Back-to-school season is closer than you think, and you’ve probably noticed that tech companies are raising prices on devices like smartphones and laptops. The ongoing RAM shortage is increasing demand for memory chips, leading to higher device prices.
One way students and teachers can curtail that cost is to buy from retailers that offer student or educational discounts. Major retailers, like Amazon, Best Buy and Walmart, all offer to help students save on new tech and cut costs year-round. Here’s a list.
Amazon
Amazon Prime for Young Adults (for ages 18 to 24) offers discounts on tech and 5% cash back on eligible devices and products, including electronics. Aside from tech discounts, students also get a discounted Prime membership after the six-month free trial ends. The membership includes free shipping, Prime Video and free GrubHub Plus food delivery fees.
Apple
Apple’s Educational Savings program allows college students, parents, staff and homeschool teachers of all grade levels to save money on select Apple devices. You’ll need to look for Apple’s Educational Savings graduation cap symbol to see which devices qualify. If you add a qualifying device, the savings are automatically reflected in your total.
The Apple Creator Studio is also available to students and educators for $3 a month.
Best Buy
Best Buy’s Student Hub offers deals on select tech products, including tablets, laptops, headphones, and printers. The hub also discounts other dorm room tech, including TVs, coffee machines and mesh router systems.
A special student discount isn’t available, but you could find a deal on must-haves. For example, Best Buy’s Student Hub has the Sony – WH-1000XM5 for $150, bringing it down to $248.
Dell
If you’re looking for a Dell device, there are two savings options to compare. Students and teachers get an extra 10% off sitewide when registering for Dell Rewards and verifying that you’re a student. Dell also offers 9% back in rewards for future Dell.com purchases. High school students 16 and older, full-time and part-time students, and post-secondary and trade students may be eligible for the discount. You can sign in to your Dell account or create one to see if you qualify. If so, the discount will be applied in the cart.
Dell also offers an Outlet Student Program that saves you up to 15% on select student tech. Instead of making the purchase online, you’ll need to complete the purchase by calling 888-518-3355 or chatting with a sales advisor.
To qualify for Dell’s student discounts, you must have a student email address or acceptance letter for the current or next academic year. You won’t be able to stack discounts or promotions with Dell’s student discount. A discount can be used only once within 12 months and must be applied through Dell’s Outlet Store.
HP
HP runs a back-to-school sale from mid-July through August, offering discounts on select back-to-school devices and free shipping on qualifying orders. Students and educators qualify for educational pricing on HP.com.
Lenovo
College students and teachers get an extra 5% off purchases year-round and free shipping with no minimum on Lenovo.com. And you can earn 3% to 9% cash back on select products as a My Lenovo Rewards member.
However, you won’t be able to stack these two membership offers, so do the math to see which one will give you the biggest savings, especially if you plan to make future purchases. You’ll need to verify your identity for the 5% student discount.
Logitech
You can get up to 10% off newly released items and 25% off other Logitech products on its website when you verify you’re a student. You can only redeem the code for Logitech purchases once. Certain items are excluded, including products from Ultimate Ears, Jaybird Products, Pro Wheels, Pro Pedals, G Cloud and Astro Gaming.
There’s a limit of three items per household, and the discount cannot be combined with other offers.
Microsoft
Microsoft offers 10% off to students, parents and teachers on select physical products from the Microsoft store. Select Surface, devices, laptops and computer accessories. You’ll need to enter the email address associated with your personal Microsoft account to see if you qualify for the savings. You’ll see the student discount when you sign in.
Some Microsoft devices, including software, Xbox gaming consoles, games, Windows 11 and Windows 10, are exempt from the discount. Microsoft also has a Certified Refurbished store worth looking into for discounts on secondhand tech.
Samsung
Samsung offers discounted devices for students and teachers who verify their .edu email address. The special offers are only available for a limited time through Samsung.com or the Samsung app. No additional offers can be combined.
There is also a limit of two products per category, email and shipping address within a year.
Target
Target has special offers as part of its Target Circle College Student Appreciation. Students and educators get special discounts using Target Circle. I recommend checking Target’s college student page throughout the back-to-school season for special deals on storewide purchases for college students and educators, Target Circle 360 members and other perks we’ve seen in the past.
Walmart
College and grad students get 50% off a Walmart Plus membership, bringing the price to $49. The membership includes free delivery, gas savings and free returns. Walmart Plus students also receive a Paramount Plus or Peacock Plus Essential subscription and travel savings through Expedia, which come with up to 10% Walmart Cash to redeem toward future purchases.
To qualify for the membership discount and its savings, you must verify that you’re a student through Walmart’s verification process, which you can repeat annually.
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