INDIANAPOLIS (WISH) — From textbooks to takeout, the cost of college life adds up quickly. But with the right student discounts, you can cut costs without cutting fun.

Henley Campbell, a senior at the University of Missouri, knows every little bit helps.

“I gotta pay for school and I gotta pay for also my fun expenses, spring break vacations and also like food as well,” Campbell said.

One of the easiest ways to start saving is to join a student discount program like Student Beans or UniDays. Both put hundreds of deals in one place, from fashion and food to travel and tech.

If a new laptop is on your back-to-school list, check your college’s website first. Chris Raymond with Consumer Reports says some schools offer exclusive discounts and will list any required or recommended specs.

Apple is offering students $100 off the MacBook Air with the M4 chip, plus a free pair of AirPods or another eligible accessory. Their refurbished program can save even more if you’re okay with last year’s models. Samsung offers up to 30% off phones, laptops, smartwatches, and tablets.

For creative majors, Adobe’s Creative Cloud Pro, which includes Photoshop, Illustrator, and Premiere Pro, drops from $780 a year to just $360 for students and teachers.

The savings extend to takeout, too. Uber Eats and DoorDash have student plans for $4.99 a month.

Even study breaks come with a discount.

“College students can watch shows and movies, with ads, on Hulu for just $1.99 per month, an 80% discount,” Raymond said. “A YouTube Premium student plan includes ad-free videos and music for $7.99 monthly after the first month’s free trial.”

Prime for Young Adults, Amazon Prime’s student version, comes with a six-month free trial and then costs $7.49 a month, half the regular price.

Campbell says those deals make a difference.

“My friends will come over and watch it. They’re like, ‘Oh my gosh, this is Hulu with the ads?’ I’m like, ‘Well, it’s a student plan. I’m doing it the best I can.’”

Consumer Reports says students can save even more by hitting the books. Many car insurance companies offer discounts for keeping a B average or better.

You can find a full list of the best student discounts at Consumer Reports.

About The Author

See author's posts