Streaming your favorite playlists shouldn't break your bank - especially when you are balancing tuition, textbooks, and daily living costs on a tight college budget. Does Apple Music have a student discount? Absolutely. Apple offers a heavily discounted tier designed specifically for college and university students, providing full access to its expansive 100-million-song library, spatial audio, and curated playlists at nearly half the price of a standard individual plan.
Whether you are signing up for the first time, troubleshooting a verification error with UNiDAYS, or looking for a clever way to keep your music library after graduation, this comprehensive guide covers everything you need to know about the Apple Music student plan in 2026.
Part 1. What Is Apple Music Student Plan? Price, Benefits & Eligibility
The Apple Music Student Plan is a discounted individual subscription tier offered to students enrolled in degree-granting higher education institutions. It grants complete, ad-free access to Apple Music's full catalog across all your devices, along with several exclusive perks.
In a word, it provides almost the same music streaming experience as the standard individual plan but at a lower monthly cost.
How Much Is Apple Music Student Plan?
One of the main reasons students search for the Apple Music student discount is the lower subscription cost. The Apple Music Student Plan is generally cheaper than the Individual Plan, making it a more budget-friendly choice for college and university students.
| Plan | Monthly Price | Key Features |
|---|---|---|
| Apple Music Student Plan | $6.99 / month | Full catalog, Lossless & Spatial Audio, Free Apple TV+, ad-free |
| Apple Music Individual Plan | $11.99 / month | Full catalog, Lossless & Spatial Audio, ad-free |
| Apple Music Family Plan | $19.99 / month | Up to 6 accounts, separate libraries and personal recommendations |
Apple Music student cost varies by country and region, so it's always best to check your Apple Account for local rates before subscribing. For students in the U.S., the subscription rate was updated to $6.99/month as of July 17, 2026.
See also: How to Get Apple Music Family Plan
Key Benefits of the Student Discount on Apple Music
The Apple Music Student Subscription includes most of the features available with a regular Apple Music subscription, including:
- About 50% Savings: At $6.99 per month, you save $5 per month compared to the standard Individual Plan, adding up to nearly $60 in savings every year.
- Free Apple TV+ Access: One of the biggest advantages over competitors like Spotify is the inclusion of Apple TV+ at no extra charge. You get instant streaming access to critically acclaimed movies and original series.
- Full Lossless Audio & Dolby Atmos: You do not lose any audio quality or features. High-resolution lossless streaming and spatial audio are fully unlocked.
- Offline Listening: Download unlimited songs, albums, and playlists to your iPhone, Android, Mac, or PC for offline playback during commutes or offline study sessions.
- Access Across Apple Devices: Apple Music works across iPhone, iPad, Mac, Apple Watch, Apple TV, Android devices, and the web.
Who Is Eligible for Apple Music Student Discount?
To quality for student discount for Apple Music, you must meet the following eligibility requirements:
- Higher Education Enrollment: You must be actively enrolled in an associate, bachelor's, master's, or doctoral degree program (or an equivalent higher education course) at an accredited college or university.
- Supported Region: The student plan is available in over 80 countries, provided Apple Music and UNiDAYS or SheerID operate in your region.
- Identity Verification: You must successfully verify your student status through an official third-party verification partner (UNiDAYS or SheerID) using a valid student email address (.edu), university portal login, or official enrollment document.
- 48-Month Limit: The discount applies for a maximum of 48 months (4 years) of total use. These months do not need to be continuous.
Part 2. How to Get Apple Music Student Discount
Signing up for apple music student membership is a very easy process. However, the process is determined by the devices you are using. Below we provide a step by step guide for signing up using an Android device, using an iOS device or when using a Mac.
Apply for Apple Music Student Discount on iOS Devices
Most people who sign up for apple music student discount already own an iPhone or any other apple branded device that uses the iOS operating system. The states for signing up on an iOS devices are:
Step 1. Download, install and open the Apple Music App on your iOS device (iPad, iPhone or iPod touch) and then select and click to open the trial offer.
Step 2. Select the University Student or the College Student tab and click to verify your eligibility.
Step 3. A window will pop up. Enter your email address and then click to search for the name of your institution.
Apple's email requirements for student verification differ by country. While a personal email address is accepted in certain regions, an institutional email is mandatory in others. As a best practice, always register with your academic email if one is available.
Step 4. Select the name of your institution and sign into the student portal to verify that you are a student. You will then be redirected to iTunes to complete the process.
Once you have finished the process, you can start now enjoy music on the app.
Get Student Discount for Apple Music on Android
If you are using an android phone then follow these steps to sign up for app music student discount:
Step 1. Download, install and open the Apple Music app on your Android device, then select and click to open the trial offer.
Step 2. Click to open the university student or collect student tab then select verify your eligibility.
Step 3. In a window that will pop up, enter your email address (academic email address in case you have one) and then select to search the name of your institution.
Step 4. Choose your institution and sign in to the student portal to verify your student status. Once your student status is verified, you will be redirected back to the Apple Music app. Log in with your Apple Account, confirm your preferred payment method, and complete the subscription setup. Your discounted price and free Apple TV+ access will begin immediately.
If you have been accepted to a university but do not yet have an active .edu email address or student portal login, select "Don't have a student email?" or "Upload Document" during the verification step. You can submit an official University Acceptance Letter (Offer) or a recent Tuition Payment Receipt for manual verification by the UNiDAYS team within 1 to 3 business days.
Get Student Discount on Apple Music on Mac or PC
If you want to subscribe to the Apple Music Student Plan on a Mac or PC, you can complete the process directly through the Apple Music subscription page. The latest interface allows you to choose the College Student plan and verify your student status before completing your subscription.
Follow these steps to get the Apple Music student subscription:
Step 1. Open Apple Music on your Mac or visit the Apple Music Web Player in your Mac or PC browser. Sign in with the Apple ID that you want to use for your subscription. Click the subscription offer or start trial option to view available plans.
Step 2. On the subscription selection page, you will see different options, including Individual, Family, and College Student. Choose 'College Student' to access the discounted Apple Music student plan. After selecting it, click Verify Eligibility to begin the student verification process.
Step 3. A verification window will appear asking you to confirm your student status. Enter your academic information, such as your school details or student email address, and search for your educational institution. Make sure the information you provide matches your current enrollment records to avoid verification problems.
Step 4. Select your institution from the available results and follow the instructions to sign in through your school's verification portal. After your student status is successfully confirmed, you will be redirected back to Apple Music to complete the subscription process.
Once finished, your account will be activated with the Apple Music College Student Plan at the discounted rate.
Apple verifies student eligibility periodically. According to the current Apple Music subscription notice shown during signup, student status may need to be verified annually (per 12 months). After eligibility ends, the subscription may automatically switch to the Individual Plan unless canceled or changed.
Part 3. Apple Music Student Verification Not Working? Try These Fixes
Although the Apple Music student verification process is usually straightforward, some users may encounter problems when trying to activate the student discount. Here are the most effective fixes for common UNiDAYS and SheerID verification errors.
1. UNiDAYS Verification Link Not Opening or Timing Out
If the verification email link does not open or takes you to a blank page, your browser's ad-blockers or aggressive pop-up settings might be interfering with the redirect.
Fix: Copy the verification link directly from your email, open a fresh Incognito / Private Browsing window, and paste the link there. Alternatively, temporarily disable browser ad-blockers or VPN services during the setup process.
2. School Not Listed in the Database
If your institution does not appear when searching in UNiDAYS or SheerID, your school might be registered under an alternate official name or may require manual document submission.
Fix: Double-check for alternative spellings or abbreviations of your university. If it still does not show up, select "Can't find your school?" within the portal and upload a copy of your official student ID card, official transcript, or current course registration schedule for manual review.
3. Re-Verification Email Failed or Expired
Apple requires students to re-verify their status once every 12 months. If you miss the notification email, Apple will automatically switch your account to the standard Individual Plan rate of $11.99/month.
Fix: Go to 'Settings > Apple Account > Subscriptions > Apple Music' on your iPhone. Tap Re-verify your student status to trigger a new verification prompt via UNiDAYS or SheerID.
4. Contact Apple Support or Verification Support
If you have confirmed your student status but still cannot activate the discount, contacting Apple Support or the verification provider may help resolve account-specific issues.
Part 4. What Happens When You Graduate or Apple Music Student Eligibility Ends?
All good things must come to an end - including your student discount for Apple Music. Once you reach the 48-month maximum limit or graduate from college, Apple Music will automatically reclassify your account.
When your student status expires:
- Price Increases: Your monthly subscription fee jumps from $6.99/mo to $10.99/mo for an Individual Plan.
- Apple TV+ Access Ends: The complimentary Apple TV+ subscription included with your student plan is automatically revoked.
- Loss of Access if You Cancel: If you decide not to pay the full price and cancel your Apple Music subscription, all your downloaded Apple Music tracks, curated playlists, and saved albums will become inaccessible and grayed out immediately. Because Apple Music tracks are protected by Digital Rights Management (DRM) in encrypted M4P/AAC formats, you cannot keep or play them on unauthorized devices once your subscription ends.
Pro Tip: How to Keep Your Apple Music Playlists Forever After Graduation
If you want to avoid paying $11.99 every month after graduation while preserving every song and playlist you collected throughout your college years, the best strategy is to convert and save your library locally before your student plan expires.
Using a specialized tool like AudFree Apple Music Converter, you can bypass format restrictions and download your entire Apple Music library into DRM-free audio formats such as MP3, FLAC, WAV, or AIFF.
Why Convert Your Library with AudFree Apple Music Converter?
- Losslessly convert Apple Music to MP3, M4A, FLAC, and more popular formats
- Give you a permanent offline ownership and backup your entire college playlist library directly to your Windows PC or Mac hard drive
- Preserve original Lossless audio quality and full ID3 tag metadata (song titles, artists, album artwork)
- Transfer your converted MP3s to high-resolution Digital Audio Players (DAPs), USB drives, car stereos, or smart speakers without subscription limits
See also: How to Copy Apple Music to USB Drive
By backing up your music library prior to graduation, you retain total ownership of your tracks forever - without incurring monthly subscription fees down the road.
In addition to the AudFree Apple Music Converter, you can also record and convert DRM-free tracks using AudFree Streaming Audio Recorder. This powerful, all-in-one tool lets you capture lossless-quality songs from over 10 major platforms, including Apple Music, Spotify, and Tidal.
Part 5. FAQs About Apple Music for Students
Does Apple Music Student Plan Include Apple TV+?
Yes. The Apple Music Student Plan includes a free subscription to Apple TV+. However, this benefit is intended solely for the individual student account holder and cannot be shared with family members via Family Sharing.
See also: How to Listen to Apple Music on Apple TV
Can I Get Apple Music Student Discount Without Being a Student?
No. Verification through UNiDAYS or SheerID is mandatory. Apple strictly requires proof of active enrollment via a university email address, student portal authentication, or official enrollment documentation. If you are no longer a student, you cannot bypass this verification. However, you can save money by joining an Apple Music Family Plan with up to 5 other friends or family members.
How Many Times Can I Re-Verify My Apple Music Student Discount?
You can re-verify your student status up to 3 times, giving you a total of 4 years (48 months) of discounted subscription access. Re-verification prompts appear annually in the Apple Music app or via email.
Can High School Students Get an Apple Music Student Subscription?
Generally, no. Standard K-12 high school students do not qualify because UNiDAYS and SheerID restrict eligibility to degree-granting higher education institutions. The only exception is if a high school student is dual-enrolled in a community college or university and possesses a valid college .edu email address or official college enrollment schedule.
Conclusion
The Apple Music Student Plan remains one of the best entertainment bargains for college students in 2026. For just $6.99 per month, you get full access to over 100 million songs in high-fidelity Lossless Audio alongside a free Apple TV+ subscription.
Be sure to complete your annual re-verification promptly to keep your $5/month savings active. And as graduation approaches, remember to plan ahead: back up your cherished playlists using AudFree Apple Music Converter so you can enjoy your favorite college soundtracks offline forever - without paying full price month after month.
Staff Editor
