Cheap Community College Discounts for Software, Mobile, Travel & More

by Chad Agrawal

Cheap community college deals are everywhere. In general, students are eligible for all kinds of discounts. For example, you may have become aware of the fact that showing your I.D. card at movie theaters will often net you the student price on tickets (except for matinees or theaters that specify students under a certain age). In most case you only have to do this a couple of times and you've completely paid for the cost of obtaining the school I.D. in the first place. However, there are likely dozens of discounts and deals available to you, both on and off campus, that you can take advantage of during your time at community college...if only you knew what they were! And while it's easy enough to find discounts on campus by questioning students, teachers, counselors, and anyone in the administrative office, uncovering deals off-campus can be a trickier proposition. So here are just a few of the discounts you might find and how you can take advantage of them.

Computer equipment and software. This is probably the best discount you're going to find during your stint in college, and you should definitely take full advantage now. If you have some cash on hand, take this opportunity to stock up on software like Photoshop (just for example) that you can use now and in the future. Sites like journeyed.com, studentdiscounts.com, and academicsuperstore.com can net you savings of up to 85% on some software, and you can always go directly to providers like Microsoft, Apple, Adobe, and more to see what they offer via their websites. In addition, you'll find that hardware often comes with discounts or other perks for college students. Microsoft, Dell, and HP are all offering free Xbox 360s with the purchase of qualifying computer hardware, while Apple has opted to give away gift cards to students that purchase specific products.

Entertainment. While most students already know about discounts at movie theaters, you might not realize just how many forms of entertainment offer special prices for students. By calling ahead or visiting business websites, you may find that you're eligible for special prices at theme parks, sporting events, or other live performance venues that feature plays, dance recitals, live music, and so on. Zoos, museums, botanical gardens, aquariums, and other attractions may also offer discounted rates to area college students who flash their I.D. So don't hesitate to whip it out when you're paying for tickets or entrance fees.
Mobile service. Believe it or not, most of the major carriers offer student discounts. While it depends largely on the carrier you use and the school you attend, you could be eligible for discounts that generally range from 10-20%. You'll simply have to call your mobile service provider to find out what they offer, or shop around for better rates. In this day and age, any discount on cell service is worth chasing down.

Transportation. Many campuses work with their local transit authority to arrange for discounted train and bus passes for students. In some cases you may even get them for free (although most community colleges don't have the extra cash on hand to make this happen). Of course, this won't necessarily help you if you have your own car. Luckily, you can get your car shipped to school for less with 10% off coupon codes for Global Auto Transit, Allstate will give you a 25% discount for getting good grades (available to full-time students under the age of 25), and depending on the town you live in, you may even be able to secure minor discounts at local gas stations. It never hurts to ask.

Other. Clearly, there are many deals out there for students seeking to save on every part of the college experience, and since feeding and clothing yourself are necessary parts of this equation, you'll be happy to hear that you can save there, as well. Sam's Club, for example, offers students a $15 gift card when they sign up for membership ($40), in addition to what you'll save by shopping there. And you can secure discounts on clothing when you flash your I.D. at stores like Ann Taylor, Banana Republic, and J. Crew. Again, just ask wherever you go; you might be surprised by how many retailers are will to help starving students survive their time in college.

This post was written by Chad Agrawal

Chad Agrawal is the founder of CCTS, helping students transfer from community college to Ivy League, tier 1 or anywhere else by following this community college guide.

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