One of the hardest parts of adulting is the monetary cost, especially as a college student. However, one of the best parts of being a college student is the student discounts — as long as you know where to look. Here’s a roundup of some of the many student discounts there are out there.
Retail
One of the most useful discounts out there is Amazon Prime Student, which grants a six-month free trial of Amazon Prime, and then after those six months are up, you have the option of paying half the price ($7.49) per month of the regular membership price. Amazon Prime Student also includes other perks such as free two-day shipping, Prime Video, Try Before You Buy, Prime Gaming, and so much more. All you have to do is enter a valid .edu email address to get started and click on the verification link.
Target provides Target Circle’s College Student Appreciation program. This is a free-to-join loyalty program that requires you to create a Target account, join Target Circle for free, and verify your status “by uploading a student ID, class schedule or tuition receipt.” The program offers deals on things like kitchen supplies, bedding, furniture, cleaning supplies, grocery items, etc. Target’s website also has a College Deals page to browse.
Additionally, many retail locations such as Aeropostale, Converse, Nike, Levi’s, Reebok, Champion, Kate Spade, Crocs, and more offer discounts online or in-store with a valid student ID. A lot of local businesses may also provide student discounts when shown a valid student ID. It never hurts to ask when making a purchase, especially in college towns like Hoboken.
Music, Media, and Entertainment
Apple Music offers a student subscription, which provides access to AppleTV+ at no extra cost. Once a year, you will need to re-verify your student status to continue the student subscription, which can be done through the Apple Music app. The subscription allows you to subscribe to Apple Music “at a discounted monthly rate for up to 48 months.”
Spotify and Hulu grant access to a joint package that includes music and television. Spotify Premium Student with Hulu gives access to Spotify Premium Student and “full seasons of exclusively streaming series, current-season episodes, hit movies, Hulu Originals and more.” With the student discount, you can get both for free for one month and then pay a discounted rate of $5.99 per month, which is far less than the regular $10.99 a month rate for Spotify Premium and the $7.99 monthly rate for Hulu.
National theater chains, such as AMC, Cinemark, and Regal, offer discounted tickets to students with a college ID at participating locations.
To keep up with the news, The New York Times and The Wall Street Journal offer discounted subscription rates for college students. Both can provide both physical and digital access to their articles.
Transportation and Travel
For any commuters, NJ Transit has the MyTix Student pass where you can “save 25% on an NJ TRANSIT monthly rail, bus, or light rail pass for the commute to class. Full-time college students attending participating University Partnership colleges or universities register through their college website.”
Amtrak also offers “students between ages 17-24 the chance to save 15% on purchases made one (1) day in advance” with their national student discount. For more information on how to receive the discount, follow the instructions on the Amtrak website.
Food
HelloFresh’s subscription service contains meal kits that contain pre-measured ingredients and simple recipes, making it easier to prepare meals. For college students, HelloFresh gives a 55% discount on your first box, free shipping for that first box, and an ongoing 15% discount that is applied for 52 weeks.
Similarly, Blue Apron gives students 65% off meal kits for the first week as well as free shipping for the first week as long as you verify your ID through their site. Much like HelloFresh, Blue Apron’s kits provide ingredients, simple recipes, and recipes that can be prepared quickly.
Most fast food restaurants, such as Taco Bell, Dunkin’, and McDonald’s, also provide discounts at select locations.
There are countless discounts out there to explore. Sites such as BrokeScholar, SheerID, StudentDiscount.com, and UniDays can help make the search even easier. If you’re ever in doubt, simply search the retailer you want to make a purchase at and the phrase “student discount.” Chances are, they have one that you can use!
