As the Class of 2025 celebrates their academic achievements, numerous brands and organizations are extending special offers to honor their hard work. From complimentary food items and gift card bonuses to free professional memberships and software trials, graduates can access a variety of freebies and discounts to mark this significant milestone. This guide consolidates verified offers from reliable sources, providing clear details on how to access these benefits, any required eligibility criteria, and important terms and deadlines.
The following information is drawn exclusively from published deal sources and official promotional materials. Offers, prices, and local participation may vary, and readers are advised to verify details directly with the participating brands before making plans.
Restaurant and Food-Based Freebies
Several restaurant chains offer complimentary food items or gift card bonuses specifically for graduates. These offers typically require some form of verification, such as wearing graduation attire or presenting a diploma, and are often valid for a limited time around the graduation season.
Buca di Beppo: This Italian-American restaurant chain offers a free cannoli to every graduate in a party when a graduation celebration is booked for dine-in service. No specific end date was provided in the source material, but the offer is presented as available for the Class of 2025.
Insomnia Cookies: In celebration of graduates from high school, college, or graduate school, Insomnia Cookies offers a Buy One Get One (BOGO) free deal on classic cookies. To redeem, graduates must visit a local Insomnia Cookies location wearing their cap and gown. This offer is valid through June 30.
Magnolia Bakery: Recent graduates can receive a free cupcake when they visit a Magnolia Bakery location and present either their diploma or graduation gear. The offer is valid for graduates of any age and is available through June 30.
TGI Fridays: Graduates can obtain a free appetizer or dessert when ordering an entree at a TGI Fridays restaurant. The offer requires presentation of a student ID for verification. This deal is valid through June 30, 2025.
Applebee’s: Applebee’s provides a $10 bonus card with the purchase of a $50 Applebee’s gift card. This promotion is available through June 29, 2025. The bonus card is valid from the day after purchase through August 3, 2025. It is important to note that the purchase of the gift card must be made online or in-store, and the bonus card does not cover gratuity, taxes, or alcohol.
Auntie Anne’s: Through June 15, 2025, graduates can earn a $5 bonus reward for every $25 spent on Auntie Anne’s gift cards. A free rewards account is required to redeem the bonus card, which can be used through July 15, 2025. There is a limit of one bonus per customer, per transaction.
Benihana: Benihana is running gift card promotions that can yield up to $60 in bonuses. Specific details on the tiers and purchase requirements are not fully outlined in the provided chunks, but the promotion is active through June 15, 2025.
Outback Steakhouse: This steakhouse offers a $10 bonus gift card with the purchase of a $50 gift card. This deal is available until June 23, 2025. The bonus gift card can be used starting June 24, 2025, and is valid until August 25, 2025.
Moe’s Southwest Grill: For graduates who enjoy Moe’s, purchasing a $25 gift card as a graduation present also earns the purchaser $5 in rewards. This offer is valid until June 16, 2025, and the additional gift card or reward will expire on August 31, 2025.
Potbelly: Potbelly offers free delivery on catering orders of $150 or more. To use this offer, the promo code FREEDELIVERY must be entered during checkout on Potbelly.com.
Retail, Technology, and Software Offers
Beyond food, graduates can access deals on technology and creative software, as well as special gift card promotions from retailers.
Amazon Prime Student: Amazon offers a free 6-month trial of Amazon Prime Student to new members. Eligibility requires signing up with an eligible .edu email address or through age verification. After the trial period, the subscription costs $7.49 per month. The trial includes benefits such as unlimited fast delivery, exclusive tech deals, free streaming of movies and series, and a complimentary GrubHub+ Student membership.
Canva: Graduates can customize and print graduation announcement templates using Canva. All that is required is to sign up for a free Canva account. The service allows for the creation of personalized announcements at no cost.
Microsoft Office 365: Students can use Microsoft Office 365 for free. This software package includes Word, Excel, PowerPoint, Outlook, and OneDrive. The offer is available to students, though specific verification methods are not detailed in the source material.
Free Professional Memberships
Recent graduates can gain valuable networking opportunities, mentorship, and educational resources through free or discounted memberships offered by various professional organizations. These memberships are often available to students and recent graduates, helping them transition into their fields.
National Society of Professional Engineers (NSPE): Full-time students can receive a free student membership. For recent graduates, NSPE offers a discounted membership for the first four years after graduation, with the first year being 80% off.
The Society of Petroleum Engineers (SPE): Graduates are eligible for one year of free membership.
The American Institute of Architects (AIA): Graduates can receive up to 18 months of free membership.
American Society of Civil Engineers (ASCE): High school graduates who are headed to college can receive a free membership.
American Planning Association (APA): New undergraduate and graduate students can receive a free membership.
The American Psychological Association (APA): Undergraduate students, graduate students, and recent graduates can receive discounted memberships for at least the first year.
National Society of Professional Engineers (NSPE): As noted, students can access a free membership, and graduates receive a discounted membership for the first four years after graduation.
Additional Organizations: The source material also mentions that The Linguistic Society of America, AIChE, Society of Industrial and Applied Mathematics, and other professional organizations offer free or discounted memberships to recent graduates, though specific details for each are not provided in the chunks.
Streaming Service Discounts
Graduates can also save on entertainment with student discounts for streaming services.
- Hulu Student Discount: College students can subscribe to Hulu for just $1.99 per month. This discounted rate is available as long as the user remains a college student.
Important Considerations and Limitations
While the above offers provide a range of benefits for graduates, it is critical to understand the limitations and requirements associated with each.
Verification Requirements: Many offers require verification of graduation status. This can include wearing a cap and gown (Insomnia Cookies), presenting a diploma or graduation gear (Magnolia Bakery), showing a student ID (TGI Fridays), or using an .edu email address (Amazon Prime Student). Graduates should ensure they have the necessary documentation before visiting a participating location.
Geographic and Participating Location Variability: The availability of offers can vary by location. For example, while a national chain may advertise a promotion, individual franchise locations may choose not to participate. The source material notes that "offers, prices, and local participation may vary." It is always advisable to call a specific location or check its website before making a trip.
Time-Sensitive Offers: Most of these deals are tied to the graduation season and have specific expiration dates. For instance, many food-related freebies are valid only through June 30, while gift card promotions have purchase deadlines in mid-to-late June. Graduates should be aware of these deadlines to avoid missing out.
Terms and Conditions: Each offer comes with its own set of terms and conditions. For example, the Applebee’s gift card promotion specifies that the bonus card does not cover gratuity, taxes, or alcohol. The Auntie Anne’s offer requires a rewards account. It is essential to read the fine print associated with any offer.
Source Reliability: The information presented here is compiled from deal aggregator websites and promotional materials. While these sources are generally reliable for current offers, they are not official brand channels. For the most accurate and up-to-date information, consumers should refer to the official websites or social media channels of the respective brands and organizations.
Conclusion
The Class of 2025 has a wealth of opportunities to celebrate their graduation with freebies and special deals from restaurants, retailers, and professional organizations. From a free cupcake at Magnolia Bakery to a free year of membership with the Society of Petroleum Engineers, these offers are designed to honor the hard work of recent graduates. To maximize these benefits, graduates should plan ahead, verify offer details with participating locations, and be mindful of expiration dates and eligibility requirements. By staying informed and acting promptly, graduates can enjoy well-deserved rewards as they transition to the next chapter of their lives.