Your Ultimate Guide to Student Internet Deals

Online study sessions can get annoying pretty quickly if you have to deal with slow internet on top of dealing with the stress of assignments and project deadlines. And paying for a high-tier internet plan isn’t an option either if you’re a student on a budget.

So, how can you make the right trade-off between speed vs. cost and find the best internet deal that balances both?

Don't worry! We have you covered. We'll explain the factors you need to consider before choosing an internet plan, some amazing student internet discounts, and a few helpful tips to cut down on any additional charges on your bill.

• How to Choose Student Internet Plans
• Best Deals and Internet Plans for Students
• Ways to Reduce Extra Charges on Your Bill
• Streamline Your Education With the Right Student Internet Plan

How to Choose Student Internet Plans?

As a student, you’ll have different needs compared to regular users. Here are some factors you should consider when looking for an internet plan.

Speed

There's no such thing as the best internet speed for students. Your internet speed requirements can vary depending on the task you’re doing. Here’s a rundown of recommended internet speeds for various online activities for a single user.

	Activity	Download Speeds Up to	Upload Speeds Up to
	Browsing	5 Mbps	1 Mbps
	Online Video Classes	10 Mbps	3 Mbps
	Downloading/Uploading Files	100 Mbps	100 Mbps
	Cloud Storage	20 Mbps	20 Mbps
	Video Calls	10 Mbps	5 Mbps
	Entertainment	50 Mbps	5 Mbps

Again, these are just the approximate stats and your internet usage will be different based on the devices you use, and the total number of users that are consuming an internet plan.

If you’re a student who tends to move frequently and often have roommates with whom you share your internet connection, just multiply the recommended speeds by the number of users to get an estimate of your average internet bandwidth.

Cost

Arguably, one of the biggest factors that matter to students is cost. This is why it's important to take a look at contract lengths, equipment fees, and the monthly cost of the internet plan before making a decision.

Here are some additional charges you may have to pay in your internet bill.

Quick Fixes for Fast Wi-Fi Speeds You Can Try Now

With these simple tips, you can enjoy a faster and more reliable Wi-Fi connection without any special skills. Most of these changes can be done in minutes and can have a noticeable impact on your home’s Wi-Fi performance. Try a few today and see the difference!

Early Termination Fees

If you have an internet plan with a contract, you’ll have to pay a fee to cancel it.

Late Payment

Delayed internet bill payments can result in additional fees on the next bill.

Data Overage

Going above your data limit can result in additional charges from your ISP.

Equipment Rental Fees

If you opt to rent your modem from the ISP, you’ll have to pay a monthly fee.

Installation Fees

There might be first-time activation and installation fees on your first bill.

Maintenance Fees

Providers may charge you a small fee for network maintenance and repair.

The cost of your internet plan also depends on other factors like the type of connection, provider, and location.  If you're looking for a high-speed internet plan that strikes a balance between speed and price, then go for a cable connection instead of fiber internet.

We recommend doing an internet speed test and then looking into other options so you can find an ISP that offers good internet speeds at a lower price. A lot of ISPs also offer special student discounts you can apply for as a college student.

Data Usage

For your student-related activities, your average data usage shouldn’t be more than 100GB per month. However, if you’re a student in film, game design, or software field, your requirements might be more than the average user.

To find out how much data you’ve used over the month, you can take a look at your last internet bill. You can also check your data usage in your computer’s settings. This is usually available in the Connectivity section.

If you have roommates then it’s generally a good idea to go with an internet plan that offers unlimited data. Internet plans with capped data can incur extra charges if you go overboard. This is why you need to be extra careful if you decide to opt for a plan with data caps.

Best Deals and Internet Plans for Students

Several internet providers offer special discounts for eligible students.

Xfinity Student Benefits

Xfinity offers a Visa $100 Prepaid Card if they get an Xfinity Internet plan. Students can also keep the phone they have and get a mobile data option at a discounted price when they combine mobile and internet plans.

AT&T Fiber Unlimited Premium PL Discount

AT&T Fiber also offers discounts for eligible college students. You’ll need to provide your student ID card, be the primary account holder, and have an Unlimited Premium PL line in order to be eligible. You can save $10/mo. per line using their student discount.

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Other Affordable Internet Plans for Students

However, you might not be able to get discounts based on your region or student verification. So, here are some affordable internet plans for students.

Ways to Reduce Extra Charges on Your Bill

Shopping for cheaper internet is just the first step. There are other things you can do to lower any extra charges on your internet bill. Let’s take a look at them.

• Shop for an internet plan that doesn’t require you to sign a contract. Contract-based internet plans require you to pay a termination penalty if you decide to cancel your plan before the specified time. In case you’re stuck with a provider, some ISPs offer contract buyouts where they pay off the termination penalties for you.
• Try to avoid any hidden fees on your bill. The FCC requires ISPs to be transparent about hidden fees through Broadband Consumer Labels. These include early termination, activation, installation, equipment, data overage, and late payment fees.
• Several ISPs allow their customers to install the internet themselves, which can help them save some extra money. You’re already on a budget, so if you have some technical know-how, we recommend that you self-install your new internet
• Most ISPS give you the option to rent a router and modem. Instead, you can opt to buy your own. While it can cost more upfront, it can help you save money in the long run. Just make sure the router you're buying is compatible with your ISP by contacting their customer service.
• Most internet providers also offer additional services like TV, phone, and streaming with internet plans. Usually, you’ll get a hefty discount if you decide to bundle your TV and internet plans.
• If switching ISPs isn’t feasible, you can try to negotiate a better deal with your current provider. A lot of times, your ISP will offer you a discount to retain you as their customer.

Pro Tip: Carefully read the terms and conditions to avoid any unexpected charges on your internet bill.

Streamline Your Education with the Right Student Internet Plan

Choosing an internet provider isn't an easy task, especially for a student on a budget who can't go for some of the high-speed internet options. Another thing you should consider is partner programs where universities and colleges partner up with local ISPs to offer exclusive internet plans for students.

Make sure you ask your school’s representative if any offers exist. Remember, the best internet option is one that gets the job done and doesn’t burn a hole through your pockets.

Frequently Asked Questions