This post is all about the important things every college student needs to have.

Are you about to head off to college and don’t know what to bring with you? Here are the 22 most important things every college student needs in their life on campus:
Things Every College Student Needs
1. Mesh Laundry Hamper
Almost all my friends in college had a collapsible laundry hamper like this, or at least a laundry bag of some sort.
These are an absolute must, especially if the laundry room is kind of far from your dorm. Having a laundry hamper will make your life much easier when it comes time to wash your clothes.
2. Weekly & Monthly Planner
I don’t know what I’d do without these weekly and monthly planners. In college, especially if you’re taking a bunch of classes and also involved in lots of on-campus activities, you will need to have a planner to help you stay organized and meet important deadlines. These planners honestly an absolute lifesaver!
3. Shoe Rack Organizer
This is another one of those super important things every college student needs. I didn’t have one of these shoe shelves in college, so the only place I could store my shoes was under my bed. Ugh, I can’t believe I never thought about getting these.
If you plan to bring tons of shoes to college with you, make sure to get a shoe organizer like this to keep things organized.
4. The 5-Ingredient College Cookbook
When I went grocery shopping for the first time after moving in to college, I panicked! I literally had no idea what to buy because I didn’t even know how to cook. Needless to say, my grocery cart was filled with instant noodles and frozen food.
If you’ve never cooked a day in your life, I highly recommend getting the 5 ingredient college cookbook. You can read it on Kindle for free (if you sign up for a 30-day free trial), and if you prefer audiobooks, you can also listen to this book for free with Audiobook 30-day free trial!
5. Brita Water Filter
I love my Brita! This helps save me so much money, and it’s also much more environmentally friendly than buying water bottles every day.
Even though in college, your dorm will most likely have water fountains somewhere in the building. But having a Brita filter is a hundred times more convenient than having to walk outside to get water in the middle of the night.
6. Pepper Spray Keychain
Having pepper spray on you is soooo important if you plan on walking home alone at night in college. No matter if you’re a guy or a girl, get one of these! Especially if your college is situated in a sketchier part of town.
You never know when it may save your life. It’s definitely one of the most important things every college student needs to have with them at all times.
7. Travel Sewing Kit
Living far away from home in college means that you have to be independent and fix the holes in your clothes by yourself! This sewing kit will come in handy for wardrobe malfunctions and emergencies.
8. Glass Tupperware
If you plan on meal prepping and taking homemade food to eat on campus, you should definitely consider getting glass Tupperware. Esepcially if you plan on microwaving your food.
Though a lot of plastic food containers claim to be microwave-safe, I feel like the glass ones are just much better suited for withstanding microwaves.
Related Post: 30 Insanely Delicious College Meal Prep Ideas You’ll Love
9. Digital Voice Recorder
These voice recorders are so helpful for studying and reviewing class material. In most classes, professors don’t usually provide recordings, so if you don’t understand a certain concept, you won’t be able to go back in time to listen to your professor’s explanation. But these voice recorders will allow you to rewind as many times as possible!
10. Rice Cooker
If you also grew up in a household where rice is an everyday staple, bringing a rice cooker with you to college can make your life a million times easier. Yes, you can cook rice with a pot, but it just takes so much longer, and sometimes you might even burn the rice on the bottom. Which is pretty annoying.
Rice cookers are a blessing for all my fellow rice lovers, haha!
11. First Aid Kit
You can never predict when you’ll need a Band-Aid. Also, you never know when someone in your dorm may need emergency assistance. Having a first-aid kit is super important not just in college, but in general. Better safe than sorry, right?
12. School Backpack
Having a sturdy and comfortable backpack is a must in college. Especially if you plan on bringing your laptop and a bunch of other things with you to campus every day. I love backpacks that have wider shoulder straps because they help alleviate some of the weight from your shoulders.
Make sure to invest in a high quality backpack because you definitely don’t want your backpack breaking in the middle of the semester.
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13. LED Desk Lamp
I’m not sure if your dorm provides desk lamps, but mine did not. These are basic essentials that almost every college student has in their room. And if you plan on pulling all-nighters throughout the semester, these desk lamps will be your best buddy.
14. Herbal Tea Bags
Oooo, I love these herbal tea bags! Every day during finals season, I make sure to drink one of these to better my immune system and make sure I don’t suddenly get sick.
15. Umbrellas
Umbrellas are a must even if you go to school in sunny California. I remember for some reason not having an umbrella during my freshman year, and every time it rained, I literally had to run to class like a crazy person.
If you hate umbrellas, rain jackets would work too. Just don’t be stubborn like me and refuse to conform to social norms, lol!
16. Dinnerware Set
If you’re going to have guests over to your dorm, make sure to get a dinnerware set and also utensils. Also, you can split the cost with your roommates if they plan on using it as well.
17. Shower Slippers
Never shower in communal showers with your bare foot! You have no idea what kind nasty stuff has touched those floors.
Showering with slippers on is an absolute must! And to prevent disgusting germs from getting on your feet.
18. Cozy Blanket Throw
If you’re going to college in a freezing cold area like the East coast, this fuzzy throw blanket will help you stay warm and cozy during those frigid winter nights.
19. Cellphone Wallet
These cellphone wallets were my absolute bestfriends in college. I literally put my whole life in there. My credit card, debit card, student ID, social security card….. Ok just kidding.
But honestly though, they made my life much easier because I only had to bring my phone with me everywhere I went. But just keep in mind that if you lose your phone, you’ll lose everything in your phone wallet. So be extra careful!
20. Water Bottle
Buying plastic water bottles every day is not only bad for the environment, but bad for your bank account! By investing $50 in a high quality water bottle that’ll last you YEARS, you save so much money compared to buying $1 water bottles every day for a year.
21. Lanyard Key Holder
In college, I had these lanyard keychain holders with me literally everywhere I went. They hold all my keys, and make it so much easier for me to locate and keep them all in one place.
22. Bluetooth Speaker
Having a Bluetooth speaker is awesome if you plan on hosting little kick-backs in your dorm throughout the semester. Playing music on a speaker is so better than playing it on your laptop. But make sure to keep the volume to a reasonable level. You don’t want the RA knocking on your door. That would ruin the whole vibe.