
October 14, 2021
Savings.com Ultimate Guide to College Student Discounts
College is expensive for many students, even if they go to a community college, live with parents, or attend on a full scholarship. This savings guide covers common (and not-so-common) ways for college students and their families to score big financially. First, we’ll explore hundreds of sweet, sweet student discounts.
Table of Contents
- Nab Hundreds of College Student Discounts
- Clothing, Apparel, and Shoes
- Fitness, Gym, Athletic and Swimwear
- Jewelry and Watches
- Bags, Backpacks, and Accessories
- Eyeglasses, Sunglasses, and Contact Lenses
- Cosmetics, Skincare, Health, and Grooming
- General Retail (Stores Where You Can Buy Basically Anything)
- Computers, Software, Smartphones, and Other Technology
- Smartphone Service
- Education and Study
- News and Magazines
- Books
- Food, Groceries, and Restaurants
- Car Insurance, Financial, and Work-Related
- Nutritional Supplements, Diet Products, and Energy Drinks
- Hair and Hair Removal
- Menstrual Products and Period Care
- Miscellaneous
- Streaming, Movies, and Entertainment
- Exercise
- Games
- Decor, Furnishings, Bedding, Home
- Travel
- Local Spots/Tourist Attractions
- Pro Sports Across the U.S.
- What College Students and Their Families Spend Money On
- Earn Money as a College Student
- Save Big and Make Your Money Work for You
- References and Endnotes
Nab Hundreds of College Student Discounts
Every year, the National Retail Federation releases a survey detailing college spending per college household. Electronics, furnishings, and clothes/accessories are three top areas. Laptops are the tech item most in demand.
Fortunately, plenty of retailers offer discounts for college shoppers, so check out the sweet deals this guide lists for fashion, activewear, bags, moisturizers, laptops, gaming gear, newspapers, and much more. (Afterward, we’ll explore the survey results a bit more.)
Student discount groups, including the following, offer even more options and updated information:
- Student Beans
- UniDays
- ID.me
- VerifyPass
- ISIC (International Student Identity Card) (cost varies depending on country of issue, generally $4 to $25 USD a year)
- Student Advantage Card ($30 a year)
Savings.com: We also have a category specifically for student discounts, and our information is current.
In the table below, we include Savings.com links where applicable since retailers sometimes offer steeper savings than student discounts. We list tons of student discounts below, but this guide would never be finished if we tried to incorporate every discount possible. So, if you don’t see a discount you’d like, check one of the links above or head to the retailer’s website.
Clothing, Apparel, and Shoes
Fitness, Gym, Athletic, and Swimwear Apparel
Jewelry and Watches
Retailer | Savings.com Link | Links to Discount Info |
---|---|---|
AUrate New York 15% discount on fine jewelry |
n/a | https://auratenewyork.com/pages/student-beans |
Banter 25% student discount on earrings, necklaces, bracelets, and other jewelry |
n/a | https://www.banter.com/student-beans |
Cernucci 20% off on bracelets, chains, rings, pendants, earrings, and more |
n/a | https://www.cernucci.com/pages/student-discount |
Daniel Wellington 15% off elegant watches and accessories |
n/a | https://www.studentbeans.com/student-discount/us/daniel-wellington https://www.danielwellington.com/ |
Ettika 20% student discount on necklaces, earrings, bracelets, rings, and others |
n/a | https://www.ettika.com/pages/student-discount |
Jomashop Student discounts include $10 off a $100+ spend; $39.99 Marc Jacobs sunglasses and free U.S. shipping |
https://www.savings.com/coupons/jomashop.com | https://www.jomashop.com/student-deals/ |
JOWISSA 20% student discount on Swiss-made watches |
https://www.savings.com/coupons/search/coupons_results.html?searchString=JOWISSA | https://us.jowissa.com/pages/student-discount |
Karma and Luck 25% student discount on spirit-centered jewelry, decor |
n/a | https://www.karmaandluck.com/pages/student-program |
Kompsos 15% student discount on artisanal bracelets from around the world |
n/a | https://kompsos.uk/pages/students-discounts |
Lunautics 10% student discount on bling masks, face jewels, and other accessories |
n/a | https://lunautics.com/pages/student-discount |
Mulberry & Grand 15% student discount on $35 minimum order, sells jewelry, bags, sunglasses, clothing, and accessories |
n/a | https://mureandgrand.com/pages/student-discount |
Nashipai 25% off bold, socially conscious jewelry made through partnerships with entrepreneurial Maasai women |
n/a | https://www.mynashipai.com/student-discount |
Nixon 15% student discount on bags, watches, leather goods, and accessories |
https://www.savings.com/coupons/search/coupons_results.html?searchString=Nixon | https://www.nixon.com/us/en/student-discount |
Rastaclat 20% student discount on bracelets that inspire a positive mindset |
https://www.savings.com/coupons/rastaclat.com | https://rastaclat.com/pages/student-beans |
Bags, Backpacks, and Accessories
Retailer | Savings.com Link | Links to Discount Info |
---|---|---|
Baggallini 10% discount on stylish and practical bags |
https://www.savings.com/coupons/baggallini.com | https://www.studentbeans.com/student-discount/us/baggallini https://www.baggallini.com/ |
Botkier 20% off handbags, accessories, and shoes |
n/a | https://www.botkier.com/pages/student-discount |
CabinZero 20% student discount on classic flight backpacks, other backpacks, shoulder bags, bum bags |
https://www.savings.com/coupons/search/coupons_results.html?searchString=CabinZero#p-6702827 | https://www.cabinzero.com/pages/student-discount |
Db Journey 10% off backpacks, camera bags, laptop cases, luggage, ski bags, and other types of bags |
https://www.savings.com/coupons/dbjourney.com | https://dbjourney.com/db-student-discount |
Maverick & Co. 15% student discount on business essentials, other types of bags, wallets, and accessories |
n/a | https://www.maverickandco.co/pages/student-discount |
Nixon 15% student discount on bags, watches, leather goods, and accessories |
https://www.savings.com/coupons/search/coupons_results.html?searchString=Nixon | https://www.nixon.com/us/en/student-discount |
Pandora (Jewelry) 10% off necklaces, rings, earrings, and other types of jewelry |
n/a | https://us.pandora.net/en/pandora-student-discount/ |
Eyeglasses, Sunglasses, and Contact Lenses
Cosmetics, Skincare, Health, and Grooming
General Retail (Stores Where You Can Buy Basically Anything)
Retailer | Savings.com Link | Links to Discount Info |
---|---|---|
Amazon Prime 6-month free trial for new members, then half-price monthly membership |
https://www.savings.com/coupons/amazon.com | https://www.amazon.com/Amazon-Student/b?node=668781011 |
DHgate $5 off any purchase online, sells huge range of goods from China |
https://www.savings.com/coupons/dhgate.com | https://www.studentbeans.com/student-discount/us/dhgate |
GoPuff 25% off first order, $10 off first two orders, get food, cleaning supplies, electronics, baby products and other items delivered |
n/a | https://www.studentbeans.com/student-discount/us/gopuff https://gopuff.com/go |
MUJI U.S.A. 10% student discount on stationery, furniture, home, and apparel products, among others |
n/a | https://muji-us.connect.studentbeans.com/us |
OpenSky 15% online student discount; sells apparel, accessories, jewelry, home, kitchen, beauty, electronics, and wellness products, among others; goods ship from anywhere in the world |
https://www.savings.com/coupons/opensky.com | |
Public Goods 20% off first order; sells eco-friendly products in dinnerware, personal care, household, grocery, pet, CBD, and more |
n/a | https://public-goods-us.connect.studentbeans.com/us |
ROMWE 10% off orders of more than $19.90; sells clothing, swimwear, home decor, lingerie, accessories, and more; goods are shipped from five warehouses in Belgium, California, New Jersey, Dubai, and India |
https://www.savings.com/coupons/romwe.com | https://www.studentbeans.com/student-discount/us/romwe https://us.romwe.com/ |
Computers, Software, Smartphones, and Other Technology
Smartphone Service
Retailer | Savings.com Link | Links to Discount Info |
---|---|---|
AT&T $10 a month potential savings plus more depending on school |
https://www.savings.com/coupons/wireless.att.com | https://www.att.com/verification/signaturehub |
Sprint Discounts with the SprintPerks program |
n/a | https://www.sprint.com/en/support/solutions/account-and-billing/faqs-related-to-the-sprint-discount-program.html |
Verizon Two lines for $95 a month |
https://www.savings.com/coupons/verizon.com | https://www.verizon.com/featured/students/ https://www.verizon.com/solutions-and-services/international-student/ |
Education and Study
Retailer | Savings.com Link | Links to Discount Info |
---|---|---|
Becker Learning Up to $1,000 off and $49.99 Amazon gift card on CPA, CPE, CMA, and accounting prep |
n/a | https://www.studentbeans.com/student-discount/us/becker-learning https://www.becker.com/ |
Charlotte Tilbury 30% discount on makeup, skincare, and other products for makeup academy students and makeup artists |
n/a | https://help.charlottetilbury.com/hc/en-us/articles/360011259318-Do-you-offer-a-discount-for-makeup-artists-and-students- |
Chegg 25% to 50% off study subscriptions, homework help, textbook solutions, and more |
https://www.savings.com/coupons/chegg.com | https://www.studentbeans.com/student-discount/us/chegg |
EssayEdge 10% student discount on admissions essays, statements of purpose, scholarship essays, cover letters, and more |
n/a | https://www.studentbeans.com/student-discount/us/easyedge https://www.essayedge.com/ |
Fender Play 50% off monthly and annual guitar learning/guitar play plans |
https://www.savings.com/coupons/fender.com | https://www.studentbeans.com/student-discount/us/fender |
Final Draft $99.99 special price on screenwriter software |
n/a | https://store.finaldraft.com/final-draft-12-edu.html |
GameSalad Save on game development tools |
n/a | https://get.gamesalad.com/upgrade |
Grammarly 20% discount on AI-powered writing assistant |
https://www.savings.com/coupons/grammarly.com | https://www.studentbeans.com/student-discount/us/grammarly https://www.grammarly.com/ |
HDRsoft 75% Photomatix Pro or Photomatix Pro Plus Bundle discount to photography (or related field) students; 60% discount for other students |
n/a | https://www.hdrsoft.com/order/academic.html#contact-info |
iRobot Discount for the advanced Create 2 programmable robot |
https://www.savings.com/coupons/irobot.com | https://edu.irobot.com/what-we-offer/create-robot/create-request-a-discount |
IDM 50% off IDM products and the UltraEdit All-Access Plan |
n/a | https://www.ultraedit.com/register-buy/edu-discounts.html |
JourneyED $19.99 one-year subscription to Adobe Creative Cloud |
n/a | https://www.journeyed.com/item/Adobe/Creative+Cloud+for+Education/1556101 |
Numerade 10% off any subscription; sells video lessons on math, science, and economics topics |
n/a | https://www.studentbeans.com/student-discount/us/numerade https://www.numerade.com/ |
Paper Markup 20% student discount; offers academic, job applicant, author, and business writing and editing services |
n/a | https://www.papermarkup.com/price-calculator |
Precision Nutrition 44% student discount at the education store, get certified as a nutrition coach |
n/a | https://www.precisionnutrition.com/ https://www.studentbeans.com/student-discount/us/precision-nutrition |
QuickBooks One-year free license |
https://www.savings.com/coupons/quickbooks.intuit.com | https://www.intuit.com/partners/education-program/products/quickbooks/student-qbdt-signup/ |
Rosetta Stone Special student pricing to learn new languages |
https://www.savings.com/coupons/rosettastone.com | https://www.rosettastone.com/student-discount |
Sally Beauty Pro pricing on every item; exclusive discounts and special offers (must present beauty school ID in store and fill out application) |
https://www.savings.com/coupons/sallybeauty.com | https://www.sallybeauty.com/clubCards_Student.html |
Scite Extended free trial for three months or 30% off annual pricing; helps students find data and expert analysis on virtually any topic |
n/a | https://help.scite.ai/en-us/article/scite-for-students-8lo8oi/ |
Secret World of Languages 85% off online language courses |
n/a | https://www.secretworldoflanguages.com/pages/students |
Sketch 50% off tools for designers |
https://www.sketch.com/store/edu/ | |
Snap-on Technical students can get tools at a discount through the Student Excellence Program |
n/a | https://www.snapon.com/Industrial-Education/Snapon-Program.htm |
Squarespace 50% off first full year of DIY websites for portfolios, blogs, stores, and more |
n/a | https://www.squarespace.com/students |
Surveymonkey One-year reduced pricing |
n/a | https://help.surveymonkey.com/articles/en_US/kb/Discounts#student |
News and Magazines
Retailer | Savings.com Link | Links to Discount Info |
---|---|---|
New York Times $1 a week |
https://www.savings.com/coupons/store.nytimes.com | https://www.nytimes.com/subscription/education/student |
Wall Street Journal $4 per month; otherwise, some schools offer memberships for free |
https://www.savings.com/coupons/wsj.com | https://education.wsj.com/search-students/ |
Washington Post $1 every four weeks with the academic rate, 90% savings |
n/a | https://subscribe.washingtonpost.com/checkout/ |
The Economist 50% off annual digital subscription |
n/a | https://subscribenow.economist.com/na-us/standard-student/ |
Bloomberg Businessweek $9.99 monthly until graduation |
n/a | https://www.bloomberg.com/subscriptions |
People One month free digital |
n/a | https://www.myunidays.com/US/en-US/partners/people/view |
Ad Age $49 yearly print and digital subscription |
n/a | https://ad-age-us.connect.studentbeans.com/us |
Automotive News $49 print, digital, and online access for one year |
https://automotive-news-us.connect.studentbeans.com/us | |
Crain's Chicago Business $35 one-year digital subscription to stay on top of the Chicago business community (similar discounts for Crain's Cleveland Business, Crain's Detroit Business, and Crain's New York Business) |
n/a | https://crain-s-chicago-business.connect.studentbeans.com/us https://crain-s-cleveland-business.connect.studentbeans.com/us https://crain-s-detroit-business.connect.studentbeans.com/us https://crain-s-new-york-business.connect.studentbeans.com/us |
Financial Times 50% savings, $3.58 per week vs. $7.16; UniDays 33% discount |
n/a | https://subs.ft.com/spa3_stu https://www.myunidays.com/US/en-US/partners/financialtimes/view |
Modern Healthcare $49 print and digital access to healthcare business and policy news |
n/a | https://www.modernhealthcare.com/subscriptions-classic |
New Scientist 10 issues for $10, then automatic rollover into 25% off quarterly or annual subscription; magazine covers science and technology |
n/a | https://www.newscientist.com/subscribe/studentdiscount/ |
StudentMags Lower rates on certain magazines |
n/a | https://www.studentmags.com/customer-service/student-and-educator-rates |
Books
Retailer | Savings.com Link | Links to Discount Info |
---|---|---|
Book Depository 10% off select books, journals, and other products plus 10% extra off |
https://www.savings.com/coupons/bookdepository.com | https://www.bookdepository.com/studentbeans |
Book Outlet 5% single-use student discount on most products |
n/a | https://bookoutlet.com/landing/student-discount |
Perlego 15% student discount on textbook subscriptions, read on your phone, tablet, or computer |
n/a | https://www.studentbeans.com/student-discount/us/perlego https://www.perlego.com/ |
Food, Groceries, and Restaurants
Retailer | Savings.com Link | Links to Discount Info |
---|---|---|
BJ's Wholesale $30 off membership |
n/a | https://www.myunidays.com/US/en-US/partners/bjswholesale/view https://www.bjs.com/ |
Carne Collective 20% student discount on $150 minimum order, store sells different types of beef |
n/a | https://carnecollective.com/student-discount/ |
Costco $30 shop card with gold star membership (limited-time offer through 9/26/2021; check in late summer or early fall 2022 in case there's a similar offer) |
n/a | https://www.myunidays.com/US/en-US/partners/costco/micro/online |
Daily Harvest $30 off first box, sells 80+ chef-crafted foods built on organic, whole, fruits and vegetables: smoothies, harvest bowls, soups, and more |
n/a | https://www.studentbeans.com/student-discount/us/daily-harvest https://www.daily-harvest.com/ |
DoorDash 25% off first order |
https://www.savings.com/coupons/doordash.com | https://www.doordash.com/ https://www.studentbeans.com/student-discount/us/doordash |
Freshly $80 discount on first five orders; healthy heat-and-eat meals |
https://www.studentbeans.com/student-discount/us/freshly | |
Frog Hollow Farm 15% student discount on fresh and dried fruits, bakery items, meats, etc. |
n/a | https://www.froghollow.com/pages/students |
GoPuff 25% off first order, $10 off first two orders, get food, cleaning supplies, electronics, baby products and other items delivered |
n/a | https://www.studentbeans.com/student-discount/us/gopuff https://gopuff.com/go |
Home Chef 50% off first order or up to $101 off first 5 boxes, company does meal kits so students can prepare meals |
https://www.savings.com/coupons/homechef.com | https://support.homechef.com/hc/en-us/articles/360043233192-Is-there-a-Home-Chef-Student-Discount- |
Hotel Chocolat 15% student discount on chocolates and other goodies |
n/a | https://www.studentbeans.com/student-discount/us/hotel-chocolat https://us.hotelchocolat.com/ |
Illy 25% student discount from the home of good, gourmet coffee |
https://www.savings.com/coupons/illy.com | https://illy.connect.studentbeans.com/ |
Krispy Kreme 20% discount on donuts online and in UK stores |
n/a | https://krispykreme.connect.studentbeans.com/ |
Publix $5 off first delivery in Florida |
n/a | https://www.myunidays.com/US/en-US/partners/publix/view |
Purple Carrot $35 off first box; subscription meal service for plant-based meals |
n/a | https://purple-carrot-us.connect.studentbeans.com/us |
The Plug Drink 15% off anti-hangover drinks; expires in September 2021 |
n/a | https://theplugdrink.com/pages/student-discount |
Thrive Market Free membership for students |
https://www.savings.com/coupons/thrivemarket.com | https://help.thrivemarket.com/hc/en-us/articles/360037285991-How-do-I-apply-for-a-free-membership-through-Thrive-Gives- https://thrivemarket.com/givingapp |
Car Insurance, Financial, and Work-Related
Retailer | Savings.com Link | Links to Discount Info |
---|---|---|
Allstate (Esurance) Smart Student discount for qualifying drivers |
n/a | https://www.allstate.com/auto-insurance/teen-driver-discounts.aspx |
Boro $5 when students link their bank accounts to this money app designed specifically for college students |
n/a | https://www.studentbeans.com/student-discount/us/boro https://www.getboro.com/ |
CareerHunter 20% student discount on full access purchase, which includes career tests and insights, course and job matches, and more |
n/a | https://test.careeraddict.com/student-discount |
Chase Flexible accounts for students |
n/a | https://www.chase.com/personal/student-banking/college |
Country Financial Savings for full-time students with at least a B average |
n/a | https://www.countryfinancial.com/en/insurance/auto/car/insurance-for-teens.html |
Decluttr 10% extra cash, one-time offer when you sell CDs, games, books, textbooks, unwanted tech, etc. |
https://www.savings.com/coupons/decluttr.com | https://www.decluttr.com/student-discount/ |
Discover College loans with no extra fees |
n/a | https://www.discover.com/student-loans/ |
Farmers Car insurance discounts for full-time students with good grades |
n/a | https://www.farmers.com/faq/discounts/ |
Geico 15% good student discount on auto insurance |
n/a | https://www.geico.com/save/discounts/car-insurance-discounts/ |
Overnight Prints 22% student discount on business cards, brochures, posters, promo materials, custom folders, and more |
https://www.savings.com/coupons/overnightprints.com | https://www.overnightprints.com/student-discount |
Real Vision 50% student discount on videos with financial insight |
n/a | https://www.realvision.com/okboomer/ |
Root Insurance Up to $900 a year potential savings on car insurance |
n/a | https://www.joinroot.com/blog/car-insurance-for-college-students/ https://www.myunidays.com/US/en-US/partners/root/view |
Salus University (The Eye Institute of The Pennsylvania College of Optometry at Salus University) Discount eye care and eyewear, includes 44% off health evaluations, 20% off contact lens fitting fees, and more |
n/a | https://www.salusuhealth.com/Eye-Institute/News/Community-Outreach/Discount-Vision-Program.aspx |
State Farm Up to 25% off car insurance for qualifying full-time students |
n/a | https://www.statefarm.com/insurance/auto/discounts |
Travelers Potential savings with car insurance |
n/a | https://www.travelers.com/car-insurance/discounts/good-student |
US Bank $0 monthly maintenance fee on student checking |
https://www.usbank.com/bank-accounts/checking-accounts/student-checking-account.html |
Nutritional Supplements, Diet Products, and Energy Drinks
Retailer | Savings.com Link | Links to Discount Info |
---|---|---|
BPI Sports 20% student discount on nutritional supplements and more |
n/a | https://www.studentbeans.com/student-discount/us/bpi-sports https://bpisports.com/ |
Bulletproof 15% student discount on nutritional supplements, food and drink, vitamins, and more |
https://www.savings.com/coupons/bulletproof.com | https://www.studentbeans.com/student-discount/us/bulletproof https://shop.bulletproof.com/ |
C4 Energy 25% student discount on C4 Smart Energy Variety 6-Pack |
n/a | https://c4energy.com/pages/c4-energy-student-discount |
Exante (IdealShape) 32% off meal replacement shakes, weight loss drinks, and other products |
https://www.savings.com/coupons/exantediet.com | https://us.exantediet.com/student.list |
Form Nutrition 20% student discount on vegan protein |
n/a | https://formnutrition.com/us/student-discount/ |
IdealFit 23% student discount and extra savings on protein powders, bars supplements, and more |
https://www.savings.com/coupons/idealfit.com | https://idealfit.studentbeans.com/us |
Klean Athlete 10% off sports nutrition |
n/a | https://www.studentbeans.com/student-discount/us/klean-athlete https://www.totum.com/se/student-discount/klean-athlete/offer https://www.kleanathlete.com/ |
More Labs 20% student discount on supplements for smarter living and better sleep |
n/a | https://www.studentbeans.com/student-discount/us/more-labs https://www.morelabs.com/ |
Myprotein Up to 42% off purchases and free shipping, sells nutrition products, clothing, and accessories |
https://www.savings.com/coupons/myprotein.com | https://us.myprotein.com/students.list |
Protein World 40% off weight loss, workout, and protein products |
n/a | https://us.proteinworld.com/pages/student-discounts |
Hair and Hair Removal
Retailer | Savings.com Link | Links to Discount Info |
---|---|---|
HairFlair 15% student discount on hair curlers, no heat damage |
n/a | https://www.hairflair.com/student-beans/ |
IGK Hair 20% student discount on innovative hairstyle products |
n/a | https://www.igkhair.com/pages/student-discount |
Infinity Laser Spa 20% student discount on hair removal in New York City |
n/a | https://infinitylaserspa.com/pages/student-discount |
Menstrual Products and Period Care
Retailer | Savings.com Link | Links to Discount Info |
---|---|---|
INTIMINA 10% student discount on intimate health products such as menstrual cups |
https://www.savings.com/coupons/intimina.com | https://www.studentbeans.com/student-discount/us/intimina https://www.intimina.com/ |
JUNE 16% student discount on menstrual care products |
n/a | https://thejunecup.com/pages/junes-student-discount |
Modibodi 10% off period underwear |
https://www.savings.com/coupons/search/coupons_results.html?searchString=Modibodi#p-6871336 | https://www.studentbeans.com/student-discount/us/modibodi https://us.modibodi.com/ |
Rael 20% off sitewide plus 30% off value pack deals; offers period support for each step of the cycle |
https://www.savings.com/coupons/search/coupons_results.html?searchString=Rael | https://www.getrael.com/pages/student-discount |
SimpleHealth Free consultation on birth control access |
n/a | https://simplehealth-us.connect.studentbeans.com/us |
Miscellaneous
Retailer | Savings.com Link | Links to Discount Info |
---|---|---|
ApolloBox 20% student discount from small vendors selling fun, unique products |
n/a | https://www.theapollobox.com/student-discount |
Bluedot 15% off sustainable water kits |
n/a | https://mybluedot.com/pages/student-discount |
Corkcicle 10% student discount and free shipping on drinkware, cooler bags, lunchboxes, barware, and other products |
n/a | https://corkcicle-us.connect.studentbeans.com/us |
Cozy Earth 40% student discount on luxury loungewear and bamboo bedding |
https://www.savings.com/coupons/cozyearth.com | https://www.studentbeans.com/student-discount/us/cozy-earth https://cozyearth.com/ |
ESR 20% discount on protective cases, screen protectors, and more |
https://www.savings.com/coupons/esrgear.com | https://www.esrgear.com/student-discount/ |
GiftsForYouNow.com 20% off personalized gifts |
https://www.savings.com/coupons/giftsforyounow.com | https://www.studentbeans.com/student-discount/us/giftsforyounow-com https://www.giftsforyounow.com/ |
Harry & David 15% off gifts and baskets for any type of occasion; store also sells college care packages and university popcorn tins |
https://www.savings.com/coupons/harryanddavid.com | https://www.studentbeans.com/student-discount/us/harry-david https://www.harryanddavid.com/ |
Hero Clip 15% student discount on hybrid clip products that rotate 360 degrees and fold at two joints; hang a wide range of products, including bikes and other bulky and heavy stuff |
n/a | https://www.studentbeans.com/student-discount/us/heroclip https://myheroclip.com/ |
Inkbox 15% student discount on painless, easy-to-apply tattoos that fade in one to two weeks |
https://www.savings.com/coupons/search/coupons_results.html?searchString=Inkbox | https://inkbox.com/student-discount |
invisaWear 5% student discount on safety devices disguised as necklaces, bracelets, keychains, fitness bands, and scrunchies |
https://www.savings.com/coupons/invisawear.com | https://www.invisawear.com/pages/student-discount |
Lego Free Friends Flower Cart with $40 spend |
https://www.savings.com/coupons/lego.com | https://lego-us.connect.studentbeans.com/us |
Lovehoney 20% student discount, sells sex toys, lingerie, lubes, bondage materials |
n/a | https://www.lovehoney.com/students/ |
NEUF:41 10% student discount on tees and lifestyle accessories |
n/a | https://neuf41.com/pages/student-discount |
NutriBullet 21% student discount; sells full-sized and personal blenders |
n/a | https://www.nutribullet.com/student-discount/ |
Ohh Deer 10% student discount on quirky illustrations, gifts, cards, and more |
https://www.savings.com/coupons/search/coupons_results.html?searchString=ohh+deer | https://ohhdeer.com/pages/student-beans |
Packed Party 15% student discount on party supplies, including candles, confetti, bags, drinkware, and apparel |
n/a | https://www.packedparty.com/pages/student-teacher-discount |
Papier 10% student discount on products included under stationery |
n/a | https://www.papier.com/student-discount/ |
PopSockets 15% off phone grips, phone cases |
https://www.savings.com/coupons/popsockets.com | https://www.popsockets.com/en-us/pages/student-discount.html |
Pure Romance 10% off; sells sex toys, lubes, lingerie, massage, and related products |
n/a | https://www.studentbeans.com/student-discount/us/pure-romance https://www.pureromance.com/ |
Redbubble 15% student discount on designs and products made by undiscovered artists; products include clothing, stickers, masks, phone cases, home decor, and more |
https://www.savings.com/coupons/redbubble.com | https://redbubble.connect.studentbeans.com/ |
Talkspace $100 off first month of online therapy |
https://www.savings.com/coupons/talkspace.com | https://www.myunidays.com/US/en-US/partners/talkspace/view |
The Book of Everyone 15% off personalized books |
n/a | https://thebookofeveryone.studentbeans.com/ |
Windy City Novelties 15% student discount on practically anything party-related, including banners, glow products, and colored hair spray |
https://www.savings.com/coupons/windycitynovelties.com | https://www.studentbeans.com/student-discount/us/windy-city-novelties https://www.windycitynovelties.com/ |
WeVibe 20% off selected items; sells sex toys |
https://www.savings.com/coupons/search/coupons_results.html?searchString=We+Vibe | https://www.we-vibe.com/us/studentdiscount |
Streaming, Movies, and Entertainment
Retailer | Savings.com Link | Links to Discount Info |
---|---|---|
AMC Theatres Theater discounts with student ID |
n/a | https://www.amctheatres.com/discounts |
Regal Cinemas Student pricing at many locations with student ID |
n/a | https://www.regmovies.com/static/en/us/theatre/student-pricing-locations |
Angelika Film Center Lower ticket prices of $11.50 on Tuesdays for students |
n/a | https://www.angelikafilmcenter.com/sandiego/special-values |
OTL Seat Fillers $29.99 for three months then $9.99 monthly plan for students; get free tickets in select cities for shows or events that aren't sold out |
n/a | https://otlseatfillers.com/pricing/ |
Amazon Prime Six-month free trial then half-off membership rates (can't share Prime benefits, though) |
https://www.savings.com/coupons/amazon.com | https://www.amazon.com/Amazon-Student/b?node=668781011 |
Amazon Music Unlimited 99 cents per month for access to 70 million songs |
https://www.savings.com/coupons/amazon.com | https://www.amazon.com/music/unlimited/student |
Spotify One month free then $4.99 per month |
n/a | https://www.spotify.com/us/student/ |
Hulu $1.99 a month for streaming |
https://www.savings.com/coupons/hulu.com | https://www.hulu.com/student |
Pandora $4.99 monthly or $59.88 annually for a music/radio subscription |
n/a | https://help.pandora.com/s/article/Pandora-Premium-Student-Military-plans |
Funimation 1 month free; 15,000 hours of anime available |
n/a | https://www.studentbeans.com/student-discount/us/funimation https://www.funimation.com/ |
MLB.TV 35% student savings on streamed games and content |
n/a | https://www.mlb.com/live-stream-games/subscribe/student-discount |
Exercise
Retailer | Links to Discount Info |
---|---|
ClassPass Two-week free trial student discount on various types of exercise classes and services such as massages, manicures, pedicures |
https://www.studentbeans.com/student-discount/us/classpass https://classpass.com/ |
Dragonfly Discounts $150 for 10-class pass or $99 monthly membership (normally $150) in Madison, WI |
https://www.dragonflyhotyoga.com/classes/rates/discounts/ |
Rad Power Bikes $100 off most electric bikes |
https://rad-power-bikes-us.connect.studentbeans.com/us |
Flying Squirrel Trampoline Park 20% off single-admission jump tickets Monday-Friday with student ID (in Spokane Valley, WA) |
https://flyingsquirrelsports.us/spokane-valley-washington/discounts/ |
Games
Retailer | Savings.com Link | Links to Discount Info |
---|---|---|
Big Fish Games 25% student discount on a variety of regularly priced games |
n/a | https://www.bigfishgames.com/us/en.html |
Fanatical 5% student discount, sells more than 8,000 digitally licensed games |
https://www.savings.com/coupons/fanatical.com | https://fanatical.studentbeans.com/ |
GameSir 15% student discount on gamepads, keyboards, and other products, one-time use |
n/a | https://www.gamesir.hk/pages/gamesirs-student-discount |
GOG.COM 82% off the Witcher franchise bundle |
n/a | https://www.studentbeans.com/student-discount/us/gog-com https://www.gog.com/ |
Green Man Gaming 15% off full-price PC games, 5% off full-price PlayStation games |
https://www.savings.com/coupons/greenmangaming.com | https://www.greenmangaming.com/student-discount/ |
Razer 20% off Razer gaming gear, 5% off desktops and laptops; other discounts available |
https://www.savings.com/coupons/razer.com | https://www.razer.com/education |
Decor, Furnishings, Bedding, Home
Retailer | Savings.com Link | Links to Discount Info |
---|---|---|
Bean Bag Factory 15% student discount on bean bag chairs and covers |
n/a | https://www.beanbag-factory.com/pages/student-discount |
Bed, Bath & Beyond 20% off each shopping trip with a limited-time college savings pass; free shipping on orders over $39 |
https://www.savings.com/coupons/bedbathandbeyond.com | https://www.bedbathandbeyond.com/store/static/collegeservicestools |
Bed Threads 10% student discount off bedding, homewares, and more |
n/a | https://bedthreads.com.au/ |
Beddinginn 12% off sitewide on beddings, curtains, wall art, and more |
n/a | https://beddinginn-us.connect.studentbeans.com/us |
Eight Sleep 10% off selected bedding styles |
https://www.savings.com/coupons/eightsleep.com | https://verifypass.com/offers/website/eightsleep.com https://www.eightsleep.com/ |
EP Design Lab 20% off on gorgeous, unique lighting pieces |
n/a | https://epdesignlab.com/pages/student-discount |
Mommesilk 15% off bedding, pillowcases, sleepwear, and other silk essentials |
n/a | https://www.mommesilk.com/pages/student-discount |
Peacock Alley 15% off fine linens such as luxury bedding and bathroom basics |
https://www.savings.com/coupons/peacockalley.com | https://www.peacockalley.com/pages/student-discount |
Purple 10% student discount on cool, no-pressure support mattresses |
https://www.savings.com/coupons/purple.com | https://purple.com/education-discount |
Skinnydip London 20% off home and lifestyle products, clothing, jewelry, accessories, phone cases, and more |
n/a | https://www.skinnydiplondon.com/pages/student-discount |
Society6 30% savings on furniture, backpacks, posters, and more |
https://www.savings.com/coupons/society6.com | http://go.society6.com/students/ |
Travel
Local Spots/Tourist Attractions
Here’s a look at student discounts in New York City and San Diego. Use our examples to get an idea of what could be available in your neck of the woods. For instance, many museums, regardless where they are, offer free or discounted admission to students.
Of course, our lists do not cover all the possible discounts available in these cities. Check with your school for more options. CUNY students get free or flexible admission to a huge range of sites, including American Folk Art Museum, Lincoln Center for the Performing Arts, Sculpture Center, and Yeshiva University Museum, along with 9/11 Memorial Museum, Japan Society, and The Women’s Project and Productions. They also get discounted Zipcar rentals, among other deals.
New York City
Attraction | Link to Attraction |
---|---|
Bronx Zoo Complimentary limited admission to NYC undergraduate students; advance reservation required |
https://bronxzoo.com/plan-your-visit/faqs |
The Met (Metropolitan Museum of Art) $12 student tickets |
https://engage.metmuseum.org/admission |
The Guggenheim 15% discount |
https://www.guggenheim.org/plan-your-visit/discounts |
Whitney Museum of American Art $50 membership, full-time students only |
https://whitney.org/support/membership/benefits |
Museum of Modern Art One free admission for students at certain schools such as CUNY and The Rockefeller University; otherwise, $50 Access student rate discount or $100 Explore student rate discount for full-time students only |
https://www.moma.org/visit/discounts https://www.moma.org/support/membership-faq |
American Museum of Natural History $18 to $27 for students with ID |
https://ticketing.amnh.org/#/tickets |
San Diego
Attraction | Link to Attraction |
---|---|
Birch Aquarium $3.50 off; $16 ticket price vs. normal $19.50 |
https://aquarium.ucsd.edu/visit/discounts-and-offers |
San Diego Museum of Art $8 admission with ID vs. $20 general admission (free admission possible during some Friday hours) |
https://www.sdmart.org/faq/ |
San Diego Opera $50 tickets vs. $200-$220 regularly priced tickets |
https://www.sdopera.org/get-tickets/student-tickets |
San Diego Zoo 10% off, must have proof of current student enrollment |
https://zoo.sandiegozoo.org/school-programs/student-discount |
Pro Sports across the U.S.
Attraction | Link to Attraction |
---|---|
Atlanta United FC Up to 40% student discount on certain matches Up to 20% off (Student Beans) |
https://am.ticketmaster.com/atlantaunited/students https://www.studentbeans.com/student-discount/us/atlanta-united-2 |
Atlanta Hawks Ticket discount at box office with ID |
https://www.nba.com/hawks/ticket-deals-and-promotions |
Baltimore Orioles 20% off ticket purchases for select games |
https://www.mlb.com/orioles/tickets/students |
Boston Celtics Celtics Buzzer Beater Pass for possible last-minute deals on seats |
https://www.nba.com/celtics/tickets/college-offers |
Charlotte Hornets Student game-day deals |
https://www.nba.com/hornets/collegerush |
Chicago Bulls $15 and up tickets to certain games |
https://www.nba.com/bulls/tickets/student-pass |
Cleveland Cavaliers $5 and up tickets |
https://www.rocketmortgagefieldhouse.com/events/student-pass |
Houston Astros Up to 70% off, discounted tickets to select games |
https://www.mlb.com/astros/tickets/specials/college-students |
Los Angeles Clippers Access to potential last-minute bargains |
https://www.nba.com/clippers/student-pass-test |
Milwaukee Bucks Student Rush Offers for exclusive ticket offers and more |
https://www.nba.com/bucks/student-rush-offers |
New York Mets $10 tickets for Monday-Thursday games for the rest of 2021 season |
https://www.mlb.com/mets/tickets/specials/students |
Washington Wizards Student Rush offers for same-day bargains |
https://www.nba.com/wizards/wizards-student-rush-presented-chick-fil |
MLB.TV 35% student savings on streamed games and content |
https://www.mlb.com/live-stream-games/subscribe/student-discount |
Go back to the list Whew! Talk about a lot of discounts. As a college student, you’ll find deals practically everywhere you look. Of course, they’re probably not enough by themselves to keep you in tiptop shape financially. Let’s take a look at how much college households spend and on what.
What College Students and Their Families Spend Money On
- Expected spending in 2021: $71 billion, or $1,200 per college household1, 2
- $141: Spending increase per household from 2020 to 2021
- $80: Amount of the increase that is due to more spending on electronics and furnishings
- Spending in 2020: $67.7 billion, or $1,059 per household
- Spending in 2017: $54.1 billion, or $970 per household
- Spending in 2007: $31.7 billion, or $641.56 per household
Top 3 areas of spending: Electronics, furnishings, clothes/accessories
- Electronics spending, $306 per household in 2021 ($262 in 2020)
- Dorm or apartment furnishings spending, $164 per household in 2021 ($130 in 2020)
- Clothing and accessories spending, $159 per household in 2021 ($148 in 2020)
Laptops are the tech item most in demand
- 57% of college families will spend money on a laptop
- 27.3% on tablets
- 25.1% on accessories
- 24.4% on calculators
- 19.7% on printers
Online is the top shopping destination for back-to-college deals
Consumers in 2021 feel much more comfortable shopping in person than they did in 2020
- 43% are shopping online (43% in 2020)
- 33% at department stores (26% in 2020)
- 30% at discount stores (30% in 2020)
- 29% at office supply stores (26% in 2020)
- 28% at college bookstores (25% in 2020)
Earn Money as a College Student
Discounts are great, but earning money can help college students pay the bills. Money-making ideas include federal work-study jobs, tutoring, and dog walking.
Federal work-study
- Must show financial need
- Will earn at least the federal minimum wage
- Can be part-time or full-time student
- Employment is part time and can be on or off campus
- Consult your school’s financial aid office to see if the school participates
- Typically not available during summer breaks
- Funds are limited, so apply early
Gig jobs
- Generally best for students who need a lot of flexibility in their schedules and don’t mind possibly unpredictable income
- Examples include Instacart shopper, Uber driver, dog walker, pet sitter, tutor, babysitter, lawn care worker, photographer, graphic designer, housecleaner, and handyman/maintenance person
- Platforms such as Fiverr, Uber, DogVacay, Zazzle Live, and Amazon Flex can help students land gigs
- Work your own hours, and set your own schedule
- Can be during the school year and during breaks
Jobs on campus
- Common jobs include tutor, resident assistant, cashier, campus tour guide, library attendant, research assistant, and administrative assistant
- Good for students who prefer consistent schedules and predictable income
- Can be during the school year and during breaks (more positions available while school is in session, of course)
Jobs off campus
- Offer more options, especially in retail and dining, in addition to what is on campus
- Good for students who prefer consistent schedules and predictable income
- Could be somewhat tricker to fit in with a student schedule vs. on-campus jobs
- Can be during the school year and during breaks
A resume is necessary to land many jobs. It’s worth investing the time to develop a compelling snapshot of your work, volunteer, and internship history, educational accomplishments, degree information, and more.
Don’t fret if you think you have nothing to fill a resume with. Your college career center can help you get the ball rolling (and more!). Career centers also have listings for opportunities, both on and off campus.
Save Big and Make Your Money Work for You
- Student discounts and earning money aren’t the only ways to be proactive about finances. For instance, take these ways to save:
- Skip having a car if you can help it. Vehicle expenses add up ridiculously fast. There’s car insurance, gas, maintenance, and more. Look into biking, walking, and public transportation instead. (If you must have a car, do explore good-student discounts and other common car insurance discounts such as renter’s/car bundles.)
- Focus on using cash, not credit cards. Cash helps keep your spending in check. If you use a card, pay off balances every month.
- Ask professors (or just ask around yourself) if older editions of required textbooks will suffice. Much of the time, they do and are a lot cheaper. Other options include borrowing books instead of buying them, or using digital instead of print versions.
- Start at a community college and transfer to a bigger school. Community colleges are cheaper, and you still get the degree you want in the end.
- Check out the campus gym. You can use it for free and probably can take a nice variety of fitness-related classes for credit.
- Stick to your campus meal plan if you’re enrolled in one. Eating out while also paying for a meal plan drains your finances unnecessarily. Granted, campus meals aren’t always the most exciting, so splurging once in a while might not be the worst idea. Otherwise, try getting creative with your meal plan options and see what you come up with.
- Learn to cook, even if it’s just simple meals, if you live off campus. Cooking is a valuable life skill and is much cheaper than constantly eating out.
- Graduate in four years if possible, not five or six. This point deserves a bit more explanation, so let’s get into it.
If you’re enrolled full time: 15 credit hours is the sweet spot
As a CNBC headline puts it, “this freshman 15 could save you $300,000."3 Say you take 12 or 13 credit hours per semester. You are more likely to graduate in five or six years as opposed to four years. The extended timeline can add many tens of thousands of dollars to your student loan debt and delays your entry into higher-paying work.
Now, if you average 18 credit hours or more, especially your first semester, you risk spreading yourself too thin. Wait to see how your first semester goes before making any decisions on taking more than 15 credits per semester. Do the math as you progress in school to make sure your graduation date remains on track.
If you must take developmental classes that don’t count toward the degree
Developmental prerequisites can be huge roadblocks to a degree. They’re momentum killers. They cost money and time and cause many students to lose heart. They’re also very common. For instance:
- 52 of every 100 students starting two-year college do so in math remediation.4
- 24 of every 100 students in four-year college must take math prerequisites.
- 34 of every 100 students starting two-year college must take English prerequisites.
- 12 of every 100 students in four-year college take English remediation classes.
- 50% of these students could pass a college-level class but remediation without support throws them off track.
“Students get ‘stuck’ in sequences of non-credit bearing courses and too often stop out before making it to essential gateway courses."
The good news: You still have options if you’re taking developmental prerequisites (or think you will need to).
- Apply to schools offering corequisite support models. In West Virginia, Colorado, Tennessee, and other states that focus on corequisite models in their public colleges, students complete transfer requirements in half the time and at almost three times the national average. The model has proven successful for several California community colleges, too.6 The University System of Georgia and the City University of New York are other programs offering the corequisite support model.
- Get tutoring or extra help instead of trying to go it alone.
- Take these prerequisites at cheaper community colleges.
- Explore other (more flexible) schools if your current school doesn’t seem inclined to help.
College Kid Savings
When you’re in college, it’s good to save any way you can. Student discounts are plentiful, even fun. They get you to discover retailers you might not have tried otherwise. Many college students use these bargains as part of a multi-pronged financial plan that includes earning money and making savvy moves such as not having a car on campus and being extra purposeful about staying on track for a four-year degree.
References and Endnotes
- Inman, Danielle. (2021, July 19). 2021 Brings Back-to-Class Shopping to Record Levels. National Retail Federation. Retrieved Aug. 16, 2021, from https://nrf.com/media-center/press-releases/2021-brings-back-class-shopping-record-levels
- Cullen, Katherine. (2021). Back-to-Class 2021. Powerpoint. National Retail Federation. Retrieved Aug. 16, 2021, from https://9d4f6e00179f3c3b57f1-4eec5353d4ae74185076baef01cb1fa1.ssl.cf5.rackcdn.com/Cullen%20Slides%20BTS%20webinar%207.28.pdf
- Grant, Kelli B. (2017, Aug. 30). This ‘Freshman 15’ could save you $300,000. CNBC. Retrieved Aug. 16, 2021, from https://www.cnbc.com/2017/08/30/taking-fewer-than-15-college-credits-could-delay-graduation.html
- Corequisite Support. (2021). Complete College America. Retrieved Aug. 16, 2021, from https://completecollege.org/strategy/corequisite-support/
- No Room for Doubt. (2021, Apri; 23). PDF. Complete College America. Retrieved Aug. 16, 2021, from https://completecollege.org/wp-content/uploads/2021/04/CCA_NoRoomForDoubt_CorequisiteSupport.pdf
- 6. Corequisites. (n.d.). Acceleration Project. Retrieved Aug. 16, 2021, from https://accelerationproject.org/Corequisites