Best Bags for New College Students

Celebrating the start of college calls for a special present, and there’s no better gift for a freshman than the perfect bag. This formative chapter of a new college student’s life is one full of many “firsts”—whether it’s their first time living away from home, their first internship, their first time navigating a big campus, and many more. For all these experiences, a bag from Coach makes getting (and feeling) ready a lot easier.

Keep reading to discover which bags we guarantee the new college student in your life will love.

From classes and coffee runs to workouts and first dates, the Brooklyn bag covers it all. This effortless carryall is designed to move with you wherever you go, making it the ultimate pick for a busy college student. With a slouchy yet streamlined look, the Brooklyn is easy to style and always helps you feel put-together, no matter where you’re going. It’s the bag that will instantly elevate a new college student’s wardrobe, inspiring sophisticated looks for any occasion.

Coming in three sizes, the biggest is the Brooklyn 39 and can conveniently fit a laptop plus more books and supplies. For a student who wants something lighter but still spacious, the Brooklyn 34 is ideal. This bag will fit many school essentials including a water bottle. The smallest Brooklyn 28 is the most compact. This option is great for carrying daily must-haves but likely won’t fit everything a student might need during a full school day (like their laptop). So if you want to gift a spacious carryall, the Brooklyn 39 or 34 are the bags to pick.

Our most iconic style is a fool-proof gift for a freshman. The best part about the Tabby is that it comes in so many versions, so you can pick the size, color and material that suits your recipient the best. Not only that, but this bag can also be further personalized with accessories like bag charms. These personal touches a student to fully express themselves, which is important for starting a new, exploratory chapter of life.

With many options to choose from, you can’t go wrong with the original Tabby 26 bag in a shade like Black, Maple or Chalk. This timeless design in a neutral hue is extra versatile—your new college student will be able to style it in so many ways.

Since college is a time for making new friends and expanding your social circle, it’s important to have essentials you can bring anywhere. The Teri bag is one of those essentials. It’s a wear-with-anything style that’s on-trend but never overstated, making it easy to dress up or down. Crafted of durable leather, the Teri is designed to keep up with you and your day—whatever it may bring. It’s also incredibly functional with an easy zip closure and detachable straps to wear it two ways (crossbody or on the shoulder). A student starting their freshman year will find everything they want and need in the Teri bag.

The ultra-versatile Teri is the perfect plus-one for any moment. They can wear it to parties or casual hangouts. They can take it to the library or out to dinner. They can grab it and go for commuting to class. As a gift, the Teri is both stylish and functional, offering the best of both worlds for your new college student.

Last but certainly not least, the Nolita bag is a great gift that comes in handy for many college scenarios. It can be used as a pouch to hold small school essentials and easily fits into a larger carryall or backpack. It can be worn on its own as a mini shoulder bag, adding on-trend style to any look. Or it can be carried as a wristlet—the perfect little bag for grabbing coffee or meeting a friend on campus. The Nolita is designed for limitless possibilities, making it the ultimate gift a student with their whole college career ahead of them.

This small but mighty bag can be personalized with accessories, bag charms and different straps like this strap extender. There are so many ways to make it your own—the options are truly endless. To inspire them to personalize their bag, you can add a bag charm (or two) to their Nolita gift. We guarantee they’ll love the (added) playful touch.