Unlocking Savings: A Comprehensive Guide to Student Discounts

Going to school can be expensive, with textbooks, tuition, and school supplies putting a big dent in your budget. However, being a student also unlocks access to numerous discounts and perks that can significantly ease the financial burden. This guide explores the vast landscape of student discounts, covering everything from entertainment and dining to technology, travel, and more. Don’t be afraid to ask!

The Golden Rule: Always Inquire

Before making any purchase, always ask, "Do you offer a student discount?" Many businesses, especially those near college campuses, provide discounts of 10-15% to students who present a valid student ID. You’ll be surprised how many businesses offer student discounts, even if they don’t advertise them. The worst that can happen is they say no. It pays to inquire.

Entertainment and Arts

For students big on music, reading or binge-watching, there are amazing benefits to being, well, a student!

Streaming Services:

Amazon Music Unlimited: Exclusively for students, this subscription gives you access to 60 million songs for just 99 cents each month.
Apple TV Plus: FREE with an Apple Music subscription! At $4.99 per month for both, this one is a steal.
Audible: Want to knock out those reading assignments on the go? Don’t pass up this Audible student price of $9.95 per month.
Spotify: When you sign up for the $4.99 per month student version of Spotify premium, you get Hulu and Showtime for free!
YouTube Premium: YouTube Premium-which includes ad-free videos and songs on both YouTube and YouTube Music-is free for one month, then $7.99 per month after that for students.
SoundCloud Go+: Students can get SoundCloud Go+ for 50% off. That's only $5.49 per month!
Hulu: College students can get a Hulu (With Ads) plan for only $1.99 per month.
Peacock Premium: Students can save over 50% on Peacock Premium.

Newspapers:

New York Times: Stay up on current events! Students can subscribe to the NYT digital edition for $1 per week.
The Wall Street Journal: Subscribe to the digital edition for just $4 per month or spring for both print and digital for $10.

Movies:

AMC Theaters: Get your movie tickets for $1 off on Thursdays. Deals and discount days vary by city. Bring your student ID!
Cinemark: Deals and discount days vary by city. Bring your student ID! Save on admission with your student ID.
Regal Theaters: Check with your local theater for details. Regal offers up to 15% off tickets for select shows and dates. Save a king’s ransom (or at least a decent %) at Regal Cinemas with your student ID.
Harkins Theatres: Flash your student ID at Harkins Theatres for discounted admission.

Arts and Culture:

The Art Institute of Chicago: Students outside the city receive $6 off general admission. Chicago residents save $11. Discounted admission rate for students.
Broadway in Chicago: Theater fan? Bring nine friends and snag tickets for as low as $14.50 for select performances.
Carnegie Hall, New York: Catch a symphony performance for cheap. Select performances are only $10 for students. $10 tickets to select shows with a valid student ID.
Denver Art Museum: Student admission is $10 for out-of-state students and $8 for Colorado residents. Reduced admission rate for students who are Colorado residents and out-of-state residents.
Houston Ballet: If you’re under age 25, snag a ticket for just $15 or score a 2 for $25 deal on Friday evenings.
The Lincoln Center, New York: Take a break from the books and head to the opera! The Lincoln Center offers $20 student tickets to many performances. Free/discounted “student rush” tickets and discounted memberships.
Memphis Symphony Orchestra: Get one $10 ticket per performance with your student ID.
Metropolitan Museum of Art: General admission tickets run $25, but students can visit the museum for just $12! Discounted student tickets. The Met offers pay-what-you-wish admission for New York, New Jersey, and Connecticut students.
New England Aquarium: Spend a day with the penguins for $2 off! Call ahead or reserve your aquarium tickets online.
Philadelphia Museum of Art: Cold, rainy (or snowy) Saturday? Spend the day at the museum for only $14!
Universal Studios Hollywood: They partner with some schools to offer discounted student tickets. Discounted park passes for students at partner universities.

Local Venues:

Many local museums, theaters, and entertainment venues near your campus probably offer discounts, too.

Food and Drink

Being on a budget doesn’t have to mean skipping pizza night or Taco Tuesday. Check out these amazing deals from nationwide chains!

Read also: Unlock Regal's Student Discount

Arby’s: Save 10% when you show your student ID at participating locations. 10% off in-store at participating locations.
Buffalo Wild Wings: Enjoy a 10% discount with your student ID at many locations.
Burger King: Many locations offer 10% to students. 10% off at participating locations.
Chick-fil-A: Enjoy 10% off at select locations, and get a free small drink with purchase! Free drink with student ID at certain stores.
Chipotle: Score a free drink with purchase. Don’t forget your student ID! Offers vary: free drink & monthly offers with student ID at certain stores. Join Chipotle U Rewards to earn 12 points per dollar you spend instead of the usual 10 points. You'll also get 1,000 points for enrolling and periodic free food drops.
Dairy Queen: Save 10% at many locations. 10% off at participating locations.
IHOP: Discount varies based upon location. Don’t forget to check with local businesses, too.
Dunkin’: 10% off; student ID needed.
Taco Bell: 15% off at participating locations.
Taco Cabana: 20% off at participating locations.
TCBY: 10 - 20% off at participating locations.
Waffle House: 10% off with student ID.
Pizza Chains: Discounts at Papa John’s, Domino’s, Pizza Hut. Show student ID ; In-store only, varies by location.

Clothing and Apparel

One of the best parts about the back-to-school season is updating your wardrobe! Enjoy quality clothing brands at more afforable costs.

American Eagle: Enjoy 20% off online purchases with a UNiDAYS account.
Ann Taylor: Love Ann Taylor?
Banana Republic: Take 15% off a full-priced purchase with your student ID. Don’t slip up & forget your student ID.
Footlocker: Need new shoes? Head to Footlocker and save 10% with a UNiDays account.
J. Crew: Head to class in style and enjoy 15% off regular-priced items. Students get 15% off their purchase both online and in J.Crew stores. Students save 15% on regularly priced merchandise at J. Crew.
Juicy Couture: Register with Student Beans to unlock a 15% online discount.
Kate Spade: Register with UNiDays for a 15% discount.
MAC: Take 10% off with UNiDays verification.
Madewell: Enjoy 15% of in-store or online. This deal is good for teachers, too!
Nike: With all that walking you’ll be doing around campus, you’ll need comfy shoes.
Sperry: Sperry also offers savings for teachers, nurses, and the military.
Target: Create a gift registry for your dorm or apartment needs, and unlock a 15% discount for any items left on your registry. Target Circle's College Student Appreciation program helps you stack up the savings. via Target Circle program verify your student status (by uploading a student ID, class schedule, or tuition receipt), then check back later for offers.
Under Armour: Enjoy a 10% discount with a UNiDays account.
Urban Outfitters: Take 10% off your full-price purchase (on select dates only).
West Elm: Need furniture for your new apartment?
Athleta: Enjoy 10% off your Athleta purchase every day when you show your student ID at checkout! Valid in store at the 126 Fifth Ave location only.

Other Retailers:

Bed Bath & Beyond: Need a place to store all your purchases? You can take advantage of Bed Bath & Beyond's 20% discount for students.
Goodwill: Your local Goodwill may offer student discounts, and may even hold Student Days. But their policy varies by store.

Technology and Software

You'll need the right gear to complete all your coursework, but you don't have to let pricey laptops and tablets bust your budget. Find out how to score some serious deals on electronics.

Adobe Creative Cloud: Students can save 60% on the cloud version of Adobe’s creative suite. Here’s a great way to start a side gig as a designer and save some extra dough! Adobe offers big savings for students (and teachers) on the Creative Cloud Suite. Students save 64% on Creative Cloud Pro, which includes over 20 apps such as Photoshop, Illustrator, and Premiere.
Apple: Save up to $200 on a new Mac® and up to $20 on a new iPad® at the Apple Store for Education. This pricing is available to college students, those going to college, and to parents buying a product for a student off to college.
Dell: Members of the Dell Advantage Loyalty Program (free to join) receive a free Dell Venue 7 3000 Series tablet with the purchase of select PCs $699 or more.

Transportation

Spring break anyone?!

Amtrak: If you’re under age 25, you can save up to 25% on train tickets with your student ID. Up to 15% off Acela Business class or Coach seats. For students aged 17 to 24; discount subject to availability.
CoachUSA/ShortLine: Deals vary by school, so get the scoop on the bus fare discounts here!
Greyhound: Save 10% on travel and 15% on shipping with a Student Advantage Discount Card. 10% off travel, 15% off shipping. Verify student status through UNiDAYS, Student Beans, or SheerID.
New Jersey Transit: If your school is on their approved list, you may be eligible for a 25% discount on all New Jersey Transit fares. 25% off monthly passes for students at partner colleges. Through university/NJ Transit.
Penske: Use code STUDENT, then show your student ID or proof of college enrollment at pickup to save 10% on a Penske moving truck rental. 10% off truck rentals. Verify student status.

Other Transportation Options:

KAYAK: KAYAK partners with travel companies that offer discounts on flights for college students and travelers under age 26.
StudentUniverse > BYOjet for Students: Discounted international airfare, hotels, rental cars. Register with Student Universe.
United Airlines: 5% off flights for ages 18-23 via Mileage Plus. Sign up in United app.
Zipcar: Discounted car sharing for students at partner universities. Through university/Zipcar.
Metro Bike Share (LA): 30-Day pass for $5/month or $50/year for college students. Show student ID.

Insurance

Is your cell phone bill eating into your grocery budget? You might be leaving money on the table!

Allstate: It pays to get good grades. Learn how to qualify for Allstate’s Smart Student discount. Discounted car insurance for full-time, unmarried students under 25.
Farmers Insurance: Full-time students aged 16-24 can save on their Farmers Insurance policy. Student discount for full-time students under 25 with qualifying grades/scores.
Geico: Geico offers both good student and good driver savings plans, which can add up to hundreds of dollars in discounts each year. 15% off some coverages for full-time students in good academic standing.
State Farm: With their good grades program, you can save up to 25%. Discounted insurance for under 25 with good grades, >100 miles from home, or driver training.
The Zebra: The Zebra will help you figure out which companies offer the best student discounts on car insurance.
Travelers Insurance: Maintain a “B” average and you can save on your premiums at Travel Insurance.

Phone Plans

AT&T: International student? You may qualify for discounted plans and waived deposits. Learn more about the AT&T International Student Program. Up to $10/month per line on Unlimited Premium. Verify college/university.
T-MOBILE: The T-MOBILE MyPerks program is available to all customers. No specific student percentage discount, but offers large, rotating promotions. Students may still register via Student Beans for general promotions, but direct discounts are rare. Another bit of advice? Stay on your family plan as long as you can! In most cases, your mom or dad can add a line for as little as $9.99 per month!
US Mobile: 20% off any plan for students as well as student-specific perks when they sign up with an .edu address. Register with US Mobile.
Verizon: $12/line off mobile plans, $20/month off home internet. Verify student status.

Miscellaneous

Subscription Services:

Amazon Prime: This deal is incredible! Right now, Amazon is offering a 6-month free trial for students. Already an Amazon Prime member? Make sure you're getting the most out of your membership! There are so many perks beyond free shipping, music, and movies.
Walmart Plus: College and grade students get 50% off Walmart+. That's just $6.47 per month or $49 per year. Get verified using SheeriD.

Financial Tools:

Bank of America: Need a checking account? Students can open up an account at Bank of America with no monthly fees until age 24.
Wells Fargo: Wells Fargo offers student plans geared toward teens and college students. Options vary based on the account type, but in many cases, monthly fees and overdraft penalties are waived. Check with a local brand for details!
You Need a Budget (YNAB): Learn how to pay off all that student debt in record time! If you need a little extra help with budgeting, be sure to check out Budget Boot Camp! Doesn't that sound so great?!

Other Savings Opportunities:

Costco: Get a $20 Costco gift card when you sign up for a new Gold Star Membership account. Before you make your shopping list, stop what you're doing. Buying in bulk isn't always the way to go.
Sam’s Club: Discounted Membership: $40 off Plus Membership or 30% off Club Membership. Must verify student status through ID.me.
Epic Pass (Skiing): Discounted Epic College Passes. Eligibility for full-time college students (age 17+). Requires verification of enrollment.

Verification Platforms

Many of the companies that offer discounts for students require them to verify their status via a free verification platform. In some cases, a student may need to access a discount directly through the platform.

Student Beans: This is another great site that curates student discounts across a wide range of categories.
UNiDAYS:

Local and University-Specific Discounts

SUNY Perks: Members of the SUNY family may be eligible for group discounts and offers from a variety of vendors, merchants, and providers. Formerly known as "SUNY Perks" and "Corporate Perks", this is an online discount program with offers from a wide variety of nationally recognized merchants, vendors, and providers in many categories including electronics, toys, apparel, flowers & gifts, and home.
Plum Benefits: Plum Benefits offers exclusive discounts of up to 50% off tickets and up to 60% off hotels, with access to preferred seating and special offers for top shows, attractions, theme parks, sporting events, movie tickets, and much more.
U-Pass CT Program: Free public transportation on buses (CTtransit, CTfastrak) and regional rail (Shore Line East, Metro-North New Haven Line within CT). Available to students at participating Connecticut colleges and universities (e.g., UConn, CSCU schools). Funded by a mandatory per-semester student fee.

Tips for Maximizing Savings

Take advantage of back-to-school sales: If your state offers a tax-free shopping weekend, buy your electronics then! You can save literally hundreds of dollars more.
Sign up for store and restaurant rewards programs:
Keep an eye on limited-time offers during back-to-school or holidays:
Check with local businesses: Many businesses, especially restaurants, have student discounts but don't advertise them. Encourage kids to check for student pricing before buying online.

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tags: #regal #student #discount #eligibility