After spending $150,000-plus on four years of school, what better way to celebrate than with themed merch that doesn’t cost a cent (at least for end-users)?

Universities, employers of new graduates and other niche markets can capitalize on the excitement surrounding graduation and stoke brand engagement with themed merch.

Graduating this December, I hope to recoup the physical capital lost (despite the human capital gained) during my three-and-a-third years at Northwestern University in Evanston, IL. But given declining salaries and the rising cost of home ownership, this may take a while. Product giveaways, therefore, may strike a particular chord with cash-strapped college graduates looking to celebrate their achievements.

From products for the perfect photo opportunity to those that make three-hour ceremonies a bit more bearable, here’s merch I’d like to see, alongside what I have seen (and loved):

1. Senior Bar Crawl Shirts

For the beverage-inclined, a newly beloved pre-graduation event at many colleges is the senior bar crawl. Part of the countdown to commencement, the crawl typically involves much of the senior class as they say goodbye to their favorite drinking holes.

Both to distinguish themselves from lowly underclassmen and to commemorate the event, participants have taken to themed T-shirts. One popular tee motif is “One Last Crawl Before We Walk,” where seniors wear photos from childhood as a testament to their younger self. And for those not looking to sport their baby pics, I’ve seen school-themed shirts as well.

Beverage and food companies could look to “sponsor” bar crawls (free T-shirts for the grads!) and see their logos on seniors’ T-shirts, which commemorate a night they won’t want to forget.

Ink Tank, Northwestern’s student-run merch company, created this shirt for seniors. (Courtesy of Ink Tank)

2. Message Fans

With most college graduations taking place in May and June, attendees will be happy for some relief from the heat. And during outdoor ceremonies that break the two- or three-hour mark, they’ll want a cooling product that can last.

Electric handheld fans are sure to get use from graduates, their families and faculty. And what better way to get your branding out in the open than a message fan. Print your logo on the fan and preprogram “Happy Graduation” as the message or opt for a more personalized touch with school specific sayings.

Preprogrammed message fan (LT2272) Core Gifts Promo (asi/46671)

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3. Graduation Cap Toppers

For proud family members and friends looking down (only literally) on their seated graduates, custom graduation caps can stand out from the crowd. Take inspiration from high school seniors’ college decision caps and give graduates the chance to top off their college years in style.

A square-shaped grad cap insert makes for an easily customized and shipped piece of promo. Colleges and universities can capitalize on the opportunity to give graduates memorabilia aside from their diploma, and a sea of school-themed grad caps makes for a great photo opportunity.

Grad Ad graduation cap topper (GH30) Lion Circle (asi/67620)

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