College comes with a lot of expenses. On top of tuition, fees, books, and housing, you might also want to occasionally go out and have fun. Maybe you want to go shopping, see a movie, or meet friends for lunch or dinner. Thatâs not always easy on a student budget. Fortunately, there are widely available deals and discounts designed just for college students. Hereâs where you can find them.
Table of Contents
Key Points
⢠Major retailers like Amazon and Sam’s Club offer special pricing and membership benefits to college students.
⢠Technology companies such as Apple, Microsoft, and Dell provide discounts on products and software for students.
⢠Clothing stores like J.Crew, Aeropostale, and Levi’s offer a percentage off purchases upon showing a valid student ID.
⢠Restaurants including McDonald’s, Chick-fil-A, and Buffalo Wild Wings provide various discounts and deals for students.
⢠Travel and transportation services like Greyhound, Amtrak, and United Airlines offer reduced rates for students traveling domestically.
Major Retailers
1. Amazon
Amazon Prime Student gives you six free months of Amazon Prime, and after that itâs $7.49 per month (about half regular price). Plus, youâll receive perks like free food delivery, 10% off flights and hotels, and one month free of homework help. You can cancel at any time.
2. Samâs Club
Sam’s Club offers special membership pricing to college students through UNiDAYS , a site that verifies student status and offers exclusive student deals (sign-up is free). Once you register with UNiDAYS, you can get $40 off a Samâs Club Plus Membership or 30% off a Club Membership. You’ll also qualify to get a $45 eGift Card when you spend $45.
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3. Target
Target Circle’s College Student Appreciation program offers exclusive perks and discounts to students, which could come in handy when youâre shopping for your dorm room. To access deals, like 15% off your purchase, you need to join Target Circle for free, verify your student status (by uploading a student ID, class schedule, or tuition receipt), then check back later for offers.
4. Costco
A Costco membership can also help make college more affordable. College students who join Costco as a new Gold Star Member through UNiDAYS can receive a $30 Digital Costco Shop Card.
Technology
5. Apple
Keep this in mind when youâre preparing for college: Apple offers special pricing for current and recently accepted college students (along with their parents). For example, you can get a 13â macbook air with the M2 chip for $999 (normally $1099) or an iPad air for $549 (normally $599).
6. Microsoft
Students (as well as parents and teachers) can save up to 10% off eligible computers and accessories with Microsoft’s student discount . You also get Office 365 and access to Teams for free.
7. Dell
Dell offers exclusive discounts on laptops, monitors, and accessories to students with a valid academic email address (such as one ending in .edu). Savings vary depending on the product, but currently you can save $300.00 (20%) on an XPS 15 Laptop.
8. Lenovo
College students get an extra 5% off their tech purchases at Lenovo . Incoming students can also access the deal by providing a letter of acceptance. You simply need to verify your student status through ID.me during checkout.
9. Adobe
Adobe Creative Cloud for Students allows you to get an All Apps plan for $19.99 a month for the first year, and $29.99 per month after that (itâs normally $54.99 per month). To get the deal, you need to provide a school-issued email address during purchase so you can be instantly verified.
Clothes
10. Aeropostale
Students can benefit from an extra 15% off at Aeropostale . To take advantage of the deal, youâll simply need to register and verify your student status with UNiDAYS.
11. J.Crew
J.Crew gives students (and teachers) 15% off purchases when they present a valid college ID at checkout. The discount can be used up to four times a month.
12. Hanes
Need some basics, like tees or undergarments? Hanes offers students 10% off online purchases. To score your discount, you need to verify your student status through ID.me and get a promo code.
13. The North Face
The North Face gives students a 10% discount code to use at full-price locations (not factory stores), as well as online. You can redeem one code every 30 days.
14. Tommy Hilfiger
Tommy Hilfiger offers students 15% off online or in-store. First, you have to create or log in to your ID.me account.
15. Leviâs
Leviâs offers students 15% off online purchases after you verify your student status on the site.
16. Club Monaco
Students who are Club Monaco fans can get 15% off online and in-store. Simply register for an account with your .edu email address and a 15% off discount will automatically apply to your cart. If you’re shopping in-store, just present a valid student ID at the register.
17. Dockerâs
Dockerâs offers students a generous 25% off all purchases made online. You simply need to verify your student status through the site.
18. Outdoor Voices
Students shopping at Outdoor Voices can score 20% off through Student Beans (a site similar to UniDAYS that helps verify student status and offers discounts to partner stores). Once you register with Student Beans (which is free), youâll get a discount code that you can use at checkout.
19. Champion
Champion offers 10% off to actively enrolled students. You simply need to verify your student status through ID.me to get the discount code.
Restaurants
20. McDonaldâs
Right now, you can get a free Cheeseburger, Mayo Chicken, or McFlurryÂŽ Original when you buy any Extra Value or Wrap Meal and show your valid student or Student Beans ID.
21. Chick-fil-A
Student discounts vary by location, but many Chick-fil-As offer students a free drink with any purchase.
22. Dunkinâ
Dunkinâ offers a 10% off student discount at participating locations. To claim the deal, simply show your student ID to your cashier.
23. Arbyâs
You can save 10% on your Arbyâs meal when you show your student ID at participating locations.
24. Buffalo Wild Wings
Want to catch the game and eat some wings with friends? Students can score 10% off at many Buffalo Wild Wings locations.
25. Waffle House
Looking for a late-night meal? Students can enjoy a 10% discount at participating Waffle Houses.
26. IHOP
If you donât have a Waffle House nearby, many IHOP locations also offer 10% off for students.
27. Qdoba
Qdoba has two discount options for students at most locations: either a free drink with your purchase or a burrito meal for just $5.
28. Taco Bell
Craving a Crunchwrap Supreme? You can get a 10% student discount at participating Taco Bells.
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Travel & Transportation
29. Greyhound
Through Student Advantage , Greyhound offers 10% off any fare. The Student Advantage card costs $30 a year and offers students â and parents â a wide range of discounts.
30. Amtrak
Students between the ages of 17 and 24 can travel by Amtrak train for 15% off when booking at least one day in advance.
31. United Airlines
United Airlines offers a 5% flight discount to any travelers who are 18 to 23 years old. To get the deal, you need to book through the United app.
32. Hotels.com
Through UNiDAYS, you can snag steep discounts at hotels.com , such as 35% Off last-minute hotel bookings and up to 40% off the siteâs Weekend Getaway Deals.
33. FlixBus
You can get 15% off Flixbus tickets with Student Beans. Simply use your FlixBus student discount code at checkout.
34. Hertz
Hertz offers students 21 and older who have had a driver’s license for at least one year, 15% off cars and 20% off vans.
35. Budget Truck Rentals
Budget Truck Rentals offers students 20% off local moves and 15% off one-way moves any day of the week. Use the discount code TRUKU.
36. Penske
Penske offers college students a 10% discount on all truck rentals and unlimited miles on one-way moving truck rentals. Simply use the discount code STUDENT at checkout. Youâll need to provide a college ID or proof of enrollment status at pickup to receive the discount.
37. Red Coach
RedCoach offers high school, college, and graduate students up to 10% off tickets. To get the discount, check the student option at checkout then show your student ID card to the driver along with your ticket.
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Entertainment
38. AMC
Students get a lower ticket price at select AMC theaters every day. Just bring your photo student ID (and maybe some extra money for popcorn).
39. Cinemark
Student discounts at Cinemark vary by location and time of day, so check with the local box office to see what kind of deal you can snag.
40. Apple Streaming
Appleâs Student Music plan is $5.99 per month for up to 48 months (normally $10.99 per month). You also get Apple TV+ (usually $6.99) free.
41. Hulu
Hulu offers students its ad-supported plan for just $1.99 a month (a 75% discount). If youâre interested in a bundle, check out the deal below.
42. Spotify Bundle
As a student, you can get Spotify Premium and Hulu (with ads) for just $4.99 per month. Spotify Premium normally costs $9.99 per month and Hulu (with ads) is $7.99 a month, so you can snag a monthly savings of $12.99 for as long as youâre going to college.
43. The Washington Post
The Washington Post has a digital all-access student subscription plan for just $1 every four weeks.
44. Paramount+
As a student, you can get a Paramount+ Essential monthly plan for just $4.50 per month (25% off). You can cancel anytime.
45. YouTube Premium
YouTube Premium (which allows you to enjoy YouTube and YouTube Music adâ -â free) is available to students at a discounted rate of $7.99 a month, after a free one-month trial. You can cancel at any time.
46. The Economist
The Economist offers students an annual digital subscription for a steep 75% off. You can get the Economist Espresso for $19.75 a year, or the Economist Digital for $52.25.
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Home Goods
47. Ghost Bed
As a student or teacher, you can get 50% off your entire order at GhostBed . To take advantage of the deal, just click on the ID.me button and then âStudent IDâ to sign up and get verified.
48. Mattress Firm
After verifying your student status through ID.me, Mattress Firm will give you a single-use coupon code that can be used in-store or online. You get an extra 20% off select purchases or an extra 10% off Purple with the code.
49. Purple
You can also get a 10% discount directly from Purple . Once you verify your eligibility, youâll be emailed a coupon for 10% off your order.
50. Helix
You can get a discount code for 15% off a mattress at Helix through UNiDAYS.
51. Puffy
Puffy offers a generous student and educator discount â $1,425 off any Puffy mattress.
52. Brooklyn Bedding
Brooklyn Bedding offers a 30% discount and free shipping to students. You simply need to verify your eligibility through ID.me.
The Takeaway
Student discounts can help you save on everything from food and clothing to electronics and entertainment. Even with these deals, however, you may still need help covering your college expenses.
If you completed the FAFSA and didnât get enough financial aid to pay all of your school bills, keep in mind that you may be able to get a private student loan to help fill in any gaps. Unlike federal student loans, which have strict application deadlines, you can apply for private student loans at any time â including mid-semester.
Private student loans also allow you to borrow up to 100% of the school-certified cost of attendance. Just keep in mind that private student loans donât offer the borrower protections â like income-driven repayment plans and deferment or forbearance â that come with federal student loans.
If youâve exhausted all federal student aid options, no-fee private student loans from SoFi can help you pay for school. The online application process is easy, and you can see rates and terms in just minutes. Repayment plans are flexible, so you can find an option that works for your financial plan and budget.
FAQ
How many times can you use a student discount?
It depends on the company. Some retailers and restaurants allow you to use your student discount once per visit or purchase; others limit you to a certain number of times per month or year.
How much is the average student discount?
Student deals typically give you 10% to 15% off, though you may find some discounts for 50% off or even higher. In some cases, a student discount may come with restrictions, such as only being able to use it on full-price merchandise. So itâs always a good idea to compare your student discount to any other available deals and sales.
Do student discounts only apply to college students?
Typically, student discounts only apply to college and graduate students. In some cases, high school students can get deals if they have an email that ends in .edu. The colleges and programs that retailers recognize can vary, but you can expect most major colleges and universities to be eligible.
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