I just got info this week from Brad's Deals that J.C. Penney has towels for $3.00. I think the 6 pack (2 towels, 2 hand towels, 2 wash rags) was about $12 after all deals with free shipping.
I just bought a mattress pad for my DD at Costco yesterday for $19. I was surprised to see a Twin XL and grabbed it as soon as I saw it. We have the egg crate and two sets of sheets left over from her brother (t-shirt material from Target). My son had a bed bug/allergy cover that I may also take if I can find it. She found a comforter set she liked for a great price at Target.com and with my Target debit card, we got an additional 5% off and free shipping, so it cost less than $25.
I bought the shower caddy for $5 (I think) at IKEA. I liked that it had drainage holes. I bought one of those kitchen drying mats to put on the floor of the closet for her shower shoes and caddy.
I did buy her shower shoes at Shoe Carnival. They are slides, but they have holes in the bottom for drainage. My DD doesn't wear flip flops (can't stand it between her toes).
We have also picked up desk lamp, etc. as we have been out shopping. That was a mistake because her brother brought one of those home too.
We have two different size mini-fridges from her brother, who is now in an apartment, and a microwave, so I don't have to buy those. I picked up a Keurig at Sam's on Black Friday last year, so if she wants it, she can take it.
We have been picking up toiletries (shampoo, conditioner, deodorant, q-tips) as we shop so it won't be one huge outlay when we get there. Since she will travel with track team, we also picked up everything in travel sizes for a dob kit.
We still need to pick up detergent, but I am not sure her dorm washers allow use of pods, so I am kicking myself for not picking up the small bottles of ERA I saw on sale at Farm and Home a couple of weeks ago.
Her brother brought home the trunk for her to lock things in under her bed (she thinks she still has her middle school gym padlock that she can use - she has to look for it - I am just amazed she would remember the combination 4 years later. She had marching band in HS, so no PE for her). He also brought unused Command strips and a printer. She has printers available in her dorm and computer lab, so I don't think she will take that for now. She is only 1.5 hours from home, so I can always run it down to her if needed.