The 11 Best Cheap and Creative Costumes for College Students

By Victoria Robertson on October 19, 2016

Halloween is just around the corner, and we’re quickly running out of time to put a costume together. For many, this results in the purchase of an overly expensive costume sold at Halloween stores, but that isn’t your only option this year.

Instead, many students are resorting to creating their own costumes, and that isn’t necessarily a bad thing. In fact, some of the most creative costumes ever are homemade, and so long as you have a little bit of time and some form of creativity, you’ll have yourself an inexpensive costume just in time for Halloween!

To get you started, here are 11 ideas floating around on the internet right now.

1. 101 Dalmatians

This is the perfect costume for any sized group, which makes it perfect for college students. All you need are white pants/shirts and you can draw on black dots with either felt or marker and buy Dalmatian ears and a tail. You can even go the extra mile and add personalized dog collars to your costume (which you can also make out of felt).

And for added emphasis, someone can be Cruella de Vil and complete the look.

2. Minions

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Again, this costume is absolutely perfect for large groups or small groups. To create this look, you need goggles, a yellow shirt and overalls. That’s it! It’s quick, simple and the idea gets across without having to pay for an expensive costume.

If you want to go all out, you can even paint your face yellow and pay attention to the smaller details as well. And to add more people, feel free to get creative in adding Gru and the three girls to your Halloween group (their costumes are just as quick and easy to make).

3. Rosie the Riveter

Going solo this Halloween? Not a problem. Rosie the Riveter is probably one of the easiest, fastest costumes to put together. You need a blue button-down shirt, the sleeves rolled up, and a red bandanna.

You can add your personal style however you’d like, but this costume is one of those “less is more” type deals as well, which will be great for your budget!

4. Risky Business

It’s one of the ultimate college movies, so it only makes sense for college students to dress up to it. To complete the look, you need boxers, a button-down business shirt and high socks. For added emphasis, grab a microphone/candlestick and slide around everywhere you go.

Not only is this a comfy costume, it takes little to no effort but those that have seen the film will appreciate it.

5. Ace Ventura

This costume only requires a pink tutu, spiked hair, combat boots and a patterned shirt (whichever pattern you can find would get the point across). So if you’re riding solo this Halloween, this is a quick and easy costume that will take you no time at all to put together.

6. Three Blind Mice

Are you and your two roommates looking for a costume idea? Look no further. Three blind mice. Quick, easy, done.

This costume needs black sunglasses, mouse ears, a fully black outfit and canes. (You can get as creative or go as simple as you want to here). The best part is this can be a last minute costume, so if you don’t have plans now, keep this idea in your back pocket!

7. Crazy Cat Lady

Again, so simple, and actually perfect for any single college students (male or female). Just put on a robe and slippers and glue stuffed animal cats to your robe. So quick and easy and hilarious if done correctly.

Go big if you have the time; there’s no limit to how great this costume could be!

8. Skeleton

The costume seems tough to put together, but it’s actually very simple. You’ll need a black and a white long sleeved shirt and black and white leggings. Put on the white items of clothing first and in the black items, cut a skeleton pattern out so that when worn on top of the other, the white underneath shows through the black pattern.

Voila! Skeleton.

9. Shark Week

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You’ll need seven people for this costume (which could make it a bit more challenging), but after that, it’s smooth sailing. Everyone wears a fully gray outfit (with some rips and tears in the clothing and red paint for blood) and a hat that looks like a shark’s mouth.

Complete the look by ironing on a day of the week to everyone’s shirt and you’re done! You have a creative, unique costume in a matter of hours.

10. Chia Pet

All you need for this costume is a hat and some fake plant leaves to glue to it. You can wear all brown (for the pot) and you’re done! You’re a chia pet in a matter of minutes.

11. Trolls

Again, this is perfect for big groups. Everyone needs to wear tan clothing (whatever they want, so long as it fits the color scheme) and they’ll need a wig that’s sprayed up to look like a troll’s hair. Everyone can have different colors and you’re saving a ton of money!

So grab your supplies, get out there and start creating, because Halloween is quickly approaching and this year, you’re going to be dressed to impress!

Happy Halloween!

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