As students across America settle back into the school routine, they should know they carry a privileged status as consumers. They’re eligible for special student pricing nobody else can get — on everything from computers to clothing to restaurant food.

Sometimes, merchants will require a student identification card or, in the case of college students making purchases online, an .edu e-mail address. Trouble is, merchants don’t always make known their student discounts, said Brad Wilson, founder and editor of deal website BradsDeals.com, who has researched student discounts.

“The big takeaway from doing research was, if you have a student ID, you should always ask for a discount. There’s no harm in that,” he said. “It really is much more widespread that the average student realizes.”

Wilson notes that the three biggest categories for student savings seem to be computers, clothing and food.

“Of course, that’s 75 percent of what kids are spending their money on anyway,” he said. “It’s almost a no-brainer to take advantage of some of these student discounts.”

One caveat for students: Especially with online purchases, search the Internet for coupon codes, sales and other deals that might offer greater savings than the standard student discount.

“The value of student discounts is greatest when a store isn’t doing any other discounting,” Wilson said.

Helpful online lists of student discounts have been compiled at such sites as BradsDeals.com and GiftCardGranny.com.

Here’s a sampling of what you might find.

Computers and tech gear: Apple Inc. offers discounts to college students, teachers of kindergarten through 12th grade, administrators and staff members. During back-to-school buying — this year through Sept. 20 — it offers a bonus for buying a Mac computer.

This year, it’s a $100 card to use for buying additional Apple products. In previous years, it has included an iPod.

Hewlett-Packard Co. also provides student discounts through its HP Academy site, at www.tinyurl.com/3f26ruw/. So does Dell Inc. via its Dell University site, at www.tinyurl.com/3lqn73a/.

Microsoft Corp. gives college and high school students who buy a Windows 7 PC for $699 or more a Xbox 360 gaming console.

AcademicSuperstore.com offers a variety of discounted software and other gear with discounts for students. JourneyEd.com is similar.

Free shipping: Amazon.com, via www.amazon.com/student/, offers college students a free six-month membership to Amazon Prime, its membership program that provides free two-day shipping of Amazon goods. It also offers exclusive discounts in a variety of categories.

Food: People might be surprised that many chain restaurants offer students discounts.

They include 10 percent off at McDonald’s, Burger King, Subway, Arby’s and Waffle House, according to GiftCardGranny.com. Papa John’s, Pizza Hut and Domino’s Pizza restaurants might offer discounts that vary by location.

Clothing: Student discounts at clothing retailers are common, but waiting for a sale might reap bigger savings, Wilson said. Examples of stores that have student discounts are Ann Taylor, Banana Republic, J. Crew and The Limited. Discounts of 15 or 20 percent are common.

Auto insurance: Some auto insurance companies will provide a 20 percent discount on policies that include single students younger than 25, says Bankrate.com. Some require students to maintain a “B” average.

A corollary tip is for parents who have college students on their auto insurance, but the child is attending school 100 miles or more away.

Contact your insurance company for a possible discount, says the Insurance Information Institute.

The idea is that your out-of-town student doesn’t have regular access to the family car, and you shouldn’t have to pay full price for them.

Copyright ©2026— Trib Total Media, LLC (TribLIVE.com)