Do you need ideas for wonderful gifts for college teachers? In this curated collection, you’ll find the best gifts you can get for the professor in your life.
I was a college teacher for a few years so the items I included in this guide are things that a college professor would need or want.
Whether you’re trying to find a special gift for teacher appreciation week, Christmas, or other special occasions, this collection has some of the best professor gifts you can find.
Scroll down to see the gift ideas, or navigate using these links:
- Personalized gifts for college teachers
- Useful gifts for college teachers
- Self-care gifts for college teachers
- Funny gifts for college teachers
I hope you find the perfect item in this list of gifts for college teachers! If you go through this list and still feel stuck, gift cards are always a great option.
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Note: Prices listed are approximate and only reflect price at time of publication. Prices are subject to change.
Personalized Gifts for College Teachers
If you want to get a heartfelt and thoughtful gift, these personalized gifts are a great option. Custom gifts always feel a little bit more special because receiving something that was created specifically for you and features your name or image is so exciting. These awesome gifts are a safe bet!
01. Custom Bobblehead
This is my favorite gift on this list! These handmade bobbleheads are uncanny and may be the best way to make your professor feel special. A custom bobblehead is one of the best gifts for college teachers because it is personalized, funny, and a great conversation starter. Click to see a video of how the artist makes these by hand!
02. Custom Self-Inking Stamp
Make your college teacher feel special with their very own personalized stamp! You can customize it with whatever text you choose (e.g., the professor’s name, their catchphrase, etc.) and this stamp has many different color refills available.
03. The Simpsons Style Custom Portrait
This is an incredibly unique gift! You can have a photo of your college teacher transformed into a cool yellow cartoon character. You will receive a digital file of the portrait that you can print.
04. “Tears of My Grad Students” Mug
Brutal, but honest, this mug is hilarious and will be appreciated by professors who teach graduate studies. You can personalize this mug with the professor’s name on the other side of the mug. Click to see what that looks like.
05. Monogrammed Sticky Note and Pen Holder
This gorgeous little sticky note and pen holder is a sweet, personalized gift that any college teacher would love to use on their desk. This is an awesome, inexpensive gift that makes a great impression.
06. Personalized Notebook
A personalized notebook is a great gift for college teachers because they’re always needing to write things down and this small, easy-to-carry notebook and pen set are perfect for that. You can personalize it with their name!
07. Personalized Desk Organizer
Help your university professor keep their things safe and tidy with this gorgeous organizer. They can use it in their office or at home. It has a spot for everything! Take a look at the different color and personalization options!
08. Engraved Portfolio
Is there anything more lovely for a professor to carry around than a personalized portfolio? Give them an elegant, useful, customized gift that is actually affordable. Check out the different color and customization options.
09. Personalized Metal Stamped Bookmark
If you know your professor loves to read, a custom bookmark will make a great gift for them. This unique bookmark is metal and is personalized by hand stamping, which results in a one-of-a-kind product that is beautiful and durable.
10. Ped Steampunk Psychology/Neuroscience Coasters
Isn’t this such a cool design? These wooden coasters feature an intricate, detailed engraving that will be appreciated by anyone who is interested in the mind. Plus, this set of 6 coasters includes a holder, and you can get them personalized for free!
11. Fill-in-the-Blank Book
“Why you’re the best teacher ever,” This heartwarming book offers you the opportunity to fill in the love yourself. This fill-in-the-blank book contains prompts that will help you express the things that make them “The Best Teacher Ever.” This teacher appreciation gift is great for your favorite teacher. Check out the product photos to see previews of some of the writing prompts.
12. Personalized Pen
A nice pen with a personalized message makes a great gift. It comes in a variety of woods. Check out the product listing to see your options! You can choose to order the pen with or without the case.
13. Personalized “Last Nerve” Candle
Patience and humor are essential traits for a good teacher. College teachers will enjoy this humorous candle, as well as the large variety of scents you can choose from, such as blueberry cheesecake, apple cider, pink sugar crystals, and more!
14. “From the desk of…” Personalized Notepad
A personalized notepad can be a touching gift for a professor because they will love writing notes on paper that has been customized for them, plus each handwritten note will remind them of the thoughtful person who gave them this sweet gift.
Useful Gifts for College Teachers
These gifts for college teachers are practical, handy items that will make their lives easier. These are the best teacher gifts that can help them in the classroom, the office, on campus, or at home.
15. LeafLife Premium Bamboo Tea Tumbler
This lovely thermos is a tea infuser and strainer. If the professor in your life loves tea, they’ll love carrying this around campus! Plus, it is vacuum insulated so it will keep their drinks appropriately hot or cold.
16. Old World Globe Bar
This replica of a sixteenth-century Italian globe bar makes a gorgeous, striking gift. The university professor who deserves such a wonderful gift from you is certainly lucky!
17. Clicker and Pointer
This gift for college teachers offers them the freedom to move around the classroom as they present to their college students. Good teachers are dynamic and move around the classroom. I wish I’d invested in one of these when I was teaching because I hated having to walk back to the desk to click through presentations (a student actually brought me a wireless mouse once so that I didn’t have to be restricted to the desk, which was so thoughtful). This easy-to-use, wireless clicker is such a useful gift. Plus, it has a laser pointer and a clip so teachers can hang it off their pockets.
18. Scriveiner Luxury Fountain Pen
You don’t have to be super into calligraphy to appreciate the elegance of fountain pens. This pen boasts a luxurious writing experience that your college professor will enjoy. It just feels better to sign things and grade papers with a nice pen!
19. Premium Bento Lunch Box
This is such a cute and practical gift! I remember spending many hours on campus and wanting something like this that could keep my foods organized in separate compartments. This lovely bento box has two compartments and includes a sauce container, divider, cutlery, and chopsticks. Plus, it’s microwave and dishwasher-safe. Check out the product listing to see the eight different color options!
20. Reusable Dry Erase Sticky Notes Set
These dry-erase sticky notes are the best! I bought a pack and distributed them to my coworkers and they loved them. They stick to any smooth surfaces, and you can easily peel them off and stick them on again. As a professor, I loved using these to stay organized and jot down quick notes and messages for students.
21. Pomodoro Productivity Timer
The Pomodoro Technique is a time management method that involves rotating between scheduled periods of work and break time. This adjustable timer can be set to loop between work and break intervals to help you maximize productivity.
22. Insulated Lunch Backpack
I would have loved to have one of these when I was teaching! As a college professor, you’re walking around a lot because classrooms are often in different buildings across the campus. This bag is perfect because professors can carry everything they need, including a 15.6-inch laptop and their lunch!
23. Vintage Leather Satchel
A nice satchel like this screams “professor.” It’s a beautiful and practical gift that any college teacher would be proud to carry across campus. Made from cowhide leather and water-resistant waxed canvas, this durable and attractive bag will make a great gift. Plus, it fits a 15.6″ laptop.
24. Coffee Chemical Molecules (Set of 2 Glass Mugs)
Each glass features a detailed look at the molecules found in coffee, with a short explanation about how each molecule contributes to your favorite caffeinated beverage. Perfect for science and chemistry lovers.
25. The World Game – Geography Card Game
College teachers who love geography will enjoy this game! It’s great if they want to teach students or their own kids about the world because it uses gameplay to teach about different countries.
26. “This Day in History” Calendar
This is the perfect gift for a history professor! This calendar has a history fact for each day of the year. College teachers who enjoy learning about history will appreciate opening each new day to learn a new fact! Check out the other calendars available so you can get a topic your teacher will like.
27. Magnetic Poetry Tiles
This set of 797 magnetic word tiles is great fun for the classroom, office, or home. Teachers can use these in class to inspire students to get creative with words, or they can use them in their office as a fun, stress reliever. My old boss used to have these in her office and everyone enjoyed coming up with funny messages.
28. Chemistry Tie Clip
This is a unique, elegant, and affordable clip. The only requirement is a professor who wears ties and likes science.
29. Personalized Vintage Anatomy Cutting Board
Health sciences professors need to have this amazing cutting board in their homes! It features an intricate anatomical design that is detailed and incredible to look at. You can see more photos on the product listing if you click the link. Plus, check out their other custom cutting boards so you can choose one that’s appropriate for what your professor teaches.
30. Paper Mate Flair Felt Tip Pens
Teachers always need pens in different colors, for grading, writing notes, etc. These felt-tip pens come in a huge variety of colors that teachers will get a lot of use out of.
31. Arteza Dry Erase Markers & Cleaner Set
University professors share classrooms. Usually, when you step into a classroom, you’re forced to use whatever old, dried markers are available in the room. This is one of those classroom supplies that’s a pain to share. College teachers will appreciate having their own, personal set of beautiful dry-erase markers. This gift set brings 12 different colors, a spray cleaner, and a magnetic eraser.
32. Acrylic Dry Erase Board with Light
This is such a cool way for college teachers to write reminders, to-do lists, or nice messages in their offices. The acrylic surface is easy to write on with dry-erase markers (included) and it brings a wooden LED base to illuminate the board and make the writing pop. My daughter has one of these and it works great (she mostly uses it for doodles).
33. Color Changing Mug
This beautiful color-change mug has a lovely cherry blossom design. I bought this for a friend and the effect works very quickly and effectively. Teachers will be happy to drink their coffee or tea from this uniquely beautiful mug.
34. Wireless Charger
Help your professor keep their devices charged all day without a tangle of different cables. This simple, wireless charging pad can charge any wireless-charging-enabled phone and other devices, like AirPods.
35. Felt Letter Board
A nice felt board is a great gift for college teachers to have in their offices. They can leave messages for students, inspirational quotes, or whatever they want! This set brings 374 letters, characters, and symbols. Click to see the different board and frame colors.
36. Dry-Erase Office Hours Sign
This elegant sign will look great on your professor’s door. This is a great way for them to easily display their office hours. Plus, it’s dry-erase so they can adjust their hours each semester.
37. DNA Double Helix Silk Tie
A nice silk tie can make a great gift, especially if it represents something about the person. In this case, you can get something that relates to the subject your professor teaches. This DNA double helix tie is perfect for those in the science/health school, but if you want to see ties for different subjects, check out the store. I saw they have one with the Constitution on it, and others with math equations.
38. Unbreakable Wine Glasses
After a long day of teaching, it’s enjoyable to have a nice glass of wine. The wonderful thing about these is that they have the look of glass, these are actually made of special impact and shatter-resistant materials so they won’t break! Your college professor can enjoy without worrying about broken glass. Plus, they’re dishwasher safe.
39. Digital Picture Frame (Touch Screen)
This is the PERFECT gift for a college teacher’s office. We spend a lot of time away from our families. Make your teacher feel a bit closer to theirs with this 10-inch wifi digital frame. Click to see more specifications and great reviews.
40. Beverage Warmer
Help your college professor keep their drinks warm. This is perfect for coffee or tea and has an auto shut-off function for safety.
41. Luxurious Travel Umbrella (British Design)
Walking around campus means getting caught in the rain. Help your college teacher stay dry with this lovely umbrella. It not only looks great, but it is uniquely functional because the button both opens and closes the umbrella for a very easy-to-use and practical experience.
Self-Care Gifts for College Teachers
These gifts for college teachers focus on helping professors relax and manage stress. Professors wear many hats and have a lot of duties, so taking some time for self-care is essential.
42. Set of 52 Stress Less & Self Care Cards
Help your college teacher relieve some stress with this set of mindfulness and meditation cards. Each card is a different technique that they can use to relax and manage stress.
43. Nekteck Foot Massager
My husband got me a foot massager a few years ago and it’s wonderful! Teachers are on their feet a lot, so a good foot massage after a long day of hard work might just be the perfect gift. This machine offers kneading, air compression, and heat.
44. Hydro Flask 32 oz. Water Bottle
Everyone needs to stay hydrated, professors included. When you’re running from one class to another all day, sometimes you don’t have time to get water. Help your professor drink more water throughout the school year with this 32oz Hydroflask. It’s double-wall vacuumed so it will keep their drinks cold for 24 hours!
45. Neck and Shoulders Massager
I bought this as a gift for my best friend and I tested it before giving it to her. It was so good that I kept it and I ordered another one for her! I love the heat and speed settings, but I especially love that you can fully control the amount of pressure so that it is perfect for any user. Teaching can be pretty stressful. Help your college professor relax with this wonderful self-care gift.
46. Aromatherapy Diffuser Set
Essential oils can be therapeutic. With this aromatherapy diffuser, your professor can experience soothing scents. This diffuser brings a variety pack of essential oils so that they can try out different essential plant oils. It also has 7 different mood light colors, as well as different modes and timers that they can use to craft their ideal aromatherapy experience.
47. Ergonomic Lumbar Support Pillow
College teachers spend a lot of time in their chairs grading papers, preparing lesson plans, etc. Give the gift of good lumbar support and pain relief with this 100% memory foam pillow. The adjustable strap makes it usable with any chair, and the breathable mesh cover is machine washable.
48. World’s Best Teacher Candle
This natural soy wax candle burns for 45 hours and is infused with lavender essential oil. This is a great gift for college teachers because it is practical and it features a beautiful exterior with a heartwarming label that reads “To the world’s best teacher, thanks for being so awesome.”
49. Fleece Blanket Poncho
Give your college teacher some elegant warmth for their office. This is perfect for professors because they can wear it in their office but still look professional!
Funny Gifts for College Teachers
50. Shakespeare Insults Gift Poster
Your English teacher will love this hilarious poster. It’s basically a map to finding the appropriate Shakespearean insult for any situation/person. Teachers and students will get a kick out of this poster whenever they see it.
51. Metaphors Be With You T-Shirt
Perfect for the English teacher who also loves Star Wars, this “Metaphors be with you” t-shirt is very punny.
52. Funny Math Teacher T-Shirt
Math teachers are a different breed. If your gift recipient teaches math, they’ll appreciate this equations t-shirt that shows they speak a different language.
53. Funny Tote
This cute tote is useful, college teachers can point to it whenever students ask a question about something that is stated in the syllabus. “It was in the syllabus. It is still in the syllabus. It will always be in the syllabus.”
54. I Te Ac H Periodically
I can’t get over this one. I love it and I think your chemistry/science teacher will love it too!
55. Funny Mug – Never trust an atom. They make up everything
Encourage your professor to drink up a little humor with this funny joke mug. “Never trust an atom. They make up everything.” Do you get it?
56. Just Add Coffee Mug
Caffeine. If you need a living, breathing, functioning professor, just add coffee. This funny mug is printed on both sides and is dishwasher and microwave safe.
57. Math Wall Clock
This will be a great conversation started to hang up in any math teacher’s office or home. They’ll enjoy challenging students and visitors to tell time on this mathematical clock.
58. Geologist Rock Star Definition T-Shirt
Make your Geology professor feel cool with this Geologist definition shirt. “Geologist: The other kind of Rock Star.”
59. Geology Rocks But Geography Is Where It’s At Retro Sunset T-Shirt
“Geology rocks, but Geography is where it’s at.” This is one of my favorite dad jokes! (yes, I’m a total nerd) If the college teacher you’re shopping for loves Geography, they’ll love this fun shirt!
60. Never Forget Pluto T-Shirt
Poor Pluto, you had a good run. Astronomy teachers will love this shirt that brings back the nostalgia of our ninth little planet.
61. Star Wars Periodic Table of Elements T-Shirt
If you have a college teacher in your life who loves science and Star Wars, you must get them this fun t-shirt! This is what you can expect:
- Ls = Luke Skywalker
- Ow = Obi-Wan Kenobi
- Mw = Mace Windu
I think you get it…
62. Funny Long-Sleeved T-Shirt
“Everything I say will be on the exam,” so better listen up! This is the perfect funny shirt for professors who are prone to saying this kind of thing to their students. Professor humor.
63. “It’s in the syllabus” T-Shirt
Did you even read the syllabus? Certain students have a knack for acting shocked when an assignment is due. Guess what, it’s in the syllabus! (If you give them this shirt they might never wear anything else again.)
64. “Read. The. Syllabus.” Mug
This mug serves two functions. It will effectively hold your professor’s drink, and they will be able to wave it at students whenever they’re asking questions about things they should have read in the syllabus. They’ll love this gift.
65. Darth Vader “I am your professor” Mug
If your professor has ever shown any interest in Star Wars, they’ll appreciate this funny mug. It is printed on both sides and is microwave and dishwasher-safe!
I hope you enjoyed this collection of gifts for college teachers and found a good idea for a gift! If you liked this, you’ll appreciate the posts below. Take a look!
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