Apple Student Discounts Let You Save Big on iPads, MacBooks, More

Apple’s educational discount program has been an industry leader for some time, and it makes sense—get students into the iOS ecosystem early, and they’re more likely to stick with it. Now that school is back in session, you might be in the market for a new laptop or tablet, and being able to save hundreds of dollars is a huge incentive.

To qualify for this pricing, you must have proof of your college-student status with a valid, current student ID that includes your name, the name of your school, validity dates, and a photo. Teachers and administrators need a photo ID and proof of employment, such as a check stub or letter on school letterhead. The discounts are worth the hassle. Here’s a rundown of Apple’s best educational-pricing deals.

MacBook Pro

Apple’s new M2 processor is at the heart of its latest MacBook laptops, and the chip has made a huge difference in performance. In our review, we praised this MacBook’s stylish and capable design and industry-leading speed. These are the flagship models for the company’s portable computers and will last a student through four years of college and well into a post-graduate degree. This configuration comes with a 13-inch screen, 8GB of memory, and a 256GB SSD. Multiple other options are available, all with at least $100 and as much as $300 off. These offers also include a $150 Apple gift card.

MacBook Pro for $1,199(list price $1,299) plus a $150 gift card

MacBook Air

As something more lightweight, the MacBook Air is a solid option, and the 2022 release with an M2 processor won an Editors’ Choice award in our review. We called it “Apple’s best ultraportable laptop yet,” with a stunningly crisp and bright screen. The form factor is insanely sleek, measuring in at under a half an inch thick and weighing 2.7 pounds. This configuration comes with a 15-inch screen, 8GB of memory, and a 512GB SSD. Multiple other options are available, all at $100 off. These offers also include a $150 Apple gift card.

MacBook Air for $1,399(list price $1,499) plus a $150 gift card

iPad Pro

Have you moved on to the post-keyboard life? More and more, students are using an iPad as their primary computing device, with its improved performance, handwriting recognition with Scribble, and solid battery life. We reviewed the 12.9-inch iPad Pro and called it an “absolute hardware tour de force,” marveling at how Apple managed to pack a desktop-level CPU into a tablet with a fantastic mini LED screen. The 11-inch model is also on sale, but you get only $50 off for that one. Both iPad Pros come with a $100 Apple gift card.

iPad Pro for $999(list price $1,099) plus a $100 gift card

Mac Mini

If you already have a display you love, and you want Mac performance at a budget price and with a tiny footprint, the Mac Mini is the way to go. This version of the Editors’ Choice winner doesn’t have any big changes to the chassis, as we noted in our review. But inside the little square case is the powerful M2 processor, which delivers blazing speeds for creativity, productivity, and gaming. At under three pounds, it’s also portable enough to carry in a coat pocket. This configuration comes with an eight-core CPU, 8GB of memory, and a 256GB SSD. Multiple other options are available, all at $100 off, and every model comes with a $100 Apple gift card.

Mac Mini for $499(list price $599) plus a $100 gift card

iMac

In 2021, Apple redesigned the iMac for the first time in a while, yielding numerous improvements to the venerable all-in-one desktop. The proprietary M1 chip led to a sizable increase in speed over that of the previous Intel-powered models, and in our review, we called it the “best one for everyday home computing.” The Retina display is huge, bright, and crisp. This configuration comes with a 24-inch screen, an 8-core CPU, 8GB of memory, and a 256GB SSD. Many other configurations are available, adding gigabit Ethernet, a Magic Keyboard with Touch ID, and more memory and processing power, for as much as $113 off. Throw in a $150 gift card just for kicks.

iMac for $1,249(list price $1,299) plus a $150 gift card

Students have additional ways to save with Apple beyond hardware. AppleCare+, the company’s service plan, is 20% off. This is an absolute must-have—you don’t want to be left in the lurch in case of an accident. There’s also a $5.99-per-month student rate for Apple Music, with free access to Apple TV+.