As the Class of 2025 celebrates a significant academic milestone, numerous brands and retailers have announced special promotions, freebies, and exclusive deals designed to honor graduates. These offers range from complimentary food and beverages to substantial discounts and gift card bonuses. Understanding the details of these promotions—including eligibility requirements, redemption methods, and time-sensitive deadlines—is essential for graduates looking to maximize their celebrations while managing their budgets. This guide aggregates verified information from multiple sources to provide a clear overview of the freebies and deals available, focusing on categories such as food and beverage, retail, and digital services.
Many of these offers require specific proof of graduation status, such as wearing a cap and gown, presenting a student ID, or providing a diploma. Others are available to anyone celebrating a graduate, offering bonus gift cards or catering packages for graduation parties. The availability of graduation freebies typically spans various categories, and while many are national, some are specific to certain locations. Graduates should be prepared to present proof of their status to successfully redeem these offers.
Food and Beverage Freebies
Restaurants and food retailers are among the most active participants in graduation celebrations, offering a variety of free items and discounts to reward recent graduates. These promotions often require in-store visits and proof of graduation status.
Krispy Kreme
Krispy Kreme has a long-standing tradition of celebrating academic milestones. For the Class of 2025, the brand is offering a free Original Glazed 3-pack on "Grad Day," which is scheduled for Wednesday, May 28. To qualify, high school and college graduates must visit a Krispy Kreme location wearing their cap and gown or other 2025 graduation swag. In addition to the free 3-pack, graduates will have the chance to win free Original Glazed dozens for a year. This promotion is specifically noted for the Class of 2025 and requires in-store redemption with the appropriate attire.
Insomnia Cookies
Insomnia Cookies is celebrating graduates (high school, college, or grad school) with a buy-one-get-one-free (BOGO) offer on Classic cookies. To receive the BOGO deal, graduates must wear their cap and gown when visiting their local Insomnia Cookies location. The offer is valid through June 30, 2025.
Perkins
Perkins is rewarding graduates who visit their locations in 2025 graduation gear (cap or gown) with a free Mammoth Muffin. This offer is available from now until June 25, 2025. Additionally, Perkins is running a contest where graduates can win a $100 gift card by sharing a photo of themselves in their cap at Perkins and tagging the restaurant on social media.
TGI Fridays
Through June 30, 2025, TGI Fridays is offering graduates a free appetizer or dessert when they order an entrée. This promotion allows graduates to add a complimentary item to their meal as a celebratory treat.
Bertucci’s
Bertucci’s has introduced a graduation package designed to feed between 10 and 20 people. When customers spend $100 or more, the package includes a tray of mini chocolate chip cannoli. To redeem this offer, customers must use the code GRAD2025. This promotion is geared towards larger graduation gatherings rather than individual freebies.
Buca di Beppo
When you book your graduation celebration at Buca di Beppo, every grad in your party will receive a free cannoli. Offer is valid for dine-in only. One source mentions that the free cannoli is provided "with service," implying that booking a reservation or meal is required to receive the complimentary dessert.
Bonefish Grill
Bonefish Grill is promoting a gift card bonus rather than a direct food freebie. Customers who purchase a $50 gift card between June 23 and August 24, 2025, will receive a $10 bonus.
Magnolia Bakery
Magnolia Bakery offers a free Classic Cupcake with your cap & gown or 2025 diploma until June 30, 2025. This offer is specifically for New York City locations.
Xing Fu Tang
Xing Fu Tang offers a free drink of your choice when you swing by any of their NYC locations in your cap and gown. This promotion is limited to New York City locations.
Gift Card and Bonus Promotions
Several national chains are offering gift card bonuses, which can be useful for graduation parties or future dining. These promotions typically require a purchase of a gift card to receive a bonus card.
Applebee’s
Through June 29, 2025, Applebee’s offers a $10 bonus card with an online or in-store purchase of $50 in Applebee’s gift cards. The bonus card is valid the day after purchase through August 3, 2025.
Auntie Annie’s
Through June 15, 2025, customers can earn a $5 bonus reward for every $25 spent on Auntie Annie’s gift cards. The bonus cards can be used through July 15, 2025 (limit 1 per customer, per transaction). A rewards account (free to join) is needed for bonus card redemption.
Benihana
Benihana is running two gift card promotions through June 15, 2025. Customers can get up to $60 in bonuses, though specific details on the promotion structure are not fully elaborated in the provided source material.
Retail, Digital, and Service Offers
Beyond food, other brands are offering free products, trials, or memberships to celebrate graduation.
Amazon
Amazon offers Prime-exclusive deals, free delivery, and more with a free 6-month trial of Amazon Prime Student ($7.49 after the trial period). This offer is available to students, providing access to Amazon’s services at a discounted rate post-trial.
Canva
Canva allows graduates to customize and print graduation announcement templates. All that is required is to sign up for a free account, enabling the creation of personalized announcements without cost.
TDF Graduation Gift
The TDF (The Downtown Alliance) offers a free membership for 2025 high school graduates from NYC public or charter schools. This is a location-specific offer for New York City residents.
New York City Specific Offers
Several offers are exclusively available in New York City, requiring graduates to visit specific attractions or establishments in the city.
Edge and Vessel
Graduates can receive free entry from May 1 to May 29, 2025, when they show their cap, gown, and student ID at the Box Office. Guests accompanying the graduate will also receive a 20% discount on admission.
Top of the Rock
Top of the Rock offers free admission from May 1 to May 31, 2025, for graduates who visit in their cap and gown or show proof of graduation.
Geographic and Eligibility Considerations
While many offers are national, some are specific to certain locations. The New York City-based offers (Edge, Vessel, Top of the Rock, Magnolia Bakery, Xing Fu Tang, and TDF membership) are explicitly limited to NYC locations or residents. Other offers, such as those from Krispy Kreme, Insomnia Cookies, and national restaurant chains, are generally available at participating locations across the United States. However, the source material notes that "offers, prices, and local participation may vary," indicating that graduates should verify participation with their local establishments.
Eligibility for most offers requires proof of graduation status. Common requirements include: - Wearing a cap and gown when visiting the location. - Presenting a student ID or diploma. - For some gift card promotions, a purchase is required to receive the bonus.
It is important to note that the free cannoli from Buca di Beppo is provided "with service," implying that a reservation or meal purchase is necessary. Similarly, the gift card promotions from Auntie Annie’s, Benihana, and Applebee’s require the purchase of gift cards to receive bonus rewards.
Time-Sensitive Deadlines
Many of these offers have specific end dates. Graduates should be aware of these deadlines to ensure they do not miss out: - Edge & Vessel: Free entry valid through May 29, 2025. - Top of the Rock: Free admission valid through May 31, 2025. - Krispy Kreme Grad Day: Wednesday, May 28, 2025. - Magnolia Bakery: Free cupcake valid through June 30, 2025. - Insomnia Cookies: BOGO cookies valid through June 30, 2025. - Perkins: Free muffin offer ends on June 25, 2025. - TGI Fridays: Free appetizer or dessert offer valid through June 30, 2025. - Applebee’s: Gift card purchase must be made by June 29, 2025; bonus card valid through August 3, 2025. - Auntie Annie’s: Gift card purchase must be made by June 15, 2025; bonus cards valid through July 15, 2025. - Benihana: Gift card promotions run through June 15, 2025. - Bonefish Grill: Gift card purchase must be made between June 23 and August 24, 2025.
Conclusion
The Class of 2025 has a wide array of freebies and deals to look forward to during their graduation celebrations. From free donuts and cookies to substantial discounts and gift card bonuses, brands are offering meaningful ways to honor this academic achievement. To successfully redeem these offers, graduates should be prepared to present proof of their status, such as wearing a cap and gown or showing a diploma or student ID. It is also crucial to check for local participation, as offers may vary by location, and to be mindful of expiration dates to ensure timely redemption. By leveraging these promotions, graduates can celebrate their accomplishments while managing their budgets effectively.