Flash your college ID for these deals on clothes, tech, travel, and more.
One great way to reduce your student loan debt while you’re still in school is to keep to a budget. And one of the best ways to have some fun while sticking to that budget is to take advantage of student discounts. (If you’re responsible, you can also look into a student credit card that might offer special cash back deals for students – but pay off the balance each month.)
Here are dozens of discounts available to students across the country.
Free Stuff
Who doesn’t like free stuff? Check out this free stuff subreddit /freestuffNYC
Retail
Even if you don’t see your favorite retailer listed below, it’s always worth asking if a store offers a student discount. Keep in mind that you may not be able to combine your student discount with other promotions or coupons. Here are some retail stores that offer a nice discount for students:
Alex & Ani: Students with ID receive 10% off in-store purchases of non-sale items at this jewelry maker.
Ann Taylor: Get 15% off your full-price purchase both in-store and online. Visit their website to register if you’re shopping online.
Banana Republic: Save 15% on your full-priced, in-store purchases only.
Champ Sports: With the Student Advantage Card, you can get 10% off any purchase over $50 or more.
Club Monaco: Both full-priced and sale items are 20% off with your valid college ID. If you’re shopping online, submit your email to receive a code.
Dockers: Register online to receive a 20% student discount while shopping online.
Eastern Mountain Sports: The outdoor outfitter offers 15% off in-store purchases (and 20% off EMS branded merchandise) with a valid student ID.
J.Crew: The store offers 15% off when you’re shopping in-store. Learn more about the discount on their website.
Jo-Ann Fabric and Craft Stores: Whether you need craft supplies for school or for your own hobbies, this craft store offers 10% off on every purchase, plus coupons. Any student 14 or older can join the Student Discount Program.
Levi’s: Need some new jeans? Luckily Levi’s offers 15% off for students. Register to receive that same 15% off for online purchases.
The Limited: Receive 15% off every purchase made in-store. Visit TheLimited.com for the details of the discount.
Sam’s Club: Student discounts vary by location. Plus, get a $15 gift card when you renew or sign up for a new Sam’s Club Collegiate Membership. Besides buying cases of ramen noodles and stocking up on your other favorite food staples, Sam’s Club also offers members-only discounts on tire service, an optical center, a pharmacy, and more, depending on your local store.
Sally Beauty Supply: If you’re in beauty school, you’re eligible for reduced prices, offers, and discounts with your beauty school ID and a completed application. Get more information on their website.
TopShop: Students get 10% off. Visit their website for more information.
Technology
Besides posting photos to Instagram and updating your Facebook status, you’ll also want technology for studying, homework, portfolio development, and job and internship searches. With these discounts, you’ll be able to save a good chunk of change:
Apple: Students and educators save 5% off most purchases; save up to $200 on a new Mac or a new iPad with Apple’s Education pricing. Learn more about Apple’s student discounts.
Adobe: Full-time students can receive discounts on software, such as 60% on Creative Cloud.
Dell: Dell offers discounts on laptops, desktops, and more. Check these deals out online.
Microsoft: Microsoft has great deals for students: Save up to $194 on a Surface Pro 3, save 10% on accessories, and get special pricing on software. Visit the Microsoft Store website for more information.
Lenovo: Lenovo has an Academic Purchase Program that offers student discounts on laptops, tablets, and desktop computers. Discounts vary depending on your school. Visit their website to see what discounts you’re eligible for.
Sony: Register online to take advantage of the Sony Student Store membership. Save up to 10% on merchandise.
Norton: Norton gives student discounts on security and its AntiVirus software to help protect your computer. Check out the discounts online.
Entertainment
Check out your local entertainment venues to see what types of student discounts they offer. Especially if it’s near a college, you may be pleasantly surprised to find that many concert venues, bowling alleys, theaters, and sporting events offer a reduced price for students. Even if their website doesn’t advertise a discount, it never hurts to ask.
Cinemark: Receive discounted movie tickets. Check your local theater for days and times of student discounts.
Ski Colorado: Save on the Rocky Mountain Super Pass for ski discounts if you’re visiting or live in Colorado.
Regal Cinemas: Depending on your local theater, you can score a student discount. Check your theater to see if they offer the discount.
Major League Baseball: Discounts vary by city, but most baseball teams offer student specials, including the Boston Red Sox, Chicago Cubs, Atlanta Braves, New York Yankees, New York Mets, Philadelphia Phillies, Washington Nationals, and Cincinnati Reds just to name a few.
National Hockey League: Likewise, many NHL teams offer student pricing, such as the St. Louis Blues, Boston Bruins, Pittsburgh Penguins, Columbus Blue Jackets, and the New Jersey Devils, among others.
College Sports: It probably goes without saying, but tickets to your school’s athletic events will probably come at a significant discount compared to what the general public must pay. For example, student tickets to Syracuse basketball games run about $15 each (as part of a season pass), while comparable seats can cost the average person upwards of $100 apiece.
Travel and Transportation
Traveling doesn’t stop just because you’re in college. Always ask for a college discount, even if it’s not listed. Here are some travel related discounts that can get you started:
Choice Hotels: With the Student Advantage Card, you can earn 15% off at participating hotels. Choice Hotels include Comfort Inn, Comfort Suites, Quality Inn, Sleep Inn, Clarion, Cambria Suites, MainStay Suites, EconoLodge, Rodeway Inn, and Ascend.
Greyhound: The Student Advantage Discount Card will save you 20% on Greyhound unrestricted walk-up fares or online tickets to thousands of destinations. You’ll also save 40% on package shipments sent through Greyhound Package Xpress.
STA Travel: This is a full-service travel company that offers deals on flights, hotels, hostels, tours, rail, travel insurance, and more to students and young adults under age 26.
Amtrak: If you have the Student Advantage Discount card, you can save 10% off on tickets plus bonus points on travel. Visit Amtrak’s website for more information.
Rail Europe: This isn’t only for students, but you can get a discounted rate if you’re between 16 and 25 years old. Youth Passes are generally only available for second-class fares.
Coach USA: Depending on where you’re headed, take advantage of college student discounts on this bus line. Check out discounts by searching by your school.
Public Transportation: Check your local public transportation system to see what discounts they offer to students. For example, RTA, the Greater Cleveland Regional Transit Authority, offers a U-Pass for around $25 per semester, which could be a big savings for students.
Books & Magazines
Anytime you’re ordering a magazine or newspaper subscription, ask if they have an education discount or a student discount first.
Entertainment Weekly: With the Student Advantage Card, you’ll get $5 off a year’s subscription.
The New York Times: If you provide your college e-mail, you can receive a student discount rate (which varies by zip code). You’ll also get unlimited access to NYTimes.com, NYTimes apps, and NYT Now with your subscription.
The Wall Street Journal: Pay only $1 per week for 15 weeks for access to the Wall Street Journal.
The Economist: A weekly student subscription is $1.88 per week (a regular subscription is $2.74) and includes a weekly delivery in print, full access to Economist.com, and full access to The Economist apps. Order your subscription online.
Insurance
Besides improving your chances of getting a scholarship or landing an internship, it turns out those good grades can save you money in other ways. If you’re doing well in school, you can get a discount on your insurance. Each insurance company has its own criteria for what it regards as a “good student,” and what the actual discount might be. Here are insurance companies rewarding good grades with discounted policies:
Allstate: Single, full-time students can receive up to 20% off for getting good grades. Visit their website for more information.
GEICO: Full-time students (ages 16 to 25) can save up to 15% on certain coverages if you have a “B” average. Visit their website for more information.
State Farm: If you’re getting good grades, you can save up to 25% until you turn 25 years old. Learn more on their website.
Farmers: College students with a 3.0 GPA (out of 4.0), on the Dean’s List, on the Honor Roll, or ranked in the top 20% of their class can get a discount on insurance. You’ll need to submit proof of eligibility, including a report card, when applying for the discount. Go to Farmers.com for more information.
Travelers: If you’re a full-time student between 16 and 25 years old, you can receive a discount on your insurance if you have at least a “B” average. Get a quote on their website.
Nationwide Insurance: Students between the ages of 16 and 24 who are enrolled in school full-time can receive a discount on insurance. Learn more on their website.
Cell Phone Plans
There’s no excuses not to call home if you’re taking advantage of these student discounts for your cellular service:
Verizon Wireless: Depending on your university, you may be eligible for a discount. Check their website to see if you’re eligible.
AT&T: Enter your dot-edu email address to see if you qualify for discounts on your wireless bill through your school. Check your eligibility on their website.
Sprint: Students can add unlimited data for an additional $10 per month. Best Buy and Sprint teamed up for the My Way Student Promotion which gives students 12 months of free talk, text, and 1 GB data with the purchase of a smartphone. Visit Sprint’s website for more information.
Tickets & Admission
Museums, theaters, music venues, and art galleries often offer discounted admission for students. The deals may come with some restrictions — only available on certain days of the week or at certain shows — but nevertheless, they’re out there. Always ask before paying your admission if there are any discounts for students.
The Art Institute of Chicago: Discounted student tickets are $17 (reg. $23) for general admission, $12 (reg. $18) for Chicago students, and $14 (reg. $20) for Illinois residents.
Metropolitan Opera: Full-time undergraduate and graduate students can purchase student tickets for a student rate which will vary by the show. Check out their website for more information.
Carnegie Hall: Student tickets are available for $10.
Memphis Symphony Orchestra: Score tickets for only $5 per ticket for their student discount.
New England Aquarium: Students receive $2 off admission and IMAX tickets.
Broadway in Chicago: Enjoy tickets as low as $14.50 on select performances.
Lincoln Center: Get a range of varying discounts for students. Check the website for a list of available discounts.
Houston Ballet: Purchase rush tickets for $10 in the 90 minutes prior to the show.
Other
General Motors College Discount: Receive a special discounted price on a Chevrolet, Buick, or GMC vehicle. Visit their website to request an authorization number.
Amazon Student: Students receive 50% off Amazon’s Prime service, which includes streaming video and unlimited two-day shipping, after a six-month free trial. They also get exclusive offers and discounts and eligibility for sweepstakes and contests.
1800Flowers.com: If you need to send a gift, opt for flowers or gift baskets with this discount. With the Student Advantage Card, get up to 20% off on your orders.
FedEx: When you’re shipping a package, you can earn 20% to 30% off by showing your student ID.
Penske: There’s a lot of moving that goes on during college. You move to campus in the fall and move back home in the spring, you might move from a dorm to an apartment, and eventually you’ll move somewhere else entirely. Fortunately, Penske offers 10% off all truck rentals for students, plus an additional 10% if you book your one-way rental online.
Restaurants and Bars
Many restaurants are rumored to offer certain discounts to students, but these deals aren’t always advertised on their websites as participating locations and specific discounts can vary. National chains rumored to sometimes offer student discounts include Subway, Pizza Hut, Papa John’s, Chick-fil-A, Qdoba, Waffle House, Dairy Queen, and Burger King. Discounts can vary by location and may not be offered in every location.
Many regional or independent restaurants and bars, especially those near your college, may offer a discount for students. Ask before you place your order.
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