Published Feb 17, 2023 - Apple student discounts are a great way to help college students save on some of the most advanced tech in the market. Back Market takes that a step further by offering all college and university students $20 off of already discounted Apple MacBooks, iMacs, iPads and even iPhones. Learn more about the Apple student discount and how students can find even bigger savings on Apple products.
The Apple Student Discount is fairly self-explanatory; it’s offered by Apple to current and newly accepted college students, their parents, teachers, other educators and schooling staff to buy their products at a discounted rate. The discount typically ranges from 5% to 10% off the regular retail price of Mac computers, iPads, and other Apple devices, but the rates vary by product and may also differ depending on your region.
In order to take advantage of this discount, eligible students and educators must provide proof of their status, such as a valid student ID or a faculty ID, and purchase the products through the Apple Education Store or at an Apple Retail Store.
Even though this discount can definitely help students land some savings on high-quality Apple products, it’s definitely not the best option if your goal is to save money. Shopping with a refurbished site like Back Market is a better alternative for finding the most savings on Apple products.
Apple MacBooks, iPads and even iPhones on Back Market are, on average, 30% to 70% less than buying new. Plus, students get an extra $20 discount on all purchases over $250, so you can save even more!
The fact that Apple offers a student discount at all is commendable for one of the biggest tech giants in the world, but there are a few things to keep in mind before making your purchase decision.
Limited supply
For starters, Apple only offers discounts on certain products on their student page. That means you’ll only to be able to find a few different MacBook, Mac computer, and iPad models eligible for a discount. If you were hoping to upgrade your iPhone, show off a new Apple Watch, or snag some AirPods for less, you’ll have to look elsewhere to save. On top of that, you’ll only find the most recent models of the devices that Apple does offer, so despite the 5-10% discount, you’ll still be paying top-dollar for newer tech.
How to get verified for the student Apple discount
Aside from inventory limitations, Apple also recently updated their registration process, making it more difficult for students and educators to get discount approval. At the beginning of 2022, Apple partnered with a third party site, Unidays, to handle their registrations. Here are the steps to get verified for the Apple student discount:
1. Navigate to the Unidays portal and create a new account using your personal email.
2. Once you’ve created your account, you’ll be asked to verify your student status in order to enter the student Apple Store.
3. Select the country where you’re receiving your education and search for your school. Enter how many years you’ve been studying and your expected course length (there’s an option to skip this step if you can’t find your school in the list).
4. Enter your school email address and click the verification link sent to you. If you don’t have a school email address, alternatively you can submit your school photo ID or any other form of supporting documentation that includes the expiration date, your name, and the name of your educational institution.
5. If you verified through your email, you should complete the registry process immediately, but if you verified with a document upload, it might take Unidays longer to review your submission.
Limited purchases per account
Last thing you’ll need to consider is that there’s a cap on the number of Apple products you can buy with a discount. Here’s your limitation on Apple student discount purchases per year, no matter if you bought it online, in-store or at an Authorized Campus Reseller (taken directly from Apple’s website as of Feb 2023):
Desktop: One (1) may be purchased per year
Mac mini: One (1) may be purchased per year
Notebook: One (1) may be purchased per year
iPad: Two (2) may be purchased per year
Accessories: Two (2) accessories with Education Pricing may be purchased per year
This should be more than enough tech for a single student, but if you planned on buying multiple products for your friends or as a gift, then you’ll need to look elsewhere to find savings.
The Back Market $20 student discount applies to any purchase of $250 or more. Students can use their discount once per year on any Apple products offered on our marketplace.
So if Apple doesn’t have the best deal on Apple products for students, then who does? If you’re looking for an alternative to the Apple student education store, then you’ll want to consider shopping at a refurbished site like Back Market. Back Market has everything you’d find on the Apple site including Apple MacBooks, Mac computers, Apple desktops and iPads, but for up to 30-70% off compared to the price of new. Even though these are all used Apple products, you can be reassured that they have been properly refurbished to like new condition, so you won’t even be able to tell the difference.
Students will also receive an additional $20 off the already discounted list prices on our site, so you can actually save more than 70% compared to the price of new or up to 50-60% off compared to the prices on Apple’s student discount store.
Oh, did we mention that the discount applies to ANY product on our site? Unlike on the Apple Store, you’ll be able to shop for other popular Apple products, including iPhones, AirPods and Apple Watches with your student discount. And if you prefer non-Apple tech, you can shop for those too. Need student discounts on laptops, gaming consoles, eclectic scooters or tablets? We got all that and more.
If you’ve never purchased a refurbished product before and feel a little nervous about pulling the trigger, then you’ll be excited to hear about Back Market’s purchase policies. We offer free standard shipping, a 1-year warranty and 30 days to change your mind on all purchases. We also hold the sellers on our platform to a high-standard for their refurbished products, so we’re confident that you’ll be getting a great price on amazing devices that perform like new.
We understand that most students have serious budget constraints, so buying refurbished and utilizing the Back Market student discount is likely your best option to save the most money on quality Apple products.
If you’ve already received access to the Apple Education store, then you might want to compare those prices to what you’ll see on Back Market. Here are 5 of our top picks on Apple products for students:
1. MacBook Air - (Starting around $150 on Back Market + $20 student discount on purchases $250 or more)
If you have a big campus and you plan on carrying your laptop with you everywhere you go, then you should definitely consider the MacBook Air. You’ll still get a powerful MacOS system, but at under 3lbs, you’ll definitely be happy with this MacBook’s portability.
>>Shop the latest MacBook Air M1
2. MacBook Pro - (Starting around $150 on Back Market + $20 student discount on purchases $250 or more)
If you need a little more processing power, then the MacBook Pro will serve you well. This is an ideal option for students pursuing courses in engineering, coding, design or film. Compared to the MacBook and MacBook Air, you’ll also find more options for configurations with more storage, better battery life, higher resolutions and increased RAM/storage. Here’s a popular video about the MacBook Pro from the perspective of a student:
3. iPad Air - ($60-$330 on Back Market + $20 student discount on purchases $250 or more)
The iPad Air is a great option for students who just need a simple device to take notes, surf the web and check email. It can be used as your only device if your courses don’t require anything outside of note-taking or it can make a great on-the-go, secondary device to your primary computer. If you need to take a little break, it’s also perfect for streaming your favorite shows or movies or playing games.
4. AirPods - (Starting from $80 on Back Market + $20 student discount on purchases $250 or more)
If you’re already an iPhone user, then AirPods are a must-have for any student. You’ll find uses for them, whether you need to block out distractions while you study or blow off some steam at the gym. If you need even more noise-cancellation capabilities, check out the over-ear AirPods Max, starting around the high $400’s.
5. iPhone X or later iPhone Generations - (Starting around $170 on Back Market + $20 student discount on purchases $250 or more)
As a student, your phone is basically your lifeline to your social life, extracurriculars and education. If you’re looking for a smartphone replacement that still receives Apple OS updates, then you’ll be happy to find the iPhone X series up to the latest iPhone 14 series heavily discounted on Back Market.
Other honorable mentions
Since you’re not limited to the amount of products you can buy on Back Market with your student discount, here are a few other popular Apple items that might want to consider:
Apple Watch Series 5 - stay on top of your class schedule, track your workouts and never miss a text.
Mac Pro - a powerful, stationary computer in the comfort of your own dorm.
Apple Magic Trackpad - fast and intuitive navigation and scrolling on your Mac product.
Apple TV - when you need a break to binge your favorite show or catch a movie.
Whatever you choose, you’ll be happy with the high-quality performance expected out of an Apple product, but for prices 30% to 70% cheaper than buying new.
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