Apple products are designed to increase your productivity and efficiency, making them the perfect company for students. However, the high price may be too high for most students.
Luckily, Apple has made some of its products more accessible to those in the education industry with its Education Store. So, if you’re considering getting a new Mac or iPad to help you study, here’s everything you need to know about Apple’s student discount.
Note. The Back to School promotion offers different free services depending on the country you are receiving your device from. In some countries, such as India, Singapore, and the Philippines, students receive a pair of AirPods (2nd generation). Meanwhile, US students receive up to $150 worth of Apple Gift Cards.
Who is eligible for the Apple Education Program or the Apple Student Discount?
Not everyone is eligible for the Apple student discount. While it’s not spelled out on their website, it’s detailed in their terms and conditions.
The following individuals are eligible for Apple Education Pricing:
- students attending or admitted to a higher education institution
- parents of university students
- faculty, staff, homeschool teachers, school board members, and leaders of all learning levels
You may be asked to provide proof, such as valid documents, a receipt, or your school ID or your child’s ID, to prove you are eligible for a student discount.
Those who do not qualify, such as teens and young children attending school, can still receive a discount by asking the school to make a purchase. If you’re not eligible but still want an Apple product at a lower price, you can try a refurbished Apple Store. There are several other places to buy refurbished Macs.
What devices can you get with the Apple student discount?
Apple does not offer a set of universal discounts on all of its products. Instead, he sets a discounted price for each range of products. The Apple Education discount applies to iPads and Macs only (iMac, MacBook Air, MacBook Pro, and Mac mini).
Apple also offers the Apple Music Student Plan and Pro Apps for Education, a suite of powerful tools including Final Cut Pro and Logic Pro.
Can you get free AirPods with the purchase of an eligible product?
Many people who have recently purchased an eligible product (such as the M2 MacBook Air) at an Apple discount ask if they can get a free pair of AirPods.
You may still be eligible for free AirPods through the 2022 Higher Education Promotion even if you purchased them a little before the promotion date. You can contact Apple Support. Alternatively, you can follow the next step in the Apple Support app:
- Open the Apple Support app.
- Scroll down and select Billing & Subscriptions under Other Products.
- Click Subscriptions & Purchases → Apple Trial or Promotion Questions.
- Select “Chat”or “Call”. Note. If you choose the latter, you will be asked for your mobile phone number and your preferred date and time. Either way, mention that you recently purchased an eligible product with an Apple Education discount and ask if you can get free AirPods.
What does Apple Education Special Pricing offer?
If you plan to use Apple’s student discount, you’ll get a bigger discount on computers, laptops, and monitors than on iPads. However, you can choose the iPad if you want something lighter and more portable.
To help you compare the price difference and see which device you can save the most on, I’ve listed all the products in the Apple Education Discount section, their rates, and discounted prices:
- MacBook Air with M1 chip: $999 to $899
- MacBook Air with M2 chip: $1199 to $1099
- MacBook Pro 14-inch: 1999 to $1849
- iMac: $1299 to $1249
- Mac mini: $699 to $649
- Mac Studio: $1999 to $1799
- Studio Display: $1599 to $1499
- Prop Display XDR: $4999 to $4599
- Mac Pro: $5999 to $5599
- iPad Pro: $799 to $749
- iPad Air: $599 to $549
- iPad: $329 to $309
- iPad mini: $499 to $449
How to get an Apple student discount
Different countries have different sets of steps to go through. I will list the process for students in the USA.
Generally, if you’re a US student, it’s easy to request an Apple student discount from the Apple Store for Education . What else? There is a loophole that may allow you to receive your device without documentation or any proof.
I recently bought a MacBook Air M2 chip from the Apple Education Store for my little brother. Based on my experience, the site did not require any documents or evidence.
Just go to the site and select the device you want to buy. You may be asked to sign in with your Apple ID for an easier process. You can purchase it as a guest if you don’t have one. Select the specifications you want for your device and fill in your shipping details before proceeding to checkout.
You will be asked to view your item(s) before placing an order. You will need to check the box to verify that you belong to a group that is eligible for the Apple Education Discount. However, there was no other step to check if you are indeed qualified.
Despite this, it is better to have supporting documents or identification cards ready, just in case. I pre-ordered for Mac two days ago. I will let you know if they contact and ask for confirmation.
FAQ
Apple’s latest 2022 “Back to School/University or Higher Education”offer offers an Apple Gift Card for US students instead of a pair of AirPods when a person purchases an eligible product. The promotion is valid from June 24 to September 26, 2022. Each qualifying product comes with a qualifying Apple Gift Card. For example, when you purchase a MacBook Air, iMac, or MacBook Pro, you will receive a gift of $150. Meanwhile, you’ll get a gift card worth up to $150 if you buy an iPad Air (5th generation) or iPad Pro. In other eligible countries such as India, Apple is offering a free pair of AirPods with the purchase of any eligible product.
Typically, Apple holds regular back-to-school promotions each year. It usually gives a free product, like a pair of AirPods or an Apple gift card, with the purchase of the qualifying product. This is offered in addition to the Apple Education discount.
An Apple Back to School deal typically lasts about two months. Its 2022 promotion is live now (in the US) and will run from June 24 to September 26, 2022. However, the promotion period varies from one eligible country to another.
Completion…
If you’re a student, getting a powerful device that’s compatible and can run the most complex software can give you an edge.
If the high price puts you off buying a Mac or iPad, the Apple Education discount can bring the price down significantly, making the price a little more student-friendly. What devices are you planning to buy? Share in the comments below.