Back-to-school season usually means spending money. New clothes. Technology. School supplies. Subscriptions. Maybe a laptop. Maybe a new pair of shoes because apparently feet grow at precisely the most expensive possible time.

But before you pay full price for ANYTHING, ask one question:

“Do you offer a student or educator discount?”

You may be surprised.

Student and educator discounts aren’t limited to school supplies. You can find savings on clothing, computers, streaming services, travel, software, entertainment and everyday purchases.

And here’s something parents of high school students may not realize: some student discounts begin before college.

Restaurants

Chipotle — College students: This is one of the best verified ones. Chipotle U Rewards gives verified college students 1,000 points when they join, 20% faster point earning (12 points per $1), free-food drops, and student-exclusive promotions.

Chick-fil-A — Students: Some locations offer student discounts or special offers, but Chick-fil-A specifically says these are determined by the individual restaurant owner, so ask your local location.

Applebee’s, Arby’s, Burger King, CAVA and Chili’s: These currently appear in the U.S. food-and-drink section of Student Beans, although the exact offers can change.

Uber Eats: UNiDAYS currently lists a student offer of $10 off each of the first three orders for eligible users.

Uber One for Students: UNiDAYS currently lists a three-month free trial, which can help students save on food delivery.

HelloFresh: UNiDAYS currently lists 50% off the first box + 10% off the next eight boxes.

🍔 ASK BEFORE YOU ORDER!

Many restaurant student discounts are location-specific and aren’t advertised. This is especially true with franchised restaurants. Before ordering, simply ask:

“Do you offer a student discount with a student ID?”

And I’d specifically tell students to check Student Beans Food & Drink and UNiDAYS Food & Drink before eating out.

HIGH SCHOOL STUDENT DISCOUNTS

High school students don’t qualify for every traditional “student discount,” but there are some excellent ones.

Clothing & Shopping

Nike — 10% off
Eligible U.S. high school, college and university students age 16+ can receive 10% off most items online or through the Nike app after verification.

Student Beans — thousands of potential discounts
This should be one of the first places high school students check. Students age 16+ in full-time education, including high school, can create a free account and verify their student status. Student Beans offers discounts from thousands of brands.

Technology & Creative Tools

Adobe Creative Cloud — student pricing
Adobe’s student eligibility is much broader than many people realize. Students age 13+ enrolled in primary school, secondary school, college, university, homeschool or another qualifying educational program can be eligible for student pricing.

Think Photoshop, Illustrator, Acrobat, Premiere Pro and other creative tools.

GitHub Student Developer Pack — FREE resources
Students age 13+ enrolled in a degree- or diploma-granting course may qualify. The pack includes professional developer tools, educational resources and offers from participating companies.

This is an especially good one for students interested in coding, engineering, computer science or technology.

Don’t Forget Local Discounts

This may be the most overlooked category of all.

High school students should get into the habit of asking about student pricing at:

• Movie theaters
• Museums
• Performing arts venues
• Local attractions
• Recreation centers
• Community events
• Public transportation
• Local restaurants and shops

A student ID can sometimes be worth more than you think.

COLLEGE STUDENT DISCOUNTS

This is where the list gets REALLY good.

College students should never assume the advertised price is the price they have to pay.

Technology

Apple — Education Pricing
Eligible college students and educators can receive special education pricing on select Apple products and services.

Apple also offers student pricing on Apple Music, and the student plan currently includes access to Apple TV.

Adobe Creative Cloud — Student Pricing
Students can receive substantially reduced education pricing on Adobe Creative Cloud.

GitHub Student Developer Pack — FREE
Verified students get access to dozens of professional developer tools and resources.

Microsoft — Education Offers
Check Microsoft’s education store before buying software or technology. Schools may also provide Microsoft 365 access to students at no additional charge.

Samsung — Education Offers
Samsung maintains an education offers program for eligible students and educators. Always compare the education price with the current public sale price before buying.

Lenovo — Student & Teacher Savings
Check Lenovo’s education pricing before purchasing a laptop, monitor or other technology.

Clothing & Shoes

Nike — 10% off
Eligible students can verify their status and receive a single-use 10% discount code on most eligible purchases.

Madewell — 15% off
College students can receive 15% off eligible purchases online and in stores after verification.

J.Crew & J.Crew Factory — 15% off
College students can receive 15% off eligible purchases after verification.

Levi’s — 10% off
Verified students can receive a 10% student discount.

And before buying clothing online, check UNiDAYS and Student Beans. The participating brands and offers change frequently, so checking these sites can become a money-saving habit.

Streaming & Entertainment

This category can add up quickly because these are recurring expenses.

Spotify Premium Student
Eligible college and university students can receive discounted Premium for up to four years with annual reverification. The current U.S. student plan also includes Hulu (With Ads).

Apple Music Student
Discounted student pricing plus access to Apple TV.

YouTube Premium Student
Eligible students can check for discounted student membership pricing.

Peacock
Check the current student offer before subscribing.

Hulu
College students should check current student pricing before paying for a standard plan.

Money Monday Tip:

Do an annual subscription audit.

Write down every streaming service, app and subscription you pay for and ask:

1. Do I still use this?
2. Is there a student price?
3. Is there a cheaper annual option?
4. Is it included with something I’m already paying for?

Saving $5 here and $7 there doesn’t sound exciting — until you multiply it by 12 months.

Everyday Life

Walmart+ Student — 50% off membership
Eligible college and graduate students can currently get Walmart+ for 50% off the standard membership price after verification.

That can include benefits such as delivery, shipping and fuel savings.

Amazon — Young Adult/Student Offers
If you’re paying for Amazon Prime, check whether you qualify for Amazon’s current discounted membership offers for students and young adults before paying the standard rate.

Cell Phone Service
Before choosing a phone plan, search your carrier’s student offers and check whether your university has negotiated discounts.

And don’t stop there.

Your college itself may have partnerships that provide free or discounted access to:

• Microsoft 365
• Adobe products
• Software
• Newspapers
• Research databases
• LinkedIn Learning or other training platforms
• Public transportation
• Local museums
• Sporting events
• Performing arts
• Fitness facilities

Before buying software for a class, ALWAYS check your school’s technology portal first.

You may already have it.

EDUCATOR DISCOUNTS

Teachers — this section is for you.

And educator discounts aren’t always limited to K–12 classroom teachers. Some programs include college faculty, staff and even homeschool educators, although eligibility varies.

Technology

Apple — Education Pricing
Eligible educators can access education pricing on select products. Apple’s eligibility can include K–12 employees, higher education faculty and staff and qualifying homeschool teachers.

Adobe Creative Cloud — Teacher Pricing
Eligible teachers and school staff can receive Adobe’s education pricing.

Microsoft Education
Educators should check Microsoft’s education offerings before purchasing software or devices.

Samsung Education Offers
Eligible educators may qualify for special education pricing.

Lenovo Education Discounts
Teachers and students can check Lenovo’s education store for current savings.

Clothing

Madewell — 15% off
Teachers can receive 15% off eligible purchases online and in stores after verification.

J.Crew & J.Crew Factory — 15% off
Teachers can receive 15% off eligible purchases.

Under Armour — 20% off
Verified teachers can currently receive 20% off eligible Under Armour purchases through ID.me.

Don’t assume educator discounts are only for classroom supplies. Your teacher ID might save money on the shoes, clothes and technology you buy for yourself.

THREE WEBSITES EVERY STUDENT AND EDUCATOR SHOULD KNOW

Instead of trying to remember hundreds of individual discounts, start here:

Student Beans
A free student discount platform offering access to deals from thousands of participating brands. It can include eligible high school students age 16+, which makes it particularly useful for families.

UNiDAYS
Another major education-verification platform used by retailers and technology companies to provide student and educator savings.

ID.me
ID.me verifies eligibility for special discounts offered to groups including college students and teachers. Once verified, you can browse participating offers.

One important distinction: ID.me’s student program is generally for qualifying college, university, community college and technical college students age 18+, while Student Beans can include high school students age 16+.

THE MONEY MONDAY CHALLENGE

Here’s your assignment this week:

Don’t buy anything online without searching:

[STORE NAME] + student discount

or

[STORE NAME] + teacher discount

It takes about 30 seconds.

Better yet, if you’re shopping in person, simply ask:

“Do you offer a student or educator discount?”

The worst answer you can get is no.

And if the answer is yes? You just made money in less than a minute.

Remember, being good with money isn’t only about earning more.

It’s also about learning to keep more of what you already have.

A 10% discount here, $5 a month there, free software instead of a paid subscription and discounted technology can add up to hundreds — and sometimes thousands — of dollars over the course of an education.

Your student ID isn’t just identification. Treat it like a coupon.

These discounts are continuously changing so be sure to check first.

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