College is expensive. Between the skyrocketing cost of textbooks and the fact that a decent burrito now costs fifteen bucks, finding a win feels impossible. That’s why the apple music student plan is basically a rite of passage for anyone with a .edu email address. It isn't just a slight discount; it’s a complete pricing overhaul that Apple uses to hook you into their ecosystem early. Most people think it’s just about the music. It’s actually more than that. You’re getting two premium services for the price of a single fancy coffee, which is honestly one of the few consumer-friendly things a trillion-dollar company still offers.
The Actual Cost of Being a Student
Let’s talk numbers. Usually, a standard individual subscription to Apple Music will set you back $10.99 every month. If you’re a student, that price drops significantly—usually to around $5.99. Prices can fluctuate slightly depending on your region, but the value proposition remains the same. You get the full catalog. 100 million songs. No ads. Spatial Audio with Dolby Atmos.
But here is the kicker that most people overlook: Apple TV+ is included for free.
Usually, Apple TV+ costs $9.99 on its own. If you were to pay for both separately at full price, you'd be staring down a $21 monthly bill. Instead, you're paying six bucks. That’s a massive gap. It means you can binge-watch Severance or Ted Lasso between classes without technically paying a cent for the privilege. Apple doesn't advertise this as loudly as they should, probably because they'd rather you eventually forget and upgrade to a full-price Apple One bundle once you graduate.
How the Verification Actually Works
You can’t just tell Apple you’re a student and call it a day. They aren't that naive. They use a third-party service called UNiDAYS to do the heavy lifting. This is where most people get stuck. UNiDAYS checks your enrollment status against university databases.
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The process is usually seamless if you’re at a major four-year institution. You log in through your school’s portal, UNiDAYS sends a "thumbs up" to Apple, and your billing shifts. However, if you're at a smaller community college or a specific vocational school, UNiDAYS might get cranky. I've seen situations where students have to upload scans of their physical ID cards or tuition receipts. It's a hassle. But it's a necessary hurdle to keep the "non-students" from gaming the system.
The apple music student plan isn't forever, though. Apple isn't giving you this deal indefinitely. You get 48 months. Four years. That’s the standard length of an undergraduate degree. Once those 48 months are up, or once UNiDAYS can no longer verify you’re enrolled, the price jumps back to the standard individual rate. You’ll get an email warning you, but honestly, most people miss it and only realize they’re paying full price when they see their bank statement.
Lossless Audio and the Hardware Trap
One thing that makes Apple Music better than Spotify for a lot of students is the audio quality. Apple offers Lossless and Hi-Res Lossless at no extra charge. This is a big deal if you actually care about how your music sounds.
Wait. There’s a catch.
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You can’t hear Lossless audio over Bluetooth. If you’re using AirPods Pro or Max, you’re still listening to AAC (Advanced Audio Coding) because Bluetooth simply doesn't have the bandwidth for Lossless. To actually benefit from the high-fidelity tracks you're paying for—well, technically getting a deal on—you need a wired connection or an external DAC (Digital-to-Analog Converter).
It’s a bit of a tech paradox. Apple gives you the best audio quality in the streaming world, but their most popular headphones can't actually play it perfectly. Still, even the standard AAC streams on Apple Music often sound "cleaner" than Spotify’s 320kbps Ogg Vorbis streams to a lot of listeners. It’s subtle, but it’s there.
Dealing with the "Family Sharing" Conflict
This is a weird quirk that trips people up. If you are part of an Apple Family Sharing group, you can still have your own apple music student plan. However, you can’t share your student discount with the rest of the family. Only you get the cheap rate.
If your family already pays for an Apple One Family plan, getting your own student plan is actually a waste of money. You already have access. But if your parents are cheap and don't have a music subscription, the student plan is your best bet for independence. It keeps your "Replay" stats separate, too. No one wants their end-of-year wrap-up ruined because their younger sibling used their account to listen to "Baby Shark" on repeat for six months.
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Why the Apple TV+ Perk is Limited
I mentioned Apple TV+ earlier. It’s a great perk, but it’s a "limited time" offer according to Apple's fine print. They’ve kept it running for years now, but unlike the music portion, the TV access can't be shared via Family Sharing. It’s for your eyes only. If you try to sign in on your roommate’s Roku using your student credentials, it might work, but you won't be able to invite them to a "Family" to share the sub.
The Verification Re-up
Every year, usually around the anniversary of when you signed up, Apple will ask you to re-verify. Don't ignore this. If you miss the window, they’ll automatically bump you to the $10.99 tier. If you’ve graduated but still have a working school email, you might be tempted to try and extend the discount. Just know that UNiDAYS often checks actual enrollment records, not just "does this email address exist."
Actionable Steps for Students
If you’re currently paying $10.99, stop. You are literally throwing away the price of a movie ticket every single month.
- Check your eligibility. Open the Music app on your iPhone or Mac, go to "Listen Now," and tap your profile icon. Look for the "Manage Subscription" section.
- Switch the plan. Select the Student tier. This will redirect you to the UNiDAYS website.
- Log in to your portal. Have your university login credentials ready. If your school isn't listed, find your physical student ID—you’ll likely need to take a photo of it.
- Confirm the change. Once verified, the price change is usually effective on your next billing cycle.
- Download the Apple TV app. Since it’s included, sign in with the same Apple ID. You don't need to do anything extra to activate it.
- Set a calendar reminder. Mark a date four years from your signup. That’s when the "honeymoon phase" of cheap streaming ends, and you’ll need to decide if the service is worth the full $11.
The apple music student plan is one of the few remaining "no-brainer" deals in tech. Even if you’re a die-hard Spotify user, the inclusion of a whole streaming TV service makes it worth a look, especially since the music library is now essentially identical across all major platforms. Just keep an eye on that 48-month timer. Once it’s gone, it’s gone.