Bargain Guide for Students: 19 Sites That Offer Sweet Deals

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One of the many benefits of being a student are the nearly endless discounts. Carry your student ID with you to get great deals in places like movie theaters, restaurants and even nightclubs. Being a student can also get you bargains on shopping, computers, books and even travel. Read on to discover 19 of the best places on the Web to find fantastic student discounts.
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Sales for Students

Discount Clubs

Many local businesses offer special discounts just to students at neighborhood colleges, so make sure to carry your student ID at all times. A lot of national and online discount clubs and cards are only available to students. These clubs are often the best places to look for deals on food, clothing and entertainment.

1. Edhance

Edhance offers an unusual twist on the student discount club. Rather than take discounts off the top of purchases, members who have registered their credit or debit cards receive cash back when shopping with Edhance partners. Registration is free, and is only open to students with proof of enrollment. They partner with tons of popular retailers - you can use Edhance to get cash back on your art supplies from Utrecht, your dorm decor from Target, your shoes from Puma, and so much more.

2. Student Advantage

This popular program has really cornered the market on student discount cards. They charge a small annual fee, but they partner with an unparalleled range of popular vendors and services, from Amtrak to Urban Outfitters to Drugstore.com to Barnes and Noble and many, many more.

3. Student Bistro

The Student Bistro is a site that compiles lists of student discounts that don't require buying a special card. They categorize things with the college student in mind and offer forums where users can share their own discoveries.

4. Student Savings Club

The Student Savings Club is a service offered for free in partnership with schools to help you find student discounts in your area. They also offer a few online deals with national retailers.

Shopping for Computers

Computer Software and Hardware

Computers represent a huge expense for most students. First you need the hardware - depending on your courses, that might mean a laptop, printer, scanner, web cam and more. Then you need the software. While many popular programs are available for free, some of the most essential apps for students - such as word processors like Microsoft Office - can really set you back. Check out the following sites for hot deals on some very cool technology.

5. Academic Superstore

This student discount mega-store focuses mostly on computer software and applications, but they also offer deals on computer hardware like web cams and Wacom tablets, A/V equipment, books, DVDs and backpacks.

6. Apple Store for Education

The best place for Mac computers, software and accessories is right at the source. The Apple store offers big discounts for students and educators on everything you need for that new MacBook, iPod or iPhone.

7. Campus Tech

Run on the same engine as Journey Ed, Campus Tech is another discount source for all your educational hardware and software needs. One thing that sets this site apart is that they also offer discounts to non-profit organizations.

8. Gradware

Gradware also offers a range of software, hardware and tech accessories. They've got the most useful niche applications and the most popular software packages, as well as technology training guides, A/V equipment and laptop bags and backpacks.

9. StudentDiscounts.com

With proof of current enrollment, this site offers big student discounts on everything from Microsoft Windows to SPSS.

Student Taking the Train

Travel

Travel is another common expense for students. Whether you're headed home for the holidays or off to Cancun for spring break, transportation costs can really add up. The following sites can help you get there for less.

10. Adventure Student Travel

Planning a senior class trip? Trying to find some educational tourist opportunities? Adventure Student Travel offers special tours, student cruises, group discounts and other student-oriented organized travel activities.

11. Smarter Travel

Smarter Travel's student section is more than just a bargain fare finder, it's a compendium of 'information and inspiration' for student travel planning. And, of course, it still offers a discount fare search.

12. STA Travel

Like Travelocity for students, this site focuses on finding you the lowest airfare, cheapest hostels, best rail pass prices and more. They also offer great tips for common student travel needs, from studying abroad to spring break.

13. Student Travel Services

STS is your student travel agent. They'll help you plan your spring break getaway, find the cheapest vacation package or just hook you up with the oh-so-essential party pass at your tropical destination.

14. Student Universe

Student Universe is another site that offers student-only discounts on hotels, airfare, rental cars and more. They also have a forum where students can share travel tips and read guides on popular destinations.

textbook sales

Books

Textbooks may not be as exciting as spring break, but they represent a significant, unavoidable expense for students. Most school bookstores stock their shelves with used books at a slightly lower price than new books, but you can almost always find a better deal online. Just make sure to get your reading list and order your books early - nothing's more stressful than not being ready for class because your book's still in the mail.

15. All Bookstores

All Bookstores offers an aggregated textbook search that allows you to compare prices from over three dozen online bookstores. They sort your results by condition (used or new) and availability and can even incorporate hidden costs like shipping and sales tax into their price comparison.

16. Amazon

Whether through their own warehouse or the hundreds of resellers who use Amazon, you can find almost any textbook for cheap with this online retail giant.

17. eCampus

This venerable student site is celebrating their 10th anniversary this year. They still have some of the best online deals in new and used textbooks, and have since added e-books and textbook rental. They also offer cheap school supplies and college apparel.

18. Half.com

Now owned by eBay, Half.com still offers some of the best textbook deals available online. Don't want to shell out $150 for that chemistry book? You might find it for $50 on Half.com. They even allow you to sell your books online when you're done with them.

19. Valore Books

Valore promotes itself as the premier online marketplace for students to buy and sell cheap textbooks. Unlike Half.com, you don't have to hassle with selling your old books directly to new customers. Valore offers an online textbook direct buyback program that's a lot like the one at your school's bookstore.

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Featured Schools

Pepperdine University Graduate School of Education and Psychology

  • Masters in Psychology
  • Masters in Dispute Resolution
  • Masters in Legal Studies

What is your highest level of education completed?

Bryant & Stratton College

  • BA - General Management
  • Criminal Justice Studies - AAS
  • Business Assistant Diploma

What is your high school graduation status?

Grand Canyon University

  • Ed.D in Teaching and Learning with an Emphasis in Adult Learning - Qualitative Research
  • M.S. Psychology with an Emphasis in Gerontology
  • BS in Psychology

What is your highest level of education?

Full Sail University

  • Master of Science - Film Production
  • Sportscasting Bachelors - Campus
  • Computer Science Bachelors with AI Concentration - Online

What is your highest level of education?

Liberty University

  • DME: Doctor of Music Education
  • Bachelor of Science in Philosophy, Politics, and Economics
  • CTG: Communication

What is your highest level of education?

Penn Foster High School

  • HS Diploma

What is your highest level of education?

Penn Foster

  • Career Diploma - Dental Assistant
  • Career Diploma - Motorcycle Repair Technician
  • Career Diploma - Payroll Clerk

What is your highest level of education?

Fordham University

  • Master of Studies in Law in Corporate Compliance
  • Masters in Social Work

What is your highest level of education completed?