As a college student, every penny counts when it comes to managing your finances. Tuition, textbooks, housing, food – the expenses add up quickly. One area where many students look to save is on their wireless service. A reliable phone plan is essential for staying connected with friends and family, completing coursework, and keeping up with life on campus.
If you‘re a Verizon customer or considering making the switch, you‘ll be glad to know that Verizon does offer discounts for college students. In this comprehensive guide, we‘ll break down everything you need to know about Verizon‘s student discount program for [currentyear], including:
- What discounts are available
- How much you can save
- Eligibility requirements
- How to sign up
- Tips for maximizing your savings
- Comparison to other carriers‘ student discounts
- Expert insights and analysis
By the end, you‘ll have all the information you need to take advantage of Verizon‘s student deals and get the best bang for your buck on wireless service. Let‘s dive in!
Overview of Verizon‘s Student Discount Program
Verizon‘s student discount program is officially called the "Verizon Up Student Discount." It‘s available to eligible students enrolled in undergraduate or graduate programs at accredited US colleges and universities, as well as some vocational schools.
The core discount offers a monthly savings of $10 per line for accounts with 1-2 lines, or $25 per month for accounts with 3+ lines on select Unlimited plans. Here are the eligible plans:
- 5G Start Unlimited
- 5G Play More Unlimited
- 5G Do More Unlimited
- 5G Get More Unlimited
Assuming an account with 2 lines on the 5G Start Unlimited plan, a student would save $240 per year with the discount ($10 x 2 lines x 12 months). For a single line, the savings would be $120 annually. That‘s a substantial amount that can make a real difference for budget-conscious students.
In addition to the monthly discount, students may be eligible for other promotions such as:
- Exclusive deals on smartphones, tablets & connected devices
- Free or discounted access to premium streaming services like Disney+, Hulu, ESPN+, and Apple Music
- Verizon Up rewards points redeemable for discounts on food, shopping, travel & more
Verizon Student Discount Eligibility Requirements
To qualify for Verizon‘s student discount, you must meet the following criteria:
- Currently enrolled at an accredited US higher education institution (2-year, 4-year, or vocational)
- Be the account owner or manager of your Verizon wireless account with up to 4 lines
- Verify your student status with documentation like student ID card, enrollment verification letter, or .edu email address
- Have one of the eligible Unlimited plans mentioned above
Importantly, the student who enrolls in the discount must be the primary Verizon account holder. If you‘re on a family plan but your parent or guardian is the account owner, they cannot sign up for the student discount on your behalf. You would need to establish your own account.
How to Sign Up for a Verizon Student Discount
Ready to enroll? The sign-up process is quick and straightforward:
- Visit the Verizon student discount portal and click "Get Started"
- Verify your student status through Verizon‘s third-party partner SheerID. You‘ll need to provide your name, college, student email address, and proof of enrollment like student ID card.
- Once verified, log into your existing Verizon account or create a new one. Ensure you‘re enrolled in one of the eligible Unlimited plans.
- Your student discount will be applied automatically to your account within 1-2 billing cycles. You‘ll see the discount itemized on your monthly bill.
Keep in mind that you must re-verify your student status each year to maintain the discount. Set a reminder to avoid unexpected price hikes.
Cost Comparison: Verizon Student Discount vs Regular Pricing
To illustrate the potential savings, let‘s compare the regular pricing for Verizon‘s unlimited plans to the student discounted rates:
| Plan | Regular Price | Student Price (1-2 lines) | Student Price (3-4 lines) |
|---|---|---|---|
| 5G Start | $70/line | $60/line | $45/line |
| 5G Play More | $80/line | $70/line | $55/line |
| 5G Do More | $80/line | $70/line | $55/line |
| 5G Get More | $90/line | $80/line | $65/line |
As you can see, the $10-25 student discount can add up to significant savings, especially on multi-line accounts. For a family of 4 on the 5G Start plan, the student discount would chop $100 off the monthly bill, or $1200 per year. That could equate to a semester‘s worth of textbooks or several months of groceries.
Of course, your actual savings will depend on how many lines you have and which plan you choose. As a frugal student, it‘s wise to carefully consider how much data and which features you really need to avoid overpaying for unused perks.
How Verizon‘s Student Discount Compares to Other Carriers
Verizon is far from the only wireless carrier that offers student discounts. Most of their major competitors have similar programs. Here‘s a quick overview:
-
AT&T offers a $10/month discount per line for students on their Unlimited plans, comparable to Verizon. They also have periodic student-exclusive deals on devices.
-
T-Mobile offers $5/month off per line for students (up to 4 lines) on their Essentials plans. On more premium Magenta plans, students get special perks like a free Netflix subscription, Scam Shield protection, and 5GB of high-speed mobile hotspot data.
-
Mint Mobile, a budget-friendly prepaid carrier, gives students 6 months of free service with the purchase of a 6-month plan. After the first year, students still receive 20% off ongoing plans.
-
Visible ran a back-to-school promo last year offering students a one-time $150 virtual gift card, but doesn‘t seem to provide any regular student discount on their no-contract plans.
In my assessment as a budget-savvy consumer, Verizon‘s student discount program is one of the most robust and competitive options, especially for students looking for a premium, feature-packed postpaid unlimited plan on one of the nation‘s top-ranked networks.
The $10/line discount for 1-2 lines is as good or better than AT&T and T-Mobile. For larger 3-4 line accounts, the $25/month savings ($100/line annually) is unrivaled. Combined with frequent deals on devices, free entertainment/streaming perks, and Verizon Up rewards points, the total value of Verizon‘s student offers is among the highest in the industry.
That said, if you‘re primarily looking to spend as little as possible on your phone plan, a prepaid or budget-focused carrier like Mint or Visible could potentially be cheaper than even a discounted Verizon unlimited plan, particularly if you don‘t need tons of high-speed data or premium features. It‘s all about matching your needs and priorities to the right plan.
Other Ways for Students to Save on Verizon Wireless
While enrolling in the student discount is the single best way to lower your Verizon bill, there are a few other savings opportunities worth exploring:
-
Autopay & paperless billing – For signing up for automatic payments and paperless statements, you can get an additional $10/month discount per line on most plans. That‘s stackable with the student discount.
-
Employer discounts – Check if your company or university has a corporate discount partnership with Verizon. Some employers give special plan rates to workers and their families.
-
Military & veteran discounts – If you or an immediate family member are an active duty service member or veteran, you may be eligible for additional discounts or waived fees on Verizon plans.
-
Bring your own device – Have an old phone or looking to buy an unlocked model? Bringing your own compatible device to Verizon, instead of buying or financing a new phone from them, can save you the cost of upgrading.
-
Reduce your data plan – Unlimited data is nice, but can be overkill (and costly) if you‘re frequently connected to Wi-Fi or don‘t stream much media. If you can get by with less, choosing a cheaper data tier is an easy way to trim your bill.
The Bottom Line
Verizon‘s student discount program is a fantastic way for college students to save money on their wireless service without sacrificing quality or features. With potential savings of $120-300 per year on unlimited plans, generous promotions on devices and bonus perks, it‘s a top-tier offering compared to other major carriers.
To make the most of your student discount, remember to:
- Verify your eligibility and complete enrollment via Verizon‘s student portal
- Choose the unlimited plan that best fits your data needs and budget
- Stack on other potential discounts like autopay and employer programs
- Bring your own device or shop Verizon student deals on new phones
- Enjoy your savings and Verizon Up rewards!
Hopefully this guide has given you all the information you need to understand and maximize Verizon student discounts. If you‘re ready to start saving, head over to Verizon‘s student page to begin the sign-up process.
Have any other tips for saving on Verizon wireless? Share them in the comments below! And if this guide was helpful, give us a share so other students can learn how to keep more money in their pockets.
