Starting college is a whirlwind — part nerves, part excitement. The right orientation giveaways can ease the jitters and spark school pride, turning practical swag into powerful connection tools. From tote bags to tech accessories, these thoughtful items help new students feel at home fast — and keep your campus top of mind all year long!
Why Orientation Matters
A recent survey showed that three in five students say orientation helps them feel connected to their campus, while one in five feels strongly that orientation doesn’t. Adding the right thoughtful giveaways to your students’ experience can transform orientation from a forgettable event into a relationship-building experience. They’ll use the branded items you share on orientation day and throughout the semester, increasing their sense of belonging to a community.
Our Top 10 Orientation Giveaways
Let’s explore 10 fan-favorite orientation giveaways that incoming students will love and use all year long!
1. Branded Tote Bags
This tote is a campus essential for eco-conscious students! This bag style’s spacious design helps incoming students carry orientation materials, textbooks, or snacks while showcasing your school’s commitment to sustainability. The stylish, earth-toned design ensures they reuse it daily, keeping your brand visible long after orientation. Whether to and from class or on a weekend adventure, make travel easier on your students.
Sustainable Cork & RPET Tote With Zipper
Made with sustainable cork trim and rPET fabric from recycled plastics, this earthy tote is as eco-friendly as it is functional. The Sustainable Cork & RPET Tote With Zipper features a zippered main compartment, an interior pouch, and an outer pocket for easy, secure storage. Just spot clean it — no washing machine required, perfect for busy students!
2. Branded Multi-Functional Lanyards
Don’t let a dead phone — or a forgettable giveaway — mar orientation. A multifunctional lanyard isn’t just for holding IDs. This functional item can stash cards and charge devices on the go, making it a campus essential that students will use. With your branding front and center, it’s the kind of smart, practical, and far from boring swag.
The Tacoma Crossbody Phone Lanyard is a hands-free essential for orientation and beyond. A 33" adjustable strap and 360° rotating phone clip keep students connected on campus tours, class changes, and weekend outings. Add your school logo in a repeating pattern for a functional, stylish giveaway they’ll use daily.
3. Branded Water Bottles
Hydration is a must, making water bottles an ideal giveaway for students. Whether rushing to class, studying in their dorms, or lounging with friends, a water bottle is the perfect companion. Its everyday utility ensures frequent use by students throughout the campus. Branded with your school’s logo, it boosts school spirit and is a mobile advertisement. Hydration also supports academic focus and wellness, resonating with health-minded attendees.
Eco-conscious and campus-ready, the UpCycle Mini Sports Bottle is made from 100% post-consumer recycled PET. This water bottle’s compact 16 oz. size and tethered lid make it perfect for orientation days on the go, and a daily hydration companion all year. Branded with your school logo, it’s a sustainable giveaway that shows school pride and environmental values.
4. Branded Notebooks With Accessories
Branded notebooks with accessories are excellent for college orientation. They combine practicality with creativity while supporting student academics. Customized with the school’s logo or colors, they ensure campus pride is at an all-time high while serving as a daily reminder of institutional affiliation.
Added accessories like pens, stickers, or sticky notes enhance functionality, catering to diverse learning styles and study habits. They’re a timeless tool students will use all year, ensuring lasting visibility for your school’s brand.
Eco-Friendly Notebook With Pen
A 5” x 7” spiral-bound notebook with 70 lined pages (100% recycled paper) and a matching pen is perfect for class notes, grocery lists, or just staying organized. Customize the cover with your logo for a timeless, branded keepsake. Inspire note-taking and eco-awareness on campus!
5. Branded Highlighters
Highlighters are a fun, helpful addition to any orientation giveaway. They help students stay organized, reinforce good study habits, and add a pop of color to note-taking. Add your school’s name or colors, and they become a small but steady reminder of campus pride during late-night study sessions.
Multi-color packs give students flexibility for different subjects or projects, and eco-friendly options — like refillable or recycled styles — show your commitment to sustainability. They’re affordable, practical, and sure to last long after orientation.
With a smooth-gliding chisel tip and a rolling fidget ball on top, this highlighter is equal parts study tool and stress reliever. Available in lots of vibrant colors, it’s a fun, functional giveaway students will reach for again and again.
6. Branded Tech Accessories
Branded tech accessories like phone chargers, USB drives, or earbud cases are also great orientation giveaways, since they address students’ daily needs in a tech-reliant academic environment. Customized with the school’s logo, they blend utility with subtle brand visibility, keeping your institution at the forefront during study sessions or commutes.
Functional items like portable chargers or cable organizers support campus connectivity and digital learning, aligning with modern student lifestyles. Durable and frequently used, these items ensure long-term exposure for your school while providing practical value students appreciate.
Magnetic Silicone Suction-Cup Phone Mount
Perfect for dorm life and content creation, this magnetic phone mount sticks to clean, flat surfaces for easy, hands-free use. Whether students are filming campus tours, taking group selfies, or streaming lectures, it’s a smart, compact giveaway they’ll use long after orientation. Add your school logo for branded visibility every time they hit “record.”
7. Branded Stickers
Branded stickers are a versatile and engaging giveaway for college orientations. They offer students a fun way to personalize laptops, water bottles, or notebooks while showcasing school pride. Featuring your institution’s logo, mascot, or campus landmarks, these mini advertisements are displayed by students in classrooms, dorms, or social spaces. Lightweight and affordable, they’re easy to distribute in packs, encouraging recipients to share extras with peers and amplify brand visibility.
Laser-engraved on real wood, these eco-friendly decals stick to laptops, water bottles, and phones. Each order plants a tree, making them a win for students and the planet. Your school logo or mascot gets prime real estate on their favorite gear.
8. Branded Wearables
Branded wearables are a go-to for college orientation — and for good reason. Students love getting comfortable gear, and it’s a great way to build school spirit from the start. Whether it’s a hoodie, tee, or cap with your school’s name or mascot, these pieces turn students into walking ambassadors on campus and off.
Choose on-trend styles and inclusive sizing to make everyone feel welcome. With quality materials that hold up over time, these items don’t just get worn during welcome week. They stick around through finals, game days, and even post-grad life.
These unisex Midi Socks sit comfortably between the ankle and calf, offering versatile style and function. Perfect for matching your school colors and pairing with hiking boots, running shoes, mid or high-top sneakers, ankle boots, or casual kicks, these socks adapt effortlessly to every student’s style, footwear needs, and activities. Add your school name, logo, or mascot for effortless branding whenever students wear them on or off campus!
9. Branded Drawstring Bags
Besides the tote bag, drawstring bags are another practical and popular choice for college orientation giveaways. They offer students a versatile carry-all for textbooks, gym gear, or campus essentials. Customized with the school’s logo or colors, they provide ample branding space, turning everyday use into mobile advertising at lectures, events, or around town.
Lightweight yet durable, they’re ideal for eco-conscious students as reusable alternatives to single-use plastic bags, aligning with campus sustainability goals. Their convenience and unisex design ensure broad appeal, providing a sense of community while supporting student needs year-round. As long-lasting staples, they keep your institution’s brand visible long after orientation ends.
Match your school colors with ease! Available in lots of core colors, this Small Hit Sports Pack is made of durable 210D polyester with simulated black leather trim for reinforcement at the corners and reinforced eyelets. This handy pack is ready to tote orientation flyers, gym clothes, snacks, or dorm essentials. Simple, eye-catching, and oh-so-useful, every student will want one!
10. Branded Wellness Kits
Wellness kits are a thoughtful and relevant choice for college orientation giveaways. They address students’ mental and physical well-being during a transitional academic period. Filled with practical items ranging from hand sanitizer to herbal tea packets, they can promote self-care while subtly featuring the school’s logo or motto.
These kits are customizable to include eco-friendly products or mindfulness tools relevant to your campus and align with campus wellness initiatives and sustainability values. They demonstrate the institution’s commitment to supporting student health and give a positive, caring first impression. As daily-use items, they keep your school’s brand visible while nurturing long-term loyalty and connection.
Adventure-ready! This kit includes SPF30 sunscreen (octinoxate/oxybenzone-free), insect repellent, after-bite spray, hand sanitizer, and after-burn spray, all in one easy-to-carry case. Customize the exterior with your logo, and students will associate your brand with sunny days and stress-free exploration.
Set the Tone for a Thriving Campus Community with Orientation Giveaways!
At Campus Stop, we know orientation is your chance to spark excitement and belonging from day one. Our premium branded essentials, from durable water bottles to eco-friendly notebooks, help students feel at home while turning campus pride into everyday visibility.
With curated designs, stress-free logistics, and products students use, we’ll help you create a warm welcome that lasts all year.Ready to transform orientation into an unforgettable launchpad for connection? Explore our orientation-ready solutions at www.campusstop.com or email sales@campusstop.com. Let’s equip your students with more than swag — let’s give them a foundation for success.
