15 Best Notebooks for College: Elevate Your Note-Taking Experience
Choosing the best notebooks for college is essential for college students who don’t want to take notes on their tablets.
When choosing the best notebooks for college, there are many things to take into account, such as the cover design, the size of the lines, the amount of pages, and more.
You need a sturdy, soft-cover notebook that best suits your needs in terms of style and price so that you can take notes and remember all of this important information, especially when it comes to exam time.
In this article, we will explore the 15 best notebooks for college and help you choose the best notebook for you.
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Table of contents
Best Notebooks for College Students Review
Using the best notebooks for college will make or break your bullet journaling and note-taking.
Here is a list of the best notebooks for college.
1. Five Star Spiral Notebook
One of the best notebooks for college students is the Five Star notebooks for taking notes due to their premium, ruled pages, dependability, and organizational capabilities.
According to reviewers, the ruled paper is simple to write on, the utilitarian plastic cover isn’t distracting, and the ink won’t leak through the page.
Because of their dependability, superior paper quality, and affordable price, Five Star spiral notebooks are a household name in the spiral notebook market and a mainstay in many students’ backpacks.
2. TOPS/Oxford 1-Subject Notebooks (Six Pack)
One of the best notebooks for college is the Tops/oxford notebooks.
This bundle is the best bargain on this list because it includes six spiral notebooks.
It’s a great spiral notebook for college note-taking because it’s reasonably priced and has excellent evaluations.
The six-pack of TOPS/Oxford college-ruled spiral notebooks are available in a variety of colors to make it simple for you to organize your notebooks by class.
Although you might need to add a notepad to get you through the year because they only feature 70 pages of ruled paper each book, it is still the greatest deal.
The paper has perforated edges that make it simple for you to pull off pages and is a standard size.
3. Cheer Up Spiral Notebook
One of the best notebooks for college is the cheer up spiral notebooks.
According to the evaluations, these stylish colors are just too adorable to pass up for your college notebooks!
You can keep track of all of your classes in one college-ruled notebook with vibrant cover colors, four subjects, and 240 ruled pages.
The cover of the notebooks features the ideal inspiration: cheer up!
The Cheer Up Spiral Notebook’s vibrant cover colors will catch your eye, but the practicality of these two notebooks will keep you there.
These notebooks are sold in a two-pack with four subjects and dividers in various colors.
Each notebook contains 240 pages that are the normal size.
The notebooks have college-ruled paper, a tight spiral binding with a spiral lock to prevent snagging, and won’t let ink, pen, or pencil flow through when you use them.
4. Rocketbook Smart Reusable Notebook
One of the best notebooks for college is the Rocketbook smart reusable notebook.
This notebook offers the best of both worlds by allowing you to physically scribble down your notes and digitally capture them.
Even if it isn’t as thick as some other notebooks, it will enable you to push the boundaries of your college study.
For students that value the environment, the Rocketbook notebook is a fantastic reusable bullet journal that has a unique twist.
5. Mead Composition Classic Notebook
One of the best notebooks for college is the Mead Composition Books, they are perfect for you if spiral notebooks aren’t your style.
These wide-ruled, 100-page notebooks are bound together and feature 100 pages to accommodate all of your college writing demands. They also come with excellent evaluations.
Because they lay flat on any surface, Mead Composition Books are excellent for writing, and its marble cover will give this traditional notebook a little flair.
These notebooks are wide-ruled and available in a range of colors, unlike others on the list.
There are 100 sheets of paper, and they are thick enough to stop ink from bleeding, allowing you to write on both sides with ease.
6. Luxury Lined Journal Notebooks
Compared to the regular spiral notebooks you can buy at Wal-Mart, this is far better.
The top-rated notepad for students in this class is this one.
This is a fantastic offer because you receive two notebooks for the price you see, not just one!
This is one of the greatest 1-subject notebooks you can buy because you receive 130 pages of high-quality paper.
You can’t go wrong with these if you enjoy taking handwritten class notes and want a comfortable writing experience.
Keeping readable writing while taking copious notes is simple.
Although it is smaller than a typical notebook, the sturdy binding makes up for it.
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7. Oxford Stone Paper Notebook
Have you ever dropped any soda on a notebook? With this notebook, you don’t have to worry about it.
The plastic cover makes it simple to clean with a moist towel. No longer acceptable is a digital notebook.
With such high-quality school notebooks, why would you need it?
It is a waterproof notebook because the top is not a cardboard cover.
Think again if you believe that a 5-star notebook is the best you can buy.
One notebook and another notebook are included in the package.
These gorgeous colored notebooks are a requirement for any student headed to college.
8. Paperage Lined Journal
Do you desire one of the best notebooks for college? This one is excellent for crossing everything off your daily to-do list.
Only one notebook features vegan leather out of the dozen that have been evaluated.
Additionally, it makes a great fountain pen journal.
With 160 pages for your school notes, the paperage notebook may easily be converted into a 5-subject notebook.
What can you accomplish with this notepad, then?
- Create shopping lists for groceries (essential for college students to keep within a budget)
- Make a to-do list so that you never forget a deadline.
- Create a project idea list from scratch.
9. Oxford Spiral Notebooks
For digital journals, well-known cloud services like Evernote are excellent.
However, employing office supplies for notes eliminates the necessity for a connection to the internet.
Undoubtedly, a smart notebook has drawbacks. Your notes will be accessible offline using a spiral notebook journal. Therefore, it’s a great choice!
Due to the plastic cover, these Oxford notebooks can survive a light sprinkle or a heavy deluge.
They are lined college-ruled paper, so you can fit all the class notes you require on them.
10. Lemome College Ruled Notebooks
Do you desire a stylish, water-resistant journal? Additional features of the Lemome notebook include a beautiful internal pocket.
The paper is thick, of excellent quality, and is completely recyclable.
The floral pattern and lovely colors make it ideal for an art student. Because of its small size, the notebook doesn’t feature regular 8 x 10-1/2 inch pages, but it’s lines are thick.
The notebook has a sturdy cover and an elastic strap to keep your notes together in one place.
There is no need to be concerned about the notebook breaking or the pages falling out.
11. Top Flight Wirebound Notebook
Good spiral notebooks are always a good choice. This notebook is concise and to the point while still featuring all the essentials for a student.
It features 100 lined sheets, two pockets, and is the same size as printer paper.
Additionally, it has college ruled spacing, perforated 3-hole punched pages, and a pointer to online resources.
This notepad is perfect if you’re looking for something useful.
12. Classic Black and White Marble Notebook
Sometimes the notebook you desire isn’t one that’s specifically designed for a classroom.
However, that doesn’t negate the fact that they make excellent class notebooks.
This notebook has a velvety matte cover, a gorgeous black and white marble design, and is the size of printer paper.
It is lightweight and features 150 pages of lined paper with college ruled margins.
This notebook is for someone looking for something unique, attractive, and versatile.
13. The Blueline Business Notebook
For someone who appreciates a straightforward, reliable notebook, this is a fantastic notebook.
It is hardback, little, and around the size of a printer sheet. It has 192 lined pages, a color-coded sticker tab system, and an index.
This is a fantastic choice if you want a notepad that will last and keep you organized.
Although it costs around $15, it is reliable, skilled, and simple to use.
14. Essential’s Dot Matrix Notebook
While a dot notebook may not be for everyone, it is a terrific alternative if you find lined notebooks to be too confining.
It is portable due to its tiny size (6″ by 8″), elastic band closing, and hardcover.
Along with 192 pages, a ribbon bookmark, and a rear pocket, it has all the bells and whistles.
It’s excellent for pupils who require illustrations in their notes or whose writing style doesn’t naturally fit on lined paper.
Although $20 may appear pricey, the item’s high quality justifies the cost.
15. Five-Star Advance Spiral Notebook
There are regular spiral notebooks and spiral notebooks made specifically for use in classrooms.
This notebook features 5 plastic covers, 5 subject dividers, and adjustable pockets.
It is a larger notebook because it has 200 college ruled sheets that are printer paper size.
Even the spirals are covered in fabric, and there is a pen loop.
This notebook is perfect for you if you enjoy planning ahead and being well organized.
Although it is not the most affordable notebook at $25, it offers everything you could ever need from one.
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How we tested for the best notebooks for college
We acquired samples of each product on my short list after conducting research and choosing the top candidates for this guide.
We then tested each one through the testing standards we developed for this guide, which are as follows:
1. Writing test
To check sure there were no bleeding through pages, we wrote in each notebook using a variety of writing implements.
Normal pencils and pens did not cause any bleeding on the papers.
Sharpies, highlighters, or markers were not used during our testing.
2. Rip test
To see how easily and cleanly the pages came out of each notebook, we tore a few pages out of each one.
Teachers sometimes require pupils to rip papers out to turn in, and many teachers dislike when pages have uneven surfaces and sharp edges.
3. Typical student test
We kicked them, stepped on them, pulled on the cover and tried to rip the coil off those notebooks that had one.
4. Water test
We poured water on each notebook’s cover, let it sit for 15 minutes, and then examined it for damage.
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Buyer’s guide in choosing the best notebooks for college
You should keep a few aspects in mind when you shop for the best notebooks for college.
Look at the average reviews to choose the best choice.
You will be well on your way to finding the best notebook for college if you include any specialized requirements.
1. Line Style
The type of line in your notebook is a crucial aspect to take into account. There are frequently options like college ruled, broad ruled, unlined, or dot grid.
You’ll probably need some lines if you’re taking notes, but the width will depend on your preferences.
2. Cover
The available material makes a significant difference, even though the cover design may not seem important at first glance, especially if you aren’t choosing solely on aesthetics.
Your notes will be shielded from water and regular wear and tear by a hardback, plastic notebook.
Although a cardboard cover probably has more interesting design options, they are more resilient.
3. Number of Subjects
Will each student have their own notebook? Or are you trying to combine several notes into one notebook?
Consider a single-bound notebook when selecting your next one because you can fit two or more subjects in it, divided by a pocket folder.
If you have numerous subjects, your notebook will be thick and maybe difficult to carry.
4. Number of Pages
Some notebooks include more than 100 pages, while others have only 70.
The more pages you have, the less likely it is that you will run out in a class; however, if you have too many, you are likely to have extra pages.
To avoid being wasteful, you’ll need to find a balance—or prepare to reuse notebooks!
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Conclusion
To provide you with the best notebooks for college, we considered all the variables we discussed in this post.
The aforementioned best notebooks for college are all fashionable and quite practical.
It’s possible for someone to believe that technology is killing off traditional writing techniques.
Instead of writing on paper and pens, more people are now using iPads.
Digital alternatives are not as advantageous as traditional methods, for a variety of reasons, some of which are obscure.
For instance, a study on word memory revealed that handwriting down notes helps people retain information.
Taking notes by hand is much more effective at helping you remember information than using technology because it engages all of your senses.
So pick one of these attractive best notebooks for college instead of a digital option.
Frequently Asked Questions
What distinguishes college-ruled from wide-ruled paper?
The lines on these notebooks are wider, which makes them unique. Wide-ruled papers provide you more area for writing because they are thinner in college, allowing you to fit more on a page. Older students have perfected their handwriting and can write in tiny college lines, but younger students often utilize wide-ruled paper.
Does it Really Matter What the Cover Says?
It actually depends on the cover type! The best Notebooks for college students with top-mounted plastic covers are more durable and better able to withstand water spills than those with cardboard covers. Because it gives an additional layer of protection, you will discover that your notes will be in the best condition and that you will feel safer in the event of an accident.
Why Is Paper Type Important?
The likelihood of ink bleed increases with paper thickness. This results in fewer pages being accessible for usage because you cannot utilize the other side of the paper because it already contains markings from the top side. You don’t have to worry as much about the different paper types if you don’t intend to.
What Makes Folders Important?
Pocket folders within notebooks increase their usefulness by assisting with organizing, but they can also make your notebook bulky. The pocket notebook can be used to carry schoolwork, separate notes or paper, and more. You may want a separate folder to contain all your paperwork, though.
Which Pens Should I Use?
Your preference will determine this! You must be careful about the paper type and thickness because some note-taking pens can bleed through the page. While grid paper is superior for sketching, ruled paper makes writing easier.
References
- Insider.com – Best notebooks for college 2023
- Wizeprep.com – 5 Best notebooks for college
- Atutor.ca – 5 Best notebooks for college students to buy in 2023
