Apple Student Discount Program Explained

Scott Daly

four people watching on white MacBook on top of glass-top table

Apple provides educational pricing on their products to help students and educators access technology for academic purposes. Through the Apple Student Discount Program, college and university students, as well as teachers and educational staff, can avail of discounts on various Apple products. This program is aimed at supporting the education sector and making cutting-edge technology more affordable for the learning community. To qualify for an Apple student discount, students and educators need to verify their association with an educational institution. Once verified, they can purchase discounted Apple hardware such as MacBooks and iPads, and invest in their education with productivity and creativity tools.

https://www.apple.com/us-edu/store

Exploring Apple’s Education Discounts

Apple offers special pricing on its products and services for students, educators, and school staff. This program can help you save money on the latest technology you need for school and beyond.

Who Is Eligible for the Apple Student Discount?

  • Students: Currently enrolled in or newly accepted to a post-secondary institution.
  • Parents of Students: Purchasing devices on behalf of their child currently enrolled in or newly accepted to a post-secondary institution.
  • Faculty and Staff: Anyone working at a public or private K-12 or higher education institution.
  • Homeschool Teachers: Currently working as homeschool teachers of any grade level.
people inside room
Students Using Macbooks

How Do I Verify My Eligibility?

Apple typically partners with a third-party service called UNiDAYS to verify student status. You’ll need to create a UNiDAYS account and provide proof of enrollment, such as a student ID or school transcript. Faculty, staff and homeschool teachers may need to provide additional documentation, like a work email address or paystub.

What Products Are Eligible for the Discount?

Apple’s education pricing varies throughout the year, but often includes:

  • Macs: MacBook Air, MacBook Pro, iMac
  • iPads: iPad, iPad Air, iPad mini, iPad Pro

You may also find discounts on accessories like the Apple Pencil, keyboards, and cases.

Apple Music Student Discount

Students can also take advantage of a special, discounted rate for an Apple Music subscription. This service offers unlimited streaming of millions of songs, curated playlists, and access to Beats 1 radio.

How Much Can I Save?

The amount you can save with Apple’s student discount depends on the product. Discounts can sometimes be as significant as a few hundred dollars off on MacBooks.

ProductTypical Education Discount
MacBook Air$100 off
MacBook ProUp to $200 off
iPadsUp to $50 off
Apple Music50% off monthly subscription

How to Claim the Apple Student Discount

  1. Visit the Apple for Education website: https://www.apple.com/us-edu/store
  2. Verify your eligibility (usually through UNiDAYS)
  3. Shop for eligible products with discounted prices
  4. Add items to your cart and proceed to checkout

Additional Notes

  • Apple may occasionally offer back-to-school promotions and gift card offers with eligible purchases.
  • Education discounts cannot typically be combined with other promotions or offers.
  • You may need to re-verify your eligibility with UNiDAYS each year.

Key Takeaways

  • Apple provides discounts on technology for students and educators.
  • Eligibility for the program requires verification of educational status.
  • Discounts apply to a range of Apple products, fostering learning and innovation.

Eligibility and Verification Process

Apple’s Student Discount Program offers reduced prices on Apple products to students, teachers, and other members of educational institutions. This program helps those in education save on devices like iPads and Macs.

Determining Eligibility

To qualify for an Apple Student Discount, individuals must be:

  • Students enrolled in a post-secondary education institution, including college or university, or students who are 16 years or older.
  • High school students who have acceptance to a post-secondary institution.
  • Parents of higher education students, who can apply on behalf of their children.
  • Teachers, lecturers, faculty and staff at any education level, including homeschool teachers.

Verification of Education Status

When individuals apply for the discount, they need to verify their link to an educational institution:

  1. Verification by ID: Students can use a valid student ID as proof.
  2. Email Verification: An email address that ends with an educational domain (like .edu) can help verify a student or teacher’s status.
  3. Documentation: Other official documents proving connection to a school may be needed.
  4. Previously, Apple required customers to verify through third-party services. However, recent reports indicate that Apple has relaxed this policy, and the verification process may differ.

Students and educators must usually confirm their eligibility each year to continue receiving discounts.

Apple’s Back-to-School Promotions

While checking for current student discounts, keep an eye out for Apple’s back-to-school promotions. These often occur during the summer months leading into the fall semester. Here are some things to look out for:

  • Free Gift Cards: Sometimes, Apple offers a free Apple gift card with the purchase of eligible Macs or iPads. Use these for accessories or future Apple purchases.
  • Bundled Offers: Special deals might bundle accessories, AppleCare+, or subscriptions like Apple Music with your device purchase.

Apple Certified Refurbished Products

Want to save even more? Consider purchasing Apple Certified Refurbished Macs or iPads. These are pre-owned devices that have undergone rigorous Apple testing and come with the same one-year warranty as new products.

  • Significant Savings: Refurbished devices can offer substantial price reductions compared to buying new.
  • Like-New Condition: These devices look and function like new, making them an excellent value proposition

Pro Apps Bundle for Education

For creative students and professionals, Apple offers the Pro Apps Bundle for Education. This package is a fantastic deal for those who need Apple’s professional-grade software for video and music production.

What’s Included:

  • Final Cut Pro (Professional video editing)
  • Logic Pro (Music production)
  • Motion (Motion graphics creation)
  • Compressor (Video encoding)
  • MainStage (Live music performance)

Exploring Opportunities at Apple

Beyond discounts, Apple offers various programs and opportunities specifically designed for college students:

  • AppleCare College Advisors: Work from home providing technical support to Apple customers.
  • Retail Positions: Join a team at an Apple Store and gain experience in a fast-paced tech environment.
  • Internships: Gain hands-on experience in diverse fields like engineering, marketing, and design through Apple’s internships.
  • Scholarships: Apple might offer scholarship programs depending on your area of study and background.