11 Ways to Save Money as a College Student
Quick Answer
Buying used books, shopping at stores with student discounts and getting a student transit pass are a few ways college students can save money.
It's common for money to be tight when you're in school. After all, you have tuition to pay and day-to-day expenses to cover at a time when you may or may not be working. The good news is there are many ways for students to cut costs. Buying used textbooks, using your student ID for discounts and taking advantage of on-campus perks are a few ways college students can save money.
1. Apply for Scholarships
Hundreds of companies and organizations offer scholarships that may be awarded based on merit or financial need. Scholarships provide free money that could help you pay education costs. Your financial aid office may be able to recommend different scholarship programs. You could also check out sites like Scholarships.com and Fastweb to search for scholarships and find out requirements and application deadlines.
2. Use the FAFSA to Apply for Financial Aid
Filling out the Free Application for Federal Student Aid (FAFSA) each year can help you qualify for federal student loans, grants and other student aid. While loans are money you have to pay back, grants usually don't have to be repaid. Getting awarded grant funds could help you cover education costs so you can borrow less money.
3. Buy or Rent Used Textbooks
Undergraduate students pay about $1,298 per year on books and supplies on average, according to College Board, a higher education nonprofit. Instead of buying brand-new books, buying used or checking out books from the library could help lower these costs. BookScouter.com and CampusBooks.com are examples of sites you can use to search online for used books to buy and rent.
4. Borrow or Share Supplies
In addition to books, some school libraries and resource centers loan out equipment like calculators, which could eliminate more items from your school shopping list. If the books or equipment you need aren't available to borrow, another savings hack could be splitting the cost and sharing supplies with a classmate.
5. Take Advantage of Student Discounts
Showing your student ID at checkout when booking travel, shopping at stores or eating out could unlock discounts. Electronic retailers like Best Buy and Apple are two places that often offer student deals on laptops and other devices. Both Verizon and Sprint have special student deals on phone lines. For streaming, students may qualify for deals and discounts from Amazon, Hulu, Spotify, YouTube Premium and Apple Music. If you're not sure if a company offers discounts, don't be afraid to ask.
6. Get a Discounted Public Transportation Pass
Travel can be another major expense for students. Getting a travel pass could cut the cost of your daily commute on public transportation. Check to see if your school, town or city provides free (or discounted) passes to students. Atlanta's MARTA system, for example, has the UPASS program that offers unlimited train rides to students and faculty of participating schools for a monthly fee.
7. Use a Credit Card That Earns Rewards
Using a rewards card that offers cash back or points on purchases could help you save money. Rewards may be redeemed for cash, gift cards, statement credits and more. If you're new to credit, you may have the best shot at getting approved for a student credit card since the eligibility requirements may be more flexible.
Best rewards cards of 2026
Compare cards from our partners that earn points, cash back or miles on everyday spending.
Offers from our partners
Citi Double Cash® Card
Intro APR:0% for 18 months on Balance Transfers
Ongoing APR:17.49% - 27.49% (Variable)
Rewards:2% (cash back)
Annual Fee:$0
Blue Cash Everyday® Card from American Express
Intro bonus:You may be eligible for as high as $200 cash back after spending $2,000 in purchases on your new Card in the first 6 months. Welcome offers vary and you may not be eligible for an offer. Cash back is received as Reward Dollars, redeemable for statement credit or at Amazon.com checkout. Terms Apply.
Intro APR:0% on Purchases and Balance Transfers for 15 months
Ongoing APR:19.49%-28.49% Variable
Rewards:1% - 3% (cash back)
Annual Fee:$0
Discover it® Chrome
Intro bonus:INTRO OFFER: Unlimited Cashback Match for all new cardmembers. Discover will automatically match all the cash back you’ve earned at the end of your first year! There’s no minimum spending or maximum rewards.
Intro APR:0% intro APR for 6 Months on Purchases and 0% intro APR for 18 Months on Balance Transfers
Ongoing APR:17.49% - 26.49% Variable APR
Rewards:1% - 2% (cash back)
Annual Fee:$0
American Express Platinum Card®
Intro bonus:You may be eligible for as high as 175,000 Membership Rewards® Points after spending $12,000 in eligible purchases on your new Card in your first 6 months of Membership. Welcome offers vary and you may not be eligible for an offer.
Ongoing APR:See Pay Over Time APR
Rewards:1x - 5x (Points per dollar)
Annual Fee:$895
Wells Fargo Active Cash® Card
Intro bonus:Earn a $200 cash rewards bonus after spending $500 in purchases in the first 3 months
Intro APR:0% intro APR for 12 months from account opening on purchases and qualifying balance transfers
Ongoing APR:18.49%, 24.49%, or 28.49% Variable APR
Rewards:2% (Cash Rewards)
Annual Fee:$0
Discover it® Cash Back
Intro bonus:INTRO OFFER: Unlimited Cashback Match for all new cardmembers. Discover will automatically match all the cash back you’ve earned at the end of your first year! There’s no minimum spending or maximum rewards. You could turn $150 cash back into $300.
Intro APR:0% intro APR for 15 months on Purchases and Balance Transfers
Ongoing APR:17.49% - 26.49% Variable APR
Rewards:1% - 5% (cash back)
Annual Fee:$0
Avant® Cashback Rewards Mastercard®
Ongoing APR:29.99%*
Rewards:2% (cash back)
Annual Fee:$0*
The opensky® Secured Visa® Credit Card
Ongoing APR:23.89% Variable
Rewards:10% (cash back)
Annual Fee:$35
Credit One Bank American Express® Card for Rebuilding Credit
Ongoing APR:29.74% Variable
Rewards:1% (cash back)
Annual Fee:$75 First year. $99 thereafter, billed monthly at $8.25
Blue Cash Preferred® Card from American Express
Intro bonus:You may be eligible for as high as $300 cash back after spending $3,000 in purchases on your new Card in the first 6 months. Welcome offers vary and you may not be eligible for an offer. Cash back is received as Reward Dollars, redeemable for statement credit or at Amazon.com checkout. Terms Apply.
Intro APR:0% on Purchases and Balance Transfers for 12 months
Ongoing APR:19.49%-28.49% Variable
Rewards:1% - 6% (cash back)
Annual Fee:$0 intro annual fee for the first year, then $95.
American Airlines AAdvantage® MileUp® Card
Intro APR:0% for 15 months on Balance Transfers
Ongoing APR:19.49% - 29.49% (Variable)
Rewards:2x (Miles per dollar)
Annual Fee:$0
Credit One Bank® Secured Card
Ongoing APR:29.74% Variable
Rewards:1% (cash back)
Annual Fee:$0
Citi Strata Premier® Card
Intro bonus:Earn 60,000 bonus ThankYou® Points after spending $4,000 in the first 3 months of account opening, redeemable for $600 in gift cards or travel rewards at thankyou.com.
Ongoing APR:19.49% - 27.49% (Variable)
Rewards:1x - 10x (Points per dollar)
Annual Fee:$95
Avant® Cashback Rewards Mastercard®
Ongoing APR:35.99%*
Rewards:1% (cash back)
Annual Fee:$0*
Costco Anywhere Visa® Card by Citi
Ongoing APR:18.74% - 26.74% (Variable)
Rewards:1% - 5% (cash back)
Annual Fee:$0
Citi® / AAdvantage® Platinum Select® World Elite Mastercard®
Ongoing APR:19.49% - 29.49% (Variable)
Rewards:2x (Miles per dollar)
Annual Fee:$99, waived for first 12 months
Avant® Cashback Rewards Mastercard®
Ongoing APR:35.99%*
Rewards:1% (cash back)
Annual Fee:$75*
Avant® Cashback Rewards Mastercard®
Ongoing APR:35.99%*
Rewards:1% (cash back)
Annual Fee:Introductory fee of $75 for the first year. After that, $99 annually.*
Credit One Bank® Platinum X5 Visa® Metal Card
Ongoing APR:29.74% Variable
Rewards:1% - 5% (cash back)
Annual Fee:$95
Hilton Honors American Express Card
Intro bonus:Earn 70,000 Bonus Points plus a Free Night Reward after you spend $2,000 in purchases on the Card in the first 6 months of Card Membership. Offer Ends 4/15/2026.
Ongoing APR:19.49%-28.49% Variable
Rewards:3x - 7x (Points per dollar)
Annual Fee:$0
Marriott Bonvoy Brilliant® American Express® Card
Intro bonus:Earn 200,000 Marriott Bonvoy® bonus points after you use your new Card to make $6,000 in purchases within the first 6 months of Card Membership. Offer Ends 5/13/2026.
Ongoing APR:19.49%-28.49% Variable
Rewards:2x - 6x (Points per dollar)
Annual Fee:$650
Discover it® Miles
Intro bonus:UNLIMITED BONUS: Unlimited Mile-for-Mile match for all new cardmembers. Discover gives you an unlimited match of all the Miles you’ve earned at the end of your first year. There’s no signing up, no minimum spending or maximum rewards. Just a Miles-for-Miles match. You could turn 35,000 Miles into 70,000 Miles.
Intro APR:0% intro APR for 15 months on Purchases and Balance Transfers
Ongoing APR:17.49% - 26.49% Variable APR
Rewards:1.5x (Miles per dollar)
Annual Fee:$0
Delta SkyMiles® Gold American Express Card
Intro bonus:Earn 70,000 Bonus Miles after you spend $3,000 in purchases with your new Card, and an additional 20,000 bonus miles after you make an additional $2,000 in purchases on the Card, both within your first 6 months. Ends 04/01/2026.
Ongoing APR:19.49%-28.49% Variable
Rewards:1x - 2x (Miles per dollar)
Annual Fee:$0 introductory annual fee for the first year, then $150.
Credit One Bank® Premier American Express® Unlimited Rewards Card
Ongoing APR:29.74% Variable
Rewards:1% (cash back)
Annual Fee:$0
Delta SkyMiles® Blue American Express Card
Intro bonus:Earn 10,000 bonus miles after you spend $1,000 in purchases on your new Card in your first 6 months.
Ongoing APR:19.49%-28.49% Variable
Rewards:1x - 2x (Miles per dollar)
Annual Fee:$0
Marriott Bonvoy Bevy ® American Express® Card
Intro bonus:Earn 175,000 Marriott Bonvoy® bonus points after you use your new Card to make $5,000 in purchases within the first 6 months of Card Membership. Offer Ends 5/13/2026.
Ongoing APR:19.49%-28.49% Variable
Rewards:2x - 6x (Points per dollar)
Annual Fee:$250
One Key™ Card
Intro bonus:Limited Time Offer: Earn $300 in OneKeyCash™ after you spend $1,000 on purchases in the first 3 months. OneKeyCash is not redeemable for cash and can only be used on Expedia®, Hotels.com® and Vrbo®. To learn more, please refer to the One Key Terms and Conditions at www.expedia.com/one-key-terms.
Ongoing APR:18.49%, 23.49%, or 28.49% Variable APR
Rewards:1.5x - 3x (Points per dollar)
Annual Fee:$0
Avant® Cashback Rewards Mastercard® - With A Higher Credit Limit
Ongoing APR:35.99%*
Rewards:1% (cash back)
Annual Fee:$125*
Avant® Cashback Rewards Mastercard®
Ongoing APR:35.99%*
Rewards:1% (cash back)
Annual Fee:$0*
Avant® Cashback Rewards Mastercard®
Ongoing APR:35.99%*
Rewards:1% (cash back)
Annual Fee:$75*
See all our best rewards credit cards for 2026.
8. Limit Credit Card Purchases
If you do decide to use a credit card, it's important to use the card only when you need it and pay it off each month. If you don't, interest will be charged on your remaining balance, which can increase your payment and make debt difficult to manage.
9. Explore Your Housing Options
The average cost for room and board during the 2021-2022 school year was $11,950 for a four-year public college and $13,620 for a four-year private college, according to College Board. Instead of living on campus, commuting from home could save you thousands of dollars a year.
If living at home isn't an option, consider living off campus with roommates. Renting a place, buying groceries and cooking your own meals might end up being cheaper depending on where you live.
10. Use Campus Facilities
Part of your school fees may go to the upkeep and maintenance of campus technology and recreation facilities like gyms, computer centers, pools and more. Instead of looking for outside gyms for fitness classes or extracurricular activities, check to see what your campus has to offer.
11. Get Involved in Campus Activities
If you're trying to find ways to socialize and pass the time, taking part in free or low-cost on-campus activities could provide entertainment for a steal. A bonus is that food may be provided at these events, so you might even score a free meal.
The Bottom Line
Even if you're taking out loans for school, finding ways to save money matters. Cutting costs means you may need to borrow less money, and that means less debt to pay back when you graduate. On top of using the savings tips above, it's a good idea to come up with a college budget because it can help you curb spending so your money stretches further.
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About the author
Taylor Medine
Taylor Medine is a personal finance writer who has covered money topics for various media outlets over the past seven years. Her work has been published on USA Today, Business Insider, MSN, Yahoo! and more.
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