10+ Essentials for Commuter College Students

For the first 2 years of my undergraduate degree, I lived on campus. I lived in a dorm room, had roommates, and everything else that came with living on campus. However, for the second half of my college experience, I moved back home and commuted to and from school. Although I thought I did enough research, I was unprepared and didn’t know all of the essentials for commuter college students that I would need throughout my days on campus.

Living on campus during college, it doesn’t matter when your classes are, you can wake up 10/15 minutes before and make it on time. However, when commuting to college, things are a little different. You can’t go back to your room in between classes. There is a different level of preparation when you choose to be a commuter college student.

When you start spending long hours in the student union or the library, you realize all the essential items that a commuting college student might need throughout the day. For a solid month after I started communting to my university, I would constantly be stuck without a meal or a charger. There is nothing worse than having a 2-hour break in between classes and having no food and your computer dead. There is absolutely nothing worse.

So after a couple of weeks of this, I decided I needed to come to my college campus a little more prepared. Over the course of two years, I figured out all of the essentials for commuter college students. Having these items with me every day made for a couple of successful years of learning for me. It may be different for you, but I am hoping this list can be a great jumping-off point for anyone who is nervous about being a college commuter.

Disclaimer: This post contains affiliate links. I make a small commission when these links are used with no impact on your purchase. For more information, click here!

---

Benefits of Commuting to College

When I started college, I wanted that classic university experience. Living in the dorms, studying in the library, and all of that. Everything you see on television. And I am eternally grateful that I did live on campus for the first two years of my undergraduate degree. I met people I am still in touch with and I made memories that I will never forget.

However, there are also so many benefits to commuting to college that a lot of people don’t talk about. It is also never shown on TV or in movies. So, when starting your journey as a commuter student, it can be really difficult to find recourses to make the most out of your college experience.

Luckily, that’s where blogs come in. Little helpful corners of the internet where people share their experiences. I am hoping that I can shed some light on commuting to college. There are so many benefits to it, here are just a few:

• Save money: Living on a college campus or in the apartments near your school can be incredibly expensive, commuting is a great way to save some money.
• No strangers as roommates: I had both good and bad experiences with roommates, mainly good. But everyone isn’t as lucky, and if you enjoy your personal space without judgment or noise, commuting might be a great option for you.
• Stay connected with hometown friends and family: It is really easy to fall out of touch with your hometown relationships when you move to college. Commuting gives you the opportunity to keep these relationships and foster them.

Being a commuter college student has its challenges. Only you can make the decision for yourself as to which choice is best for you. Feel free to comment down below with any questions you have or DM me on Twitter here! I am always happy to talk!

Essentials for Commuter College Students

1. A Really Good Back Pack

The #1 staple of commuter university students is that they will have a lot to carry. Depending on your class schedule, you might have to carry books for 3 different classes along with a computer, water bottle, and more. You need a really good backpack with a lot of storage and comfortable straps.

You learn very quickly in college that nobody on campus really cares what you look like. Everyone is too tired and stressed, and thinking about their own workload to even worry if others don’t have a hip and cool backpack. So get something that will be comfortable and useful rather than fashionable.

I am personally always a fan of Jansport backpacks. You can get them from Amazon here. They have never failed me, and they also come in a ton of fun colors and designs!

2. Wired Headphones

If you are anything like me, music is an essential tool for feeling comfortable in public spaces. I used to wear my headphones while walking around campus, sitting in the library, or waiting in line at the on-campus Starbucks. Wherever I was, I had music playing in my ears.

And when I say wired headphones, I mean it! I know wireless headphones and AirPods are cool and useful, but those babies always die at the worst time, and if you don’t have a set of wired headphones on you, you are stuck listening to the outside world… scary!

Headphones are also essential if you have long breaks in between classes on a day you have no school work. Or you just don’t feel like working on that essay that is due in a few days because you are burnt out. I used to spend many breaks in between classes watching Netflix or YouTube.

3. Chargers

Any electronic you have on you, you better also have the charger! I don’t care how long the battery life is, it will die at the worst time. Finding a place on campus near a plug will become essential when you spend all day every day on your electronic devices.

So, make sure you are prepared with your phone charger, laptop charger, earphone charger, and anything else you can think of!

Also, there are always plugs around campus, especially in the library. However, you can also get a portable power bank that will save you during those busy times in the library when everyone is in there studying for mid-terms or working on a paper. This one from Amazon has incredible power capability, plus it is solar-powered. It is super easy to clip this to the outside of your backpack and charge it up while you are walking to class!

4. Insulated Waterbottle

When you are a commuter student, you spend a lot of time on campus, obviously. Especially on those days when you start with early morning classes and end with an evening class. One thing I always made sure I never forgot was my Hydroflask.

With an insulated water bottle, you can have cold water all day. And a lot of universities have started adding refill stations onto their campus, which makes having ice in your bottle a plus.

I am a huge fan of Hydroflasks, they were just becoming popular when I was in college. You can get them here from Amazon in a variety of colors and sizes to fit your need. There are also a ton of other brands, just look for something that is “insulated” so that it will hold the cold or hot for a long time.

5. Lunch Box

I know, you probably haven’t carried a lunchbox since grade school. Or you have always had bagged lunches. But when you are spending almost 8-10 hours on campus, it is really nice to have an insulated pack that you can carry a frozen meal or a couple of juice bottles to consume throughout the day.

Yes, most college campuses have fast food options on campus. But you probably aren’t going to be eating there every day. In order to save money, you will most likely be bringing your lunch. I promise, there is nothing worse than sitting down for lunch and finding a warm, smushed sandwich at the bottom of your bag. An insulated lunch box will keep your meal cool, no matter how silly you feel walking around with it.

This lunch box from Amazon is compact, which is necessary with all the essentials for commuter college students you will be carrying every day. It will also fit in your backpack if it’s not too full!

6. Wallet with Extra Cash and Student ID

As I mentioned earlier, most university campuses have fast food restaurants and small convenience shops full of meals and snacks. There is also always a coffee shop within reach, caffeine practically fuels college students. So make sure have some extra cash in your wallet, or your credit/debit card, so you can treat yourself to a nice coffee or some snacks during a hard day of studying.

You also always want to make sure you have your student ID on you while on campus. You definitely won’t need it every single day as a commuter student but there are moments when the need pops up, especially when checking out on-campus facilities and library resources, so it is helpful to already have it with you in your wallet.

7. Basic Toiletries

I’m talking deodorant, hand sanitizer, pads/tampons if you use them, a toothbrush if you desire, lotion, and anything else you could possibly need throughout the day. Anything that will make you feel more comfortable and clean.

Maybe it’s just me, but when I feel uncomfortable or I think I smell bad, I have a really hard time concentrating on class. All I’m thinking about is how I’m being perceived by others. So having some items that allow me to freshen up throughout the day improved both my self-perception and my learning when I was a college student.

Any bag or pouch will work to carry your items. You can find a lot of options on Amazon like this Small Toiletry Bag that comes in a variety of colors and is for a really good price! Or, grab a gallon-sized plastic bag and throw everything inside. Whatever works for you!

8. Extra Set of Clothes

Another common feature on college campuses is a recreation center. So, if you ever plan to use a break between classes to take a dance class or walk on the treadmill, it is always helpful to keep an extra set of clothes in your car so you can easily change and freshen up before your next class.

An extra set of clothes is also super helpful for any rain, weather, or even spilling your coffee. I like to keep a set in my car just in case.

9. Book, Magazine, Nintendo Switch, Etc.

This is for when you are simply not in the mood to do your work. With all of the spare time you will be spending on campus, sometimes it is nice to check out and do something fun. It is good for your mental health, which is something you need to take care of during your college experience. I will always say that students need to take way more brain breaks than they usually do.

If you want some book recommendations, check out this post of books you can escape into!

10. Emergency Kit (For your Car)

Commuting to college might be the first time that you are spending significant time in your car, depending on how far away your university campus is from your home. And I am always a fan of being as prepared as possible for every situation.

You can make one yourself, or you can get one on Amazon like this complete Survival Car Emergency Kit. This has everything you could need in the case of an accident or emergency.

I would also recommend looking into getting AAA, On Star, or any other tow/car service. Just in case something does happen, you will have someone to call no matter what time of day it is.

11. A Small Blanket (For your Car)

This one comes from experience, but with how much driving, studying, and learning you are going to be doing, you are probably not going to be getting enough sleep. So, when you have a two-hour break between classes, nothing feels better than a quick nap in your car.

I used to always keep a small blanket in my car that I could use for my power naps! Anything small that you can throw in the back seat. You will be living out of your car for the years you are commuting to college, so a small blanket, and even a pillow if you would like, is essential. Just don’t forget to set an alarm before you fall asleep!

---

This may seem like a lot of essentials for commuter college students, and it is. But that is why I will always tell people to utilize their vehicles if they can. It is a great place to store a lot of these items until you need them. Or, if you are commuting by public transportation, many universities will have lockers available for rent.

My main piece of advice for commuter college students is to utilize the recourses on campus as much as you can. You are there for the majority of your day, make it as comfortable as you can!

And as always, feel free to comment with any questions you have, or DM me on Twitter. I am always happy to help!