Top 7 Best Academic Planners for 2022/2023

Table of Contents

• The Best Academic Planners At-a-Glance
• How Is an Academic Planner Different From a Regular Planner?
• How to Find the Best Student Planner
• The Best Planners for Students in 2022
• Recommended Accessories for a Graduate Student Planner
• Why Have a Planner When You Have Electronics?
• Top Tips for Staying Organized in Grad School
• Frequently Asked Questions
  • What should be in an academic planner?
  • What is the difference between an academic planner and a regular planner?
  • How do I organize my academic planner?
  • Do students use planners?
• Conclusion

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Grad school can get quite hectic, especially if you have to work at the same time. Most people will even agree that staying organized when tasks and important dates keep piling up gets challenging. If you’re the type to get overwhelmed really easily, chances are you might end up feeling out of your depth.

Luckily, there are tons of tools available to help you keep track of everything. There are apps, digital calendars, digital planners, and more — all designed to make life easier for even the busiest individuals. But if you have been struggling with making your digital planners and to-do lists work for a while now, it might be the time to give good old paper a college try.

Paper planners aren’t for everyone. If you’ve never tried one before, one of the best student planners below might do the trick. You never know; one of these options might just click with you.

In this guide, we’ve put together some of the best academic planners to help you stay productive in 2022. We also include a guide to help you pick yours and recommend a few accessories you might like. Ready to find your grad school productivity companion? Let’s go!

The Best Academic Planners At-a-Glance

Planner	Description	Link
Class Tracker Ultimate Student Planner	Best academic planner overall	Check Price
Smart Academic Planner	Best student planner with affirmations and gratitude tracking	Check Price
Paperage 17-Month Academic Planner	Best large grad student planner	Check Price
Lafefo Academic Planner	A well-designed academic planner with marked holidays	Check Price
The Centered Student Academic Planner	Best planner for students who are visual learners	Check Price
Blue Sky Academic Planner	Best affordable student planner	Check Price
Live Whale Undated Planner	Most flexible planner for grad students	Check Price

Want some extra tools to make using a planner easier? Check out some of the best student planner accessories below.

How Is an Academic Planner Different From a Regular Planner?

The truth is, you can use any planner to track your tasks, priorities, events, meetings, and any other important things you might need to remember.

However, an academic planner is one that is designed and made specifically for students. They generally start right before the school year, around June or July. Academic planners also tend to have different features and tools in the pages that make them better for students all around.

You can choose an academic planner if you start in the fall or a regular planner (starting in January) if you start in the spring. However, using a traditional planner may mean that you don’t get features like class schedule pages and the like. Those aren’t really necessary, and if you do get a planner that doesn’t have them, you can just make your own schedule and insert it in the planner somewhere.

How to Find the Best Student Planner

Finding the right grad school planner for you can feel challenging as not all planners are made the same. Additionally, a planner can be deeply personal, so what works for others may not work for you. Choosing the best planner for grad school can depend on your preferences. However, you can still consider some of the criteria below:

• The best planner is designed for students – Not all planners will be designed for students, but if you’re looking for an academic planner, you might want to find one that is. Academic planners have certain features that make them better for students than a typical planner.
• The best planner fits your needs – Everyone has unique preferences, skills, and needs, so the best planner for you is the one that fits you specifically. Look at product pictures and reviews to see what the pages look like to ensure that the planner fits your learning style, aesthetic tastes, time management methods, and more.
• Check the planner’s start date – ‘Normal’ planners start in January of each year, while academic planners may start in different months (such as June or July). A planner’s start date may not matter to those who start at a non-typical date, so instead, you can —
• Check how many months the planner is for – Some planners are just for six months, others last a typical twelve, and some go as long as seventeen or eighteen. How many months you want is a matter of preference.
• The right planner will have plenty of space – As a grad student, it’s almost a guarantee that you’ll get incredibly busy. Making sure that you get an academic planner with plenty of space is one of the best things you can do to help you stay organized. The right planner will have enough space to accommodate school activities, schoolwork, tasks, meetings, and even your real-life stuff. You may even get enough space to help accommodate some notes.

Many students will purchase a planner for its function over its form, but you may as well consider a planner’s aesthetics before you purchase. After all, this planner will be your companion for a while. If a better-looking planner helps motivate you to use it more often, you may want to mind the aesthetics.

Additionally, you can look into some of the additional tools each planner can offer. Some have pages for mind maps, habit tracking, goal-setting (and tracking), budget tracking, to-do lists, contact lists, and more. Consider a planner’s features before you make your purchase!

If paper planners don’t feel right for you, there’s always the option of using an iPad with a Planner app. Here’s our list of the best iPads for grad students.

The Best Planners for Students in 2022

Class Tracker Ultimate Student Planner – Best Academic Planner Overall

 

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Key Information:

• Size: 7 x 8.5 inches
• Months: 12
• Starting Month: July
• Paper Type: Thick, but thickness unspecified
• Cover Type: Soft-touch laminated cover; coil bound, rounded corners
• Colors Available:
  • Black, Cream with Grey and Butter, Cream with Pale Pink and Sea Foam, Cream with Violet and Bubble Gum

• Additional Features:
  • Class schedule pages
  • Notes pages
  • Goals pages
  • Self-care tracker

If you’re looking for a tried, tested, and true student planner, the Class Tracker Ultimate Student Planner is one of the best choices for you. This dated planner starts in July and ends in June of the following year. It includes various features to make your life easier, such as weekly pages with self-care trackers, class schedule pages, goal pages, notes pages, monthly pages, and more. It has plenty of space for you to write everything you need, and the pages have an unassuming design to keep things less distracting.

This planner has been featured by Wired, CNN, and College Life Made Easy.

The Class Tracker Ultimate Student Planner has an undated option for those who want to start at their leisure. The undated planner has more cover options to choose from but has the same features as the dated planner.

Smart Academic Planner – Best Student Planner with Affirmations and Gratitude Tracking

 

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Key Information:

• Size: A5 (5.83 × 8.27 inches)
• Months: 12
• Starting Month: N/A; Undated
• Paper Type: 120 GSM; No bleed-through
• Cover Type: Hardcover; vegan leather
• Colors Available:
  • Black, Green, Orange, Pink, Red

• Additional Features:
  • Class schedule section
  • Password keeper
  • Assignment/grade tracker
  • Affirmation and gratitude tracking
  • 3 ribbon bookmarks, elastic closure, pen holder
  • Hidden back pocket

If you don’t start your term in the fall, the Smart Academic Planner is an excellent option for you. This undated planner allows you to start at any point you choose while still giving you plenty of the features you’ll need as a graduate student. You get a password keeper, a class schedule section, and an assignment + grade tracker, among other features. The Smart Academic Planner also offers plenty of space for you to track everything you need.

Thanks to the affirmation and gratitude tracking, we can say that this is one of the best planners for graduate students who feel overwhelmed and need to ground themselves daily.

Paperage 17-Month Academic Planner – Best Large Grad Student Planner

 

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Key Information:

• Size: Letter Size (8.5 x 11 inches)
• Months: 17
• Starting Month: August
• Paper Type: 100 GSM acid-free
• Cover Type: Polypropylene plastic; spiral-bound
• Colors Available:
  • Blush, Yellow

• Additional Features:
  • Gold foil month tabs
  • Class schedule
  • Goal tracking
  • Notes pages
  • Plenty of room

The Paperage 17-Month Academic Planner is the only planner on this list to feature more than twelve months. Unfortunately, this planner only comes in two colors — a fact that may deter some from buying. But if the planner’s color doesn’t quite matter to you, you’ll find plenty of great reasons to choose this option.

This planner is the largest on this list. At 8.5 x 11 inches (letter size), this planner gives you plenty of room to write down everything you need while leaving more space for color coding and organizing. You also get plenty of space for notes. For easy navigation, Paperage has thoughtfully included gold-foiled month tabs.

This Paperage planner is one of the best planners for PhD students who need plenty of room for all of their tasks, appointments, meetings, and more.

Lafefo Academic Planner – A Well-Designed Academic Planner with Marked Holidays

 

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Key Information:

• Size: 6.3 x 8.4 inches
• Months: 12
• Starting Month: July
• Paper Type: Thick, acid-free; GSM unspecified
• Cover Type: Hardcover; twin-wire binding
• Colors Available:
  • Black, Pink

• Additional Features:
  • Elastic closure, back pocket
  • Monthly tabs for easy navigation
  • Marked holidays
  • Two contacts pages
  • Notes section

The Lafefo Academic Planner features a beautiful aesthetic for both of its color options. It’s a little bit larger than A5 size and features a hardcover with twin-wire binding to allow the planner to lay flat. You get plenty of features such as monthly tabs, marked holidays, contacts pages, notes pages, and even a back pocket. It has plenty of room for everything you need to write, as well. The Lafefo Academic Planner starts in July.

The Centered Student Academic Planner – Best Planner for Students Who Are Visual Learners

 

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Key Information:

• Size: 7 x 9 inches
• Months: 12
• Starting Month: August
• Paper Type: 140 GSM
• Cover Type: Linen-bound cover; twin-wire binding
• Colors Available:
  • Autumn (Orange), Forest (Green), Goldenrod (Yellow), Sailcloth (Cream), Varsity Blue

• Additional Features:
  • Access to 52 video tutorials to help manage at school
  • 50-sheet to-do list pad
  • Focus section
  • Gratitude tracking
  • Next-week prioritizing
  • Weekly tips
  • Clip-in bookmark
  • Back cover pocket
  • Elastic band closure

The Centered Student Planner is the very definition of premium, and it shows in the price. You do get what you pay for — the paper is a thick 140 GSM, ensuring a premium feel while preventing any bleed-through. You also get a variety of features such as gratitude tracking, focus tracking, next week prioritizing, weekly tips, and a clip-in bookmark. Even better, you get a 50-sheet pad of to-do list pages to help you prioritize even further.

One of the best things about this planner is that it comes with a scannable QR code that will take you to the 52 video tutorials designed to help you manage through school. The videos may be more targeted toward college students, but even grad students can benefit for sure.

The Centered Student Planner is one of the best planners for PhD students looking for positive psychology cues to help with mental health.

Blue Sky Academic Planner – Best Affordable Student Planner

 

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Key Information:

• Sizes:
  • 5 x 8 inches
  • 7 x 9 inches
  • 8.5 x 11 inches (letter size)

• Months: 12
• Starting Month: July
• Paper Type: Thick, but GSM unspecified; beware minor bleed-through
• Cover Type: Polypropylene plastic; Twin-wire binding
• Colors Available: Black
• Additional Features:
  • Reference calendars
  • Contact pages
  • Notes pages
  • Month tabs for easy navigation
  • Yearly goals

The Blue Sky Academic Planner is one of the best planners for grad school for those who are looking for something simple and affordable. You don’t get all the bells and whistles offered by some planners, but what you do get is plenty of space to write what you need. This planner only comes in black, but does offer you three sizes — 5 x 8 inches, 7 x 9 inches, and 8.5 x 11 inches.

Live Whale Undated Planner – Most Flexible Planner for Grad Students

 

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Key Information:

• Size: A5 (5.83 × 8.27 inches)
• Months: 12 months
• Starting Month: N/A; Undated
• Paper Type: 100% recycled 120 GSM with satin reinforced edges
• Cover Type: Hardcover; vegan leather
• Colors Available:
  • Grey/silver accents: Black
  • Yellow/gold accents: Blue, Pink, Purple, Red

• Additional Features:
  • Vision board pages
  • Dreams and goals pages
  • Health and wellness pages
  • Expense tracker pages
  • Three ribbon bookmarks
  • Hidden back pocket
  • Riveted pen loop

The Live Whale planner is an excellent option for students who need flexibility. As an undated planner, you can start planning at any week or month you choose. If you stop using the planner for any reason, you can come back and just pick up by starting a new month if you need to. This planner offers month and week layouts to help you stay organized, as well as many other features that might come in handy. The paper is 100% recycled and thick at 120 GSM, which means bleed-through is unlikely. Thoughtful design decisions went into the color and accent choices for this planner, making it an aesthetic choice for those who aren’t into busy prints or flashy colors.

Recommended Accessories for a Graduate Student Planner

Even if you have the best planner for graduate students, it can still sometimes feel as though you’re struggling to stay organized. If you find yourself on this boat, the list of accessories below might be able to help.

Accessory	Description	Link
Post-it Super Sticky Notes, Assorted Sizes	Post-its can help you expand your planner’s space and functionality by giving you a bit more flexibility. This pack of Super Sticky Notes comes with 15 pads for a total of 675 sticky notes altogether.	Check Price
Post-it Flags and Tabs Value Pack	This pack includes a variety of tab and flag sizes to help you navigate, organize, and color-code your planner more easily. You can also use it for your notes, readings, books, etc. This value pack comes with 956 flags and tabs in total.	Check Price
Clip-Rite Flag Paperclips	If you’d rather go the economical and more eco-friendly route, these Clip-Rite flag paperclips might be the choice for you. This pack comes in three colors with eight flag paperclips each, for a total of 24.	Check Price
Leoter 30 Rolls Washi Masking Tape Set	Washi tape leaves no residue, sticks to most surfaces, and can be used and repositioned, even on paper. This pack of 30 rolls can help make color-coding and organizing your pages easier.	Check Price
Tombow Power Mini Glue Tape (3-Pack)	This 3-Pack of Tombow Power Mini Glue Tape is useful beyond just sticking things to your planner. It’s a handy substitute to paste or glue, which can get messy in use.	Check Price
Pilot Frixion Pastel Erasable Highlighter Pen Set	The Pilot Frixion line of pens and highlighters are all erasable. You can also use the six included colors to color-code and organize your planner. Suddenly realized your priorities changed and a task has to go on the backburner? Erase the highlight and switch it to a different color!	Check Price
Pilot Frixion Erasable Clicker Pens (6-Pack with Refills)	Not everyone likes using pencils, which is why the Pilot Frixion erasable pens make a fantastic planner companion. You get the feel of writing with a pen without the permanence. This pack comes with six pens (three black, three blue) plus four refills (two black, two blue).	Check Price
Sakura Gelly Roll Metallic Pens (12-Pack)	If you want to add a bit of fancy metallic flair to your planner, this 12-Pack of Sakura Gelly Roll Metallic Pens might be right for you. They can help you color code and organize while making sure important dates and deadlines stand out.	Check Price

Why Have a Planner When You Have Electronics?

There are many reasons to choose physical planners for students rather than using digital alternatives. First and foremost, a physical paper planner feels much more tangible and might be a better reminder of your tasks, deadlines, meetings, and more. When you actually have a book to look at, it can help make your schedule and priorities feel more “real.”

A planner app or to-do list on your phone has its benefits, such as the ability to give you reminders and notifications when something important is imminent. However, the downside to a digital solution is that the chances of you getting distracted as you check your agenda are far greater. It could be something as simple as getting a notification while you’re checking your calendar on your phone for the day’s priorities — the next thing you know, you’ve wasted an hour on social media. Thus, another fantastic reason to choose a planner over an app or other electronic service is the fact that paper planners mean few to no distractions.

Finally, there are numerous studies and articles stating that handwriting is simply superior to typing when it comes to memory retention, deeper comprehension, and better learning. Choosing physical planners for a college student or a grad student can help you more deeply comprehend the importance and urgency of the tasks at hand. It can also help you commit important dates to memory (though we still recommend creating digital reminders for dates that you absolutely cannot miss).

Top Tips for Staying Organized in Grad School

It’s completely normal to feel overwhelmed when you’re starting (or in the middle of) grad school. Things can get incredibly hectic — and fast. Without some time management and organizing skills, you might find yourself in a constant struggle to catch up and keep up with everything you need to do. To help you out, we’ve put together some of the best tips for staying organized in grad school. Check them out below:

1. It’s not enough to have an academic planner — you bought it, so make sure you use your planner! Make it a habit to check your planner in the morning, so you know what you need to do that day. Always add new tasks, deadlines, meetings, etc. as they come up. It takes time to get used to using a planner, so stick with it! If you struggle to remember to use yours, always keep it with you and keep it in sight to help you remember.
2. Work out a color-coding system that can help you instantly recognize what something is at a glance. Use various tools and stationery to keep things organized. You can use Post-it notes, flags, stickers, colored pens, and more to make important dates on your planner stand out. You can also do the same for your coursework, research, notes, and so on.
3. Use digital reminders and alarms to help you remember when the most important things are — there’s no reason to rely solely on your memory and your planner.
4. Work on your time management. This is one of the most important tips that can help you stay organized while you’re earning your master’s or PhD. Everyone has a style that works for them, so find yours and make sure you stick to it.

It’s also a good idea to get as much as you can done without procrastinating, if at all possible. Procrastinating is one of the biggest reasons many grad students get derailed! Be aware that there is such a thing as productive procrastination. While a bit of it isn’t too bad, when you do productive procrastination to often, it can lead to problems!

Frequently Asked Questions

What should be in an academic planner?

Features included in an academic planner may vary, but you can generally expect:

• A monthly calendar spread with space to write important dates and deadlines
• Weekly calendar spreads with plenty of room to write down assignments, coursework, important meetings, and more
• Note pages in case you forget your other notebooks

Some academic planners may also have pages for your class schedule.

What is the difference between an academic planner and a regular planner?

There’s not much difference between a regular planner and an academic planner. Regular planners start in January while academic planners start right before fall semester, around June to July. Academic planners may also have more space for writing down tasks, as well as a few pages for your class schedules.

How do I organize my academic planner?

Organizing your academic planner is a personal experience and can depend on your preference. However, you can try some techniques such as color coding with pens or Post-it tabs, using Post-it notes where necessary, highlighting important dates and deadlines, and using stickers to draw your attention. Experiment — you’ll eventually find your preferred method of organization.

Do students use planners?

Yes! Many students (of varying levels) use planners to help them stay organized and keep on top of deadlines and important dates.

Conclusion

Having the right tools in your belt can make life a lot easier, especially if your schedule is exceptionally busy. A planner can take some getting used to, but getting into the habit of using one can make a massive difference in how well you organize and manage your time.

We hope that this list of the best academic planners has helped you find the right productivity companion for you. If you think we missed a great addition to this list, please feel free to tell us in the comments below!

Ready to start earning your PhD? Check out this list of the Top 20 Online PhD Programs in 2022.

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