College life is a heck of a thing. You get there, you’re all excited, and then the storm of responsibilities like work and school loads come crashing down on you.
If you’re a college student, you undeniably need a daily planner to keep your life in as much order as possible. The options for planners on this list range from no-frills agendas to deluxe planners that could transform your life.
Whether you’re a school focused, work-focused, or chasing other goals while you finish your degree will determine what kind of planner is best fit for you. No matter your style, there’s a planner to help you kill it.
Because you’re a college student, we’ve reviewed the best academic planners for college and compared layouts, note sections, dating methods, etc. to create a list of suitable planners for college students. Read the reviews to find the best planner for college students.
Contents
- 1 14 Best Planners for College Students:
- 1.1 1. Clever Fox Planner for Students
- 1.2 2. Legend Planner – Deluxe Weekly & Monthly Life Planner for College Students
- 1.3 3. GoGirl Planner and Organizer for Women
- 1.4 4. Erin Condren Life Planner – Cute Planner for College
- 1.5 5. Academic Year Planner for College Students
- 1.6 6. Panda Planner
- 1.7 7. AT-A-GLANCE 2019-2020 Academic Student Planner
- 1.8 8. Freedom Spiral Bound Planner Pro for Students
- 1.9 9. Bloom Daily Planners Academic Daily Planner for Students
- 1.10 10. The Passion Student Planner
- 1.11 11. Classic Student Happy Planner – Be True
- 1.12 12. 2019-2020 Academic Year Weekly & Monthly Planner for Students by Blue Sky
- 1.13 13. Mead Student Academic Planner
- 1.14 14. Dated Student Planner by Elan Publishing Company
- 2 Bottom line
14 Best Planners for College Students:
1. Clever Fox Planner for Students
| Format: Daily |
| Cover colors: 10 colors |
| Type: Undated (Start anytime) |
| Lasts: 6 months |
| Paper weight: 120 gsm |
- High-quality 120 gsm paper that won’t let the ink bleed through
- Three ribbon bookmarks
- Pocket for storing small items and papers
- A large section for notes
- Habit tracker
The Clever Fox Daily Planner is undated so that you can begin using it at any time. That’s great news because no other planner can get you organized so quickly and efficiently. You’ll want to start using it right away instead of waiting for the New Year.
This planner is an undoubted bargain. It features an elegant, faux leather color that comes in a variety of colors. The A5 size is ideal for carrying with you everywhere you go so that you’ll always have your schedule and reminders at your fingertips.
The Clever Fox Daily Planner is packed with innovative layouts that are designed to help you lead your best life ever. This daily planner is large enough to accommodate six months of your plans and dreams.
Perhaps the most helpful layout is the daily pages, which give you a separate page for each day. It includes an hourly schedule so that you’ll never miss a meeting or an appointment. You’ll also be able to track the main goal of the day, your priorities for the day and keep a personal to-do list.
- Helps you be more productive today
- Daily layouts have an hourly schedule
- Tons of goal-setting tools
- Ribbon bookmarks may fray
At the end of the day, you can complete a productivity review to reflect on how you’ll improve tomorrow.
Of course, this planner also includes other helpful layouts for weekly and monthly planning and review. Additional layouts for setting and strategizing goals and a mind map further are included. It’s difficult to imagine a daily planner having better, more well-thought-out features than this one.
Users say that they have managed to make their lives more productive and rewarding after just a few weeks of using the Clever Fox Daily Planner. However, it is vital to keep in mind that this is a six-month planner so you will need two to cover a one-year period.
Being aware of this leaves you free to enjoy the prompts for goal setting and the heightened awareness of your priorities.
People love how this planner provides places to track all sorts of metrics relating to fitness, finances, business, personal relationships and much more.
It’s possible to cover every facet of your life, which gives you the opportunity to really focus on what you want.
2. Legend Planner – Deluxe Weekly & Monthly Life Planner for College Students
- The Legend Planner features 120 gsm paper.
- That’s heavy-duty enough to handle any type of pen.
- Three colorful sheets of stickers make it easy to remember important events.
- The pen loop, elastic closure, three bookmarks, and lay-flat binding make this a convenient planner.
- Because it’s undated, you can start it at any time.
Students at the high school and college levels need a planner that keeps them on their toes. That’s exactly why the Legend Planner has been chosen as one of the top-rated planners for students. It has numerous features that make it a natural choice for a goal-oriented student who has several responsibilities to track.
The academic years are times of enormous growth, and that is something that the Legend Planner supports. It contains all sorts of exercises related to visualization and goal setting.
This encourages the student to envision what they want their life to look like in the future, then reduce that vision to concrete steps that they can take to realize their dreams.
In addition to the goal-setting layouts, this planner further includes weekly and monthly layouts with multiple areas in which the student can write to-do lists and goals, track habits, and make notes about assignments and projects.
With an uncluttered design, there are opportunities for customization and detailed notes. Blank pages in the back of the planner can be used for taking a class or research notes.
- Convenient A5 size
- Vision board
- Weekly, monthly, quarterly and yearly goal tracking
- Individual days are only allotted a portion of a page rather than a full-page
Students who need to make detailed notations about each day may need a daily planner instead. For everyone else, this is a well-designed planner that can help students stay ahead of their schedule while also keeping their focus on their goals.
Students will love being able to have a full week’s schedule available at a glance. With three bookmarks, an elastic strap closure, and a pen holder, it’s easy to stay organized and secure with this planner.
3. GoGirl Planner and Organizer for Women
- This smaller-than-A5-size planner comes in many colorful covers.
- With one sheet of stickers and three bookmarks, you’ll never lose your place.
- Undated, this planner has sufficient pages for a year.
- The 120 gsm paper is fairly thick, and the imitation leather cover is durable.
- An inner pocket stores small items. The pen loop and elastic closure are convenient additions.
GoGirl’s compact size makes it one of the best student planners. If you are burdened with books, a laptop, a purse, and more while you travel from class to class, you probably won’t even notice the addition of this sensibly-sized planner. Despite being diminutive, you will still find plenty to admire in this well-organized offering.
Start off by using the exercises in front of the journal to better define what you want out of life. This may help to shape the classes you take and even the major that you choose. Remember, the clearer your vision of the future is, the more confident you will be in the choices you make.
The GoGirl Planner assists you in this endeavor by challenging you to consider all aspects of your current life and where you want to go. Define your goals, and plan the concrete steps that you need to complete to achieve them. You will also find spots in the weekly and monthly layouts where you can track your progress.
The weekly and monthly pages further are where you will keep track of your class schedule and assignments as well as meetings of study groups, campus events, and other happenings. Colorful stickers make it easy to call attention to important items that you don’t want to miss.
- Stylish design
- Fun, helpful goal-setting exercises
- Concise layouts for busy schedules
- So small that you may not have room to make detailed entries
People with small, neat handwriting love the GoGirl Planner. It has thick paper as well as three bookmarks, an elastic closure, and a pen loop. It may be exactly what you need to organize your days, realize your dreams and manage busy social and academic calendars.
4. Erin Condren Life Planner – Cute Planner for College
- This eight by 10-inch planner is larger than many, and it’s equipped with just one ribbon bookmark.
- It lacks a pen holder and a closure strap.
- Nonetheless, it features plenty of room for recording monthly and weekly happenings.
- The weekly layout is presented in a vertical format, which some users prefer.
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. The Erin Condren Academic Planner is the best planner for nursing school
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.
- Lasts for one year
- Fashionable design
- Vertical layouts for each day
- Expensive
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.
5. Academic Year Planner for College Students
- This spiral-bound planner measures approximately 8.5″x11″ inches.
- A tabbed “Today” bookmark helps you to keep your place in the current week.
- Each month also is tabbed for convenience.
- Included with the planner are 223 stickers, a storage pocket, sticky notes, and a ruler.
- A strong hardcover ensures year-long durability.
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 movable “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.
- Affordable
- Includes sticky notes
- Helpful “Today” tab
- The corners on the cover bend pretty easily
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.
6. Panda Planner
- Featuring an elastic strap closure and three ribbon bookmarks, the Panda Planner is a convenient choice.
- It has 120 gsm paper too.
- However, it’s worth noting that this planner is designed to last for three to six months depending upon how much you use it.
- Essentially an A5-size, this is a portable planner that features monthly, weekly and daily layouts.
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.
- The daily layouts are really detailed
- Several opportunities to review progress
- May help improve productivity
- Lacks a habit tracker
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.
7. AT-A-GLANCE 2019-2020 Academic Student Planner
- With its 8 by 10 in. measurements and spiral binding, this is a large, no-nonsense choice.
- The dates are pre-printed, and each month has its own tab, with the months running from July to July.
- A three-year reference calendar, time zone reference sheet, contacts, holidays, and personal information pages are included in the back of the 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.
- Covers 13 months
- Monthly tabs
- Hourly schedules for each day
- Paper is very thin
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.
8. Freedom Spiral Bound Planner Pro for Students
- A beautifully artistic cover and sheets of stickers make this a unique choice.
- The minimalist design of the pages lets you achieve a new level of clarity while the spiral binding ensures that this planner always lays flat.
- There’s no pen loop, but there are a ribbon bookmark and a strap closure.
- The pages are made using recycled paper.
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.
- Free ebooks with purchase
- Goal-setting layouts for each month
- Layouts specifically for reflecting on progress
- Paper is low-quality
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 of a planner, 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.
9. Bloom Daily Planners Academic Daily Planner for Students
- Including the binding, this planner measures six inches by 8.25 inches.
- It’s spiral bound and printed on 100 gsm paper. Both covers are equipped with inside pockets.
- The covers are made of thick cardstock and feature a pretty, colorful design.
- Pages for holidays, notes, contacts and more are included.
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.
- Colorful both inside and out
- Covers a full academic year
- Useful extras like a holiday list, contacts pages and website login tracker
- Some users find the pages hard to turn
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.
10. The Passion Student Planner
- Dated from August through July for students, the Passion Planner is a B5-size with an elastic strap closure.
- It’s equipped with one ribbon bookmark and an inside back pocket.
- The 120 gsm paper is thick while the faux leather cover is durable.
- On the weekly layouts, you’ll find vertical hourly schedules for tracking classes and more.
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.
- Squares on the monthly overviews are a good size
- Includes a “not to-do” list to help with avoiding bad habits
- Good goal-setting and reflection tools
- Only one bookmark
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.
11. Classic Student Happy Planner – Be True
- 12-month dated calendar features a sturdy laminated cover.
- The weekly layouts are in the vertical format that’s favored by students.
- The disc binding allows you to add accessory packs but makes the pages hard to turn.
Brought to you by The Happy Planner, this agenda is just as creative as you would imagine it would be.
It’s a lot more like a scrapbook than 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 12 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.
- Addition packs available for a variety of interests
- Colorful tabbed pages with inspirational quotes
- “Pre-month” pages are particularly helpful with planning
- The disc binding makes page-turning a chore
12. 2019-2020 Academic Year Weekly & Monthly Planner for Students by Blue Sky
- The 8.5 by 11-inch Day Designer planner includes twin-wire binding and a colorful, feminine cover.
- It’s worth noting that the cover is flexible, which may be attractive to some people.
- The colorful pages are tabbed at each month.
- Lined pages for notes are included at the back of the planner.
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.
- A beautiful cover and colorful pages
- Helpful “design your days” exercises
- Good level of detail to keep you organized
- Some users have noted issues with incorrect pre-printed dates and inaccurate holidays
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.
13. Mead Student Academic Planner
- Spiral-bound and measuring approximately 5-1/2″ x 8-1/4″, this simple, straightforward planner includes a two-year reference calendar as well as a pocket and a place where you can list important dates.
- A list of holidays and reference pages may come in handy for students.
- The plain, lined layouts allow for customization.
Running from July to June 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.
- Minimalist design
- Two-year reference calendar
- Each weekly spread includes a lined planning space
- Lacks blank pages for notes
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 gold wire. The Mead Student Academic Planner is an economical choice for the student who wants a no-fuss system.
14. Dated Student Planner by Elan Publishing Company
- Featuring a three-year reference calendar, this dated five by eight planner boasts a minimalist design.
- It runs from August through July, with each weekly layout spanning two pages.
- The laminated cover maintains flexibility, and the wire binding is durable
If you’re looking for something small, simple, and affordable, then this academic planner may be just right for you. It’s dated from 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.
- Lots of room for customization
- Includes a three-year calendar in the back
- Great for people with large handwriting
- No bookmarks or tabs
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.
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 14 best planners for students deserves to be on your short list of contenders.
