Looking for the best student discounts? I don't blame you. Going to college is expensive. Between tuition, textbooks, and beer, there isn’t always a lot of wiggle room in the budget. Tack on the skyrocketing cost of living, and you might be wondering just how you’re supposed to manage your money. One way to stretch those dollars further is by taking advantage of student discounts. A valid .edu email address can help you save on plenty of necessities, with a little left over for binge-watching on Netflix or cheap food delivery. We’ve rounded up our favorite student discounts below.
Updated August 2025: We refreshed this guide with updated links and ensured accuracy throughout.
How to Qualify for .Edu Discounts
In the good old days, it was easy to cheat your way into student discounts. You could photoshop a student ID or snag a fake email address for $5 after a Google search. But thanks to third-party verification services, it’s now almost impossible (and in some cases, illegal) to obtain and use a fake qualifying email. No, that hack you saw on TikTok probably isn't legit.
We don’t advise attempting to get a student email address if you aren’t actually a student. But some educational discounts can also be used by teachers, parents of students, or alumni. Sometimes getting a student discount is as simple as confirming a code sent from the retailer to the email in question. Other times they rely on third-party services like Unidays to verify your student status after you upload a photo of your school ID. Your school may also have its own portal to verify your account.
Once verified, you can take advantage of student discounts either on the Unidays website or by logging in to your Unidays account when prompted at stores that use it as an authentication method. ID Me, Sheer ID, and Student Beans are other services that act as a verification method and shopping portal.
Tech Deals
Whether you need headphones, an office chair, or a USB hub, there are probably a few gadgets on your school shopping list. The stores below offer student discounts on all of the gadgets and gizmos you could need. Check out our buying guides, like the Best Dorm Gear, Best Laptops, and Best Buy It for Life Gear, for WIRED-tested recommendations.
Apple Store Photograph: Apple
The Apple education Store offers about 10 percent off to students, their parents, and teachers. Usually, deals are sweetened around autumn. Right now there are offers like free AirPods with the purchase of a MacBook, or a free Apple Pencil with the purchase of an iPad. You can save on services like AppleCare+ or Apple Music too.
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