The 27 Best Back-to-College and Dorm-Room Deals Right Now
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Photo-Illustration: The Strategist; Photos: Retailers
A new school year is on the horizon. Outfitting a full dorm room or off-campus apartment can get pricey pretty quickly, so luckily (and obviously), there are plenty of back-to-school-friendly sales to ease the financial burden. Our current shopping list includes basics like bedsheets and socks (you'll need more than you think now that you're doing your own laundry), as well as less obvious but still essential pieces like a Hydro Flask water bottle and a Lululemon wristlet to take to the school gym. And if you need extra inspiration, we recently updated our guide on everything you need to outfit a college dorm and our new guide to making a dorm bed more comfortable .
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Beckham Hotel Collection Original Down-Alternative Pillow - Queen / Standard
Apple AirPods Pro 3
Levi's Ribcage Full Length Women's Jeans - Blasted Stone Clean
Fashion and accessories
Lo & Sons The Catalina Deluxe Tote - Eco Friendly Canvas
This classic tote has a bottom zipper pocket to stash sneakers for an after-class gym session. It's also the perfect size for quick trips back home on the weekends or as a personal item when flying home for winter break.
Lululemon Dual Pouch Wristlet Wallet
This is a slightly larger take on Lululemon's popular dual-pouch wristlets (that are a favorite among Gen Z). It fits the essentials: credit cards, keys, and lip gloss.
J.Crew Relaxed Linen Tee
Levi's Ribcage Full Length Women's Jeans - Blasted Stone Clean
Gap Varsity Crew Socks
A basic crewneck tee and some perfectly fitting pants: Make this your college uniform so you can focus more on school, less on what to wear. Throw in some very collegiate-looking crew socks once the weather gets cold.
Gap Crew Socks - 3 pack
Because you could always use more socks (laundry's not free anymore!).
School supplies
Mead College Ruled Spiral Notebooks - 6 Pack
Pentel Twist-Erase III Mechanical Pencil - 0.5mm
If you don't like taking notes on your laptop, some classic Mead notebooks and my favorite mechanical pencils are on sale.
Sharpie S-Gel, Medium Point (0.7mm) - 4 Count
The smudgeproof, bleedproof, smooth-writing pen from our picky person's guide to pens (for lefties) .
Tech
Apple AirPods Pro 3
The noise-canceling AirPods Pro are key for focused study sessions — or just blocking out your roommate.
Koss Porta Pro On-Ear Headphones
Writer Brenley Goertzen 's fugly-cool headphones are also nice.
Ultimate Ears Wonderboom 4
This Bluetooth speaker is a longtime Strategist favorite. It's compact enough to throw in a backpack for hangs on the quad but loud enough to fill a dorm room.
Bedding
Beckham Hotel Collection Original Down-Alternative Pillow - Queen / Standard
Even if your dorm mattress isn't very comfortable , a good pillow can make a huge difference. Our best less-expensive pillows come in a set of two and fit a variety of sleeping styles.
Lands' End 400 Thread Count Premium Supima Cotton Sateen Bed Sheet Set - Twin XL
Take good care of this set of Best in Class sateen sheets , and they'll last well past senior year.
Buffy Breeze Sheet Set - Twin XL
Senior home writer Lauren Ro says these sheets are especially great for sweaty sleepers , but you don't have to run hot to love them. They're made of Lyocell, which is derived from cooling and breathable eucalyptus and other wood pulp, and have an incredibly soft and silky feel.
Lola Blankets Caramel N' Cream
Lola Blankets is taking a massive 50 percent off sitewide right now. The sale ends for the general public on August 25, but use our code (STRATEGIST50) to get an extra day of saving.
Husband Pillow - Standard+
The product name is a bit silly, but this pillow is great for both studying in bed and taking a well-deserved study break.
Home and kitchen
Lands' End Premium Supima Cotton Bath Sheet
You'll need a towel (or two — it sells sets), and this is one of our favorites .
Stasher Sandwich Bag
Stasher's reusable storage bags are great for bringing snacks to campus. Strategist contributor Alison Freer likes them because of how durable they are: "They can go in the microwave, freezer, and dishwasher; they absolutely never stain or leak; and even though I've washed mine in the dishwasher hundreds of times (with the high-heat drying cycle on, even), they haven't fallen apart or degraded in any way," she says.
Hydro Flask Wide-Mouth Vacuum Water Bottle with Flex Cap - 32 oz
A giant Hydro Flask, so you remember to stay hydrated.
Keurig K-Mini Plus Coffee Maker
Keurig K-Express Coffee Maker
Keurig K-Mini Go Coffee Maker
Coffee is a nonnegotiable, and Keurig's single-serve brewers will save money and time (and space!)
Personal care
Colgate Optic White Advanced Toothpaste - Sparkling White
Three tubes of this dentist-approved whitening toothpaste should last for a semester.
Cocolab Cocofloss Happiness Set
As close as you can get to actually having fun while flossing. It's also rarely on sale, so stocking up with this set is a good idea.
The Strategist is designed to surface the most useful, expert recommendations for things to buy across the vast e-commerce landscape. Some of our latest conquests include the best acne treatments , rolling luggage , pillows for side sleepers , natural anxiety remedies , and bath towels . We update links when possible, but note that deals can expire and all prices are subject to change.
