When you were a student – whether it was running away college , first experience high school or looking for you Being in secondary school – juggling educational responsibilities, no matter what level, can be tough. Whether you’re studying remotely or back on campus, you need a reliable, affordable internet connection . These aren’t cheap, but the many broadband discounts available can help ease the financial burden for you and your family.
Check out Federal Broadband Support first
Before diving into specific provider deals, check out Federal Broadband Support that might be helpful The plan starts regardless of which ISP covers the area where you live or go to school. You may be eligible if you or anyone in your household participates in Federal Public Housing Assistance, State School Lunch Program, Supplemental Nutrition Assistance Program, TANF, or other eligible federal programs.
First came Lifeline , a program that has been around since 1985. It’s often seen as a seniors program — participation in Medicaid and Supplemental Security Income are some of the eligibility — but Lifeline is designed to provide assistance to all low-income families. This makes it a viable option for families with K-12 children or college students traveling alone. Eligibility factors include income at or below the federal poverty guidelines or participation in a federal aid program such as FPHA or SNAP.
Once you are eligible, you will receive a discount of $9.25 per month on your internet bill. Save $111 a year on your broadband bill.
If you qualify for Lifeline, you also qualify for the Affordable Connectivity Program , a subsidy established by the government’s Federal Communications Commission plan. Eligible individuals and households will receive a monthly discount on broadband service charges from participating ISPs.
You can use ACP for the following plans, which may fully cover your monthly cost. Alternatively, you can choose to use ACP to help pay for more megabits per second Plan fast.
Now, without further ado, here are some of your options.
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This program is for eligible low-income families (including NSLP-eligible families and students) Offers affordable internet, SNAP, Head Start, and WIC, etc.). It offers download speeds of up to 50Mbps for $10 per month, with the first 60 days free. There are no contracts, credit checks or setup fees.
Read our Astound Broadband review.
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This plan provides download speeds of up to 100Mbps to households with limited income in AT&T 21 states for $30 per month or less. With no contracts, data overage fees, or setup fees, AT&T provides Wi-Fi modems for free. You can apply by income status or participation in Head Start, NSLP or SNAP.
Read our AT&T Home Internet review.
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Participants in the plan will get download speeds of up to 100Mbps for just $10 per month. This program is for families with school-aged children (K-12) with government assistance (including NSLP, SNAP, TANF, or public housing). Cox offers include no contract, free installation, free use of Wi-Fi hotspots, and free Wi-Fi modem rental. The plan has a data cap of 1.25 TB.
Read our Cox Home Internet review.
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Mediacom’s product has the same name as Cox’s low-income plan, but with a different discount plan. It has download speeds of up to 25Mbps for $10 per month or 100Mbps for $30 per month. No deposit required and no contract. Your installation, equipment rental and Wi-Fi modem are also free. To be an eligible family, you must have at least one K-12 student and at least one NSLP child.
Read our Mediacom Home Internet review.
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For $15 per month, participants will get up to 50Mbps download speeds along with a free router and modem, unlimited data, free installation and no contract. You may be eligible if you or anyone in your household participates in the NSLP or is a NYC resident and attends a NYC public school.
Read our best home internet reviews.
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This special program is available for K-12 students participating in the NSLP. The application process is usually conducted through school administrators, but parents and guardians can apply on behalf of their child’s school. All eligible students will receive 100GB per year and a free mobile hotspot for at least five years. There’s also the option to spend the monetary value ($500 per year) on a larger data plan and pay the rest out of pocket. Considering the average household uses over 400GB per month, this is probably how most households go.
Read our T-Mobile Home Internet review.
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Through Verizon’s Fios Forward program, customers currently enrolled in the Federal Lifeline program can Save $10 per month on any Verizon Fios plan available at their address.
Also, if you are enrolled in an affordable connectivity plan, you may be eligible for free internet through Fios Forward. This will be a free 300Mbps plan, including all fees and router costs. You must have a Fios Mix & Match plan and be approved by the ACP to be eligible.
Read our Verizon Home Internet review.
Verizon Fios
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Xfinity offers college students up to 200 U.S. dollar Visa prepaid card benefits and free self-installation services. Further details will depend on your region and verify your student status. Students living in on-campus housing do not enjoy this discount.
Read our Xfinity Home Internet review.
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This plan offers download speeds up to 50Mbps for $10 per month with no NSLP, public housing, SNAP or TANF participant fees to install. There’s also a 100Mbps Internet Essentials Plus tier for $30 per month. Again, it includes free equipment and requires no contracts or credit checks.
Read our comparison of Xfinity vs. AT&T.
back to school Student Internet Deals and Discounts FAQ
Will AT&T offer students discounts on internet services?
AT&T does not have a specific home internet discount program for students. They do have a discount program called Access from AT&T, which is for families who go to Head Start or NSLP.
Not to be confused with AT&T’s wireless plans, which do offer discounts based on school or college eligibility.
Does the government provide free internet access?
Not explicitly stated, but basically free to use by using affordable Connectivity plans starting from the government get the internet. This is a government subsidy program established by the Federal Communications Commission that provides eligible households with discounts on monthly internet service charges.
Once you qualify, you can use the ACP – $30 per month for most households, $75 per month for those living on tr ibal land – with participating ISPs. From there, you can choose a plan whose ACP amount will fully cover your monthly costs. So, in a sense, you can get free internet from the government.
Which internet providers offer each A broadband plan for $10 a month?
Cox’s Connect2Compete offers 100Mbps for $10 per month, while Mediacom’s Connect2Compete is also $10 per month, but at 25Mbps. Astound Broadband offers a $10 per month 50Mbps plan through its Internet First plan, while Xfinity’s Internet Essentials plan is a $10 per month 50Mbps plan.
