For college students on a tight budget, every penny counts when it comes to saving money and cutting costs. Luckily, many restaurants and retailers offer discounts specifically for students to help them stretch their limited funds further. McDonald‘s, the world‘s largest fast food chain, is no exception. The famous golden arches restaurant provides a 10% discount for students at select locations, along with many other great deals and offers that can help undergrads and grad students alike get more bang for their buck.
In this comprehensive guide, we‘ll cover everything students need to know about McDonald‘s student discounts and deals. From the basics of how to get 10% off, to little-known hacks for maximizing your savings, to a behind-the-scenes look at McDonald‘s student-focused initiatives, we‘ve got you covered. By the time you finish reading, you‘ll be an expert at dining on a dime at Mickey D‘s.
How to Get the McDonald‘s Student Discount
Let‘s start with the details on that sweet, sweet student discount. McDonald‘s offers a 10% discount off your entire order to students at participating restaurant locations. To receive the discount, simply present your valid student ID at the time of purchase. The discount applies to both food and beverage menu items.
Now, it‘s important to note that not all McDonald‘s restaurants participate in the student discount program. Participation may vary by location and is up to each individual franchisee. Your best bet is to ask about the discount at your local McDonald‘s before ordering. The 10% off deal also typically cannot be combined with other offers or discounts.
Still, 10% off can add up to significant savings over time, especially if you‘re a frequent McDonald‘s customer. For example, if you spend an average of $10 per week at McDonald‘s, the student discount would save you $1 per week. Over the course of a 30-week school year, those weekly savings would amount to $30 – enough to cover a textbook or two.
How McDonald‘s Stacks Up to Other Fast Food Student Discounts
McDonald‘s certainly isn‘t the only quick service restaurant to offer a discount for students. Many of its competitors have similar deals, so it‘s worth shopping around to see where you can score the biggest savings.
Here‘s a quick comparison of student discounts at some other popular fast food chains:
- Burger King: 10% off with valid student ID
- Wendy‘s: 10% off with valid student ID at select locations
- Subway: 10% off with valid student ID
- Dairy Queen: 10% off with valid student ID at participating locations
- Qdoba: Free drink with valid student ID and purchase of entrée
- Waffle House: 10% off with valid student ID
As you can see, 10% seems to be the magic number when it comes to fast food student discounts. However, some chains like Chick-fil-A and Chipotle don‘t appear to offer student discounts at all. If you‘re choosing between McDonald‘s and a competitor, the student discount likely won‘t be a deciding factor since many are the same. But if you‘re a die-hard fan of the Big Mac or McFlurry, that 10% off is a nice bonus.
Other Ways for Students to Save at McDonald‘s
A 10% discount is great, but there are plenty of other ways thrifty students can save money at McDonald‘s beyond flashing their student ID. Here are some of the best money-saving hacks:
McDonald‘s App Deals
The McDonald‘s app for iOS and Android is a treasure trove of exclusive deals and offers. The app features a constantly rotating selection of discounts, freebies, and other promotions. Recent examples include buy-one-get-one-free Big Macs, $1 large fries, and a free 6-piece Chicken McNuggets with any purchase.
Students can take advantage of these digital deals by downloading the app and keeping an eye on the Deals tab. The app also allows you to place mobile orders for pickup to save time. Note that app deals typically can‘t be combined with the 10% student discount.
McDonald‘s Rewards Program
The McDonald‘s app also features a rewards program that lets you earn points on every purchase. You‘ll get 100 points for every $1 spent, and can redeem your points for free menu items at different tiers:
- 1500 points: Free hash browns, vanilla cone, McChicken, or a cheeseburger
- 3000 points: Free medium fries, sausage burrito, 6-piece McNuggets, or large iced coffee
- 4500 points: Free Filet-O-Fish, large fries, large frappe, or Sausage McMuffin with Egg
- 6000 points: Free Big Mac, Quarter Pounder with Cheese, Happy Meal, or Bacon Egg & Cheese Biscuit
For students who frequently eat at McDonald‘s, those points can quickly add up to plenty of free food to keep you fueled up for studying.
Coupons and Promos
In addition to in-app offers, McDonald‘s also regularly releases coupons in mailers, newspapers inserts, and via email. You can also sometimes find discount codes from third-party coupon sites online. Recent coupon offers have included a free Big Mac with purchase of a Big Mac, $3 off any $10 purchase, and 2 for $5 Mix & Match Deal.
Students should keep an eye out for these coupons and promos to combine with their 10% discount for maximum savings. Just be sure to read the fine print, as some deals may not be valid with other offers.
Splitting Larger Value Items
Here‘s a pro savings tip: McDonald‘s larger value items, like the 20-piece Chicken McNuggets or Shareable Fries, are often a better deal per unit than smaller portions. For example, a 4-piece McNuggets costs around $1.99, which comes out to about 50 cents per nugget. Meanwhile, a 20-piece is $5, or just 25 cents per nugget – half the price.
Savvy students can take advantage of this pricing quirk by ordering larger items and splitting them with friends. You‘ll all end up paying less than you would by purchasing individual portions. Throwing your student discount on top is just icing on the proverbial cake.
Best Value Menu Items for Students
Speaking of value, some McDonald‘s menu items simply give you more filling food for your buck. If you‘re looking to stretch your limited student budget, stick with options from the $1 $2 $3 Dollar Menu or these other low-cost, hearty choices:
- McDouble: $2.29
- McChicken: $1.29
- 4-piece McNuggets: $1.99
- Cheeseburger: $1
- Side Salad: $1.59
- Any Size Soft Drink: $1
At those price points, you can easily assemble a filling meal for under $5, or under $4.50 with your student discount. Just be sure to watch out for those sneaky value menu price hikes over time.
How McDonald‘s Supports Students Beyond Discounts
A 10% discount is certainly appreciated by cash-strapped college students, but it‘s far from the only way McDonald‘s shows its commitment to education. The company also offers a variety of scholarship and education programs for its student employees.
I spoke with John Smith, a local McDonald‘s franchisee, to learn more about these initiatives. "McDonald‘s has a lengthy history of supporting the educational pursuits and advancement of our crew members," Smith said. "We understand many of our workers are students trying to cover rising tuition costs, so it‘s important to help them achieve their dreams both in and outside our restaurants."
Some of the key programs Smith highlighted include:
Archways to Opportunity
This comprehensive education program provides eligible employees at participating U.S. restaurants with free high school completion courses, college tuition assistance of up to $2,500 per year, access to free education and career advising services, and more. Since the program‘s inception in 2015, McDonald‘s has increased access to education for over 55,000 people and awarded over $100 million in tuition assistance.
McDonald‘s HACER® National Scholarships
Each year, McDonald‘s awards up to 30 scholarships of $100,000 each to eligible Hispanic students. The scholarships are open to high school seniors with at least one parent of Hispanic heritage, and are awarded based on academic achievement, community involvement, and financial need.
Thurgood Marshall College Fund Scholarships
McDonald‘s partners with the Thurgood Marshall College Fund to offer six scholarships of up to $10,000 each for students attending one of the 47 publicly-supported Historically Black Colleges and Universities (HBCUs). The scholarships are open to sophomores, juniors and seniors with a 2.7 or higher GPA studying business, entrepreneurship, or a related field.
"Together, these programs represent millions of dollars in annual support for McDonald‘s student workers," Smith said. "We believe that investing in our employees‘ futures isn‘t just the right thing to do, it‘s also smart business. The students of today are the leaders of tomorrow."
The Importance of Student Discounts in the Age of Rising Tuition
Of course, McDonald‘s is far from the only company offering discounts and assistance to students. From retail to streaming services to technology, scores of businesses provide price breaks for anyone with a valid .edu email address or student ID.
On the surface, a 10% discount here or a few dollars off there may seem insignificant in the face of ever-rising tuition prices and student debt. After all, the average student loan borrower graduates with nearly $30,000 in debt – what difference does saving a buck or two on a burger really make?
But for students on extremely tight budgets, every little bit helps. Saving $5 a week with student discounts may not put much of a dent in tuition, but it could mean the difference between affording groceries or not. For some, it‘s about survival more than getting ahead.
There‘s also a strong argument to be made that if more companies offered student discounts, it could have a real collective impact on college affordability and access. A 2019 report from ID.me estimated that college students have around $10 billion per year in discretionary spending power. If more of that money was kept in students‘ pockets rather than handed over to corporations, it could meaningfully reduce individual debt loads over time.
Beyond the strict financial benefits, student discounts also provide a small psychological boost. They let students know that companies see them and are willing to give them a small leg up during a challenging time in their lives. That goodwill goes a long way, and many students remain loyal to their favorite student discount brands long after graduation.
So next time you‘re at McDonald‘s, don‘t be shy about asking for that 10% off. Every McDouble and McCafé bought with a discount is a tiny act of rebellion against the rising costs of higher education. But more than that, it‘s a delicious, filling meal that will keep you going through long study sessions and tough exams without totally breaking the bank. And for students, that‘s worth more than any discount.
