Finding last-minute costumes -- especially for college students -- can be a challenge. With a little creativity, however, putting together a last-minute costume can be as fun as it is quick.

5 Last-Minute Costumes for College Students

1.Make a dash to a thrift store and let your imagination run wild. Fortunately, thrift stores have a ton of items you can use for a Halloween costume -- and at prices that most college students can afford.

Try heading there without a predetermined idea of what you want to be, however, since having an open mind might lead to more ideas. A general idea, of course, can be helpful. Think about a certain decade you like -- 60s? 70s? -- and try looking for things that fit the style of that time. Or think about a general character you think you can pull off -- bad teacher?nerd? mechanic? -- and try finding items that fit a caricature of that person. Additionally, keep in mind that a basic outfit can be made much better with some great accessories. If you can only find drab clothes, head over to the bracelets, glasses, shoes, and bags section to see how you can spruce your costume up.

2.Go for something easy and classic. Halloween itself is classic for a reason, so don't feel like you have to go all out -- especially if you're trying to find a costume at the last minute. Consider going as something traditional, like a vampire, witch, zombie, or prisoner. Not only do these costumes need basic clothes (all black, a jacket/cape), but they can be accented with some basic make-up that can easily be found in your friends' rooms or at the drugstore.

Basic costumes like these can also be easy to find, even at the last minute, at local places like a drug store or discount store.

3. Think sports figures. If you're really stuck without a costume, think about whom you know. Do you know any basketball players? Football players? Anyone who plays rugby, ultimate frisbee, soccer, volleyball, cheer, or swimming?

Without knowing it, they have a costume ready to go. See if you can borrow their sports uniform for the night (while promising to bring it back clean, of course) for an instant, last-minute, totally-free costume.

4.Think like an animal. You don't need to have a complicated costume to pull of something from the animal kingdom. A black cat costume, for example, simply requires some black clothes, a little headband with some ears (which you could make from cardboard you find around the residence hall), and a few whiskers put on with eyeliner. Other animals can be just as easy to make with a little creativity. Remember, too, that your college mascot is likely an animal -- meaning there will be a lot of things you can use (furry tiger tail, anyone?) in your campus bookstore.

5.Turn on the TV for your on-air lookalike. Chances are, there is someone on TV who you look like. See whose popular these days and who you can imitate in a flash. Consider major celebrities, someone in the news (a little silver hair paint and you can be an instant Anderson Cooper), a celebrity chef, a comedian, a late-night TV host, someone in reality TV, or even someone from a well-known commercial (Flo, anyone?). With so many channels and shows, there's bound to be someone you can imitate in a pinch. If you're still stuck, however, try to think outside the TV box for a minute. Is there someone from a current movie you could dress up as? Or someone from a video that's recently gone viral? If you're totally stuck, ask your friends for help; chances are, they'll have just as much fun suggesting people you can dress up like as you'll have putting your last-minute costume together.