Fun Halloween Activities For College Students On A Budget

Pumpkins, ghouls, candy, and classic horror films all come to mind when I think of fun Halloween activities for college students.

Spooky season will be here before you know it! It’s one of the most exciting times of the year for college students living on and off campus.

There’s no way you can escape the festive decorations and eerily fun events happening everywhere you go.

Halloween is the only holiday that permits you to prank others without consequence or dress up in morbid and scantily clad clothing.

Halloween doesn’t require a substantial amount of money to enjoy yourself either.

Most people aren’t exchanging expensive gifts, booking flights to Halloween Horror Nights, or throwing Monster Mash themed parties in their luxurious backyards.

As college students, there are plenty of free local events and campus parties to keep you occupied October 31st.

Drinking, dancing, and bobbing for apples doesn’t have to be the highlight of your Halloween night.

Everyone knows college students celebrate Halloween the entire month of October, so why not make your experience worth-while?

Plan ahead to create spooky memories you can look back on with your friends and family.

Take all the photo ops that you can find with classic horror film characters, giant pumpkins, and decorate the best Halloween door in your residential hall that will put your neighbors to shame.

How do you throw a Halloween party in college?

Just in case you’re wondering who has extra cash to spend on costumes, games, decorations, and drinks as a college student for Halloween?

I’ve shared a list of fun activities, events, and Halloween parties you can enjoy from the comfort of your dorm room, on-campus common areas, or surrounding community.

The good thing about Halloween is that admission to most on-campus Halloween events are free.

Whether there’s an old showing of classic horror films such as Hocus Pocus, Poltergeist, Children of the Corn, or Scream, it’s convenient and budget-friendly for a reason.

Throwing creative Halloween parties with unique activities just takes a little thinking outside of the box.

So, if you’re strapped for cash and worried about participating in all the spooky festivities your college town offers for Halloween, no problem. We’ve got you covered!

Are you ready to have the best fright night of your life?

Look no further for endless hours of fun Halloween activities for college students to do on a budget.

There are great ideas for everyone. Whether you’re a horror movie fanatic, DIY Halloween decorator, or love a good jump scare, I’m confident you’ll find everything you need and more from this list.

Fun Halloween Activities For College Students

1. Halloween Bake Off

Okay, who’s turning down gory sweet treats or Casper cookies? Certainly not me, that’s for sure. Halloween is all about consuming iconic candy brands and sweet treats that we love shamelessly.

Get creative this Halloween season and leave the boring plastic candy bags, orange and black decor, and dry store bought Halloween desserts alone.

Bake an eye-catching treat to the Halloween party that will stand out from the rest.

You can even match it with the theme of your costume. Better yet, throw a sweet treat bake-off party with your friends.

A Halloween bake-off is a great option when it’s cold and blustery outside, or you’re looking to keep a low profile Halloween night. Everyone isn’t into dressing up and partying until sun up on Halloween.

A baking contest with cool prizes for the winners is an alternative fun Halloween activity college students can do right from the comfort of their homes on or off campus.

If you’re still living in dorms with limited access to kitchen appliances, don’t fret!

There is a plethora of Halloween sweets you can make that don’t require an oven or a stove! Just a few ingredients that will definitely break necks.

Check out some mouth-watering Halloween candy and baked goods that won’t break the bank below!

Bon appétit, goal-friends!

2. Halloween Scavenger Hunt

If you’re in search of free fun Halloween activities for college students, scavenger hunts are an absolute blast.

For those who like solving clues with a little adventure to go with it, a spooky scavenger hunt may be just what you’re looking for.

It’s the perfect option for college students who like to keep their heads in a book. Find free premade scavenger hunt games for Halloween online or come up with your own.

If you would like a scavenger hunt that involves solving clues or riddles, it may take more time to plan it, but definitely worth it. Make it a fright night to remember!

You can do one that’s outdoors around campus and requires everyone to take pics with each clue in order to tally the score.

Try to include some creepy areas like an old building, an old Chapel, the woods, or basement. Imagine all the thrills your friends will get from a night of terror you created for free.

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3. Spooky Date Night

Do you have a new boyfriend or crush or campus? Why not invite them over for a cozy night of terror?

You lovebirds can spend the evening watching slasher movies, preparing some sweet bloody treats, and eating all the food and Halloween themed snacks you can think of.

As a couple, you can start off by picking matching pajamas, cooking pizza skulls for dinner and making a scary drink.

Decorate the table with candles, candy, desserts, and top the night off with a Halloween craft activity you both can enjoy.

Cozy up in bed or on the couch while watching your favorite scary movie together.

4. Halloween Costume Thrift Shopping

College isn’t the time to spend all your hard earned money on an epic Halloween costume you may never wear again.

It’s perfectly fine to borrow a costume, mix and match outfits to create one on your own, or visit a local thrift shop to DIY your Halloween costume all the way.

Other options to explore include shopping your friends’ closets and searching for costume jewelry at any garage and estate sales nearby.

Sometimes, browsing your parent’s closets is a good place to start.

Try making your own accessories instead of buying overpriced items that probably aren’t worth the cost.

Learn how to make fake blood or do your own Halloween makeup by watching YouTube tutorials with the items you already have at home.

5. DIY Spooky Dorm Games

There aren’t too many scary board games on the market for adults, but you can definitely create some.

Light a row of candles to see who’s the best blower, play a few rounds of running Tic-Tac-Toe, or Cup Stack.

Buy the materials you need at a local grocer or dollar store. You can even use what you already have at home.

Another popular game that would work great in a dorm or apartment building is ‘You’ve Been Booed’.

It’s a real-life chain game where you leave a sign on a neighbor’s door anonymously and leave a goodie bag for your neighbor.

Once they’ve been Boo’d, they have to ‘Boo’ someone else, too. I like to call it trick-or-treating for adults!

Drinking games always get the party started. As long as you’re of legal age and drink responsibly.

There are various ones like ‘Pick Your Poison’, a cocktail competition game.

‘Pass The Bottle’ is a play off of musical chairs except the person left holding the bottle once the spooky music stops has to take a shot.

‘Put A Fork In It’ requires an oversized pumpkin and forks with the names of Halloween party guests.

Each guest has to stab the pumpkin without getting caught. If you catch someone red-handed, yell ‘fork you’ and the culprit has to take a shot.

‘Worm Pie’ is another easy budget-friendly game to play.

Players have to remove 20 gummy worms from whipped cream pies in under 60 seconds with both hands tied behind their back.

Another classic, ‘Don’t Lose Your Head’, requires a skeleton hand and skull.

The players can do anything to get their opponents out of the game, except use your hands. One arm must remain behind your back the entire time.

If you lose your skull, you’re out of the game. Last person standing with their hand and skull intact wins the game.

It’s a great option for a small Halloween party with close friends or couples in attendance.

Of course, I can’t forget about the classic Halloween games like bobbing for apples or the Ouija board.

Now, if you and your friends are brave enough to summon the dead for fun, by all means, do so at your own risk.

6. Masquerade Murder Mystery Dinner

Bust out the charcuterie board, a cool backdrop for mugshots, and even cooler costumes that will fit the 1920s era or masquerade ball theme for a murder mystery dinner.

There are several places you can host this event on campus depending on the size of your group. Right inside of your dorm apartment can work well too.

There are various Murder Mystery kits and games you can order right on Amazon that will provide you with the pre-game video, the rules, how to set the scene, and how to figure out who committed the crime.

Trust me, this will keep everyone on the edge of their seats all night long.

7. Ghost Story Camp Fire Night

If you desire a Halloween night, that’s a bit more low-key, take a trip out to the beach or rent an Airbnb that has a fire pit in the back.

Everyone in attendance can dress up in costumes or dress down.

Turn it up a notch by serving mocktails and roasting S’mores. Make sure everyone gets a turn to share their favorite ghost stories.

8.Halloween Movie Marathon

One of the easiest low-cost things you can do for Halloween is binge watch horror movies with friends.

Get creative by budgeting for some gourmet Halloween caramel popcorn that you can hand out to moviegoers in decorative bags.

Order a movie projector and reserve a common room area if you’re expecting a large group of attendees.

Allow your friends to vote on their top horror movies to watch through a poll on group chat.

You can also make a large Halloween punch bowl with dry ice and have guests pitch in money to order pizza.

And if you’re a little crafty, create this DIY skeleton candy bowl for guests to enjoy.

Low-cost, minimal prep, and good vibes.

9. Horror Escape Room

Sorry, this isn’t an event you can throw in your dorm room.

For those who enjoy haunted houses, hotels, hospitals or mansions, this is an alternative option to do with a group of friends to celebrate Halloween.

You’ll need to do a little research to find a local escape room near you, but admission prices are usually reasonable for mid-size groups.

Prepare to be scared and solve a mystery, too.

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10. Pumpkin Carving Contest

Carving pumpkins is still popular for young adults.

So, if you and your friends are trying to plan a weekend full of chill Halloween fun activities, don’t count out the old faithful pumpkin patch farms or local Halloween Pop-ups near you.

Get dressed up with your friends for cute IG-worthy backdrops to do a fall photoshoot with. There are usually trails, tractor rides, and apple trees you can pick from as well.

Back on campus, make your own apple cider drinks or have a pumpkin carving contest. Tell the baker in your group to make some pumpkin pie for dessert.

11. Halloween Potluck

This one is self explanatory. Elevate your potluck dish by making it terrifying, and no, the recipes don’t have to be difficult.

Some of my favorite Halloween food dishes to create for Halloween are Finger Hot Dogs, Turkey Stuffed Jack-o’-lantern Bell Peppers, Spaghetti Brains, and Pumpkin Deviled Eggs.

Find more simple yet spooky Halloween themed food recipes here.

12. Visit A Haunted Mansion

Haunted mansions may have lost their popularity over the past few decades, but they are still going strong in some places.

If your college is near a suburb or rural community, there are old houses, hotels, or buildings that are transformed into horrific experiences each fall season and they are well worth the wait to get in.

Conduct research on what haunted houses are opening up in your local area weeks in advance and purchase your tickets as soon as possible, especially if you plan to go with a group.

Dates fill up quickly and you definitely want to secure a time slot early.

I also recommend checking the reviews to ensure that it lives up to the hype.

I, personally, have never gone to a haunted house that didn’t have me shaken up afterwards. My only complaint is that a few weren’t long enough.

Your party of friends will definitely have a blast recounting the experience for years to come.

13. Halloween Local and Campus Events

‘Tis the season to get spooky! Check your school’s event calendar for October and November thrills and create an agenda of your own.

There are endless fun Halloween activities for college students to do right on campus without traveling very far.

This is a great way for introverted students and for people who prefer to spend their Halloween solo to make the most of it by curating a schedule of fun Halloween activities to do safely alone.

There are also local community events that will put on Halloween events such as concerts, carnivals, costume parties, and bar crawls college students can participate in.

14. Arts & Crafts Night For Halloween Decor

Save money on Halloween decor by taking the DIY route. Believe me, Walmart or your local dollar store is worth the trip.

There are so many ways to get crafty and creative on a small budget, using only a few materials.

White bed sheets, tissue paper, tin cans, paper plates, glow sticks, recycled milk jugs, pool noodles, Styrofoam and spray paint can take your Halloween decorations to the next level.

Select the theme you’re going for with your roommates and explore Pinterest for DIY Halloween decor ideas.

15.Campus Trick-O-Treat

Most academic and sports departments love taking part in the spirit of Halloween and all of its festivities.

They likely have an arsenal of candy stashed that they plan to give away during the day of Halloween.

Get dressed up for a day activity of Trick-O-Treating around campus to rack up on candy.

Go as a group or in pairs for a nostalgic feeling of Halloween again.

16. Toilet Paper Prank

Okay, this one is an oldie, but goodie if you’re feeling mischievous the night before Halloween.

This isn’t one of the fun Halloween activities for college students I recommend if your friends or family aren’t into pranks.

Only perform this prank on someone you love or hate (if they are a jokester).

Make it a tradition to toilet paper a car, trees, or front of an apartment building off-campus that belongs to someone you know the night before Halloween.

It doesn’t take rocket science to do this Halloween activity. You’ll probably just need a lot of tissue paper to waste.

Obviously, you can’t pull this prank off on your own, so make sure you get a group of troopers to do this with you.

Never do the toilet paper prank with the victim around.

This requires some planning and spying, which is what makes it so fun. When the harmless deed is done, take pictures to show everyone.

17. Plan A Group Halloween Costume

Group Halloween costumes are popular on social media. You and your friends can select a theme to stick to or all buy the same outfits to take pictures in.

You can also consider movies and music groups for inspiration like the ‘Mean Girls’, Scooby-Doo, or Spice Girls.

Group Halloween costumes are splendid memories to include in your college scrapbook to look back on. Post it on social media and you all may go viral.

18. Halloween Movie Drive-In

Believe it or not, small towns still have movie-drive in options. This is perfect for a Halloween double date night. You can also find a ‘movies in the park’ event to attend with a group.

There’s usually a line up of slasher, thriller, and suspense movies they’ll show when the weather is pleasant.

What’s great about this Halloween activity is that you’re only responsible for transportation and snacks, the movies are free!

19.Visit A Bat House

When you’re brainstorming low-cost, fun Halloween activities for college students, you have to think outside of the box.

Sometimes, bats get overshadowed by witches, ghosts, and vampires. Most people view bats as cool decor around Halloween until you see these blood-sucking, nocturnal animals in real life.

There are bat houses and zoos you can visit at night to see these creatures in action. If you want to scream or have a desire to be creeped out, take a trip to the local bat houses near your campus.

Remember, bats are dangerous for a reason. I don’t recommend visiting their natural habitat in caves, you may not make it out. Get all of your thrills and shrills in. Just be safe while doing it.

20. Create Spooky Potions

For those who aren’t big fans of drinking, consider creating some spooky potions out of mocktails with juice, fruit, and soda only.

You can find refreshing Halloween cocktail recipes online and put your own spin on it. Witches Bloody Brew is always a good choice.

Your group of girlfriends can create and exchange recipe cards to spice things up a bit too.

21. Free Tarot Cards Reading

If you’re into tarot or psychic readings, Halloween is the best time to get your palm read. Most people do this just for fun. It doesn’t have to be serious.

So, if you know a classmate on-campus who’s into doing palm readings or practices tarot, invite them over for a spell.

Add to their donation jar for each reading or make a fun booth out of it in your dorm room. The tarot reader gets paid, and you get to have some budget-friendly fun Halloween night.

22. Cast Love Spells

Are love spells real? …Maybe, maybe not, but there are plenty of Love Spell instructions to follow online. Get a group together and engage in some girl chat about your exes or college crushes.

Find love spell instructions for everyone to select on their own. Make sure you have all the crafts and materials on hand to make Halloween night a win for everyone who wants to be shot by Cupid’s bow.

23. Eerie Halloween Photo Shoot

Have you ever seen those eerie pics of people disguised in pumpkin heads or ghost costumes?

Well, now’s it your chance to recreate one with your friends. Pick your costume of choice. A group picture full of witches may be even better.

If you really want to go all out, hire a cheap makeup artist, a friend that’s great at photography, and go thrift shopping together for costumes to make sure you ghouls and goblins are in sync.

24. Make a Spooky Pizza

Pizza is cheap with simple ingredients. It’s one of the easiest fun Halloween activities for college students to do when they want an engaging, fun night in with the girls.

If you still live in a dorm, borrow a friend’s kitchen who lives in your college town or take a visit back to your parent’s house just for the night.

The best part of this activity is the dough and toppings. You can use olives for spiders, shape dough into skeleton bones for a breadstick, or use mozzarella cheese to mummify a deep-dish pizza on its own.

Need some more spooky pizza inspiration? Click here.

25. Spooky Candle Painting

Try your hand at using a different Halloween candle kit that everyone can purchase at a minimal price. Arts and crafts can be engaging and relaxing for young adults, too.

If your friends are into painting or candle making, it’s the perfect activity for the season. They can show off their finished Halloween projects back at their dorms, too.

26. Neighborhood Halloween Tour

Don’t count out spooky tours around town. Neighborhoods usually have an interesting, and sometimes haunting, history. Search for guided walking tours with a Halloween theme your friends can enjoy together one evening.

Have any Halloween traditions or activities for college students that you would like to share? Drop them in the comments below.

Meg - Planner Me Up

I teach entrepreneurs how to simplify their life and business with less + own their time and maximize productivity towards their personal and monetary goals.

Fun Halloween Activities For College Students On A Budget

How do you throw a Halloween party in college?