College life is exciting, but it can be hectic too. Many students feel overwhelmed as they adjust to campus living, and they have difficulty tracking their obligations. With one of these 12 best planners for college students, daily life becomes simplified. The options on this list range from no-frills agendas to deluxe planners that could transform your life.
Deciding which are the best planners for students is a subjective process. Some people want extra guidance while others just want to track assignments and appointments. We encourage you to keep an open mind, as a planner that’s filled with inspirational thoughts and goal-planning activities could be a valuable tool.
The college years are the ideal time to think about what kind of life you want to live and finding your purpose and direction. One of the best planners for college just might surprise you with how helpful and inspirational it is.
Top 12 Best Planners for Students
1. Clever Fox Planner
Available in both daily and weekly versions, the Clever Fox Planner is one of the best available today. That’s because it’s appropriate for so much more than just planning projects and papers for college classes.
Think of these planners as being life planners rather than just a book where you keep track of your schedule.
The manufacturer says that these planners should boost your productivity and success by as much as 300 percent or your money back. An amazing design and plenty of useful features should make it easy for you to lead your best life.
Each planner is undated and is long enough to encompass a 12-month period. Start it with your academic year to keep achieving even as the days rush by. With this agenda, you’ll be setting goals, tracking habits and journaling to keep yourself on track.
Tips to help you be more productive and to increase your passion and gratitude make the Clever Fox Planner a hit with students and professionals.
Watch this video below or check our detailed Clever Fox vs Panda planners comparison.
2. Erin Condren LifePlanner
This super-fashionable planner is ideal for keeping you on track no matter how busy life gets. It’s available in a stunning variety of colors and patterns on the covers.
Also, there are multiple layouts to enable you to plan in whatever manner is most efficient and sensible for you.
The mini-month spreads make mid- and long-term planning a cinch. The quote pages are inspirational, and the goal-setting pages are ideal for the busy and ambitious student. Lined pages and dot-grid pages can be used however you like for planning, organizing or creating.
The tabbed month pages make it easy to navigate, and the included folder and pouch help you to keep track of small bits of paper and extraneous items. These hardbound planners are a bit on the spendy side, but so worth it.
Check our detailed Erin Condren vs Happy planners comparison.
3. Academic Year Planner
If you’re like most college students, then you’re on a tight budget. The incredibly low price-point on this planner certainly makes it an attractive option. Despite its affordability, this spiral-bound agenda has a hardcover that’s incredibly durable.
The moveable “today” tab helps you to stay organized along with the month tabs. This dated planner is specifically designed for the academic year.
Accordingly, it’s dated from July to July each year. Available in a wide range of choices, the covers are bright, fun and colorful.
Each month is featured on a two-page spread that’s followed by two page weekly spreads. In every weekly spread, you’ll find space for goal setting and an inspirational quote.
While the space for each weekday includes plenty of room to write, the spaces for weekend days are smaller, which may be a hindrance for some.
4.Panda Planner
The Panda Planner comes with an interesting story. Its designer, Michael Leip, devised this system after suffering from serious illnesses including cancer and a traumatic brain injury. More than just an agenda, the Panda Planner is based on research regarding happiness and productivity.
In fact, Leip offers a money-back guarantee if this planner doesn’t work for you. The planner is equipped with daily, weekly and monthly sections.
It gives you opportunities to reflect on gratitude and focus on daily affirmations. Fill in your daily priorities, and then go online to enjoy your free access to six ebooks and a video series to help you meet your goals. This planner is undated, so you can start it at any time. However, it is designed to be used for a maximum of six months.
5. At-A-Glance Academic Year Weekly and Monthly Planner
The Collegiate version of this planner is designed specifically with students in mind. Running from July to July, you’ll find that this affordable agenda is just right for keeping you on track with your class schedule, projects, homework, papers and presentations.
High-quality paper resists bleeding ink, and each week is encapsulated on a two-page spread. These weekly pages include hourly scheduling from 7:00 am to 6:00 pm on each weekday.
Weekend days do not have hours but are lined to make it easy to enter appointments and reminders.
This straightforward, no-nonsense planner features student reference pages that are meant to make your life easier and more efficient. These reference pages include test-taking tips, time-management tips and study tips.
6. Flagship Collection by Blue Sky
Called a “Day Designer,” this is a stylish-looking offering that’s bound to keep you on schedule. It’s dated from July to June for 12 months of academic planning. This just might be the ideal agenda for the person whose days get really complicated.
Each individual day is given its own page with two columns. One column is entitled “Today’s Schedule” and includes space for each hour from 6:00 am to 8:00 pm.
The other column is entitled “To Do” where you could record absolutely anything of importance that needs to get done.
Additional sections on each day’s page include “Today’s Top Three,” an inspirational quote, space for reflecting on gratitude and a place to record events for “Tonight.” Other sections are designed to help you plan and set goals in addition to staying on track to meet those goals.
7. Mead Student Academic Planner
Running from August to July of every academic year, you’ll be able to plan all 12 months in advance with this straightforward agenda. It’s available in large and small sizes so you’ll be able to get the planner that’s sized just right for your backpack or purse.
Each month is tabbed and every week is featured on a two-page spread that promises plenty of room for writing down important notes and reminders. Helpful reference pages include spaces to record four-quarter’s worth of class schedules and a list of websites and blogs.
Holidays for three years are listed as well as several yearly overview calendars. The cover is of thin poly, and the entire planner is bound by black wire. The Mead Student Academic Planner is an economical choice for the student who wants a no-fuss system.
8. Bloom Daily Planners Academic Daily Planner
This agenda is available in Academic Year and Calendar Year versions, so you can select whichever one appeals most to you. Another option that you get to choose is the more straightforward academic planner or the vision planner, which places more emphasis on goals and aspirations.
It’s also available in hard and soft covers. Each monthly view features an inspirational quote. Months are tabbed and there are pockets on the inside of both covers. At the end of each month, you’ll find end-of-month reflection questions and goal tracking pages.
Staying organized and on-track has never been easier or looked so stylish. In each weekly, two-page view, virtually equal space is given to weekdays and weekends.
9. The Passion Planner
If you feel like you need a wealth of motivational tools to keep your momentum going strong, then this may be the planner for you. This agenda started as a Kickstarter project for Angelia Trinidad. Graduating from college left her feeling empty and without purpose, so she devised this planner system as a method to define her goals and dreams.
Anyone who hopes to lead a purposeful life will appreciate the Passion RoadMap which leads the users through exercises that help them decide what they want over the course of time periods like three months, one year and three years.
The helpful pages provide room to record “This Week’s Focus” and “Good Things That Happened.” Motivational quotes and dual work and personal to-do lists help to keep you moving.
10. The Happy Planner – Student Edition
Courtesy of the Italian voice
Brought to you by Me& My Big Ideas, this agenda is just as creative as you would imagine it would be. It’s a lot more like a scrapbook than like a traditional planner. Accordingly, you can add and remove pages whenever you like.
The company also makes a wide range of accessories to go with its planners. These include zippered pockets and other add-ons that make this planner exceptionally convenient. It’s designed to cover an impressive 18 months and is decorated with inspirational artwork throughout.
The weekly views are not particularly detailed, and some users may feel that they are not big enough for recording all appointments and events.
11. Dated Student Planner by Elan Publishing Company
If you’re looking for something small, simple and affordable, then this academic planner may be just right for you. It’s dated for August to July to fully cover the school year.
Straightforward block formatting for each week is easy to use, and you’ll likely find that you have enough room to make to-do lists and to keep track of assignments. Monthly overviews help you to stay on top of all sorts of activities and appointments.
This planner has a laminated cover and is spiral bound. Perhaps it is not the most durable option on this list, but at an exceptionally affordable price, it is well worth the expense.
12. Freedom Planner Pro
If you’re looking for a total life transformation, then this may be the perfect planner. It is designed for academic or professional use, and each month starts with a two-page spread where you can prioritize and plan your monthly goals.
Sections for both personal and professional goals are included as well as a spot for recording annual goals. The section for “Notes and Thoughts” is where you can record anything that can’t be neatly categorized. In the weekly layout, you’ll find spots for recording “Tasks & Actions” as well as “Time Management” areas that let you plan every hour of every day.
This undated agenda makes it easy for you to personalize and customize your timekeeping. Other nice features are included at the bottom of each weekly page. These include inspirational quotes and a spot for listing things for which you are grateful.
The “Today Did I …?” section is valuable as it asks the user to reflect on what they accomplished, such as learning something new and performing a random act of kindness. Most people who try this agenda say that it’s a bit like having a life coach that you can carry with you wherever you go. If you need motivation and organization, then give this planner a try.
Bottom line
Whether you are on a budget and looking for a planner that has no frills or want an agenda that lets your imagination run wild, there’s a perfect product for everyone. Any of these top 12 best planners for students deserves to be on your short list of contenders.
