College expenses do not stop at tuition. A laptop, software, streaming subscriptions, transportation, clothes, and everyday memberships can add quite a bit to what you spend during the school year.
Student discounts can lower some of those costs, but only when they apply to something you already need. Saving 20% on an unplanned purchase is still spending money you were not going to spend.
Disclaimer: This content is for informational purposes. Student discounts, prices, and eligibility requirements can change. Check the current terms with the provider before signing up or making a purchase.
Student Discounts at a Glance
| Student discount | Current offer | Best for |
|---|---|---|
| Apple Education | Education pricing on eligible products | Apple devices |
| Dell | Up to 10% extra off eligible purchases | Laptops & tech |
| Lenovo | Extra 5% off eligible products | Laptops & accessories |
| Samsung | Education pricing and special offers | Phones & tech |
| Microsoft 365 | 50% off with a college email | Productivity software |
| Notion | Free Education Plan | Organization |
| GitHub | Free Student Developer Pack | Coding |
| Spotify | $6.99/month with Hulu | Music & streaming |
| Disney+ and Hulu | $6.49/month | Streaming |
| Peacock | $5.99/month for 12 months | Streaming |
| Apple Music | $6.99/month with Apple TV access | Music |
| Nike | 10% off most eligible items | Shoes & clothing |
| Amtrak | 15% off eligible fares | Train travel |
| Prime for Young Adults | 6-month $0 trial, then discounted membership | Shopping & delivery |
| Target Circle 360 | $4.99/month | Same-day delivery |
A student price is not automatically the lowest available price. Regular sales, bundles, refurbished products, and promotions can sometimes beat it.
Tech Student Discounts
Technology is one area where a student discount can save a meaningful dollar amount, especially if you’re buying a laptop or tablet for school.
1. Apple Education Pricing
Apple offers education pricing to current and newly accepted college students, parents purchasing for college students, and eligible educators.
In the U.S., education eligibility is verified through UNiDAYS. Eligible products can include Macs, iPads, Apple Watches, and other selected devices.
Apple is also running a limited 2026 college promotion through September 24, 2026, where qualifying Mac or iPad purchases can come with an Apple Gift Card. Because that promotion is temporary, check the current education store rather than assuming it will still be available later.
If you’re already planning to buy an Apple device for school, compare the education price with current retailer sales and Apple’s refurbished options before checking out.
2. Dell Student Discount
Dell currently gives eligible U.S. students and teachers up to 10% extra off qualifying purchases after verification. Exclusions can apply.
This can be useful if you’re shopping for a laptop, monitor, or other computer equipment, but Dell also runs regular promotions. Compare the final price in your cart rather than assuming the student discount produces the lowest price.
3. Lenovo Education Discount
Current and incoming college or university students can get an extra 5% off eligible Lenovo products after verifying through ID.me. Incoming students can also qualify with an acceptance letter.
Lenovo frequently discounts laptops and accessories for everyone, so the useful number is the price after all eligible savings have been applied.
4. Samsung Education Offer Program
Samsung’s Education Offer Program gives eligible students access to special pricing and promotions on products such as smartphones, tablets, computers, monitors, wearables, and accessories.
Students can qualify using an eligible school email or through verification services such as ID.me. Savings vary by product and current promotion rather than following one fixed student-discount percentage.
If you’re already considering a Samsung device, check both the Education Offer Program and the regular Samsung store before deciding which deal is better.
Free and Discounted Software for Students
Before paying for software yourself, check what your college already provides. Your tuition or student account may already include access to tools you would otherwise pay for.
5. Microsoft 365 Student Savings
Microsoft currently offers college students 50% off Microsoft 365 when they verify with an eligible college email address. Microsoft also advertises separate free educational software and services for qualifying students and schools.
Your first step should be checking the software access provided by your school. If Microsoft 365 is already included through your institution, another subscription may be unnecessary.
Microsoft’s student promotions can also change, so check the current offer before subscribing.
6. Notion Education Plan
Eligible college and university students can get Notion’s Education Plan for free for an individual one-member workspace.
You need an education email from a recognized institution, and Notion currently requires annual verification to remain on the Education Plan. It includes features such as unlimited uploads and 30-day page history.
This can be useful if you already use Notion for notes, assignment tracking, projects, or planning. If you only need basic organization, though, Notion’s regular free plan may already be enough.
7. GitHub Student Developer Pack
If you’re studying programming, computer science, data science, web development, or a related subject, GitHub’s Student Developer Pack is worth checking before you pay for developer tools.
Eligible students age 13 or older who are enrolled in a degree- or diploma-granting course can apply using a school-issued email address and/or proof of enrollment. The pack provides access to GitHub tools plus dozens of partner resources.
The exact partner offers can change, so check the current pack rather than relying on an older list of included services.
Streaming Student Discounts
Student streaming prices can look inexpensive month to month. The more useful question is whether the discounted plan replaces something you already pay for.
8. Spotify Premium Student With Hulu
Spotify currently charges eligible U.S. students $6.99 per month for Premium Student, with Hulu’s ad-supported plan included.
That can be a good value if you already want both Spotify Premium and Hulu. It is much less useful if Hulu simply becomes another subscription you rarely open.
If you’re already paying Hulu separately, check how the existing account needs to be connected before activating the Spotify offer.
9. Disney+ and Hulu Student Bundle
Eligible U.S. college and graduate students can currently get the ad-supported Disney+ and Hulu bundle for $6.49 per month, compared with the regular $12.99 monthly price.
Verification is handled through SheerID, and student status must currently be reverified annually.
Before subscribing, check whether you already receive Hulu through Spotify Premium Student. Paying for two different bundles that both include Hulu can wipe out part of the savings.
10. Peacock Student Discount
Eligible students can currently get Peacock Premium for $5.99 per month for 12 months, compared with the current $12.99 monthly retail price.
The offer requires student verification through SheerID. If you remain eligible, Peacock allows the student offer to be renewed, although future student pricing can change.
A recurring discount is still a recurring expense. Keep it only if you use the service enough to justify the monthly cost.
11. Apple Music Student
Apple Music currently offers its Student Plan for $6.99 per month for verified students. New subscribers currently get the first month free.
The Student Plan includes the same core Apple Music features as the Individual Plan and currently comes with access to Apple TV at no additional cost.
If you’re comparing student music plans, the extras can matter. Spotify includes Hulu, while Apple Music currently includes Apple TV, so choose based on what you will actually use rather than the music subscription alone.
Shopping Student Discounts
Shopping discounts are most useful when they reduce the price of something already on your list.
12. Nike Student Discount
Eligible U.S. high school, college, and university students age 16 or older can currently receive 10% off most eligible items at Nike.com and in the Nike App.
Student status is verified through SheerID. Nike provides a single-use promo code after verification, and eligible students can currently reverify for another code once every seven days. Codes expire after two weeks.
The discount does not apply to every product, and regular sales or another retailer may still offer a lower price. Compare before buying.
Travel Student Discounts
13. Amtrak Student Discount
Amtrak currently offers students ages 17 to 24 a 15% discount on eligible fares with a valid student ID.
Qualifying travel generally needs to be purchased at least one day in advance. The discount applies only to eligible routes and fares, and several services are excluded.
If you’re traveling between college and home, that can be useful. Still compare Amtrak with buses, flights, carpooling, or other options when keeping the total trip cost low matters more than the mode of travel.
Student Membership Discounts
Membership discounts can save money if you already use the service regularly. They can also turn into another monthly expense that quietly stays on your card.
14. Prime for Young Adults
Amazon offers its student discount through Prime for Young Adults.
Eligible higher-education students and young adults ages 18 to 24 can currently get a six-month $0 trial, followed by discounted membership at $7.49 per month or $69 per year.
Higher-education students can verify using a .edu email address or other accepted proof of enrollment.
This replaces the older Prime Student branding you may still see on outdated discount lists.
The membership makes more sense if its shipping and other benefits replace costs you would otherwise pay. If you’re ordering more simply because delivery feels free, the membership can have the opposite effect.
15. Target Circle 360 Student Membership
Verified college students can currently get Target Circle 360 for $4.99 per month, compared with the standard $10.99 monthly membership.
Benefits include eligible same-day delivery, shipping, and extended returns. Students need to verify their eligibility and choose the monthly membership to receive the discounted rate.
This is most useful if you already use Target’s delivery services regularly. Paying $4.99 each month just because the price is discounted still adds almost $60 a year to your expenses.
How Student Discount Verification Works
A .edu email can still be useful, but it is no longer the only way companies confirm that you’re a student.
Depending on the offer, you may need to verify through:
- SheerID
- ID.me
- UNiDAYS
- Your school-issued email address
- A current student ID
- An acceptance letter
- Enrollment documents or another form of student verification
Some companies require annual reverification. Others set age limits or restrict an offer to college and university students.
If verification fails even though you’re eligible, check the provider’s requirements before assuming the discount is unavailable. Your school email, account name, enrollment status, or supporting document may simply need updating.
Check the Regular Price Before Using a Student Discount
The word “student” on an offer does not guarantee you’re getting the lowest price.
Suppose a laptop normally costs $1,000 and your student discount takes 10% off:
Student price: $900
If another retailer has the same model on sale for $850, the public sale saves you another $50.
The same principle applies to software, streaming, clothing, and memberships. Compare the final amount you will pay, including any recurring cost, rather than focusing only on the advertised discount.
A Student Discount Is Useful Only If You Need the Purchase
Discount programs are designed to make buying easier. That does not mean every offer belongs in your budget.
Before signing up or checking out, ask yourself:
- Was I already planning to buy this?
- Does my school provide it for free?
- Is there a free version that does enough?
- Do I already pay for something that provides the same benefit?
- What will the price become when the student discount ends?
- Is a regular sale cheaper?
- Will this turn into another recurring subscription?
For example, three seemingly small $5 monthly subscriptions add up to $180 a year.
Student discounts can help with part of your college spending, but they work best alongside the bigger decisions involved in saving money as a student, such as housing, food, textbooks, transportation, and recurring expenses.
Student Discount FAQs
What are some of the best student discounts in 2026?
Some of the best student discounts in 2026 include Apple Education pricing, Spotify Premium Student with Hulu, GitHub Student Developer Pack, Notion’s free Education Plan, Amtrak’s student fare discount, and student offers from Dell, Lenovo, Nike, and Amazon. The best deal depends on what you already need and whether the student price is lower than other available offers.
Can you get student discounts without a .edu email?
Yes, in some cases. Companies may use services such as SheerID, ID.me, or UNiDAYS, or accept documents that confirm current enrollment. Other offers specifically require an eligible school email address.
Do student discounts end when you graduate?
Often, but the rules vary. Some companies require annual verification, while others provide student pricing for a limited period or based partly on age. Check the renewal terms for any subscription so you know when the regular price may begin.
Are student discounts always the cheapest option?
No. Public sales, refurbished products, bundles, free school-provided services, and competing retailers can sometimes offer a better price. Always compare the final cost before buying.
Can high school students get student discounts?
Yes, some high school students can get student discounts, but eligibility varies by company. For example, Nike includes eligible U.S. high school students age 16 or older, while many streaming and software offers are limited to college or university students.
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