Best Headphones for College Students: Get the Lowdown Here

✨ So which are the best headphones for college? 

Our guide to the best headphones for college students reveals that the Sony WH-1000XM4 has all-round capabilities, while the Apple AirPods Max is the choice for music students who need rich high-res audio. The JBL Vibe 200TWS is the budget option. Those who prefer over-ear headphones can go for the Bose QuietComfort 45. For in-ear wireless wear, the Samsung Galaxy Buds 2 Pro takes the cake. 

Why you can trust this list 

Our in-house expert reviewers examine pretty much every notable headphone set that hits the market. That's because we're one of the world's most popular marketplaces for refurbished electronics, so we get to check them all out in detail. Before selling them, they go through a thorough refurbishment by our verified partners, and they pass on even more in-depth knowledge. 

So, we know the score on all the headphones we review and recommend. You can trust that we've put them through their paces, so that they measure up to the original new benchmarks. This allows us to have well-informed, knowledgeable opinions. We provide full transparency, without fear or favor. We also use advanced analytics to track the best-sellers in real time, and keep a close eye on user feedback, allowing us to throw as wide a net as possible and give you unbiased, accurate guidance. 

🏆 Best all-rounder for studying: Sony WH-1000XM4 

Sony WH-1000XM4 specifications 

• Headphone type: Over-ear 

• Wireless: Yes 

• Noise cancelling: Active Noise Cancellation (ANC) 

• Battery life: Up to 32 hours  

• Bluetooth multipoint: Yes 

• Microphone: Yes 

• Water resistant: No 

Sony WH-1000XM4 pros and cons 

Sony WH-1000XM4: features and benefits 

  The Sony WH-1000XM4 is the ideal balance between audio performance, comfort and affordability. It has a snug fit that doesn't start feeling tight the longer you wear it. That's thanks to soft synthetic leather ear pads that are not only durable, they're also nice and breathable to prevent you from feeling stuffy in hotter weather. Its noise cancellation abilities are rated as excellent among reviewers, and you can adjust these to let in ambient sound if you want, or to listen to people speaking. The listening experience is very satisfying, and it supports Sony's 360 Reality virtual surround audio. You can use them in wireless mode or plug them in. All of this earns it our vote in the overall category of best headphones for college students. 

✨ Music becomes an immersive experience with the Sony WH-1000XM4. 

🏆 Best headphones for college students on a budget: JBL Vibe 200TWS 

JBL Vibe 200TWS specifications 

• Headphone type: In-ear 

• Wireless: Yes 

• Noise cancelling: No 

• Battery life: Up to 35 hours  

• Bluetooth multipoint: No 

• Microphone: Yes 

• Water resistant: IP54 rating 

JBL Vibe 200TWS pros and cons 

JBL Vibe 200TWS: features and benefits 

The JBL Vibe 200TWS is a budget earphone that punches well above its weight when it comes to sound quality. Sure, it doesn't have noise cancelling, but that's a small trade-off in return for it being one the only headphone on our list that has an IP54 rating for water- and dust-resistance. These are go-anywhere earpieces that deliver bright vocals and instrumentation. You can also get a companion app that gives you control over the EQ settings. They make an excellent budget choice that you can wear to study with background music or blast your favorite tracks. If you're looking for something compact, lightweight, and extremely budget friendly, this one gets the nod as one of the cheapest and best headphones for college students. 

✨ The JBL Vibe 200TWS packs a lot of listening pleasure at a budget price.

🏆 Best headphones for music students: Apple AirPods Max 

Apple AirPods Max specifications 

• Headphone type: Over-ear 

• Wireless: Yes 

• Noise cancelling: Active Noise Cancellation (ANC) 

• Battery life: Up to 20 hours with ANC  

• Bluetooth multipoint: Pairs with Apple devices 

• Microphone: Yes 

• Water resistant: Not rated 

Apple AirPods Max pros and cons 

Apple AirPods Max: features and benefits 

When you need to hear every nuance in the music, the Apple AirPods Max are some of the very best headphones for college students that you can get. Granted, they're a bit on the expensive side, which is why we're recommending them specifically for music students. Of course, true audiophiles with the money to spend also drool over these, but realistically these have the kind of pro-level features that those studying music will get the most benefit from. Its trump card is the unique Spatial Audio feature with head tracking. This produces a deep, rich sound, allowing you to hear all the little details in the music that you need to if you're studying songwriting and arrangement. It's more than a set of headphones – the Apple AirPods Max are a valuable tool for all kinds of serious music course work. 

✨ The Apple AirPods Max produce superior audio quality to hear every musical detail.

🏆 Best over-ear headphones for college students: Bose QuietComfort 45 

Bose QuietComfort 45 specifications  

• Headphone type: Over-ear 

• Wireless: Yes 

• Noise cancelling: Active Noise Cancellation (ANC) 

• Battery life: Up to 21 hours with ANC  

• Bluetooth multipoint: Pairs with up to 2 Bose audio products 

• Microphone: Yes 

• Water resistant: Not rated

Bose QuietComfort 45 pros and cons

Bose QuietComfort 45: features and benefits 

You don't get many audio equipment pedigrees like that of Bose. While they're a little pricey, they're worth every cent. You can buy one with full confidence that they'll last you for years. And if you prefer over-ear models, these are the pick of the bunch for best headphones for college students who want to block out noise and concentrate with some light music in the background. Most noise-cancelling headphones struggle to filter out high frequency sounds, but that's no problem for this excellent over-ear option. You can download the Bose Music app for even greater control over EQ and boost whatever range you need to. The headphones are really comfortable, so you can wear them for extended research periods. 

✨ The Bose QuietComfort 45 is all about blissful concentration.

🏆 Best in-ear headphones for students: Samsung Galaxy Buds 2 Pro

Samsung Galaxy Buds 2 Pro specifications  

• Headphone type: In-ear 

• Wireless: Yes 

• Noise cancelling: Active Noise Cancellation (ANC) 

• Battery life: Up to 7.5 hours  

• Bluetooth multipoint: Yes 

• Microphone: Yes 

• Water resistant: Not rated 

Samsung Galaxy Buds 2 Pro pros and cons 

Samsung Galaxy Buds 2 Pro: features and benefits 

It's the unique details that make the Samsung Galaxy Buds 2 Pro perform so well in our evaluation of the best headphones for college students. The active noise cancellation has been upgraded over the previous model, and some reviewers have noted that it now surpasses its Apple counterparts. They are very comfortable to wear, thanks to a molded design – you won't get the urge to rip them out of your ears after a few hours. They also allow you to listen to higher-res audio through Samsung's Scalable Bluetooth connectivity, specifically designed to bring extra clarity and 360-degree immersion for streaming music. 

✨ Samsung Galaxy Buds 2 Pro combine comfort with advanced audio technology.

Comparing the best headphones for college students 

*Prices written at time of publication. Prices can change daily (subject to change). 

Shopping tips on the best headphones for college students  

The best shopping tip we can give you is to buy refurbished headphones. We mean it sincerely, for three big reasons. First, you'll pay a much cheaper price than buying new. And we throw in an extra $20 student discount on anything you buy. That's a powerful incentive for college students who must balance the cost against all the other kinds of college expenses. Not to mention leaving some spare for entertainment and buying the gear you need to support your college sports teams.  

Second, there's no compromise on quality. There's a huge difference between refurbished and second-hand. Refurbished headphones have been completely stripped down, cleaned and reconditioned. Any faulty parts are replaced. Then they're put through a battery of tests to ensure that they perform up to the original new benchmarks. You can trust their reliability and performance as you would trust a new one.  

Third, you get direct support from us. Every headphone set comes with a 1-year warranty. We're fully confident in what we sell, but if you want even more peace of mind, you can also use our BackUp protection plan. Back Market provides high quality, low prices and reassurance.  

As for the headphones, each have their strengths and applications. While the Sony is an all-round campus companion, the AirPods are more suited to those actually studying music. If cost is your main concern, the JBLs deliver very good audio quality at a surprisingly low price. And of course, we all have our preferences on over-ear or in-ear headphones. Fans of the former can get Bose luxury, and Samsung Galaxy Buds are a solid recommendation for the latter.   

✨ When it comes to choosing the best headphones for college students, it’s a matter of balancing your personal needs with the audio capabilities and special features of each model, and what your budget allows. 

Trade in your old devices for quick cash   

Want to save more money when you buy headphones? What student doesn't, right? You can offset your purchase by trading in an electronic device you don't use anymore, like an old smartphone. All you need to do is give us the specs in a short online form. Moments later you'll receive an offer for your phone from one of our third-party refurbishers. Simple accept the quote (if you like it) and ship your phone to us, on our dollar. Then just wait 5 business days and your money will arrive in your account.