If you're in college, community college, or graduate school, you can get discounts. You'll need to prove you're a student - usually with your student ID card, a .edu email address, or a letter from your school.

Students

This guide explains what qualifies as student status for discount programs and how to verify your enrollment.

Last Updated: January 2026

Am I Eligible?

Check if you qualify for student discounts:

0 of 3 requirements checked

Who Qualifies?

Generally Eligible
- **College/University Students:** Enrolled at least half-time in an accredited institution - **Graduate Students:** Master's, doctoral, and professional degree programs - **Community College Students:** Including part-time enrollment - **Vocational/Trade School Students:** Accredited programs - **High School Students:** Some programs include students 16+ - **International Students:** With valid student visas and enrollment

May Have Limitations
- **Online-Only Students:** Some programs require in-person enrollment - **Non-Degree Students:** Taking classes without pursuing a degree - **Part-Time Students:** Some programs require half-time or full-time enrollment - **Continuing Education:** Varies by program

Common Verification Methods

1

Student ID Card

Most programs accept a current, valid student ID card showing:

  • Your name and photo
  • School name
  • Current academic year or expiration date

Tip: If your ID doesn't have an expiration date, you may need additional verification.

2

.edu Email Address

Many online services verify student status through your school-issued email:

  • Must be a valid .edu (or international equivalent) address
  • You'll receive a verification link to confirm access
  • Some programs re-verify periodically

Services using .edu verification:

  • Spotify Student
  • Apple Music Student
  • Amazon Prime Student
  • Adobe Creative Cloud
  • Microsoft Office 365 Education
3

Enrollment Verification Services

Some programs use third-party services:

  • SheerID – Partners with Spotify, Apple, and many retailers
  • UNiDAYS – Free student discount platform
  • Student Beans – Discount verification service

These services may verify through connection to your school's enrollment system, upload of documents, or .edu email.

4

Official Enrollment Documents

For programs not accepting ID cards or digital verification:

  • Current class schedule
  • Enrollment verification letter from registrar
  • Tuition bill or receipt with current term dates

CalFresh for Students

Important: College students have special rules for CalFresh (food stamp) eligibility. You must meet an exemption to qualify.

Student Exemptions
Students enrolled at least half-time in higher education must meet an exemption to receive CalFresh: **Common Exemptions:** - Working 20+ hours per week - Participating in work-study - Caring for a child under 6 - Caring for a child 6-12 with inadequate child care - Receiving CalWORKs benefits - Participating in SNAP Employment & Training - Not intending to register for the next school term

Resources
- **[BenefitsCal Student Center](https://benefitscal.com/StudentCenter/Home?lang=en)** – Check your eligibility - **Campus Basic Needs Centers** – Many Bay Area colleges have food pantries and benefits navigators - **EBT on Campus** – Some campus dining accepts EBT

Bay Area Schools with Student Benefits Programs

University of California
- **UC Berkeley:** [Basic Needs Center](https://basicneeds.berkeley.edu) - **UC San Francisco:** [Student Health & Counseling](https://studenthealth.ucsf.edu) - **UC Santa Cruz:** [Slug Support](https://basicneeds.ucsc.edu)

California State University
- **San Francisco State:** [Basic Needs](https://basicneeds.sfsu.edu) - **San Jose State:** [Spartans' Food Pantry](https://www.sjsu.edu/spartanfoodpantry/) - **Cal State East Bay:** [Pioneer Food Pantry](https://www.csueastbay.edu/pioneer-pantry/) - **Sonoma State:** [Seawolf Basic Needs](https://basicneeds.sonoma.edu) - **Cal Maritime:** [Student Services](https://www.csum.edu/student-life/)

Community Colleges
- **City College of San Francisco:** [Student Services](https://www.ccsf.edu/student-services) - **Foothill-De Anza Colleges:** [Food Pantry](https://www.deanza.edu/food-pantry/) - **Diablo Valley College:** [The Stand](https://www.dvc.edu/student-services/the-stand/) - **College of Marin:** [Student Services](https://www.marin.edu/student-services/)

Private Universities
- **Stanford University:** [Student Discounts](https://studentaffairs.stanford.edu) - **Santa Clara University:** [Student Resources](https://www.scu.edu/osl/) - **University of San Francisco:** [Student Services](https://myusf.usfca.edu) - **Mills College:** [Student Life](https://www.mills.edu)

Common Student Discounts

Transit
- **BART:** Youth Clipper Card (18 and under), may offer reduced fares for college students - **Muni:** Free Muni for Youth (18 and under) - **AC Transit:** Youth fare available - **VTA:** Student Eco Pass through participating schools - **Caltrain:** Monthly passes through participating universities

Technology
- **Apple:** Education pricing on Mac, iPad, and accessories - **Microsoft:** Free Office 365 Education - **Adobe:** 60%+ off Creative Cloud - **GitHub:** Free GitHub Pro and developer tools

Entertainment
- **Spotify Premium Student:** 50% off (includes Hulu and Showtime) - **Apple Music Student:** 50% off - **Amazon Prime Student:** 50% off, 6-month free trial - **Museums:** Many offer free or reduced admission

Software
- **Autodesk:** Free access to AutoCAD, Revit, etc. - **JetBrains:** Free IDEs for students - **Tableau:** Free Tableau Desktop license

Maintaining Your Student Status

Keep track of important verification tasks:

Frequently Asked Questions

Q: I’m taking one class. Do I qualify for student discounts?

A: It depends on the program. Some require half-time or full-time enrollment, while others accept any current enrollment. Check each program’s specific requirements.

Q: I’m enrolled in an online-only program. Do I qualify?

A: Most programs accept online students from accredited institutions. You’ll typically verify through your .edu email or enrollment documents rather than a physical ID.

Q: My school doesn’t have .edu emails. What can I do?

A: International schools and some specialized institutions use other domains. Services like SheerID can often verify enrollment through other means. Contact the discount program directly for alternatives.

Q: I’m on a gap year. Can I still get discounts?

A: Student discounts typically require current enrollment. If you’re on official leave and still enrolled, you may qualify—check with your school’s registrar for verification.

Q: Do homeschool students qualify?

A: It varies by program. Some discounts accept homeschool students with documentation, while others require enrollment in an accredited institution.

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