Graduation season is here and this is an exciting time for graduates and their families! Finding the right gift card to congratulate the graduate is difficult but it is even more difficult to figure out how much to spend on graduation gift cards for high school students. We have the answers to both of these questions for you.
How Much Do You Give for Graduation Gift Cards?
We have looked high and low, far, and wide for the answer. We polled friends and asked random strangers. So here we go, the answer is... it depends. Of course! We found most people like to give graduation gifts for high school around $20 - $100, depending on your relationship with the grad. The average amount is $25 with higher amounts ($50 - $100) being reserved for family and close friends. Nieces and nephews always get spoiled. Why stop now? $50-$100 will help them offset all of their new costs of living at school or getting ready for it.
Regardless of the amount you spend, you can make any gift card special by personalizing it for the graduate.
Best Gift Cards For High School Graduates
Some of our favorite gift card ideas for graduation include anything they can use to prepare for college life or things they can do on campus. Practical gift cards are always great graduation gifts for high school students but extra splurges like streaming services are also welcomed. Visit our gifting center for more ideas but here are some of the best gift cards for high school graduates.
1. Bed Bath & Beyond
Every incoming freshman needs to get new bedding, toiletry organizers, small appliances, and more for their dorm room. With over 1000+ stores nationwide, Bed Bath & Beyond gift cards can stock them up for their four-year journey. Redeemable online or in-store depending on their need.
2. Bath & Body Works
Stock up on soaps, lotions, and sanitizes for the first year away from home. There are fun fragrances available for boys and girls, fruity or aromatherapy, strong or subtle. Every college student would love to receive this gift card for graduation!
3. Chipotle
College kids and Chipotle goes hand-in-hand. It's fast food that isn't the typical experience and that's why they love it. Lunch or Dinner, it never disappoints. A gift card to Chipotle is a burritoful thing!
4. Panera Bread
Coffee and a muffin or a soup/salad/sandwich for lunch or dinner. It's a crowd-pleaser for everyone especially a 'poor' college student. A Panera Bread gift card will put a smile on your graduate's face.
5. TJ Maxx/Marshalls/HomeGoods
This multi-brand gift card covers all the college essentials. You can find pillows, sheets, bedspreads, and even clothing or shoes. It's so diverse that you can't go wrong with it. It's a welcomed gift for any graduate.
6. Spotify
Your college student will be able to listen to millions of songs, offline and without ad interruptions. Create your favorite playlists and share them or lean back and listen to Spotify’s curated playlists and original podcasts. This gift card will give them music for study time, workout time, or just hanging with friends.
7. Hulu
For when your college student has downtimes, this is the perfect gift. They can stream from TVs, laptops, or tablets in the dorm or at the library. It's a gift they'll love to get.
8. Uber
Most college kids are carless on campus but still want to get out to neighboring movie theaters, restaurants, shopping centers or just the grocery store. Gift Uber! It's a practical and useful gift card for any graduate.
9.Doordash
Can't make it to the dining rooms? A Doordash gift card will help your new college student get food at any hour of the day and from hundreds of different restaurants. It's a break from the cafeteria and a gift that all the kids love.
10.BGC Gift Card
The BGC Card lets your high school graduate pick whatever gift card is best for them. They simply come to the site and click on the 'Redeem BGC Card' button on the menu bar and enter their code. This puts a credit into our store and they can purchase any gift card that is available. Over 200+ brands!
Personalize Gift Cards
Regardless if you text, email, or print a gift card at home, all of them can be personalized. Pick a graduation template from our professionally designed eGreetings. (Think of this image as the front of your greeting card.) Then personalize the inside as well. Upload your favorite photo or video message. Finally include a special message. Can’t think of exactly the right message? Below are some inspiring quotes for high school graduations.
- “The most important thing in your life is to live your life with integrity and to not give into peer pressure to try to be something that you’re not.”
—Ellen DeGeneres - “There are far, far better things ahead than any we leave behind.”
—C.S. Lewis - “To accomplish great things, we must not only act, but also dream, not only plan, but also believe.”
—Anatole France - “What lies behind us and what lies before us are small matters compared to what lies within us.”
—Ralph Waldo Emerson - “There are no regrets in life. Just lessons.”
—Jennifer Aniston - “Take pride in how far you’ve come. Have faith in how far you can go. But don’t forget to enjoy the journey.”
—Michael Josephson - “The only thing you can do in this life is pursue your passions, celebrate your bloopers and never stop following your fear.”
—Grace Helbig - “Kid, you’ll move mountains.”
—Dr. Seuss - “Your imagination is your preview of life’s coming attractions.”
—Albert Einstein - “Every person you meet knows something you don’t; learn from them.”
—H Jackson Brown Jr.
Graduation is a time to think of the future and the possibilities that lie ahead. These gift cards will definitely start the journey on the right foot for any high school graduate!
