Laptop student discount US guide: the best offers in 2024
We discuss how and where to get student discounts on laptops
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If you’re looking for info on the best laptop student discount programs, look no further. For students looking to pick up a laptop for your studies at a reduced price, there are various options available to you. Many brands and retailers offer laptop student discounts and besides this, there are myriad organizations that can help out students from poorer backgrounds get a laptop for less cash.
Refurbished laptops are another approach if you want to pick up a particular model cheaper, plus looking out for the best laptop deals currently available is also recommended – neither of these last two points are specific to students only, but a cheaper laptop is a cheaper laptop after all! If you’re not sure what kind of laptop you might need, consider reading our best laptop for students guide to get a better idea.
General deals on laptops suitable for students
Whilst there are student-only laptop discounts (as we’ll list below), you might find the best deals are just conventional ones available to everyone. We regularly round up the finest weekly offers on our best laptop deals page. If you’re not sure which kind of laptop you’re looking for then do also have a read of our best laptop for working from home / remote work guide for some suitable devices. It may be that a Chromebook could be a better cheap option for you (read our Chromebook vs laptop page for a summary of the differences), in which case you should take a look at our best Chromebook guide.
What laptop student discounts are available?
Many big-name brands (listed below on this page) offer discounts on their online stores to students and frequently the parents of students, plus educators. Typically these require you to make an account with them and in the process prove your student/educator credentials, at which point the discount becomes available to you when shopping in the online store.
Be aware that in some cases the student discount is not stackable with other offers, meaning you could lose out on a bigger reduction if you apply the student offer, however, certain retailers allow you to combine discounts – always make sure you check you’re not losing out before pulling the trigger.
Besides just price reductions on specific items, you can also sometimes get other extras like free software installed on any device that you buy, or additional gift cards etc. Finally, students can also sign up to services like Amazon Prime Student membership (6 months for free, then $7.49 per month after that) which allows you to get free delivery on any laptop or other electronic device or peripheral (laptop bag etc.) you may wish to purchase and access to exclusive deals events like the Amazon Prime Day sale.
Retailers offering student discounts on laptops
The following retailers offer discounts on student laptops, either through enrollment in some sort of program ran by the brand/retailer that requires proof of student credentials, via enrollment with a third-party discount site, or just by listing laptop deals on models suitable for students that anybody can buy, regardless of student status.
Acer Store laptop student discount
You can get 10% off Acer laptops from the US Acer store if you register as a student with Student Beans. If you don’t have an account simply click the following link and you can sign up to Student Beans via the Acer site.
Apple Store laptop student discount
Apple gives educational discounts for either students or teachers (including for homeschooling) that typically take the form of a $150 Apple Store voucher when you purchase a product, though this can vary. You have to purchase an item to be eligible for the voucher, and then spend this on an additional product in the store, so just be aware of this. If you buy a MacBook or iPad for college you may also be eligible for a free pair of AirPods.
You can read our dedicated Apple student discount page for more information.
Best Buy laptop student discount
The Best Buy discounts on student laptops don’t require any sign-up process or proof of identity and are basically just general deals open to anybody, but on laptops that Best Buy deems to be the best picks for students. They also do a wider range of back-to-school deals on a number of products.
You can often get sizable deals from the Best Buy store on a variety of laptops all year round, and they regularly make it onto our main laptop deals page.
Dell Store laptop student discount
Students and educators can save up to 10% on selected Dell products, including laptops, within the Education Discounts section on the Dell Store if they sign up to a membership. They can also get access to the Dell trade-in program and finance payments on products with 0% APR.
Grover student discount
Grover don’t sell laptops but if you’re a student you can get a 15% discount on renting laptops and other electronics.
HP student discount
If you head to the HP Student Discounts page you can join their Education Store program that has offers of up to 40% off for students, their parents/guardians, and teachers. You will be required to create an account and supply details confirming you qualify.
Lenovo student discount
The Lenovo Store offers an 8% discount across all products (including laptops and tablets) for students, their parents, and teacher. You have to create an account, verify that you are eligible, and then the discount will be applied when you reach the shopping cart.
Logitech student discounts
If you verify and validate an account with Unidays you can use this to get up to 25% off on Logitech products, including laptops and desktop computers.
Microsoft student discounts
The Microsoft Store offers up to 10% off a variety of products, including laptops, 2-in-1 laptops, and tablets like the Surface Pro and Surface Go, plus free access to Microsoft Office 365. This is available for students, their parents, and educators. You will be required to have a Microsoft account, which you’ll need to log into to prove your eligibility – after you have done so you should have the discount automatically applied to whichever product you are viewing.
Razer laptop student discount
If you register with Razer’s Student Education program you can get up to 20% off an assortment of laptops (though these are still pricey items even with the reduction), plus peripherals (mice, mousemats, keyboards, headsets), the odd monitor, and other products.
Samsung laptop student discounts
As part of the Samsung Education Offer Program you can get an additional 15% discount on laptops, tablets, and more which can be applied on top of existing discounts.
Other ways students can get cheaper laptops
Besides the above retailer discounts, students can access a number of different organizations, including many charitable nonprofits, that can give them access to cheaper refurbished laptops.
Refurbished laptops are essentially second-hand devices that have been repaired by the organization before being resold. Although on average they won’t quite have the lifespan of a brand-new machine and may have some minor aesthetic blemishes, they have to pass a certain standard of performance before they’re resold, so you know you will be getting a functional device that will usually operate just as well as if you bought it off the shelf.
Although anybody can pick up refurbished laptops from Amazon etc. many of the following organizations only extend their services to those who fit certain criteria – often you are required to come from a low-income family to be eligible, so make sure you read the terms and conditions in each case:
Alliance for Technology and Refurbishing and Reuse
The Alliance for Technology and Refurbishing and Reusing provides computers, laptops, and other equipment to those in need. Some of these laptops are available for free, others are offered at affordable prices. Check on the website to see if you are eligible and use the map locator to see if there are any devices near you.
ConnectAll
ConnectAll is an e-commerce platform with a noble mission to make refurbished laptops and desktops accessible and affordable for nonprofits and individuals with low incomes. The range of devices covers both Windows laptops and MacBooks and ranges from budgets of around $100-$1,000. You can view their entire inventory online and use various search criteria to narrow down what you’re looking for. Customers enjoy added benefits such as complimentary shipping, a 1-year extended warranty, and the convenience of pre-installed Windows and Microsoft Office software.
Dell Refurbished
Dell Refurbished specializes in selling a diverse range of refurbished Dell laptop models at reduced prices (starting at c.$400). With a strong commitment to quality, the company conducts thorough inspections and assigns ‘cosmetic grades’ to make sure customers enjoy a ‘like-new’ product.
Notebooks for Students
Notebooks for Students (NFS) has its roots in California but is now available in other locations across the country. Originally founded by students, the organization collaborates with tech brands to offer refurbished laptops at discounted prices
The models on offer include both Windows and MacOS laptops, ranging from budget machines as cheap as around $200 to more powerful laptops for those who need more processing power. You get an impressive 4-year warranty included for free with every device you buy, which includes tech support, free repairs, and file recovery.
PCs for People
PCs for People is another nonprofit that offers discounted desktop and laptop computers, as we as computer repair services and recycling. You probably won’t be eligible for any of this however unless you are from a low-income family or have a disability. You can purchase a range of laptops from different brands, starting around the $145 mark.
Laptop student discount FAQs
Do college students get discounts on Apple laptops?
College students can get Apple vouchers they can spend in the Apple store when they buy MacBooks, however, these can’t be used to discount the price of the item itself – only of other things you might be buying.
Can college students get a free iPad?
Certain universities/colleges do offer free iPads, though it’s a relatively limited number and it tends to be those with an art/design/creative/tech focus.
We’ve listed above/within a number of colleges in the US that are known to provide free iPads to new students.
Laptop student discount offers: Final Word
We hope that this laptop student discount guide has proven illuminating and helped you find the offer you were looking for. We will hopefully be adding the best laptop student discount offers from other countries here soon, in addition to the US. Please also consider having a look at our myriad other laptop guides and gaming laptop guides in the megamenu above.
