There’s no denying that earning a college degree is expensive. That’s why around 70 percent of all college students borrow money to help finance their education. One way to minimize your living expenses while in college and not add to that debt is to take advantage of some of the vast number of student discounts available. You can find discounts on everything from clothing to streaming services. However, it can be difficult to keep track of all the discounts offered. That’s why we’ve put together this comprehensive list of college student discounts that might interest you.
Amazon Prime Student
Amazon Prime is a great service. In addition to getting free two-day shipping on most Amazon purchases, you qualify for access to the Amazon library of movies and TV shows to stream for free, free books (both to download and borrow), and free unlimited photo storage. There are even special sales for Prime members only.
The downside to Amazon Prime has always been the membership price. However, students can take advantage of this service for about half what most people pay. Currently, the Amazon Prime Student rate is $7.49 per month or $69 annually. Plus, the first six months are free. Amazon also offers a $5 discount on a student’s first purchase using the Amazon app.
Spotify
For just $4.99 per month, Spotify’s student discount gives you access to Spotify’s extensive library of music as well as Hulu and Showtime streaming video content. That compares to the regular Spotify price of $9.99, which doesn’t include Hulu or Showtime. There’s also a one-month free trial period, so you can see if you like the service before you finalize your subscription. You can cancel your subscription at any time without a penalty.
Hulu
If you want to sign up for Hulu’s streaming service without Spotify or Showtime, you can get 70 percent off of Hulu’s regular price with the student price of just $1.99 per month. There’s no obligation to keep the subscription; you can cancel without a penalty at any time. That’s certainly a lot less expensive than even the most basic cable TV package.
Apple Music
Students who are enrolled in a ‘degree-granting’ college or university can subscribe to Apple’s music streaming service for the discounted rate of $4.99 per month for a maximum of 48 months with a free 30-day trial period. That compares to the regular price of $9.99 per month. Apple has more than 90 million songs in its library.
The New York Times
The ‘New York Times’ makes its digital editions available to students for just $1 per week. That compares to the regular digital subscription price of $15 every four weeks. According to the NYT website, ‘Students will be required to sign up for their subscription using their valid school email address, as well as provide their graduation year in order to verify their student status.’
Movie Theaters
AMC Theaters offers student discounts at all of their locations. The exact discount depends on the movie and the time of the showing. The matinée price is usually the best deal, at 30 percent off. Cinemark Cinemas also offers student deals. Like AMC, the exact discount depends on the cinema location, the movie and the showing time. Some Regal Cinema locations also offer student discounts. For all of these discounts, you will need to present your student ID at the box office.
Microsoft
Microsoft makes its Office 365 suite of software products (including Word, Excel and PowerPoint) available to college and university students for free. In addition, the software giant offers deep discounts for students on Windows 11-powered laptops, PCs, and other electronic devices.
Access to many software programs may be available via your college or university. It’s a good idea to check before you purchase anything, even at a discounted price.
Best Buy
Best Buy offers deep discounts for students of all ages on computers, electronics, cell phones, video games and other products. New student deals are listed on the Best Buy website daily.
J.Crew
Need some new clothes? J.Crew offers a 15 percent discount on in-store purchases when you show your student ID at checkout.
Madewell
Madewell, another good choice for shopping for new clothes, offers a 15 percent student discount on both in-store and online purchases.
Paramount+
Paramount+, the streaming service with thousands of movies, television shows, and sporting events, offers a 25 percent discount off the price of its monthly subscription service for students. There’s also no cancellation fee for stopping the service if you decide it’s not for you. They offer a free trial period, so your first seven days are free.
Levi’s
Levi’s, the denim clothing purveyor, offers students a generous 25 percent discount on all apparel purchases.
Target
Target offers a 15 percent student discount. To qualify, you need to register at Target.com. Once you’ve created an account, go to ‘Settings’ and then click ‘Get Verified’.
HP
HP, maker of computers, printers, and other electronics, offers a generous student discount. Students get up to 50 percent off select products and up to 35 percent off gaming products.
LL Bean
LL Bean, the New England apparel and casual living retailer, offers a 10 percent discount on both in-store and online purchases.
Logitech
Logitech, maker of computer keyboards and other accessories, offers a student discount of 25 percent.
Nike
Nike, the Oregon-based sports apparel retailer, offers a 10 percent discount on all in-store and online purchases.
Costco
Costco stores offer attractive discounts to members on everything from toilet paper to electronics. However, the annual membership fee can be prohibitive on a student budget. That’s why Costco offers a $20 student membership with all of the benefits of the regular $50 to $75 membership.
Goodwill
Goodwill stores are a great resource for finding clothing and other items at a deep discount. Goodwill provides students an even better incentive to shop with them by offering 25 percent off everything in the store to students every Tuesday. All you have to do is show your student ID when you check out.
Amtrak
Train travel may not be as fast as air travel, but may be a better choice for some over other means of travel. Plus, it’s a great way to see America. Amtrak offers a 15 percent student on all their fares. To qualify, you must be a student between ages 17 and 24 and make your reservation at least one day in advance. If you’re traveling in Virginia or DC by rail, you’ll qualify for an even greater discount. The Virginia student discount is 25 percent and applies to students between the ages of 13 and 25.
Museums
Most museums offer some type of student discount. Here are a few examples:
- New York Metropolitan Museum — $12 for students
- The Boston Fine Arts Museum — Students of universities in Maine, Massachusetts and New Hampshire receive free admission
- The Rock and Roll Hall of Fame in Cleveland — Student discount $30; Cleveland residents get free admission (if reserved online)
- Art Institute of Chicago — Students of selected Chicago-area colleges and universities receive free admission.
Of course, it’s important to note there are a number of excellent museums around the US that offer free admission. These include most of the museums of the Smithsonian Institution in Washington DC, the Cleveland Museum of Art, the Getty Center in Los Angeles and the Alamo in San Antonio.
Restaurants and Eateries
Several casual and fast food restaurant chains offer 10 percent student discounts when you present your student ID with your order. These include:
- Arby’s
- Burger King
- Chick-Fil-A
- Diary Queen
- Dunkin Donuts
- Subway
- Taco Bell
- Waffle House
Note: since many locations for these restaurants are franchises, not all locations participate in the discount offer. Make sure to ask before you order.
UNiDAYS
If you haven’t registered on this site yet, you need to do it right away. Registering on UNiDAYS opens a whole range of discounts. Retailers don’t have to bother verifying your student ID; UNiDAYS has already done that work for them. Just a few of the discounts you can take advantage of include:
- Adidas – 15 percent
- Aeropostale – 15 percent
- American Eagle – 20 percent
- ASOS – 10 percent
- Banana Republic – 15 percent (in-store open; doesn’t apply to factory stores)
- Blue Nile (jewelry) – 15 percent
- The Body Shop – 15 percent
- Champion – 20 percent
- The Container Store – 20 percent
- Dockers – 30 percent
- East Bay – 20 percent
- Foot Locker – 20 percent
- Grammarly – 20 percent off premium service
- H&M – 20 percent
- Kate Spade – 15 percent
- Reebok – 40 percent
- Shoes.com – 25 percent
- Under Armour – 20 percent
- Vrbo – 20 percent
- 1-800-contacts – 10 percent
- Glasses USA – up to 65 percent
For a complete list, visit the UNiDAYS website.
Student Beans
Student Beans is another student-verifying service that allows you, once registered, to take advantage of a number of student discounts. A few of these include:
- Crocs – 25 percent
- Champs Sports – 20 percent
- Hunter – 15 percent
- Reebok – 30 percent
- Shark (sweepers and other cleaning tools) — 15 percent
- Philadelphia Phillies (MLB) – $10 tickets
- Houston Astros (MLB) — up to 70 percent
- New York Yankees (MLB) — up to 50 percent
- Detroit Tigers (MLB) — up to 50 percent
- Pittsburgh Pirates (MLB) — up to 50 percent
- Houston Texans (NFL) — 40 percent
- Financial Times — 50 percent
- Rossignol (skis) — 20 percent
- Coach – 10 percent
- e.l.f. cosmetics – 20 percent
- Pandora – 10 percent
- The Economist – 75 percent
- Back Country – 25 percent
Visit the Student Beans website for a current and complete list of discounts.
Helping Pay for Your Degree at Johnson & Wales University
At Johnson & Wales University, with campuses in Providence, RI and Charlotte, NC as well as extensive online degree options, we understand that paying for college and living on a college budget can be a challenge. The university offers a number of financial aid programs. Learn more about financial aid at JWU College of Professional Studies.
About Johnson & Wales University
Johnson & Wales University offers undergraduate and graduate degree programs in more than 80 fields of study. In addition to the two campuses, there are an increasing number of JWU degree programs that are offered entirely via online learning. Online degree programs not only help students save money on tuition, but they offer students the advantage of being able to complete classwork and listen to lectures on their own schedule, within a few parameters. Students also save money with online classes by not having to pay for gasoline or parking.
Johnson & Wales University was founded in 1914 and has a current enrollment of around 8,000 undergraduate, graduate, and online students. The university is accredited by the New England Commission of Higher Education.
Earn your bachelor’s degree or master’s degree online or on-campus from Johnson & Wales University. For more information, complete the Request Info form, call 855-JWU-1881, or email [email protected].