Student identification cards serve as more than campus access keys; they function as powerful tools for securing significant discounts across retail, dining, entertainment, and technology sectors. By presenting a valid student ID or verifying enrollment through designated third-party platforms, college students can access substantial savings on everyday purchases and essential services. This guide details the specific discounts available, the methods required to redeem them, and the categories of merchants offering these benefits.
Retail and Apparel Savings
Clothing and accessory retailers frequently offer exclusive discounts to students, often requiring verification through platforms such as UNiDAYs, StudentBeans, or SheerID, though many accept a physical college ID at the point of sale.
Major Clothing Brands Several prominent apparel brands provide consistent discounts for verified students: - Adidas: Offers U.S. students a special discount and free shipping on online orders. - Aeropostale: Provides an extra 15% off sitewide, verifiable via UNiDAYs. - Aerie: Offers 20% off entire purchases for students registered with UNiDAYs. - ASOS: Extends a 10% discount valid until graduation. - Converse: Periodically offers 10% to 20% off selected products upon verification on their site. - Crocs: Provides a 25% discount, verifiable with ID.me. - Express: Students can receive 15% off in-store and online purchases by signing up. - Forever21: Offers 10% off purchases when using a student ID online. - J.Crew: Offers 15% off in-store and online purchases with a valid college ID. - Kate Spade: Provides a 15% discount (ranging up to 85% in some instances), verifiable via UNiDAYs. - Levi’s: Offers 10% to 15% off online orders. - Madewell: Offers 15% off online and in-store. - Nike: Offers 10% off most items for eligible high school, college, and university students in the U.S. who verify with SheerID. - Reebok: Offers up to a 72% discount for students verified with StudentBeans. - Tommy Hilfiger: Offers 15% off in-store and online. - Vera Bradley: Offers 10% off online. - Vineyard Vines: Offers 15% off for all college and graduate students.
Specialty and Lifestyle Retailers Discounts extend beyond general apparel to specific lifestyle categories: - Blick: Offers 10% off art supplies with a student ID and Preferred Customer Card. - EyeBuyDirect: Offers a percentage off lenses for students. - FedEx: Offers up to 40% savings for students verified with StudentBeans who open a new FedEx account. - Goodwill: Discounts vary by location; for example, Goodwill Southwest Pennsylvania offers 25% off entire purchases on Tuesdays for enrolled students with a valid ID. - Purple: Offers 10% off mattresses. - Redbubble: Offers 15% off for students. - Stanley: Offers 20% off online, verifiable with ID.me. - Target: Provides a 50% discount to verified college students on Target Circle memberships, which unlock various product discounts. - The North Face: Offers 10% off to eligible college students in the U.S.
Food and Dining Discounts
Restaurants and food chains often provide immediate savings upon presentation of a student ID. These discounts typically range from complimentary beverages to percentage-based reductions on total bills.
Fast Casual and Quick Service - Chipotle: Offers a free drink with a meal purchase when a student ID is shown. - Chick-fil-A: Provides a free drink with a meal purchase upon presentation of a valid student ID. - QDOBA: Offers two discount options: a free drink with a meal purchase or $5.00 burrito meals. - Subway: Offers 10% off the total purchase when a student ID is shown at checkout.
Sit-Down and Pizza Chains - Buffalo Wild Wings: Offers 10% off meals when the student discount is requested. - Pizza Hut: Offers 10% to 20% off pizza orders, though availability depends on the specific location.
Beverages and Snacks - Dunkin' Donuts: Discount details were mentioned as available but specific terms were not fully detailed in the source text.
Entertainment and Cultural Venues
Students can access reduced admission rates and ticket prices at museums, performance halls, and streaming services.
Museums and Theaters - California Museum: Offers discounted tickets with a valid student ID. - Carnegie Hall: Allows students to purchase $10 tickets to select shows. - Cinemark: Offers discounted tickets (locations vary). - Denver Art Museum: Offers reduced rates for Colorado residents and out-of-state student residents. - Lincoln Center New York: Offers student rush tickets (free and discounted) and discounted memberships. - Metropolitan Museum of Art: Offers discounted student tickets. - Museum of Fine Arts Houston: Offers free admission to college students attending selected Houston-area colleges and to art students working on assigned projects. - Regal Movie Theatres: Offers discounted pricing with a valid ID (locations vary). - Universal Studios Hollywood: Offers discounted park passes to students attending partner universities.
Streaming Services - Peacock Premium: Reduces the $8 monthly subscription to $2 per month for students. - Spotify and Apple Music: Both services are available for $5.00 per month with a student ID.
Technology and Software Savings
Essential technology and software for coursework are often available at significantly reduced rates or for free.
Software and Subscriptions - Adobe Creative Cloud Pro: Available for 57% off for the first year. - Microsoft Office Suite: Microsoft Office 365 is free for students using a valid student email address. - Microsoft 365: Special student rates are available. - The New York Times: Subscription is $1.00 per week with student ID sign-up, providing unlimited access to articles and archives. - Target Circle: As noted, offers a 50% discount on membership.
Hardware and Devices - Apple Education Store: Offers discounted pricing on computers and tablets. - Samsung University Students Store: Offers special pricing on devices. - General Device Discounts: Microsoft offers device discounts alongside software rates.
Transportation and Travel
Travel expenses can be mitigated through student-specific programs. - Amtrak: Offers 15% off train tickets. - United Airlines: While lacking a specific student program, offers a 5% discount through its young adult fare category. - Local Transportation: Many local bus and subway services offer reduced rates for students, though specific details vary by region.
How to Verify Student Status
Accessing these discounts often requires verification. Brands utilize specific third-party services to confirm enrollment status. - ID.me: Used by Crocs and Stanley. - SheerID: Used by Nike. - StudentBeans: Used by Reebok and FedEx. - UNiDAYs: Used by Aeropostale, Aerie, Kate Spade, and others. - Physical ID: Many retailers, such as J.Crew, Subway, and various museums, accept the physical college ID card at the point of purchase.
Conclusion
Student IDs unlock a wide ecosystem of savings, ranging from essential software like Microsoft Office 365 to apparel discounts at major brands like Nike and J.Crew. The scope of savings extends into dining, offering free drinks or percentage discounts at chains like Chipotle and Subway, and into entertainment, with significantly reduced admission to cultural institutions and streaming services. To maximize these benefits, students should maintain a valid ID and register with verification platforms like UNiDAYs and StudentBeans, which aggregate offers from dozens of brands.