Graduation marks a significant milestone for students completing high school, college, or graduate programmes. As the Class of 2025 celebrates their scholarly accomplishments, numerous brands and retailers have introduced special promotional offers, freebies, and bonus deals tailored to graduates. These offers span various categories, from food and beverage gift cards to professional membership discounts and product rebates. This article provides a detailed overview of the freebies, promotional deals, and eligibility criteria available to graduates, based on official company announcements and verified promotional materials. It focuses exclusively on information provided in the source documents, ensuring accuracy for UK consumers, deal seekers, and recent graduates.
Food and Beverage Promotional Offers
Several restaurant chains and food retailers have introduced gift card promotions and free food items for graduates and their families. These offers are typically valid for a limited period, often through June or August of 2025, and require specific purchase actions or proof of graduation.
Gift Card Bonus Deals
- Applebee’s: Through 29 June 2025, customers can receive a free $10 bonus card with an online or in-store purchase of $50 in Applebee’s gift cards. The bonus card is valid from the day after purchase until 3 August 2025. This offer is available for both the purchaser and the graduate.
- Auntie Annie’s: Until 15 June 2025, customers can earn a $5 bonus reward for every $25 spent on Auntie Annie’s gift cards. The bonus card is valid through 15 July 2025, with a limit of one per customer per transaction. A free rewards account is required for bonus card redemption.
- Benihana: Running two gift card promotions through 15 June 2025, Benihana offers up to $60 in bonuses for gift card purchases. Specific bonus amounts depend on the value of the gift card purchased.
- Bonefish Grill: For purchases of $50 gift cards, Bonefish Grill offers a $10 bonus. The gift card and bonus are redeemable from 23 June to 24 August 2025.
- Chili’s: Through 22 June 2024, purchasing a $50 gift card (physical or digital) for a graduate results in an additional $10 e-bonus card. The bonus card does not expire until 25 August 2024.
- IHOP: Until 30 June 2024, purchasing a $25 gift card for a graduate earns a $5 bonus card, valid until 25 August 2024. This is available on the IHOP website for both physical and digital gift cards.
Free Food and Dessert Offers
- Bertucci’s: Bertucci’s offers a graduation package designed to feed 10 to 20 people. When spending $100 or more, customers receive a tray of mini chocolate chip cannoli. The code GRAD2025 must be used for this offer.
- Buca di Beppo: Graduates receive a free cannoli with service when dining in. This offer is valid for dine-in only.
- Insomnia Cookies: Graduates (high school, college, or grad school) can enjoy a BOGO free offer on Classic cookies when wearing a cap and gown to a local store. Alternatively, graduates can receive one free classic cookie when buying a classic cookie. Both offers are valid until 30 June 2025.
- Magnolia Bakery: Graduates of any age can receive a free cupcake by showing a diploma or graduation gear. This offer is valid through 30 June 2025.
- TGI Fridays: Graduates can receive a free appetizer or dessert when ordering an entree, provided they show a student ID. This offer is valid through 30 June 2025.
Retail and Automotive Offers
Beyond food, graduates can access offers from retailers and automotive brands, often requiring proof of graduation or current enrollment.
Automotive Rebates and Incentives
- Toyota: Toyota offers a $500 rebate on all new, unlicensed Toyota models when financed or leased through a Toyota dealer and Toyota Financial Services. To qualify, graduates must present proof of graduation from the previous two years or proof of current enrollment in an eligible undergraduate or graduate programme, along with proof of current employment. This offer is subject to dealer participation and may not be available in all regions.
Retail Discounts and Freebies
- Amazon: Amazon provides Prime-exclusive deals, free delivery, and more with a free 6-month trial of Amazon Prime Student. After the trial, the service renews at $7.49 per month or $69 per year, with the option to cancel anytime. This trial includes unlimited fast delivery, exclusive tech deals, free streaming of movies and series, and a free GrubHub+ Student membership.
- Potbelly: Potbelly offers free delivery on catering orders of $150 or more when using the promo code FREEDELIVERY during checkout at Potbelly.com.
Professional Memberships and Software Offers
Recent graduates can benefit from free or discounted memberships to professional organisations, as well as free software trials, which are valuable for career development and networking.
Professional Organisation Memberships
- The Society of Petroleum Engineers: Graduates receive one year of free membership.
- The American Institute of Architects: Graduates receive up to 18 months of free membership.
- National Society of Professional Engineers: Graduates get a discounted membership for the first four years after graduation, with the first year at 80% off. Full-time students can also take advantage of a free student membership.
- The American Psychological Association: Undergraduate students, graduate students, and recent graduates can all receive discounted memberships for at least the first year.
- American Society of Civil Engineers: High school graduates headed to college can receive a free membership.
- American Planning Association: New undergraduate and graduate students can receive a free membership.
- Other Organisations: Additional professional organisations, such as The Linguistic Society of America, AIChE, and the Society of Industrial and Applied Mathematics, also offer free or discounted memberships to recent graduates.
Software and Design Freebies
- Canva: Graduates can customise and print graduation announcement templates by signing up for a free Canva account.
- Craft House SVG: The website Craft House SVG offers free graduation graphics for personal use, which can be printed at home or a local print shop. These are suitable for making graduation decorations or announcements.
- Microsoft: Students can use Office 365 for free, which includes Word, Excel, PowerPoint, Outlook, and OneDrive.
- Printable Graduation Cards: Free printable 5″x7″ graduation greeting cards are available online, which can be printed at home.
Eligibility and General Conditions
Most offers require graduates to be part of the Class of 2025, with proof of graduation (such as a diploma, student ID, or cap and gown) or current enrollment. Many food and beverage offers are time-sensitive, valid only until specific dates in June or August 2025. Gift card promotions often involve purchasing a gift card to receive a bonus, which is separate from the original purchase and may have its own validity period.
For professional memberships, eligibility typically includes recent graduates (often within one to two years of graduation) or current students in relevant fields. Some organisations require full-time student status. The availability of offers may vary by location, and participation from local dealers or stores is not guaranteed.
Conclusion
The Class of 2025 has access to a variety of freebies and promotional deals from restaurants, retailers, automotive brands, and professional organisations. These offers celebrate academic achievements and provide practical benefits, from free food and gift card bonuses to discounted professional memberships and free software. Graduates should review the eligibility criteria, validity periods, and terms for each offer to ensure they can take advantage of these opportunities. As graduation season progresses, additional offers may become available, so staying informed through official brand announcements is recommended.