Jostens Fact Sheet: History, Products and Insights

Most of us know Jostens from our graduation day or that heavy class ring sitting in a jewelry box. They’ve spent over a century turning major life milestones into keepsakes. Below, we’ve put together a no-nonsense guide to everything Jostens, tracking their history, what they offer today, and how to keep your order under budget.

History of Jostens (Timeline)

1897: Jostens was founded by Otto Josten in Minneapolis, Minnesota, initially as a watchmaking company.

1900s: The company shifted focus to manufacturing high school and college class rings, becoming well-known for these products.

1920: Jostens introduced the first-ever class ring with a unique design, solidifying its presence in the education market.

1940s: Jostens expanded its product line to include yearbooks, further establishing its foothold in the education and memorabilia industries.

1950: Jostens began producing high school and college graduation products, offering items like diplomas, caps, and gowns.

1960: The company entered the sports market by creating championship rings for professional sports teams.

1980: Jostens became publicly traded, listing its shares on the New York Stock Exchange.

1990s: Jostens acquired several smaller companies, including the yearbook publisher Taylor Publishing, expanding its reach.

2000s: The company continued to diversify, offering products like class jewelry and promotional items for various organizations.

2018: Jostens was acquired by Platinum Equity, a private equity firm. This marked the end of Jostens’ status as a publicly traded company, as it had previously been listed on the New York Stock Exchange.

Present Day: Jostens continues to be a leader in the educational and commemorative product industry, offering personalized products and services to students, athletes, and organizations around the world.

Jostens Sustainability Initiatives

• Jostens uses mostly cardboard packaging and prints many marketing materials and product inserts with soy ink.
• Sustainability reviews are a key part of Jostens’ new product development process, focusing on materials, manufacturing, packaging, marketing, and end-of-life disposal.
• Jostens maintains full compliance with all applicable environmental and safety regulatory standards.
• The company focuses on recycling consumables, reducing waste, and practicing energy reduction across its facilities.

• Jostens has implemented energy management systems in 6 out of 9 of its operational facilities, with plans to expand.
• Jostens’ Minneapolis corporate headquarters has earned ENERGY STAR certification from the U.S. Environmental Protection Agency.
• Jostens contributes annually to the Nature Conservancy through its Elements Collection™ give-back program.

The Modern Jostens Product Lineup

Jostens offers a wide variety of products, including class rings, yearbooks, graduation essentials, apparel, and sports gear. Each product is made with high-quality materials and provides customization options to reflect personal achievements.

• Class Rings & Fine Jewelry: Forged in gold, silver, and high-durability alloy blends, these keepsakes feature personal engravings, custom stone cuts, and activity patches that showcase your personal achievements.
• Yearbooks & Cloud Design Tools: Merging high-vibrancy physical printing with digital interfaces, Jostens provides interactive design suites like Monarch that allow students and school staff to collaborate on page building.
• Graduation Essentials & Regalia: From custom-designed diplomas and security-sealed frames to comfortable, sustainably sourced gowns, stoles, and announcements, the brand provides complete commencement coverage.
• School Spirit Apparel & Varsity Jackets: Beyond official graduation day, Jostens prints custom hoodies, performance jerseys, and personalized varsity letter jackets designed to foster deep school spirit.

Frequently Asked Questions About Jostens

Does Jostens offer a lifetime warranty on class rings?

Yes. Jostens provides a highly robust lifetime warranty for its high school and college class rings. Under this policy, the brand will resize your ring, restore its original polished finish, and replace any damaged simulated birthstones completely free of charge. Note that this warranty is automatically voided if any jeweler outside of Jostens attempts to alter or repair the ring.

Can I pay for my Jostens order using an installment plan?

Yes, Jostens makes high-value purchases manageable through their proprietary J-Pay installment plan. This option allows you to split the total cost of your graduation packages or class jewelry into three equal, interest-free monthly credit card payments. Alternatively, you can utilize third-party buy-now-pay-later (BNPL) options like Klarna or PayPal Credit at checkout.

Where can I find working Jostens promo codes?

While prices are built around school district contracts, you can routinely unearth extra storewide savings, free shipping deals, and bundle price cuts. You can explore all active, verified Jostens offers directly on GrabOn.

How does Jostens handle shipping delays and product corrections?

Because almost every item is completely custom-made, standard production timelines typically take 4 to 8 weeks. If an item arrives with an explicit spelling defect or structural flaw caused by manufacturing errors, you can open an online claim form within their customer support dashboard to secure a free corrective replacement or targeted repair.