Between online classes, assignments, and web-based research, it’s nearly impossible to be in school without a computer.
But investing in a brand-new laptop or tablet comes with a huge price tag — and right when you’re starting to pay tuition and housing, too.
If the thought of all these concurrent costs freaks you out, I don’t blame you! Luckily for you, I’m a lawyer and I read the fine print so you don’t have to.
You can save on your laptop, tablet, or other tech for school with Apple’s education discount, which is available for students, parents of students, and educators.
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How Apple’s Education Discount Works
Say you’re browsing computers and have decided that the best option for you will be an Apple product. You’ve narrowed it down to a MacBook Air or iPad Pro, but the price tag is a turn-off.
Instead of buying the new MacBook or iPad for the normal consumer price, navigate to Apple’s Education Store. You can find it at the bottom of any Apple page or by searching “Apple for Education.”
Once you're within the Education Store, browse those prices again. You'll see education pricing on Macs, iPads, Apple Watch, and select accessories.
For example, Education pricing usually takes about $100 off a MacBook — a MacBook Air that's $1,299 in the regular store runs $1,199 through the Education Store — and up to $200 off a desktop like the Mac Studio. Apple's most affordable Mac, the MacBook Neo, drops from $699 to $599. On iPads, expect $20 to $100 off depending on the model.
And it doesn't stop there! Education pricing covers Apple's creative software, too. Apple Creator Studio — Final Cut Pro, Logic Pro, Pixelmator Pro, Motion, Compressor, and MainStage — is $2.99 a month for college students and educators instead of $12.99, and you get three months free with a new Mac or qualifying iPad.
During Apple's back-to-school window, buying a qualifying Mac or iPad with education pricing gets you an Apple Gift Card — in 2026 that's $150 with a MacBook Pro and $100 with a MacBook Air, iPad Air, or iPad Pro, on purchases made between July 16 and September 24. Students and educators can also save up to 10% on AppleCare coverage for a new Mac or iPad year-round.
Even services like Apple Music are cheaper for students. Apple Music Student is $6.99 a month once you verify your student status — and right now it includes Apple TV at no extra cost. You can keep the student rate for up to 48 months.
FAQs
Who’s the Apple education discount for?
Apple's education pricing is available to current and newly accepted college students and their parents, plus faculty, staff, and homeschool teachers of all grade levels. Education pricing comes with annual limits per buyer, not per kid: in a given year you can buy one desktop, one Mac mini, one MacBook, one display, and one Apple Watch, plus two iPads and two accessories — and those limits are the same whether you shop online, in a store, or through a campus reseller.
Can I get the education discount in person at the Apple Store?
Yes! Mention to the salesperson helping you that you're a student or educator, and you can get the Education Store price right then and there — just bring your student ID or school email so you can verify your status.
Is there any student ID or faculty verification when you buy through the Apple Education Store?
No. Apple asks you to verify your student or educator status before education pricing is applied, and it routinely audits education purchases after the fact. Some offers — like Apple Creator Studio and the Apple Music student plan — require verification up front, usually through your school email. Keep your student ID or school email handy whether you're buying online or in a store. When you sign up for the Apple Music student subscription, you have to verify your student status via your student email.
Which Apple products are included in educational pricing?
Education pricing covers most of Apple's lineup: MacBook Neo, MacBook Air, MacBook Pro, iMac, Mac mini, and Mac Studio; iPad, iPad mini, iPad Air, and iPad Pro; Apple Watch Series 11, SE 3, and Ultra 3 (Hermès models are excluded); Studio Display and Studio Display XDR; and accessories like Apple Pencil Pro, Magic Keyboard, and iPad cases. iPhone is the notable exception — it's sold at the same price in the Education Store as everywhere else, though Apple Trade In can still bring the cost down on a new model.
Students and educators can also save up to 10% on AppleCare coverage for a new Mac or iPad.
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