How Much Money Do You Give a College Graduate?

Most gift-givers feel $50 to $100 is an appropriate amount to give for a high school or college graduate, according to a 2014 survey conducted by Investor Pulse. Of the people surveyed, 87 percent thought it was important to give graduating members of immediate family gifts for the occasion.

Also of those surveyed, 49 percent felt giving gifts to close friends who were graduating was just as important. Make College Count says $20 to $50 is an appropriate amount to give to graduating relatives, and $15 to $50 is the right amount of cash to give to graduating friends. According to a graduation survey conducted in 2012, one-third of the 9,000 people surveyed said they expected to spend about $100 on a graduation gift that year.