As a college student, you may miss out on great discounts from places where you spend money regularly. With the tuition sitting at an average of $14,668 per year, the best college student discounts can put a welcome dent in the overall cost of college. Luckily, many brands offer discounts — some of which may surprise you.
You can find discounts on electronics, entertainment, dining and travel. To take advantage of these discounts, you simply need a student email address or your school ID. With a AAA membership, you can get access to even more discounts.
Use these amazing discounts from six popular categories, like entertainment and dining and travel, to get great deals while not shortchanging yourself on fun. Be sure to check the AAA Discounts site regularly as we often feature limited-time offers from your favorite brands.
Good Student Discounts for Phones, Laptops and Other Tech
Technology is a must for college, but these purchases can be some of the pricier items you need for school. Fortunately, you can find discounts on hardware like laptops and desktop computers, software, phones and more. If you’re a gamer, you can also save some money on a gaming PC.
Discounts for AAA members:
- Dell: AAA members receive 5 percent off Dell purchases on laptops and everything else available on the website.
- HP: AAA members save up to 35 percent on HP products. There may also be additional student discounts with your college email address.
- Samsung: Students can receive discounts on a wide range of Samsung products, some of which can save hundreds of dollars. With AAA, you can save up to 30 percent sitewide on various electronics.
Discounts for students only:
- Adobe: The Adobe suite includes software for graphic design, video editing and more. For a limited time, you can get 57 percent off your monthly subscription, making it only $29.99 per month.
- Best Buy: By signing up for a Best Buy account, you can shop for deals on laptops, phones, gaming systems and many other electronics.
- Microsoft: Microsoft has student discounts on laptops and tablets and offers no-interest financing options. You can also get your first three months free, then 50 percent off Microsoft 365 Personal, which includes Word, Excel and many other programs.
- Apple: If you love their products, you can find a good Apple student discount on MacBooks, iMacs and iPads. Look for their education savings symbol (a graduation cap) next to eligible products.
- Lenovo: Lenovo offers great college student discounts, teacher discounts and K-12 student discounts. Students should verify their eligibility to save 5 percent more.
- Logitech: Logitech is one of the top brands for computer peripherals, such as mice, keyboards, headphones and more. They offer 25 percent off discounts for college students with a valid student ID.
Phone Plan and Internet Student Discounts
A mobile phone plan and access to the internet are key requirements for every college student, but monthly plans can add up. The good news is that if you shop around, you can find great savings on phone and internet plans for college students.
Discounts for AAA members:
- T-Mobile: AAA members get exclusive discounts and benefits when switching to T-Mobile.
Entertainment Discounts for College Students
Being a college student can get stressful, so it’s important to take breaks to have some fun or just relax with your favorite shows. Some of the best student discounts are for various forms of entertainment like streaming services, movies at popular theaters and different events that come to town.
Discounts for AAA members:
- SiriusXM: If you’re currently a student, you can get four months of SiriusXM for free. After that, the service is only $4.00 per month.
- Audible: As a AAA member, you can get your first two months of Audible for free, and it comes with credits to get two audiobooks.
- Movie theaters: AAA members can get cheap movie tickets from several movie theater chains. These include discounts when you see any movie at AMC, Cinemark, Showcase and Regal theaters. Also, keep an eye out for deals at other movie theaters, such as special student nights.
Discounts for students only:
- Headspace: While it’s not necessarily entertainment, Headspace is one of the leading mindfulness meditation apps. Students receive 85 percent off this app that promotes better mental health, better sleep and more.
- Paramount+: Students receive 50 percent off any Paramount+ plan for the first 12 months.
- Hulu: Rather than paying $9.99 per month for Hulu’s regular service, students only pay $1.99 per month as long as their student status remains verified.
- Attractions and events: Many local attractions, such as museums, theater companies and local arts organizations, offer student discounts. You may also get student discounts for cheaper concert tickets.
- YouTube Premium: YouTube Premium comes with music, multiple perks like no ads and the ability to download content. Students get one month free and then save six dollars per month on their subscription.
- Peacock: The streaming service offers students a discounted rate of $2.99 per month for their first 12 months.
- Max: College students with a verified student status get a 50 percent discount on streaming services.
Best Student Discounts on Food and Restaurants
If you’re a college student, you can get discounts at many different restaurants and discounts on groceries and many other food services. Some of these discounts include meal kit subscriptions and food delivery. You could even use these discounts to save money on a food gift for someone.
AAA members can also take advantage of Home Chef. This home meal kit service offers 21 free meals and discounts on the first five boxes when members sign up.
Discounts for AAA members:
- Cheryl’s: Cheryl’s is known for delicious cookies, and AAA members can save up to 25 percent on their sitewide purchases or get even bigger discounts on some select products.
- Hard Rock Cafe: Hard Rock Cafes are located throughout the country, and AAA members get 10 percent off food, nonalcoholic drinks and merchandise.
- Landry’s Restaurants: If you love eating at Landry’s restaurants, you can get 10 percent off your meal with your AAA membership.
- Vital Choice: AAA members save 15% on a variety of seafood and other groceries.
- Harry & David: Harry & David offers a variety of meal and snack options. AAA members get 30% off a specially curated selection, or 25% off sitewide.
Discounts for students only:
- UberOne: Eligible students receive $5 off their monthly UberOne subscription. UberOne offers free delivery on eligible food and groceries and discounts at thousands of restaurants and stores.
- DoorDash: The Student DashPass Plan saves you $5 each month. This subscription also offers free delivery, five percent DoorDash credits back on pickup orders and special offers on thousands of restaurants.
Transportation and Travel Discounts for Students
Whether you’re visiting your family, taking a vacation for spring break or enjoying summer activities, you can save money on travel. There are discounts for planes, trains and hotels on your next trip.
Discounts for AAA members:
- Hertz: If you’re a student over 21, you can get a discount on your rental at Hertz. AAA member discounts range up to 20 percent off.
- Dollar Car Rentals: AAA members can get 10 percent off their rental when renting through Dollar Car Rentals.
- Penske: Whether you’re moving to college or back home, AAA members can get 12 percent off when renting a moving truck.
- NAPA Auto Parts: AAA members can receive 10 percent off most parts and accessories when shopping at NAPA Auto Parts. You can also earn NAPA rewards.
- Atlas Van Lines: Atlas Van Lines provides big trucks for big moves, and AAA members can save up to $850. This may also include storage, packing, moving supplies and more.
- CARFAX: If you’re in the market for a new vehicle, AAA members get savings on vehicle history reports through CARFAX.
- Fuel Rewards Program® at Shell: The Fuel Rewards Program at Shell is available to everyone, but AAA members get a complimentary Gold Status. With Gold Status, you can save 30 cents per gallon on your first fill-up, then 5 cents per gallon on all your fill-ups after.
- Loves: AAA members save 13 cents off every gallon of gasoline and 20 cents per gallon off diesel. They also offer 50 cents per gallon off bulk propane.
- Thrifty Car Rentals: AAA members get a variety of discounts when renting a car through Thrifty. You can get eight percent off rentals, 10 percent off prepaid fuel and more.
- The Parking Spot: AAA members get free reservations and a minimum of 10 percent discount on parking near airports.
- RushMyPassport: If you need a passport that is quicker than the standard processing time, RushMyPassport offers exclusive AAA rates on an expedited passport.
Discounts for students only:
- Amtrak: Students receive a 15 percent discount when booking a trip with Amtrak. All you have to do is enter the student discount code V814 when buying your ticket.
- GMC: If you’re in the market for a new vehicle, GMC offers a College Appreciation Program with special student deals.
- Dollar Flight Club: This flight-booking website sends alerts when it finds the best travel deals. Students who apply with a valid student ID receive 75 percent off Dollar Flight Club’s premium service.
- United: United offers a five percent discount for all young adults who are MileagePlus members between 18 and 23 years old, whether they’re students or not.
Members also receive an assortment of discounts through AAA Travel.
Good Student Car Insurance Discounts
Insurance rates can be high for younger drivers, but students with good grades can land some good discounts. AAA insurance offers competitive car insurance rates for all drivers. Contact an agent in your area to see what types of student discounts they offer on insurance.
Retail Shopping Discounts for College Students
Many retail stores offer student shopping discounts, so you can save money when shopping for various items. These discounts apply to many local retail stores and are also available online.
Discounts for AAA members:
- LensCrafters: Save up to 50 percent off
- 1-800-Flowers: AAA members get 25 percent off sitewide orders or 30 percent off their AAA collection of products.
- The UPS Store: AAA members get 15 percent off in-store products and services and five percent off shipping.
- Plants.com: AAA members save up to 25 percent off online purchases.
- Shutterfly: You can turn your photos into photo books, get them printed on mugs and much more at Shutterfly. With your AAA membership, you have access to a variety of different discounts and offers.
Discounts for students only:
- The North Face: 10 percent off for verified students.
- Nike: 10 percent off for verified students.
- Kate Spade: Up to 15 percent off for verified students.
- J.Crew: 15 percent off with college ID, can be used in-store up to four times per month.
- Crocs: 25 percent off online orders for verified students.
- Reebok: Up to 50 percent off for verified students.
- Stanley: 20 percent off online orders for verified students.
- Levi’s: Up to 15 percent off online orders for verified students.
- Redbubble: Students save up to 25 percent on orders.
- Amazon Prime: Students get six months free, followed by an annual membership of $69 or a monthly membership of $7.49 for up to four years.
- Aeropostale: Students get 15 percent off.
- Converse: Verified students get 15 percent off.
- Champion: 10 percent off online orders for verified students.
- Madewell: Verified students get 15 percent off online and in-store.
How To Get College Student Discounts
There are multiple ways to prove you’re a student to receive these discounts. At many locations, you simply have to show your student ID. You may have to verify your identification through a service like ID.me and some additional online forms when shopping online.
Save Even More on College Purchases With AAA
If you love savings, you can get even more great deals through your AAA membership. The AAA Discounts & Rewards® program gives you more discounts at places you love to shop and where you regularly spend. We offer a wide range of discounts, from automotive discounts to discounts on dining, entertainment and much more.
FAQs
Here are some typical FAQs on college student discounts:
What subscriptions can college students get for free?
A few different subscription services offer free services or free trial services ahead of a discounted student offer — these range from software services to entertainment or streaming services. For example, see free software subscriptions such as Canva for Education or Microsoft 365 Education.
Can graduate students get student discounts?
Most student discounts are aimed at undergraduate students, but some extend to graduate students. You should generally check in with the company and be prepared to show proof of enrollment.
Who has the best back-to-school deals for students?
Several companies offer back-to-school deals from late summer to early fall. Popular choices include Best Buy, Target, Apple and Samsung. AAA Discounts also frequently features limited-time offers.