College students in the United States face significant financial pressures, with tuition, textbooks, and daily living costs creating a constant need for savings. Fortunately, a wide array of brands, service providers, and platforms offer exclusive freebies, discounts, and low-cost trials specifically for students. These opportunities span categories from clothing and technology to streaming services, travel, and even government assistance programs. This guide details the primary methods for accessing these benefits, the types of offers available, and the eligibility processes, all based on verified information from authoritative sources.
Understanding the Landscape of Student Offers
The ecosystem for student benefits has evolved significantly. Previously, physical discount cards like Student Advantage were common, but the market has largely shifted to digital verification platforms. These platforms, such as UNiDAYS and Student Beans, provide students with a centralized way to prove their status and access discounts without needing a physical card. In parallel, some brands maintain their own student programs, and certain offers are region-specific or require direct inquiry.
Verification Platforms: UNiDAYS and Student Beans
Two major digital platforms dominate the student discount space: UNiDAYS and Student Beans. Both are free for students to join and require verification of active student status, typically through a university email address or login.
UNiDAYS is a fast, free digital platform that provides exclusive student deals and benefits to its verified audience of over 29 million users. It works by securing the best discounts on top brands, offering savings both online and in-store. To join, current students can register with a personal email address and verify their student status, unlocking 12 months of UNiDAYS student deals. No student discount card or ID card is needed; all discounts are accessible through the platform. For in-store use, students show their UNiDAYS iD at checkout in partnered stores. Student status must be re-verified every 12 months to continue access.
Student Beans is another free platform used to confirm student status. It is frequently mentioned as a successor to older programs like Student Advantage. Many brands, including Crocs and Blue Apron, offer their student discounts through Student Beans. The process involves signing up and verifying student status, after which users receive exclusive discount codes.
Direct Brand and Service Discounts
Many nationally recognized brands offer student discounts directly or through verification platforms. The availability and percentage of discount can change frequently, so confirmation before purchase is always recommended.
Clothing and Fashion: Numerous apparel brands provide significant savings. - Adidas offers up to 15% off. - Aeropostale and Aerie provide 15% and 20% off respectively via UNiDAYS. - ASOS gives 10% off. - boohoo offers up to 30% off. - Champion provides up to 10% off online for actively enrolled college students. - Club Monaco offers 15% off online and in-store. - Converse gives 20% off. - Crocs provides 25% off via Student Beans. - Dockers offers 25% off. - Dr. Martens gives 15% off online. - Hanes provides up to 10% off online.
Technology and Software: Students can access discounted subscriptions and purchases. - Amazon Prime for Young Adults is available at half the price of regular Amazon Prime, which includes free two-day shipping and other benefits. - Apple Music is available for $5.99 per month, with free access to Apple TV+ for a limited time. - YouTube offers ad-free subscriptions to YouTube and YouTube Music for $7.99 per month, plus one month free. - Spotify Premium is $5.99 per month, which includes one month free and access to Hulu (with ads). - Paramount Plus provides a 50% discount on any plan. - Pandora Premium Student is $5.99 per month, plus 60 days free. - Tidal offers an ad-free subscription for $5.49 per month. - Headspace provides a Student Plan for $9.99 per year. - Soundcloud Go+ is available for $5.49 per month. - Chegg Student Perks, available with a Chegg Study Pack subscription, offers subscriptions to Max, Adobe Acrobat, Tinder Gold, and more. - FedEx offers up to 30% off select shipping and packing services with a valid student ID.
Food, Meal Delivery, and Groceries: Savings extend to dining and groceries. - Doordash offers a DashPass membership for $4.99 a month, which includes $0 delivery fees and 5% DoorDash credits on pickup orders. - Blue Apron provides 30% off the first five weeks through Student Beans. - HelloFresh offers 55% off the first box with free shipping, plus 15% off one year of deliveries. - EveryPlate provides 75% off the first box with free shipping, plus 15% off one year of deliveries. - Shipt offers a Shipt Student Membership for $4.99 a month, which includes discounted same-day delivery from participating stores.
Travel and Transportation: Students can save on flights, hotels, and ground transportation. - StudentUniverse is a platform dedicated to finding discounted flights, hotels, and other travel bookings for students. - Amtrak offers 15% off purchases made one day in advance. - Getaway provides 15% off bookings. - United Airlines offers a 5% discount on flights for 18- to 23-year-olds if booked through the United app and after signing up for a free program.
Dorm and School Supplies: Essential items for student life also come with discounts. - Muji offers 10% off purchases. - Mattress Firm provides up to 20% off online or in stores. - Brooklyn Bedding offers an additional 5% off plus free shipping. - Corkcicle gives 20% off purchases. - Stanley offers 20% off purchases. - The Happy Planner provides 15% off purchases. - Redbubble offers 24% off purchases.
Entertainment and Arts: Culture and leisure are accessible at reduced rates. - Peacock offers Peacock Premium for $2.99 a month. - Hulu with ads is available for $1.99 per month. - AMC offers discounts at participating theaters when presenting a student ID. - Art and museum admissions often feature discounts or free entry for students with a valid ID. Examples include discounted tickets at the Art Institute of Chicago, Carnegie Hall, Carnegie Museums of Pittsburgh, and Lincoln Center; $35 tickets at the Met Opera; and free admission at the Museum of Fine Arts, Houston. Students are advised to check local museums and fine arts programs for area-specific offers.
Other Services: - Groupon’s Select Student Program provides up to 25% off local deals and up to 10% off travel, tickets, and events.
Government Aid and Additional Resources
Beyond brand-specific discounts, students may qualify for government support programs that provide access to additional resources. Eligibility for these programs can open doors to benefits and often differs by location. Requirements may include being in a low-income household or already participating in federal assistance programs. Platforms like Students Freebies guide students through checking eligibility, submitting applications, and activating offers. It is important to note that access to free and discounted resources through such platforms is based on specific program criteria, with offers typically limited to once per person and subject to terms.
Key Strategies for Accessing Offers
- Always Ask: Not every merchant lists student discounts online. Local businesses, in particular, may offer unadvertised discounts. The most effective strategy is to ask if a student discount is available and present a student ID when one is offered.
- Verify Digitally: Utilize free verification platforms like UNiDAYS and Student Beans to access a wide range of online discounts without needing a physical card.
- Check Directly: Before traveling, attending an event, or making a purchase, confirm the current discount directly with the brand or venue, as offers can change frequently.
- Explore Government Programs: Investigate eligibility for federal or state assistance programs that may provide additional financial support or access to free resources.
Conclusion
College students in the U.S. have a wealth of opportunities to save money through freebies, discounts, and low-cost trials. The landscape is dominated by digital verification platforms like UNiDAYS and Student Beans, which provide centralized access to hundreds of brand discounts. Direct brand programs for clothing, technology, food delivery, travel, and entertainment offer substantial savings, often requiring only a student ID or email verification. Additionally, government aid programs can provide further support. By proactively asking about discounts, utilizing verification platforms, and checking direct sources, students can significantly reduce their expenses across numerous categories of daily life.