Love to Shop, but on a Budget? These 22 Retailers and Apps Offer Student Discounts
Our list will help you save on clothes, cosmetics, food, and more
Love to Shop, but on a Budget? These 22 Retailers and Apps Offer Student Discounts
Our list will help you save on clothes, cosmetics, food, and more
Love to shop, but have a limited budget? Not to worry. Many national and local retailers offer discounts to college students that can result in substantial savings. Simply use your Boston University email online, and you can save as much as 25 percent on items from food to housewares to apparel.
Check out our list of stores and services that could save you money. Many have more than one spot in and around Boston and most have online options. So, before you head out to do fall shopping, check out our list. You’ll be glad you did.
1.
ASOS, the popular British online fashion and cosmetics retailer, offers stylish clothing lines for both men and women. It’s a must for anyone looking for the latest in trendy fashion, whether that’s hoodies and jeans or evening wear. You’ll also find sunglasses, bags, scarves, hats, watches, jewelry, and gift items. The shop also sells face and body products.
Discount: 10 percent off with an .edu email address
Location: Online
2.
Whether you’re booking a trip home or embarking on an adventure to someplace new, Amtrak, the nation’s passenger rail service, has routes connecting Boston to destinations nationwide. (Amtrak offers service to 46 of the country’s 48 contiguous states, as well as 9 Canadian cities.) Students aged 17 to 24 who purchase their tickets one day ahead of a trip can travel at a discounted rate.
Discount: 15 percent off
Location: Online
3.
Grubhub is an indispensable online food delivery company. Simply download the app, choose one of the many local restaurants, and get food delivered straight to your door with a free Grubhub+ membership with your BU email. Some popular local restaurants offering Grubhub delivery are T. Anthony’s Pizzeria, Sweetgreen, and Zaftigs.
Discount: Various student discounts and promotions on the app. Grubhub+ includes $0 delivery and lower service fees on eligible orders, 5 percent back in Grubhub+ credit on off-campus pickup orders, exclusive deals, donation-matching at checkout, and more.
Location: Online
4.
To use this free app, all you need is a valid student email address. UNiDAYS provides discount codes for food and drink and various retailers, like Levi’s, Dr. Martens, Express, Apple, Adidas, and more. Most discounts are good for online shopping only.
Discount: Varies based on the item
Location: Online
5.
Designed for college students, Amazon Prime Student is a six-month trial service that offers free two-day delivery on many Amazon orders, unlimited streaming of Prime movies and TV shows, and exclusive deals on phone cases, snacks, apparel, personal-care items, and more. At the end of the six-month trial, students can enroll in Amazon Prime at half the usual cost—plus, you’ll be eligible for deals exclusive to students. You’ll need a valid student email address.
Discount: The six-month trial period is free. Students are then eligible for half off ($7.49 a month) regular Amazon Prime membership. Exclusive offers include 10 percent off flights and hotels with StudentUniverse, a free three-month premium subscription to Calm, one month of free homework help, live tutors, and less stressful midterms with Course Hero—and an extra $5 off your first Amazon Resale purchase.
Location: Online
6.
Apple provides discounts on numerous electronics, including education pricing discounts on iPads and MacBooks, AppleCare, and software like Final Cut Pro. You can also get discounts on Apple’s popular music subscription for up to 48 months and access to Apple TV+ for a limited time, thrown in for free with an Apple Music student subscription.
Discount: Discount depends on the product—see website for details
Locations: Online; 815 Boylston St., Boston; 199 Boylston St., Chestnut Hill; 100 CambridgeSide Place, Cambridge
7.
The Wall Street Journal is an essential read not only for those looking to stay abreast of the latest business and financial news, but also for those looking for a more conservative analysis of politics. The paper’s feature and arts reporting is also superb. Students are eligible for a discount to the paper’s online website and mobile app.
Discount: Student Digital Pack for $2 a month or $24 for one year (then $4 every month as long as you’re a student).
Location: Online
8.
Moleskine is known for its timeless, elegant notebooks, planners, wallets, and pens. You’ll find classic black notebooks and special edition notebooks—including Harry Potter and Hello Kitty—as well as personalized and customizable notebooks and planners.
Discount: 15 percent off with an .edu email address through UNiDAYS
Locations: Online
9.
While it’s not a student discount, Honey is still a great tool for saving online. The browser extension helps you save big by finding discounts and deals when you visit a retailer’s website—for food, clothing, furniture, and more. Honey also offers the option to join Honey Gold, which gets you points that you can redeem as gift cards to your favorite stores.
Discount: Varies depending on site and product
Location: Online
1 0.
Goodwill isn’t just a chain of thrift shops. The national nonprofit organization provides job placement and skill-building training for tens of thousands of people each year. Your purchases at Goodwill stores help to support those efforts. Stop by and browse their extensive inventory of used clothing, art, jewelry, books, housewares and furniture, vinyl records, and more.
Discount: 10 percent off entire purchase with a student ID on Thursdays only
Location: 965 Commonwealth Ave., Boston, and at any Goodwill store
11.
This popular jeanswear brand offers high-quality timeless styles at an affordable price. Pick up some new jeans for everyday wear or a fleece-lined jacket for the cold weather to come. You’ll need to verify your student status through SheerID, a portal similar to UNiDAYS, here.
Discount: 15 percent off with an .edu email addres
Location: Online
12.
If you’re looking for reasonably priced jeans or a timeless top, clothing and accessories store American Eagle Outfitters is the place for you. The store sells men’s and women’s apparel: jeans, hoodies, sweaters, jackets, coats, and more. It emphasizes body positivity and diversity, with women’s sizes from 000 to 24 and extra short to extra long. Partner store Aerie carries comfortable undergarments.
Discount: 20 percent off with Unidays
Locations: CambridgeSide, 100 CambridgeSide Place, Cambridge
13.
If you’re looking for a great pair of running shoes, sweatshirts, fleece tops, running shorts, or pants, Adidas has it all. This longtime favorite of athletes is renowned for its durable sportswear.
Discount: 30 percent off and free shipping, online only with Unidays
Location: Online
14.
Madewell is known for its colorful women’s tees, dresses, sweaters, skirts, and accessories, as well as for its sustainably produced denim jeans. The company also has a vibrant men’s clothing line, available at the Newbury Street location. Popular labels include Brixton, Madewell x Lively, Madewell x Penfield, and Vans.
Discount: 15 percent off online and in-store with student ID
Locations: Online; 329 Newbury St., Boston; Prudential Center, 800 Boylston St., Boston
15.
A must for those who prefer a preppy, tailored look, J.Crew offers classic clothing and accessories for men, women, and children. Among the brand names are Banjanan, Hatch, and Tribe Alive. You’ll find tweed blazers, turtleneck sweater dresses, and plenty of cashmere—suitable for the cold-weather months ahead.
Discount: 15 percent off online and in-store with student ID
Locations: Online; 100 Huntington Ave., Boston; 199 Boylston St., Chestnut Hill
16.
A self-described “preppy chain for the whole family,” Vineyard Vines offers a wide range of button-down shirts, polos, blazers, sweaters, pants, ties, and belts, as well as colorful shorts for men, and blouses, skirts, and shorts for women.
Discount: 15 percent off with student ID
Locations: Online; 800 Boylston St., Boston; 39 Charles St., Boston; 490 Assembly Row, Somerville; 199 Boylston St., Chestnut Hill
17.
Love to cook, but unsure what to buy? Hello Fresh is for you. The online food delivery service provides ingredients and recipes for easy-to-make and nutritious meals. The service has four meal-plan options: meat and veggie, veggie, family friendly, and low calorie. You can choose how many people you want to feed and how many recipes/meals to order each week.
Discount: 55 percent off on your first box (with free shipping) for new customers, and ongoing 15 percent off after that (discount applied for 52 weeks) with UNiDAYS
Location: Online
18.
With affordable prices on clothing fit for every occasion, H&M is the ultimate back-to-school shopping brand. Their wide selection of casual wear, workwear, and seasonal items makes H&M your one-stop shop for all of your clothing needs.
Discount: 20 percent off with Student Beans
Location: Online
19.
Designed for college students, this deal offers two essential entertainment services on one bill (with the first three months free). On Spotify, listen to millions of songs, curated playlists, and original podcasts, and, on Hulu, watch full seasons of Hulu Originals.
Discount: Spotify Premium Student with Hulu (with ads) with SheerID. Free for three months and $5.99/month after that. Cancel anytime.
Location: Online
20.
Inspired by runway trends and street fashion, Steve Madden caters to young, fashion-conscious shoppers by offering high-end looks at more affordable prices. While primarily known for shoes, Steve Madden also offers a wide range of handbags, apparel, and other accessories.
Discount: 25 percent off with a valid school email address with SheerID
Location: Online
21.
A staple of casual fashion, Converse offers timeless footwear styles that complement every outfit. From their signature Chuck Taylor All Star sneakers to innovative collaborations with designers and brands, Converse items are sure to never go out of style.
Discount: 20 percent off with Student Beans
Location: Online; One Lovejoy Wharf, Boston; 390 Artisan Way, Somerville
22.
Looking to strengthen your mind and core? CorePower blends the mental clarity of yoga with all the benefits of a power workout, offering a wide range of classes from restorative to high-intensity, for all skill levels.
Discount: 20 percent off All Access Membership or Class Packs
Location: 399 Boylston St., Boston; 1119 Commonwealth Ave., and many other Boston and Cambridge locations
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