Being a college student isn’t easy. Cramming for exams, doing your own laundry, and dealing with your roommates’, ahem, idiosyncrasies, all can be challenging.
Luckily for students everywhere, plenty of national chains and companies recognize the plight of the college student and offer major discounts in return. From Amtrak to Pizza Hut, here are some surprising student discounts you probably didn’t know about. After all, being a student definitely has its perks.
1. Amazon Prime
Do you remember life before Amazon Prime? Neither do we. Amazon offers students a generous membership discount by giving you the first 6 months free! After that, you only pay about $6.50 a month, or $59 annually, which is a steal compared to the standard $12.99/month or $119 annually most folks pay.
Remember, Amazon Prime offers more than shopping these days. In addition to free delivery on everything from a new shower caddy to a louder alarm clock, you also snag free streaming of music, TV shows, and movies. Yes, please!
2. Audible
Audible is the library of the digital generation. Access two professionally recorded audiobooks for free when you sign up as a student. This makes it easy to listen to great books (or, let’s admit it, novels assigned in class) as you’re walking to class, dpoing chores, or hitting the gym.
3. Hulu
You don’t need to pay full price to binge watch your favorite shows: Hulu, Spotify Premium, and Showtime are all available for only $4.99/month. It’s so cheap it sounds illegal. Just enter your .edu email address when you sign up to snag this incredible student discount.
4. Apple Music
For all of you Apple Music lovers, signing up with your .edu email address earns a discount from $9.99/month to $4.99/month. All of the perks, half the price – now, that’s the definition of a good deal.
5. Amtrak
Do you rely on trains to get home for the holidays? Amtrak offers a 15% student discount in certain regions to make your travel experience as pleasant as possible.
6. Museums
As bastions of art and culture, museums are always eager to attract young people: After all, the student visitors of today could be the philanthropic patrons of tomorrow. Many institutions offer college kids free or deeply discounted admission, no matter where they’re from. All you have to do is flash a valid student ID. They may even offer a break on membership, which qualifies you for discounts on merchandise.
7. Movie Theaters
The Cinemark and AMC chains offer student discounts in most locations, and your local theaters most likely offer College ID Nights, featuring lower ticket prices and concession stand perks, every few weeks. Check around for the specific deals in your local area and plan a group movie night accordingly.
8. Car Insurance
You can’t escape the need for car insurance, but if you’re a student, you can at least get it for a discount. Most major providers offer discounts between 10% and 25% for students, but be prepared to brandish your report card. It’s common for insurance companies to require a 3.0 GPA or a B average in order for discounts to apply.
9. Cell Phone Plans
Cell phone plans and prices are constantly changing, but some providers do offer small discounts or bulk rates for students at participating universities. Contact your current cell phone company to find out if any deals are available; consider switching to a new provider if it offers better terms for you.
10. Chegg
College textbooks are notorious for being incredibly overpriced. Chegg offers great deals on physical or digital textbook rentals and offers special student discounts as well. Promotions are always changing, so check online to see what’s available.
11. Banana Republic, J. Crew, Ann Taylor, Kate Spade
Banana Republic, J. Crew, Ann Taylor, and Kate Spade all offer generous 15% in-store discounts if you show your student ID at the register. It’s a great opportunity to dress for success at an internship or for an interview, especially if you combine your student discount with clearance sales.
12. Fast Food
National chains like Chick-fil-A, Waffle House, Dairy Queen, McDonald’s, Burger King, Pizza Hut, and Subway often offer student discounts, but the exact discounts vary by location and region. Make sure you always ask. (Check out our piece The 7 Best Free Food Apps You Should Have On Your Phone for more freebies!)
13. Zipcar
Zipcar gives you a great and more affordable alternative to renting a car, for times when you just need wheels for a day. Student membership fees are as low as $15, and you even get a $25 free driving credit for joining.
14. Expedia
Make sure you set up a Student Advantage card through Expedia to snag 40% off airfare, hotel stays, and car rentals. That’s nearly half off, so don’t let this deal pass you by.
15. Best Buy
Like Expedia, Best Buy also has a specific Student Deals program that sends you customized coupons and codes. Make sure you sign up before you buy your new laptop or TV so that you can use the discounts available.
16. Newspapers
Newspapers haven’t gone out of style yet! Use your student email to sign up for a New York Times subscription and enjoy a discounted student rate and unlimited access to affiliate sites. The Wall Street Journal and other major publications also offer reduced price memberships for students.
17. Adobe
Everybody needs to be able to read and mark up documents and forms at some point. Full-time students can receive discounts as high as 60% on Adobe software like Creative Cloud.
18. Squarespace
If you’re tinkering with building a website in your spare time, take advantage of the 50% student discount offered by Squarespace. Its templates make designing web pages pretty simple.
19. Sporting Events
Some sporting events are discounted for students, including MLB and NHL events in certain cities. Check the website or box office of your favorite team to learn more.
