Best Dorm Gifts for College Students Made in the USA

When my kids recently went away to college, I had to re-purchase their store-bought, factory-made backpacks several times. They just didn’t want to hold up. Fortunately, the folks at Timbuk2 are made from very strong fabric. They’re made by a small company in California’s eclectic Mission District neighborhood. Customize your backpack according to size and where pockets are located. Choose from over a dozen different fabric colors, along with special features such as rain resistance, reflective fabric, and more. Sturdy? Check. Cool? Check. Made in the USA? Check! Get 10% off your order when you subscribe to the company’s newsletter. Also, you get a LIFETIME WARRANTY on these bags. As in…forever. Note: Only the Custom bags are made in the USA.

Skip the cheap microfiber towels and go straight for thoughtful luxury with 1888 Mills bath towels, washcloths, and hand towels. You’ll want your student’s towels and washcloths to stand up to a lot of use and to dry quickly. These made in USA towels not only provide the perfect gift, but they're also dorm room essentials! These towels are made with 100% combed cotton loops that allow the towels to have increased absorbency, durability, and an ultra-soft feel.1888 Mills is located in Georgia and remains one of the last American towel manufacturers.

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Before heading off to college, Jeffrey Leffring started looking for a comfortable dorm room chair and ended up creating his own from foam. That was the beginning of Beanbag Factory, where bean bags are made in Michigan. These high quality made in USA beanbag chairs are sturdy, long-lasting, and comfortable. They're compact when your college guy or gal doesn't have much space. Each bean bag comes with a lifetime warranty on all seams and zippers. Get 20% off your first order.

Shop the Blank Canvas by Potter on Etsy for a bedside shelf that’s ideal for bunk beds or a lofted bed. Send the owners a photo that shows the width of the rail, and they will design and make a bedside shelf that slides onto the rail. The small size makes it ideal in rooms where there's not a lot of space. Blank Canvas by Potter, owned by Brandon and Debbie Potter, makes its products in New York.

Add a personalized monogram to a cozy made in USA blanket throw from American Blanket Company, and you’ll have a great gift to give your college student. These Peaceful Touch Fleece Throws are made to last a lifetime because only supreme fabric is used and each one gets individual attention in the making process. The fabric is non-shed and anti-pill. Sewn with love in Massachusetts.

Ammo Audio makes its Ammo Can Bluetooth speaker X from a military-issue Fat 50 ammo can. Obviously, it’s rugged, but the qualities don’t stop there. These Bluetooth speakers have great sound. Plus, it streams music for 20 or more hours! The Ammo Can Bluetooth is made in Fayetteville, Georgia, by veterans. 

Mouth curates food, snack, and drink gift boxes from small-batch companies all across America. Whether your student wants a box of pickles or a box of various foods, MOUTH can ship it. Bacon caramel popcorn, anyone? The company also has specialty boxes such as a vegan snack box and a gluten-free snack box. Your student will be eternally grateful for this gift!

Honestly, I’ve had so many velvet hangers break on me that I’ve decided to go back to the plastic ones. I recently discovered these Heavy Duty Tubular Hangers made in the USA and sold exclusively at The Container Store. They’re made with thicker plastic, so they’re stronger—strong enough for my coats and winter pants! College students will like their different colors (The Container Store carries both vibrant and not-so-vibrant colors). You can purchase optional clips for pants if you prefer. If you like giving a practical, useful gift, what wouldn't college girls or guys like about quality hangers?

These compact AeroPress coffee makers have over 45,000 positive reviews, and for good reason. They’re portable. They make great coffee. They’re made in the USA. They’re very simple to use. It works similarly to a French press: combine hot water and your favorite coffee, gently plunge, and your coffee is ready in less than a minute. All you need is a quality travel mug, and you're off to class! The only clean-up is a quick rinse-out of the press and the puck. If your student is running late for class and the dining hall is too far away, this caffeine-saving maker is a great time-saver!

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Students will enjoy a card game on late nights when they use these quality playing cards from Bicycle. Bicycle playing cards have been made in the USA for over 125 years. Shop the Bicycle website for limited edition cards, or for an added touch, choose a customized option.

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Okay, this is cool! UGMONK makes magnetic desk organizers in Pennsylvania using super strong magnets. The magnets keep things in place while also allowing you to easily switch things up, too. Called the “Gather” line, choose from a variety of organizers like a laptop stand, magsafe phone stand, pencil cup, zigzag tray, and more.

BAD stands for Best American Duffel, and that’s what your student will say (in a good way) about a duffel from this brand. Made in Seattle, Washington, several USA Love List readers recommend BAD Bags made in USA duffel bags for their durability and strength. BAD Bags offer a lifetime warranty against defects in materials and workmanship.

Students will appreciate this gift when they most need it. Go2 Kits makes first-aid kits in an ideal size for college students. Each kit Contains Bandages, Cleansing Wipes, Deep Clean Wipes, Gauze Pads, a Pair of Tweezers, and a Mini First Aid Guide. You’ll find other first-aid kits as well. Each kit is assembled in New Hampshire.

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I love the look of Waterfield Designs products made in San Francisco, California. We know students need a break from late-night study sessions or on the weekends, so give them an awesome-looking game case made from either leather or waxed canvas. Waterfield Designs offers several sizes and colors. Shown is the Magnetic Case for Nintendo Switch, but the case is also big enough to hold a gaming controller or a few smaller video games. Waterfield Designs also offers some pretty swank backpacks, laptop sleeves, bags, and even a time travel case for an Apple watch.

Sterilite makes a sturdy laundry basket that fits nicely at the end of a bed or inside a closet. This plastic basket is curved on one side to sit lightly against the hip and allow for one-handed carrying. Three rounded handles provide a comfortable, steady grip from any angle. Ventilated construction promotes air circulation and protects against odor buildup. The design makes it easy to carry to and from the laundry room. Sterilite confirms all its products are American-made.

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STORi, with its factory in Illinois, offers different sizes and shapes of acrylic organizers. Use them for makeup, to organize a desk and more. Combine them to build compact storage. Shown are two stacked two-drawer systems from STORi’s Chloe Collection, ideal for storing makeup in flat compartments. Whether or not these are on a college dorm registry, they're a must-have! STORi confirms all its products except for its apothecary jars and canisters are made in the USA.

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OK, Insomnia Cookies might just be the BEST cookies ever, well, that mom or grandma didn't make. Insomnia Cookies are made fresh and served warm. Even better, Insomnia Cookie locations are open until 3am, which is perfect for those late night study breaks. Insomnia Cookies started in a University of Pennsylvania dorm room as a dream of then college student friends. Today, Insomnia Cookies has locations on and near college campuses all over the USA. They can deliver right to the dorm room. If there is no location nearby, they deliver fresh cookies directly from the bakery. They offer gluten free, and vegan cookie options, cookie cakes, cookies and ice cream and cookie brownies. Schedule a delivery or send a gift card to any dorm room the USA right from your laptop.

Luna makes a number of mattress pads in the USA. Its premium hypoallergenic mattress pad is made from breathable terry fabric, making it soft and functional. It’s noiseless, comes in a fitted style, and it’s machine washable. The twin xl measures 39” x 80” x 14.” While you can't control what time your student goes to bed, you can help them get a good night's sleep with a comfortable mattress pad!

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If your college student enjoys the beach vibe, then a seashell night light is the perfect personal gift. These hand-crafted seashell night lights are made by California Seashell Company from real sea shells in Huntington Beach, California, USA. Choose from agate, starfish, oyster shell, and even carved shells like the turtle night light, shown.

My Pillow offers one of the least expensive pillows on the market, AND they’re 100% made in the USA! The Classic/Premium American made pillow stays soft after a lot of use, and it’s also machine washable and dryable. Get a 60-day money-back guarantee when you order a My Pillow. Choose pillow size and support level. My Pillows are made in Minnesota.

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An entire set of sheets made in the USA can be pricy, so consider a gift of buttery soft pillowcases by CozyPure. These 300-thread-count standard-size pillowcases are made from organic cotton and woven into an incredibly soft sateen weave. The cotton fabric keeps you warm on cool nights and cool on warm nights.

You can buy the perfect shower caddy while supporting American workers when you choose this shower/bath caddy made by Sterilite. The caddy has five compartments of different sizes to hold shower items such as shampoo, soap, sponge or washcloth, a razor, and more. It provides a perfect way for juggling all the shower essentials in communal bathrooms. This caddy can also be used as a desk organizer for pencils, sticky notes, and other supplies. Just be sure not to take the office supplies into the shower!

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We love the ample selection of made-in-the-USA storage solutions you can find at The Container Store. While the box we’re showing is called the boot box, it's an ideal size to use for other items. It stacks and fits perfectly inside a closet or under the dorm bed. Use for seasonal clothes, extra school supplies, linens, or for that scrapbook Mom made before you left for college. It's one of the easiest ways to provide added storage in a small apartment or dorm room. Note: Not everything The Container Store carries is made in the USA. Be sure to read the product description for Made in the USA.

Sarah Wagner, the founder of USA Love List, swears by the Tom Bihn travel tray. She keeps it on her desk where each day she stores cords, keys, and loose change. When she’s traveling, all she does is pull the drawstring to cinch up the tray, and everything is packed and ready to go! Choose small or large. The travel tray is made from sturdy nylon ripstop to last. These make a great dorm gift.

When communal bathrooms are crowded, your student will be thrilled he/she has this vanity mirror by Glamour Mirrors in the dorm room. These vanity mirrors are made in Kansas and can be wall mounted or can sit on a desktop. It’s an ideal size, has a six-foot-long cord, seven light bulbs, and also has a dimmer switch. It provides optimal lighting for face and hair care…and even the occasional stray eyebrow! This small family business offers free shipping within the Continental USA.

Union Gap, Washington is the home of Liberty Bottles, where the company makes its Hydroflask-esque bottles are made from 100% recyclable, high-grade aluminum (note: the stainless steel bottles are imported). The bottles are BPA-free, durable, and have a smooth pour spout. Choose from solid colors, images, or designs. The bottle can be personalized with your student’s name. Buying a Liberty Bottle is a great way to give a gift while supporting the American economy! Enjoy 15% off when purchasing through the Liberty Bottles website.

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Cast aside the Brita pitcher that’s not made in the USA. Instead, enjoy the Epic Pure Water Filter Pitcher that’s made in Boulder, Colorado. This BPA/BPS-free pitcher uses a solid carbon block filter as opposed to granular carbon to remove up to 99.99% of all tap water contaminants. Each filter produces up to 150 gallons of clean water. Using this pitcher stops over 1,500 plastic bottles from going into landfills. A LED timer on the pitcher lets you know when it’s time to change your filter. This is a great gift idea a student can use from his/her freshman year of college well into post-graduate years! Shop the Epic Pure website for the best prices. Shop Walmart and Amazon, as well.

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