Getting discounts as a student is always appealing. With the high costs of tuition, books, housing, and other expenses, saving money wherever possible can make a big difference. When it comes to Amazon Prime, one of the most popular membership programs today, many students wonder if they can get a discount on the regular Prime membership price.
Can students get Amazon Prime at a discounted rate?
Yes, students can get a discount on Amazon Prime membership. Amazon offers Prime Student, which gives students access to all the benefits of Prime at about half the regular cost. The Prime Student membership is $69 per year, compared to the regular $139 annual Prime membership fee.
To qualify for the discounted Prime Student membership, you must be a student at an accredited college, university, or vocational school. You’ll need to provide proof of your student status when signing up. An .edu email address typically works for verification. The Prime Student membership can be used for up to four years while enrolled in school.
What verification is required to get the student discount?
When signing up for Prime Student, Amazon will ask for verification of your student status. Here are some of the accepted options for providing proof:
- School email address – Your .edu email from your educational institution
- Student ID card
- Tuition or enrollment bill
- Other documents from your school proving enrollment
As long as you have one of these items handy, the verification process is quick and easy. Amazon wants to make it as simple as possible for students to get access to discounted Prime.
What happens after the four year discount period ends?
The Prime Student membership and discounted rate is available for four years or until you graduate, whichever comes first. After the four years is up, your membership will automatically convert to a regular Prime membership at the full $139 annual rate.
If you have not graduated yet, you can verify your ongoing student status with Amazon again to extend the Prime Student membership for another four years from that date. As long as you remain an active student, you can keep renewing the discounted membership every four years.
Once you graduate, the full Prime membership rate will apply upon renewal. However, you get to keep enjoying Prime benefits for the remainder of the current membership year. The price increase takes effect on your next renewal after graduating.
What benefits do you get with a Prime Student membership?
Prime Student provides all the same benefits as a regular Prime membership. This includes:
- Free two-day shipping on millions of eligible items
- Free same-day or one-day delivery in select areas
- Unlimited access to Prime Video streaming
- Prime Music for streaming songs and playlists
- Prime Reading ebook and magazine access
- Prime Try Before You Buy for clothing
- Free gaming with Prime Gaming
- Discounts at Whole Foods Market
You get the full suite of Prime benefits for half the regular cost with a Prime Student membership. It provides tremendous value and convenience for students looking to shop on Amazon and take advantage of other Amazon services.
Are there any differences in benefits versus regular Prime?
Prime Student offers the complete set of Prime benefits with no restrictions. The only difference compared to regular Prime is the 50% discount on the membership fee.
All other benefits are identical, including the shipping options, streaming services, and more. The Prime Student membership gives you the full experience at the student rate.
Can you share Prime Student with others?
Unlike the regular Prime membership that allows sharing some benefits with another adult in your household, the Prime Student membership is for the student only. It cannot be shared with anyone else.
However, if you live with roommates or family who also want Prime benefits, they can get their own Prime Student membership if they are eligible students too. Each student needs their own account and membership though.
How do you sign up for a Prime Student membership?
Signing up for Prime Student is easy and only takes a few minutes when you have your student verification ready. Here are the steps to get started with a Prime Student membership:
- Go to amazon.com and hover over “Try Prime” near the top of the screen. Select “Try Prime Student” from the dropdown menu.
- Click the “Start your 6-month trial” button.
- Log in to your Amazon account or create a new account if you don’t already have one.
- Enter your student information from an .edu email, student ID, or other document for verification.
- Start enjoying your Prime Student benefits!
The first 6 months are free on a trial basis so you can experience the benefits before paying. After the 6-month trial, your Prime Student membership will convert to a paid membership at the discounted annual rate.
Do you need an .edu email address?
Although an .edu email address from your school is the easiest way to verify student status, it is not absolutely required. If you don’t have a university email, you can provide other documentation like a student ID card, tuition bill, or enrollment verification letter.
As long as you have some official proof of being a student, you can sign up for Prime Student without an .edu email address specifically. Amazon provides flexibility on the types of verification accepted.
Can you get a refund if you cancel Prime Student?
Yes, you can get a pro-rated refund when cancelling Prime Student within the first year. After the 6-month free trial ends, if you cancel anytime in the next 6 months, Amazon will refund the remaining unused portion of the $69 annual fee.
To receive the refund, you simply need to cancel your membership online through your Amazon account. The refund amount for the unused time left will be automatically calculated and processed back to your original payment method.
After the first year, Prime Student memberships cannot be cancelled and refunded. You have to wait for the full year term to expire if cancelling after month 12.
Should students get an Amazon Prime membership?
Here are some of the key benefits that make Prime Student worthwhile for many students:
- Convenience – Free fast shipping from Amazon makes it easy to order essentials, supplies, and more when you need them.
- Value – Prime Student provides over $200 in value with free services like streaming, books, and music.
- Savings – Getting Prime at half price leaves more money for other college expenses.
- Entertainment – Unlimited TV shows, movies, and music help students relax and destress.
The discounts and conveniences add up to make Prime Student a solid value for most students. It can save time and money compared to non-members. The extensive entertainment options are also appealing for college life.
However, the membership may not make sense for all students. Those who rarely shop on Amazon or use Prime services may find the $69 membership fee hard to justify. But for frequent Amazon shoppers, it can pay for itself quickly in shipping savings alone.
How often do students need to use Prime to break even?
Here is a look at approximately how many Amazon orders with Prime shipping a student needs to make in a year to break even on the $69 Prime Student membership:
| Number of Prime Orders | Break Even Point |
| 10 orders | $138 in shipping fees without Prime |
| 15 orders | $207 in shipping fees without Prime |
| 20 orders | $276 in shipping fees without Prime |
With most Prime eligible products having free 2-day shipping that costs $6.49 on non-Prime orders, a student would need to place around 10-15 typical orders to offset the Prime Student membership fee through free shipping alone. More orders beyond that point go toward additional savings.
What products do students shop for with Prime shipping?
Here are some of the most common Prime eligible products that students take advantage of for fast free shipping:
- Textbooks – Both new and used textbooks can be purchased through Amazon with Prime shipping.
- School supplies – Notebooks, pens, highlighters, calculators, and other school supplies.
- Electronics – Laptops, tablets, headphones, computer accessories.
- Dorm room essentials – Bedding, storage bins, decor, cleaning supplies.
- Clothing and shoes.
- Personal care items – Shampoo, soap, dental products, feminine products.
- Groceries – Amazon Fresh offers free 1-2 hour delivery on groceries.
- Snacks and beverages – Granola bars, chips, coffee, energy drinks.
Pretty much anything a student might need for school, dorm life, their apartment, or daily essentials can be ordered with fast Prime shipping. It makes getting necessities quick and convenient for college.
Key takeaways on Prime Student membership
Here are some key points to remember about Amazon Prime Student memberships:
- Available for all college students at 50% off Prime – Just $69 per year.
- Provides the complete set of Prime benefits – Free shipping, streaming, music, books, etc.
- Easy to sign up if you have student verification.
- Can be used for 4 years while enrolled in school.
- Offers good value if you shop regularly on Amazon.
- Lets students order essentials quickly and conveniently.
The large discounts and included services make Prime Student an attractive membership for most college students. Signing up is quick with proof of your student status.
Remember to take advantage of the 6-month free trial so you can evaluate if the membership is worthwhile for your needs as a student. With thousands of eligible free shipping items on Amazon, chances are Prime Student can start saving you time and money right away.
Conclusion
Amazon Prime Student provides college students with a heavily discounted version of Prime membership. For just $69 per year, students get free two-day shipping on millions of products as well as additional benefits like video and music streaming. With frequent Amazon orders, the shipping perks alone can easily offset the membership cost. Signing up is fast when you have a school email or other student verification handy. Overall, Prime Student offers convenience and savings that make it a great fit for most college students who regularly shop on Amazon.
