Using the right planner can help college students be more productive, better organized, less stressed, and have more time for hobbies according to Psychology Today. But how do you find the right college planner? This guide will show you the best planner for college students’ unique needs and preferences.
The best planners for college to maximize productivity are the: Tools4Wisdom Planner, Elan Dated Planner for College, Passion Planner, Panda Planner, Essential Planner, Global Planner, and Erin Condren Academic Planner.
With college class schedules, exams, extracurricular schedules, and to-do lists to organize, the following planners are excellent tools to help college students excel. Bonus, read all the way to the bottom to see the best accessories to go with your new planener!
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Best Planners for College Students
- Tools4Wisdom – Best Weekly Planner for Prioritizing Tasks
- Rocketbook Panda Planner – Best Reusable Digital Planner
- Elan Academic Planner – Best Budget Planner
- Passion Planner – Best Small Planner for Achieving Goals
- Panda Planner – Best Planner to Prevent College Blues
- Deluxe 2021 Planner – Best Vertical Grid Weekly Planner
- Erin Condren Academic Planner – Best Looking Customizable Planner
1. Tools4Wisdom
Best Weekly Planner for Prioritizing Daily Tasks
If you’re a college student who needs a little help prioritizing your most important daily activities, then the Tools4Wisdom Planner is a top choice.
TOOLS4WISDOM PLANNER FEATURES:
Size: 8.5” x 11”
Cover Type: Hardcover
Dates: Dated December 2020-2021
Designs: 9 inspiring cover designs and quotes
PROS:
- Durable planner with hardcover, solid coil, monthly tabs, stickers, and thick paper that doesn’t bleed through
- Full color pages with dedicated space to track up to 6 most important tasks for the day
- Lots of room to write down class times, work schedule, deadline reminders–plus guided pages for breaking down weekly + monthly goals
CONS:
- Larger size won’t fit in small purses
OVERALL RATING: 4.7 stars on Amazon
2. Rocketbook Panda Planner
Best Reusable Digital Planner
The incredible Rocketbook Reusable Smart Notebooks have teamed up with Pand Planner to create the popular genius Rocketbook Panda Planner.
PLANNER FEATURES:
Size: Letter (8.5″ x 11″) and Executive (6″ x 8.8″)
Cover Type: Firm yet flexible
Dates: Undated
Designs: Clean and simple Teal, Dark Blue, Black, and Scarlet covers
Pros:
- It’s Reusable! Planner can be wiped clean and reused for years
- Helps you prioritize tasks and check them off
- Nine different page layouts to suit individual needs for making plans, practicing mindfulness, and achieving goals
Cons:
- Can’t map out long-term plans without needing to wipe pages clean
- Only works with Pilot Frixion Pens (one is included)
Overall Review: 4.6 stars on Amazon.
3. Elan Academic Planner
Best Budget Academic Planner
If you’re looking for a good inexpensive college planner, the Elan Academic Planner is the perfect solution. It’s clean, simple, and easy to take with you.
ELAN ACADEMIC PLANNER FEATURES:
Size: 5” x 8”
Cover Type: Flexible cover with laminated protector
Dates: Dated August 2020 – July 2021
Designs: Blue and green covers
PROS:
- Smaller size makes it easy to carry
- Simple design has the basics of what you need with no extra, unnecessary pages
- Low price
CONS:
- No additional pages for notes or other resources
OVERALL RATING: 4.5 stars on Amazon
4. Passion Planner
Best Small Planner to Breakdown Goals
Looking for a planner that helps college students plan their week so they also achieve their big goals? Then the Passion Planner is the perfect option for breaking down and teaching that essential life skill.
PASSION PLANNER FEATURES:
Size: Three sizes: Small (5.8″ x 8.3″), Medium (6.9″ x 9.8″), Large (8.3″ x 11.7″)
Cover Type: Softcover with a faux-leather design
Dates: Both dated and undated available with Sunday or Monday start
Designs: Black, turquoise, and gray covers
Pros:
- Guides to help set goals, adjust focus, and achieve dreams
- Heavy-duty paper is easy to write on and won’t bleed through
- Comes with access to the full lineup of free downloadable PDFs and inserts for the planner
Cons:
- Must write small in the small sized planner
Overall Review: 4.8 stars on Amazon
Related Reading:
- 26 Super Cool Gifts for College Guys
- 25 Life-Changing Things I Wish I Knew Before College
- 5 Awesome Ways to Save Money on College
5. Panda Planner
Best Planner for Preventing College Blues
College can be a stressful time in any student’s life, especially if it’s during a health crisis like 2020. The Panda Planner was designed to help college students feel happy, stress-free, and still stay on top of their responsibilities.
PANDA PLANNER FEATURES:
Size: 6” x 8”
Cover Type: Softcover
Dates: Undated
Designs: Clean and simple covers in gray, blue, purple, orange, and black
Pros:
- Great way to keep track of goals and habits in order to make smarter choices
- Plenty of space to mark down daily, weekly, or monthly tasks
- Access to eBooks, video courses, and a community of other users to help you on your way to planning success
Cons:
- Depending on how you use it, the planner will last 4-6 months.
Overall Review: 4.3 stars on Amazon.
6. Deluxe 2021 Planner
Best Vertical Grid Weekly Planner
The vertical Matrix-Style Calendar with vertical columns for weekly planning is a unique feature of the Deluxe 2021 Planner. This planner includes tabbed sections, stickers, a clip-in bookmark, a pocket folder, and more.
DELUXE PLANNER FEATURES:
Size: 8.5″ x 11:
Cover Type: Heavy-duty laminated plastic cover
Dates: November 2020 – December 2021
Designs: Colorful and fashionable designs
Pros:
- Full color, 14 tabbed sections, 5 sticker sheets, clip-in bookmark, pocket folder, monthly calendar, weekly calendar, daily planner, and mini calendars all in one!
- High-quality planner built to last with thick paper that doesn’t bleed
- Vertical grid-design for each day is a unique way of planning not found in many other planners
Cons:
- Heavier to carry due to being big and heavy-duty
Overall Review: 4.8 stars on Amazon.
7. Erin Condren Academic Planner
Best Looking College and Customizable Planner
Looking for a stylish college academic planner that’s just as beautiful as it is functional? Erin Condren has you covered with the Erin Condren Academic Planner.
ERIN CONDREN ACADEMIC PLANNER FEATURES:
Size: 7” x 9”
Cover Type: Interchangeable, flexible and stylish covers
Dates: Dated
Designs: Nearly 100 beautiful designs to choose from! Starry skies, watercolor designs, or create your own with your own photos and saying.
Pros:
- Customizable cover and included fun stickers show personality
- Durable & colorful laminated tabs to keep everything organized
- Designated areas to track due dates, exams, projects, notes, and even stickers to help college students have the most productive year yet
Cons:
- Some EC Planners are on Amazon but the best selection is much better on the Erin Condren website
Overall Review: 4.9 stars on Amazon
Extras! Best College Planner Accessories
Who doesn’t love personalizing their planner, to-do-lists, and important dates to remember? These awesome accessories are the motivation college students need to make planning fun.
Happy Planner Stickers
A few fun stickers can be just the thing your student needs to stay on top of tasks. These Fri Yay Stickers were designed just for college students.
Erin Condren School Tracker Dashboard
The School Tracker Dashboard quick and easy way to see upcoming tasks and assignments at a glance. It’s reusable with a wet erase marker and snaps into the Erin Condren coiled planners.
Erin Condren Snap-In To-Do List
Another amazing Erin Condren planner accessory is this reusable double-sided to-do list. Snap it into an EC coiled planner and keep track of all everything you need to do.
Lined Sticky Notes with Tabs
Tabbed sticky notes? Yes, please! Perfect for taking notes and marking a page in planners, textbooks, and everything in between.
Pilot Frixion Erasable Gel Pens
A great planner needs a great set of colorful pens. These Plot FriXion Pens write like gel pens but erase like a pencil. The best of both worlds!
Best Planners for College Students Summary
Finding the right planner for a college doesn’t have to be as difficult as it seems.
Whether you need a way to keep track of class schedules and assignments or if you want to track your hopes and dreams as well, this review has shown you the best planners for college students in 2021.
Save It For Later
Be sure to save this list of academic planners for college on Pinterest, so you have it ready for next year’s planner shopping too!
This list was originally created in 2019. It has been significantly updated for 2021.
