The Ultimate School Supplies Checklist: What You Really Need for College

Here’s what should be on your college school supplies checklist.

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College checklist: Ultimate college school supplies checklist, here's what you actually need to bring to college

We interrupt your regularly scheduled summer programming with a thorough guide to the world of COLLEGE SCHOOL SUPPLIES SHOPPING!

Do not fret, the days of golden sunsets and gingham picnic spreads have not drawn to a close… yet. We’re just of the mind that it’s better to start preparing early for back to school.

The Ultimate (Free!) College Packing List

Wondering what to bring to college? Check out our complete guide to everything — and we mean EVERYTHING — you need to bring to college.

GET THE PACKING LIST HERE >>

We’ve already shared a list of clothes for college to get you organized on the wardrobe front, and we’ve even shared a list of dorm essentials to make life easier, as well as the college essentials you didn’t know you needed. But today, we’re getting serious and sharing a full packing list.

Below, we’ve compiled a comprehensive list of the college school supplies you really need, with our school supplies checklist and links to cute products online.

So kick back, enjoy the ride, and pop those sunnies back on!

Stationery

Everyone’s favorite, the pizzazz to your studying routine, the dessert of this guide if packing were a three-course meal. . . Well, life’s short, so why not eat dessert first?

Here are the basic stationery supplies you need for college — you know, the shiny new pencils, pens, and desktop accessories that will make you feel organized and prepared to kill it in all of those classes:

College school supplies list

1. Pencils 

First up on our college school supplies list is the basic building block of all schoolwork, ever. Where would we be without our Ticonderogas, or better yet, their mechanical counterparts?

College school supplies for 2019 - cute mechanical pencils

These cute pastel mechanical pencils will definitely look pretty in your pencil case, or on your desk. Bonus: No sharpening needed!

Graphite pencils for college

Graphite pencils are a must if you like to incorporate some art into your notetaking or bullet-journaling.

2. Pens 

Black, blue, and red recommended. The former two for writing essays and signing documents, the latter for corrections!

Papermate inkjoy pens - best college school supplies

These colorful Papermate gel pens are not your average writing implements — they’re about a million times more stylish and colorful.

Metallic gel pens - best school supplies for college

Throw it back to middle school and use sparkling metallic gel pens to write out your notes – so pretty!

Can’t get enough of cute writing utensils? Check out our post on cute pens and pencils for college.

3. Eraser 

Lost to the ages, or never finished. . . such is the fate of a well-worn, well-loved eraser. Everyone makes mistakes, take this guy along to face them together!

Colorful erasers for college

Again, this fancy eraser set is way cooler than what you’d find at the average school supplies store. So cute!

Paper Mate white pearl erasers - college school supplies checklist

If you want to keep it classic when it comes to erasers, these white ones are the perfect pick.

4. Highlighters 

Absolutely love these for giving notes that extra sparkle. Need more organization? More color, more excitement? Look no further!

Sharpie clear view highlighters for college

If you like your highlighters bold and bright, these colorful ones from Sharpie are a great pick. 

Zebra midliners in neon

Zebra Midliners are our absolute favorite highlighters for making Instagram-worthy notes. They’re well worth the extra order from Amazon if you ask us!

These colored pen highlighters are so modern looking, with their clear styling and variety of colors. The best part is, they’re erasable!! So helpful.

You need somewhere to stash all these writing utensils, so be sure to check out our guide to cute pencil cases for college students.

5. Post-its 

Very useful for jotting down wayward thoughts! Stick them all over your desk and admire your handiwork.

For fans of all things pretty and luxe, these pastel sticky notes are a must-have.

Block of sticky notes in blue, white and purple - college school supplies

How nice would this purple, white, and blue sticky note block look on your desk?

6. Planner 

A trusty planner will take you far; everyone wants to stay on top of things. We’ve already shared why The Happy Planner is our favorite planner of all time, so see that post for details, but here’s a cute version of our fave, plus a more affordable pick below:

This minimal Happy Planner is so incredibly cute and comes in “Classic” size, which is our favorite for college. You can also outfit it with sticker packs, like this stylish minimalist black and white pack, featuring inspirational quotes and to-do stickers.

For a more affordable option, this cute marble printed daily planner is only $11 and comes with everything you need to plan your semester to perfection. As a bonus, this daily planner comes with five star reviews.

Want to see more of our favorite planners? Our full guide to cute planners for college will keep you organized all semester long.

7. Notebooks 

Need I say more? It would not be a college school supplies list without notebooks.

We all like a fresh notebook. Fill these up with your most brilliant thoughts (and doodles).

Pearlescant pink is a non-traditional shade for a notebook, so naturally we love it. Stand out from the crowd in your lecture hall with this pretty pick.

Composition notebooks in a rainbow of colors - college school supplies

These fun takes on the classic “composition book” are so cool, yet they feel traditional at the same time.

Mead Five Star college ruled notebooks in pastel colors

These classic Five Star notebooks come in a bunch of cute shades, and you can have one notebook per class. Remember to get “college ruled” to fit the most information on each page!

8. Lined Paper 

College school supplies list - filler paper

In case you’re more of the binder type of person — I totally understand. Nothing really beats the freedom of using lined paper, and only securing it away when you want to!

9. Folders / Binders 

So many choices! Most colleges seem to provide folder-friendly papers (i.e. not hole-punched) but binders are often more organized.

Poppin pink folder

Poppin is a great place to get pretty colored folders. They carry so many colors that you’re sure to find your favorite!

Clear folders

These colorful clear folders will allow you to see the contents at a glance and give off a fresh, modern feel.

You can’t go wrong with a classic binder and Amazon has them for the cheapest price we’ve seen.

10. Laptop + Charger 

Maybe the most essential item on our college school supplies list! The absolute favorite of every fashion girl is the Macbook Pro. Is there even any other option? It does everything, it syncs with your phone, and it looks amazing while doing so. 10/10

11. Textbooks 

Necessary, but so pricey! Try to avoid breaking the bank and check out these sites for free e-books! (This tends to work better if you are looking for popular and/or classic books.)

12. Rulers / Scissors 

You might think you won’t need these, but you never know. Whether you’re doing math, arts & crafts, opening packages, designing posters. . . you’ll want both of these at your disposal!

Colorful rulers from Amazon - college supplies checklist

Who would opt for a boring ruler when you could buy a colorful ruler instead? No one, that’s who.

Gold metallic scissors

Forget basic scissors and opt for these shiny gold ones, sure to spruce up any desk space.

13. Stapler / Tape Dispenser 

Recommended if your building doesn’t already provide these in the printer room! (NOTE: No need to bring your own printer at most schools! There are more than enough free pages to go around at the library or in your building.)

This minimalist acrylic tape dispenser looks modern and will go with any type of decor.

This acrylic and rose gold stapler is so much nicer than your standard silver option. Plus, it comes with rose gold staples to make your documents 10x cuter.

Dorm Essentials

Here at CF, we’ve covered dorm room must-haves a lot (be sure to see our posts on dorm room bedding, dorm room furnishings, dorm room storage, and dorm room decor for everything you need). 

But this wouldn’t be a college school supplies list without stuff for your dorm. So here’s a quick list of the basic things you’ll need for your room (plus a few basic lifestyle items you’ll need), as a refresher:

14. Blanket / Comforter 

Only the coziest are allowed. Bring the one from home or refresh and buy a new one! See our guide to dorm room bedding for our best tips for buying one of these, plus our top picks.

15. Pillow + Pillowcase 

A must for clocking in a solid eight hours, an even bigger must for bringing to impromptu movie nights, and of course, a good pillow fight with your roommates.

16. Sheets 

The standard is Twin XL! Again, we cover these in our dorm room bedding guide, but how cute are these top-rated polka dot sheets from Amazon?

Twin XL sheets in polka dot

17. Mattress Topper 

Go the extra mile in the name of comfort! The mattress pad below is available in Twin XL and has MEMORY FOAM, plus thousands of 5 star reviews. Yes!

Twin XL mattress pad for college

18. Toiletries 

You guys probably know that this includes your toothbrush, toothpaste, floss, and face wash!

19. Soap, Shampoo, Conditioner 

Personality quiz: are you more of a bar soap or body wash person?

20. Skincare 

So important! Keep your face fresh and protected (always wear sunscreen!). Here’s our basic guide to skincare if you need to establish a routine.

21. Feminine Products 

Assume the role of the mom friend and always have a pad/tampon tucked away in case someone needs it!

22. Shower Caddy 

Walking what seems like miles just to reach the bathroom on the opposite end of the hall (oops, anyone else have this problem?) has never been easier, or chicer.

23. Flip Flops and/or Slippers 

The showers get gross sometimes — protect your feet! A cute pair of bedroom slippers can up the dorm room experience, too.

Leopard print havaianas

Havaianas flip flops are classics (and they look new forever!) and these leopard ones are so cute.

White fluffy slippers

These cozy, furry slippers are both functional and adorable. Plus, they’re so well priced that you can get a few different colors.

24. Razor and Extra Blades OR Pack of Disposable Razors

When you ever feel the need to shave, it’s ready.

25. Nail Clipper 

Often forgotten, but oh so important!

26. Towels 

What gets dirtier the more it cleans? Or wetter the more it dries?

Pink towels from Pottery Barn

If you’re in the mood to splurge, these gorgeous towels from Anthro will put a smile on your face every day, guaranteed. (If you’re not in the mood to splurge, Target has amazing-quality towels for cheap!)

Extra Things You Might Forget to Bring

Yup, there’s more. Here’s the final part of our college school supplies list, including all the extra little items that really need to be on your dorm room checklist:

27. Desk Lamp 

A great light source will do wonders for late-night studying.

Gold desk lamp with charging port

You can’t go wrong with a neutral desk lamp like this one. It’s minimal, functional, and won’t take away from your room’s color scheme. Plus, this has a USB charging port for your phone! You need this.

28. Extension Cord / Power Strip 

Just in case you’ve got too much tech to handle!

Power strip for college

29. Phone Accessories (Headphones & Phone Charger)

Always, always — how many times have I run to my phone charger after a long day out?

These headphones are THE headphones to own on campus right now, so if you have some extra money from graduation, etc., definitely invest. You’ll never go back to wired again!

Pro tip: get an extra-long charging cord like one of these 6-foot ones as sometimes dorms only come with one or two inconveniently-located outlets.

30. Makeup / Jewelry + Storage! 

Who would I be without eyeliner? Or an excellent statement necklace? Find a good way to store all your trinkets and thank yourself when getting ready is a snap!

Clear makeup organizer for college

This clear organizer is perfect for storing all of your go-to makeup essentials.

Tabletop jewelry stand

A golden jewelry holder like this one doubles as super-chic room decor.

31. Bag 

Backpack, tote bag, cute crossbody, pick your favorites! Again, we have a full post on the best bags for college if you want to check that out.

The perfect laptop tote that’s classic and includes padding for your tech. Does it get any better?

32. Storage Bins 

Dorm rooms and their lovely limited square footage. Defy your boundaries and create more space!

Fabric storage bins

Fabric storage cubes like these are sturdy, colorful, and easy to clean (unlike cardboard storage boxes which can get ruined by errant spills). Also, you get six for $20, so they’re a no-brainer.

33. Laundry Hamper 

For that weekly trip down to the laundry room. Get one that folds down for easy storage, or buy a set for easy sorting of lights and darks.

Pop up laundry hampers

34. Hangers 

The more organization, the better!

Mint green hangers

35. Mini-Fridge 

Not a necessity, but definitely handy! Best for cold drinks and leftovers.

Mini fridge

Related reading: The Best Mini Fridges for College Dorms & Small Spaces

36. Fan 

Just in case your dorm doesn’t have A/C. (Many dorms unfortunately do not come with this essential utility.)

37. Mug 

Everyone loves a good cuppa tea. College students love a good cuppa the strongest coffee imaginable.

38. Reusable Water Bottle 

Yes! Stay hydrated throughout the day with a reusable water bottle — an unlikely staple but a very fast friend. The Hydroflask is always a good choice for keeping water cold. We love the straw lid version for convenience, but all their bottles are amazing.

39. Full-Length Mirror 

Recommended if not already installed in your closet. Perfect for planning outfits!

Over the door mirror for college

40. Ear Plugs / Eye Mask 

Eye masks will help you get more zzz’s, even if your roomie insists on staying up late to study. And if you’ve got a lovable but snoring roommate? Try ear plugs to block out the sound. 

This luxe satin sleep mask will have you snoozing in serious style.

Moldable silicone earplugs

Invest in moldable silicone earplugs for the best possible fit — these ones come very well-reviewed on Amazon!

41. SNACKS!! 

In all caps with two exclamation points for a reason — we’re all gonna get hangry eventually, so keep your favorite snacks close by for emergencies!

42. DORM DECOR (Posters, Lights, Plants, Bits of Home) 

The best part of settling in. Decorate to your heart’s content!

Dremisland Macrame Woven Wall Hanging Moon Dream Catcher- Boho

This moon light doubles as art for your walls while giving you soft ambient lighting.

Clip string lights from dormify

How cute are these photo clip string lights?! And for just $20, they’re a must.

What do you think of our college school supplies list?

Summa summa summatime! Hopefully, this has been/will be helpful for all your back-to-school needs!

Shopping around in the next few weeks? Keep this link bookmarked for reference.

Please, let us know if this helped you out! Got any other suggestions? We’ll add ’em to the list. And tell us: What are your top five items for packing? What are you most looking forward to about going back to school? Let’s talk in the comments!

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1 thought on “The Ultimate School Supplies Checklist: What You Really Need for College”

  1. My tip – spring for a heavy-duty plastic laundry basket. Yes, it takes up more space than pop-up hampers, but those pop-up hampers will be shot WAY before you’re done with college. Spend the extra few bucks, have a basket that will last beyond college, and have a handy way to move stuff and/or a makeshift bedside table (yes, I’ve done this).

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