Comprehensive Guide To Freebies And Discounts For College Students In The Us

College students in the United States face significant financial pressures, from tuition and housing to daily living expenses. Fortunately, many brands and service providers recognize this challenge and offer exclusive freebies, discounts, and promotional programs designed specifically for the student demographic. These offers span a wide range of categories, including technology, food delivery, fashion, software, and entertainment. By leveraging their student status, individuals can access substantial savings and free products that ease the burden of college costs. This guide details the most reliable methods and verified programs available to students, based on current information from trusted sources.

Verified Platforms for Student Discounts

Several digital platforms specialize in aggregating student discounts across hundreds of brands. These services verify student status, typically through a valid .edu email address or institutional enrollment records, to unlock exclusive pricing and free offers.

UNiDAYS

UNiDAYS is a prominent digital platform that provides verified students with access to hundreds of brand deals. According to the platform’s description, it serves an audience of over 29 million verified users. Students can join for free by registering with a personal email address and verifying their student status. Once verified, they gain 12 months of access to deals both online and in-store. For in-store purchases, users display their UNiDAYS ID at checkout in participating locations.

The platform offers discounts across multiple categories: - Fashion: Brands such as Aerie (extra 20% off), Hollister (extra 10% off in-store), American Eagle (25-50% off sitewide plus an extra 20% off), and PacSun (extra 10% off). - Food and Delivery: Uber Eats offers $10 off a first order through UNiDAYS. HelloFresh provides 55% off the first box with free shipping. - Other Categories: Deals extend to technology, travel, and entertainment.

Student Beans

Student Beans is another verification-based platform that offers student discounts. It is cited as the provider of discounts for brands such as Anthropologie (10% off full-price items) and Home Chef (50% off the first four boxes, equivalent to 20 free meals). Students verify their enrollment to receive unique discount codes.

Technology and Software Freebies

Educational technology costs can add up, but many major software providers offer free access to students with valid institutional credentials.

Microsoft Office 365 Education

Students at eligible institutions can receive Office 365 Education for free. This package includes Word, Excel, PowerPoint, OneNote, and Microsoft Teams. Eligibility typically requires a valid college email address from a participating school.

Google Workspace for Education

Google Sheets, part of the free web-based Google Docs Editors suite, is widely used by students and educational organizations. While not a sample program, it represents a free productivity tool available to anyone with a Google account.

Amazon Prime Student

Amazon offers a six-month free trial of Prime membership to college students. This includes: - Free two-day shipping on over 100 million items, including textbooks. - Unlimited streaming of Prime movies and TV shows. - Unlimited photo storage with Prime Photos. - 20% off pre-order and new release video games.

After the six-month trial, students are automatically enrolled in Prime Student at 50% off the regular Prime membership rate (currently $69 annually). Additionally, students receive two months of free Kindle Unlimited. The subscription also includes benefits like 5% back on select pickup orders and a free GrubHub+ membership.

JetBrains All Products Pack

Students with a .edu email address can download the JetBrains All Products Pack, which includes award-winning developer tools. The company provides this pack free of charge to students.

Tableau

Tableau offers free access to its data visualization software for students. Details on the specific eligibility and sign-up process are available through the Tableau academic program.

Free Food and Drinks

Food expenses are a major part of student budgets. Many restaurants and apps offer free or discounted food to students, though some promotions are not widely advertised.

Restaurant Offers

• Chick-fil-A: Reports indicate that college students can receive a free drink with their meal by showing a student ID. The chain also operates a rewards app called Chick-fil-A One, where users earn points redeemable for free food and birthday rewards.
• Fast Food Discounts: Many fast-food establishments offer 10% discounts to students, though these are often not advertised online. Students are encouraged to ask at local restaurants about available discounts.

Meal Kit and Delivery Services

• HelloFresh: Students can get 55% off their first box plus free shipping through UNiDAYS.
• Home Chef: Through Student Beans, students can receive 50% off their first four boxes.
• Huel: Students can unlock a 10% discount on purchases of $75 or more by verifying their status. An alternative offer provides $20 off the first purchase through a specific link.
• Uber Eats: New student users can get $10 off their first order via UNiDAYS.

Fashion and Apparel Discounts

Fashion is a popular category for student discounts. Platforms like UNiDAYS and Student Beans provide access to major retailers.

Verified Fashion Offers

• Aéropostale: 15% off sitewide at Aéropostale.com upon verification.
• Alphalete Athletics: 10% off for verified students.
• American Eagle: 20% off purchases for students verified through UNiDAYS.
• Anthropologie: 10% off full-price items via Student Beans.
• ASOS: Students receive a unique discount code after filling out a form and verifying status.

Financial and Rewards Apps

Students can earn money or gift cards through apps that reward everyday activities, such as shopping or taking surveys. These earnings can be redeemed for free products.

Drop App

Drop allows users to link debit or credit cards to earn points on purchases. Points can be redeemed for gift cards to retailers like Amazon, Netflix, and Starbucks. The app is available for both Android and iOS devices.

Survey and Rewards Platforms

Several platforms are mentioned for earning money through surveys or small tasks: - FreeCash: Pays users for testing games, using apps, and taking surveys. - Earn Haus: Offers up to $25 per survey with same-day payment via PayPal, Venmo, or check. - KingOpinion: Claims to pay up to $210 per survey. - Swagbucks: Pays users for watching videos, taking surveys, and other activities; new users receive a $10 sign-up bonus.

Other Freebies and Perks

Entertainment and Media

• The Washington Post: Signing up for six months of free Amazon Prime includes access to six months of The Washington Post online.
• Museums: Select museums, such as the Guggenheim Museum and The Museum of Modern Art (MoMA), offer free admission to students from certain universities with a valid college ID.

Budgeting Tools

• You Need a Budget (YNAB): Students can get this budgeting software free for an entire year.

Gym Memberships and Fitness Apps

• Adaptiv: Students receive 50% off monthly or yearly subscriptions for hyper-personalized workout plans.

How to Maximize Freebies and Discounts

To take full advantage of available offers, students should follow these steps:

1. Verify Student Status: Register on platforms like UNiDAYS and Student Beans using a valid .edu email or institutional credentials.
2. Check Direct Brand Websites: Many brands list student discounts on their own websites, often under a “Student Discount” or “Education” section.
3. Ask In-Store: For restaurants and retail stores, inquire directly about student discounts, even if not advertised.
4. Use University Resources: IT departments at universities often provide free access to expensive software packages through site licenses.
5. Monitor Expiration Dates: Free trials, such as Amazon Prime Student’s six-month offer, automatically convert to paid subscriptions if not canceled.

Conclusion

College students have access to a wide variety of freebies and discounts that can significantly reduce living expenses. From free software and discounted meal kits to fashion deals and cash-back apps, the opportunities are diverse and valuable. By verifying student status through trusted platforms and staying informed about brand offers, students can make the most of these exclusive benefits. Always review terms and conditions for eligibility requirements and expiration dates to ensure continued access to these savings.

Sources

1. MoneyPantry: Freebies for College Students
2. UNiDAYS Official Website
3. Saving for College: Free Stuff for College Students
4. Hip2Save: College Student Discounts