21 Places with Student Discounts You HAVE to Check Out

two friends using discount card on laptop

Paying for college nowadays is a lot harder than before. But once you learn about these places with student discounts, saving money becomes a lot easier. From free shipping to discounted meals and more, there’s a bit of everything. Why not take advantage of these programs with exclusive discounts for college students today?

For these student discounts, you’ll need to have a valid college student ID card from your college or university. In many instances, there is an extra layer of verification through third-party services like UNiDAYS or Student Beans. If you’re an international student here as part of an exchange program, an international student identity card may suffice.

Entertainment Discounts for Students

Your college ID card can help you save on entertainment. Think of it as your very own discount card for all college students from any school. Student discounts shared in this article were current at the time of publication. College student discounts and related promotions are subject to change at any time.

1. Spotify Premium

If you’re a college student, you can get a Spotify Premium membership for 50% off. You also get to watch your favorite shows on Hulu and SHOWTIME for free.

2. Apple Music

Apple Music also has a student discount program. For $4.99 a month, you get access to a large music catalog and the ability to watch Apple TV+ for a limited time.

3. AMC Theaters

Get your discounted student tickets at the box office of your local AMC theater. Just show your student card when buying the tickets to start saving.

4. Amazon Prime Subscriptions

Students can get a discount on their Amazon Prime student subscription. You’ll get free shipping, movies, ebooks, and exclusive discounts on online purchases—all for just $6.49 a month. This will come in handy when it’s time to buy your school supplies.

Food and Drinks

College students get a little help affording food and drinks at these places. It’s like having a free gift card.

5. Chick-fil-A

Most people don’t know that college students can get a free drink at this restaurant chain. Show your student ID at participating locations and get a free small drink to quench your thirst for free.

6. Dairy Queen

The popular ice cream restaurant chain offers discounted meals to students. Go to your local store and show your valid student ID to eat for cheaper.

7. Grubhub

Grubhub offers discounts to students at partner universities. When you spend $12, you pay no delivery fee. Verify your student status with your school to see if you’re eligible for this offer.

Clothing and Beauty Student Discounts

Students can also catch up with the latest clothing and beauty trends at special pricing.

8. Kate Spade

The designer brand Kate Spade has a student discount scheme. With your valid student ID, you can get 15% off on your next purchases.

9. American Eagle

American Eagle offers a 20% discount on all online and in-store purchases. If you’ve been waiting to change up your closet, now is the time. All you have to do is verify your student status through UNiDAYS.

10. ASOS

ASOS offer student discounts of up to 10% on all products on their website. You can fill your closet with designer bags, shoes, and stock up your beauty supply at a reduced price.

Technology Discounts for Students

Never buy full-priced tech again. College students can get laptops, desktops, keyboards, software, and a lot more for cheaper.

11. Adobe Creative Cloud

If you’re a college student, you can save 70% when signing up for Creative Cloud. Given how expensive Adobe products tend to be, this is a once-in-a-lifetime opportunity.

12. Microsoft Office

Get free access to all online Microsoft Office tools through your university. You will also get 1TB of cloud storage to keep all your schoolwork safe.

13. Dell

Dell offers back-to-school discounts every year. The Dell University Sale is your chance to upgrade your tech at an unbeatable price. 

14. Logitech

Logitech also has a college student discount plan. Show your valid ID and get 25% off virtually all tech products.

15. Apple

Even Apple offers a discount for students. If you need an iPad or Macbook for school, Apple’s Education Pricing will help you get one at a lower cost.

16. NordVPN

Get a discounted VPN software for just $3.75 a month with NordVPN, through Student Beans. It allows you to browse the web safely and access online streaming shows and movies that are blocked in your country.

Other Student Discounts

Those are not all the discounts for students on our radar. Check out these five programs for even more savings.

17. FedEx

Show your student ID at any FedEx store to get up to 30% off shipping letters and packages to anywhere in the world.

18. State Farm

State Farm lets you get a discount on your car insurance if you have good grades. You must show that you have a B average or better (or a GPA of at least 3.0) to start saving every month.

19. Verizon

Students receive a monthly discount on their cell phone bills at Verizon. Show your valid student ID to get up to 20% off.

20. Amtrack

College students travel for cheaper with Amtrack. Use the Student Advantage program to pay 15% less for your tickets, no matter where you’re headed.

21. Skillshare

Part-time and full-time students who want to expand their horizons don’t have to pay full price for Skillshare classes. As long as you have a .edu email address with your university, you’ll get 50% off whatever you want to learn.

Can You Get Student Deals Without a Student ID?

In many instances, you can special student deals or student discounted prices without a college ID. If you’re at a local waffle house or other local business in your college town, ask the clerk “Is there a discount for students?”

Often times there is a special discount for students to save – you just have to ask for it. Or sometimes there aren’t any official discounted rates for students to save. But if you politely ask, “Is there a discount for students?”, the store owner or manager may decide to give you a break. It costs you nothing to ask – just make sure you ask politely.

Are There Sales Tax Holidays for Students?

There are a number of sales tax holidays for students and their families to save money on computers, laptops, pens, paper, and other student and college essentials.

Seventeen states offer a sales tax holiday every year – typically in or around August to align with Back to School sales. Students and families of students save with tax breaks – and also any exclusive deals or discount codes for new school year sales.

17 States that Offer Sales Tax Holidays

  • — Alabama
  • — Arkansas
  • — Connecticut
  • — Florida
  • — Iowa
  • — Maryland
  • — Massachusetts
  • — Mississippi
  • — Missouri
  • — New Mexico
  • — Ohio
  • — Oklahoma
  • — South Carolina
  • — Tennessee
  • — Texas
  • — Virginia
  • — West Virginia


Check out these College Savings: 529 Plan Basics by State