else is on your holiday wishlist? Any previously-loved presents you now recommend to others?!?
PS- some fall and winter clothing wishes, if you are still building your list.
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