Discounts You Can Only Get With Your College I.D.

College students aren’t exactly known for their fat wallets and stout bank account balances. Most of us survive off dollar slices, used bookstores, and whatever we can salvage from Grandma’s Christmas cards. And when those funds run out, we turn to Ramen noodles and a prayer.

But being in college is an opportunity to take advantage of the small number of years we are offered some amazing student discounts. Companies know that there is a huge market out there for young adults who might not have bills to pay yet, but still want and need the same things as their slightly older counterparts.

Check out some of these deals and steals you should take advantage of now, because once that diploma touches your hand, they’re gone.

Travel:

• STA Travel caters specifically to students, graduates, and teachers under the age of 26. Check out their super cheap rates for flights and hotels, like a round-trip flight to Europe for $303.

Shopping:

• J. Crew offers a 10% discount to students, but you have to ask for it and show your Student ID. You won’t be able to use this on Jcrew.com because they have no way of knowing you are a student.
• Pier 1 Imports may not be as cheap as Ikea, but you can help lower that cost by 15% if you flash your student ID at the checkout line.

Entertainment:

• Call your local movie theater before you go, and ask if they have a student discount. Sometimes, just for asking they will lower the price by a dollar, or let you know about special days when students can view movies for super-cheap, or even for free! AMC and Regal Cinemas also offer rewards cards, which can earn you free concessions and even movie tickets.
• Buy student rush tickets for discounts on Broadway shows. You’ll have to wait around to snatch them up right before the show, but when you can get up to 30% off, it’s worth it.
• Museums, like the Metropolitan Museum of Art, offer free admission to local college students. Check out museums around your town to find your own free trips. Others, like the Mutter Museum of Medical Oddities in Philadelphia, will give you four dollars off your admission ticket (random, we know).

Technology:

• Get 15-20% off of your Dell purchase when you are a college student (go to DellUniversity.com to get started).
• HP Student discounts range from 7-10%, and you can sign up for a payment plan that is easier to fulfill than the regular one.
• You can get a 10% discount on computers from the Apple Store. This means a Macbook that costs $1,099 for regular customers will cost only $999 for you!

Other:

• Consider getting yourself an AAA membership. Besides assuring yourself cheap towing and roadside assistance if something ever happens to your car (on your way to interviews, for example—yikes!), hundreds of stores offer discounts for AAA members, including Target and Sirius Satellite Radio.
• Another great resource for cheaper prices is the Student Advantage card. You’ll get cheaper movie tickets, meals, Target buys, Amtrak tickets… the list goes on.
• Finally, get yourself a Costco membership. Not only does the store itself have great bulk buys, the card will save you tons of money in many different venues.
• One of the best things you can do for yourself is to collect frequent buyer cards and customer rewards cards that are free to sign up for. It can feel like a full-time job to look through your wallet for each store’s card when you go out, but when you are reaping the benefits of free movies and smoothies, it will be worth it.

Of course, these deals are just a taste of what you can get if you ask, ask, ask! Any restaurant that offers a senior or child discount will likely offer a student one as well, even though it may not be advertised. Companies want your business, and will be happy to give you a certain percentage off. There are a ton of amazing things about being a college student, and getting discounts like these is definitely one of them!