Best Recruiting Giveaways for College Students

black and white photo of graduates throwing caps in the air

Maximize Enrollment with Recruiting Giveaways That Make an Impression!

Convert “Accepted” college students into “Enrolled” college students with impactful giveaway items that evoke a sense of belongingness and school pride. Send them a message of “Congratulations!” and “Welcome!” in the form of a small 'book' along with a surprise gift inside.

Unlike recruiting text messages and emails, future college students are excited to open these tangible items and see the gift inside. So, if you're looking for the best recruiting giveaways for college students, these ideas will make a novel impression on the students you're trying to reach.

College student recruiting giveaways can be custom t-shirts, flags, sunglasses, socks, puzzles, etc. You design the “book” or we’ll design it for you.

6 Recruiting Giveaways for College Students

Hundreds of colleges and universities use this package for college student recruiting, orientation, alumni membership, fundraising, and marketing. The University of Southern California and the University of Georgia have both ordered it for 15+ years in a row.

Here are some real-world examples of how schools are leveraging certain products as recruiting giveaways for college students.

1. Sunglasses

bookwear branded red university of georgia sunglasses

“Your future is so bright you’ll need shades!”

Sunglasses are a favorite among college students. They're a fun, practical idea that represents more than just eye protection; they're a fashion statement, a practical accessory for sunny campus walks, and an emblem of coolness that effortlessly integrates into the daily lives and styles of students.

The versatility and universal appeal of sunglasses make them an ideal canvas for university branding. Imagine each pair reflecting your institution's colors or emblazoned with its logo—a walking advertisement rooted in utility and style.

More than just protective gear, custom sunglasses foster a sense of belonging and school pride among prospective students by visually connecting them to their potential new community before even setting foot on campus.

This tangible connection can significantly enhance emotional engagement with your college's brand, making sunglasses not just one of the best college student giveaways but also powerful tools for building lasting impressions.

Learn more about custom sunglasses

2. T-Shirts

navy blue university of connecticut branded tshirt

College-branded t-shirts are premium advertising!

T-shirts have long held a coveted spot in the realm of student giveaways, and for good reason. More than just articles of clothing, they’re canvases that carry memories, messages, and identities. For college students who stand at the cusp of forging new paths and forming lifelong connections, a custom t-shirt with their future alma mater's logo serves as both a badge of pride and a warm invitation into an esteemed community.

In terms of outreach impact, custom-branded t-shirts offer an unparalleled advantage. As students wear them around campus or back home during breaks—they become ambassadors for your university without saying a word. This organic promotion extends beyond the product’s intention for college student recruiting and serves as an ongoing mechanism for brand awareness.

T-shirts are printed, compressed, and inserted into a book cover that you design. Mail it like a thick postcard to your list of prospective, accepted students. This recruiting giveaway is a “best seller” because it does such a great job of marketing your school.

Learn more about custom T-shirts

3. Wireless Phone Charger

white wireless phone charger with college branding

Empower students while powering their devices

In an era where technology is virtually an extension of the perpetually connected college student, a wireless charger stands as a profoundly impactful giveaway item. It addresses a fundamental need in their digitally-driven lives—staying powered up on the go. 

The appeal of a wireless, portable charger device is both a practical and seamless integration into daily life. This portable power solution liberates students from the confines of charging cables and outlets. Its compact design can easily slip into backpacks or desk drawers, making it an indispensable tool for students who find themselves moving from lectures to libraries to lounges.

By custom-branding this device with your university's logo and colors, you're providing more than just convenience; you're embedding your institution within these critical moments and movements throughout the day. It sends a message that your institution is forward-thinking and attuned to the needs of today's students.

Every time students power up their speakers, there's an implicit reminder of who provided them this slice of daily joy and convenience—an effective way to foster positive sentiments towards your university while keeping pace with technological trends that resonate deeply within the student community.

Learn more about portable phone chargers

4. Laundry Bags

white and blue mesh laundry bag for college students

A blend of utility and encouragement toward self-reliance

Laundry bags, often overlooked in the grand scheme of college essentials, present an unexpected yet incredibly practical giveaway item for students embarking on their university journey. The transition to college life brings with it a myriad of new responsibilities, among which managing laundry stands out as a quintessential part of dorm living or apartment dwelling.

A durable, custom-branded laundry bag not only eases this task but also carries a deeper symbolic weight—supporting students' independence and organization skills as they navigate their new academic and social environments. The beauty of offering laundry bags lies in their blend of utility and subtle encouragement toward self-reliance—a skill every student needs to master.

These aren’t just receptacles for dirty clothes; they’re companions on trips to the laundromat or residence hall machines, making an otherwise mundane task feel like less of a chore. By personalizing these bags with your college’s colors and logo, you transform them into more than mere accessories. These simple college student giveaways become symbols of belonging—to a community that cares about its members’ everyday experiences.

Learn more about laundry bags

5. Pillow Case

white pillow case with screenprinted okc branding

Weaving care into the fabric of the student experience

A pillow case, while seemingly simple, emerges as a profoundly thoughtful giveaway for college students, imbuing their living spaces with a touch of comfort and personalization. As they transition into dorm rooms or student apartments—spaces that will become their homes away from home—a pillow case offers an immediate sense of belonging and warmth.

Pillow cases become nightly reminders of the community they've joined—an emblem of pride resting on every student’s bed. Considering how essential quality sleep is to academic success and overall well-being, providing a soft, comforting place to lay one’s head at night speaks volumes about your university's commitment to student welfare beyond mere academics.

Every evening when students retire from long hours spent studying or socializing—they’re reminded that they are part of something bigger than themselves; a nurturing environment focused on both intellectual growth and personal comfort. In this subtle yet impactful way, a beautifully designed pillow case can deepen connections between your institution and its members by weaving threads of care into the fabric (quite literally) of their everyday experiences.

Learn more about pillow cases

6. Socks

orange, black, and white custom branded socks for business promotion

Start your freshman's week on the right foot

Socks, often underestimated in their appeal, make for an exceptional student recruiting giveaway item that effortlessly weaves warmth and whimsy into the college student's wardrobe. Beyond their basic function of keeping feet cozy, socks present a wearable canvas for creativity and self-expression—a chance to stride around campus showcasing one’s allegiance to their university with every step.

Custom-designed with vibrant colors, quirky patterns, or the institution's logo subtly embedded in the fabric, these socks transform from mere foot coverings into badges of school spirit and fashion statements. The charm of gifting students branded socks lies not just in fostering a sense of pride and belonging but also in acknowledging the small details that enhance daily life.

Socks may seem like simple accessories yet represent much more. They are a warm embrace from your institution; an encouragement towards individuality amidst collective identity; a subtle reminder that even on long days spent traversing campus grounds—your university walks alongside them every step of the way.

Learn more about custom socks

Compelling & Inspiring College Student Recruiting Giveaways

banner of gifts from bookwear including socks, flags, hats, and sunglasses

With a wide range of potential recruiting giveaways to choose from, BookWear brings many ideas to the table.

Customize your giveaways just the way you want, or have the professionals at BookWear do the design work for you. Simply provide the creative and any content you wish to include, the friendly staff at BookWear will bring your ideas to life.

What is BookWear?

screenprinted college tshirt with small bookwear covers for mailing

BookWear Tells your story, whether it’s college recruiting, fundraising, orientation, or a special event. It is novel. Your photos, graphics, and content go on the “book” front cover, spine, and back cover. There is a surprise giveaway inside (e.g. compressed t-shirts, sunglasses, socks, flags, etc.).

We can also insert additional printed material inside; a campus map, a directory of student groups and activities, a return envelope, and a list of important dates and actions to take.

Say “Congratulations!” and “Welcome!” to new students in a creative and surprising way. They will read and open this “book” with your surprise gift inside. Choose from a dozen stock gifts or we’ll find a special gift for you.

Everyone loves a surprise and this one is memorable with your message included. It makes college recruiting fun, effective, and creative. You design the package or we’ll design it for you.

Why Use Custom Recruiting Giveaways from BookWear?

student wearing white goldey-beacom college shirt and holding custom bookwear cover

BookWear has made thousands of college recruiting campaigns successful. Many colleges and universities use this amazing little book year after year. Oberlin for 14 years straight. University of Georgia, Johnson Wales, University of Massachusetts, University of Southern California, Texas A&M, University of Houston, and many others for 8 years in a row. 

650 colleges use BookWear as college student recruiting giveaways and orientation gifts, as well as advancement, fundraising, and marketing.

When you choose BookWear for recruiting giveaways, you get more than just a batch of branded promotional products. Because your giveaways can be uniquely designed with your message and packaged with any additional recruiting materials, your items will grab your recipients’ attention and engage them with your message. 

In a saturated space with endless college fairs and recruiting strategies at play, BookWear recruitment giveaways make a statement that actually gets acknowledged.

In addition to offering an impressive selection of customizable recruiting giveaways, BookWear offers a full-service team of creative designers, product support specialists, and customer service representatives to help ensure your investment yields optimal returns. Not only can the BookWear team design your recruiting giveaways just the way you want, but they also package any materials you want to include in each book and deliver the giveaways to your recipients.

Read What Some Customers Are Saying About BookWear

smiling college student wearing maroon tshirt with custom printed logo

BookWear recruiting giveaways deliver quality outcomes for all types of campaigns. Read what some customers have to say about BookWear giveaways.

“Just wanted to send you a quick note to let you know how impressed we are with the BookWear product. We received the first shipment of the t-shirts compressed into ‘books’ last week, and they have been a huge hit with the students.” – The University of Georgia

“The event was a huge success. BookWear stole the show. Everyone loved our promotional giveaway. You made us look great. I would recommend your ‘book’ T-Shirt to everyone. It is truly a brilliant idea.” – ClassesUSA.com (Division Of Experian)

“Thanks SO MUCH!! Everyone out here is SO IMPRESSED with BookWear. You have some VERY HAPPY customers! Usually we switch up the freshman class gift each year, but I imagine us sticking with BookWear for a while. Nothing compares!” – Loyola Marymount University.

For more examples see BookWear college recruiting case studies.

When it comes to effective recruiting giveaways that generate positive outcomes and meaningful relationships, BookWear is the bee’s knees. Discover the power of BookWear for your next recruiting campaign!

Leverage the Best Recruiting Giveaways for College Students

‍Unlike other university recruiting giveaways and college swag ideas, BookWear is a tangible and dimensional concept that offers limitless ideas to make a novel impression. The cover is customized with your graphics and your unique message. Combined with the element of surprise, BookWear is a compelling form of communication that cannot be overlooked.

Traditional recruiting giveaway ideas are often stale and all too common, thereby lacking novelty, excitement, and effectiveness in their purpose. To truly connect and resonate with your target audience, you need something creative, unique, and interesting. 

BookWear offers the foundation to make a meaningful connection, enabling you to get your message across in an amusingly offbeat way. So don’t settle for generic recruiting gifts and giveaways. Strike a chord with each and every recipient, and invoke feelings of inspiration and enthusiasm for your cause by using BookWear.

 

Learn More About BookWear

To explore how BookWear can help with building and sharing your own unique ideas, contact us for more information and order by sending an e-mail to info@bookwear.net

Check out our product selection

Explore our wide range of custom screenprinted and branded gifts for every occasion.