Top Internet Deals for Students

Students today do not trick you when they say they need the internet for their studies. Unlike the 90s kids who played games and streamed music on their PCs, school-goers need the internet for almost all educational activities now. Whether it's conducting research, uploading assignments, or taking online classes, a good internet connection is essential for them.

If you are also a parent or student looking for the top internet plans in your area, here are our top recommendations for your unique requirements.

Affordable Internet for Students

Cox Connect2Compete offers a highly affordable internet service, starting at $9.95/mo., with no term contract. The plan comes with a speed of 100 Mbps and includes a free modem rental, a self-installation kit, and Cox Digital Academy – an additional educational resource for students.

Like the rest of the Cox internet customers, you can get access to over 4 million WiFi hotspots around the country and stay connected on the go. You can check the eligibility criteria for Connect2Compete by entering your zip code.

High-Speed Internet for Students

If you want high-speed fiber internet for a smooth and uninterrupted connection, Access from AT&T should be your top pick. With AT&T, you get a 100% fiber connection with equally fast upload and download speeds for smooth online activities.

Access from AT&T offers a 100 Mbps internet plan priced at $30/mo. With this plan, you get free installation and equipment, no early deposit, or contract. Make sure to check if AT&T is available in your area before applying for the program.

Best Internet for Minimal Usage

Optimum offers reliable and affordable fiber internet with speeds up to 50 Mbps starting at $14.99/mo. While this speed may not be sufficient for multiple users, if you live alone and have limited online activity like surfing the internet for research, uploading and downloading files, and connecting with friends and peers, this plan may work best for you.

The Optimum Advantage Internet comes with free professional installation and equipment to help keep the cost low.

Best Internet Plan for Enrolled College Students

Verizon Fios offers a $10 discount on their 300 Mbps, $500 Mbps, and 1 Gig plans to college students. You must have a valid student identification for up to the next 12 months to be eligible for this discount. Unfortunately, this discount does not apply to existing discounted deals or offers. However, it is a great way to save a few bucks and get a fast fiber internet plan.

Tips for Students When Choosing an Internet Provider

Choosing an internet provider for students can be tricky considering the limited budget they have to navigate around with. However, the right internet plan makes your student life much easier. With increasing distance learning programs and online classes, students’ internet requirements have increased a lot compared to a decade ago. Once you’ve explored cheap internet options, here are some other factors to keep in mind when choosing an internet provider/plan:

1. Check out Federal Broadband Programs

Multiple government programs offer discounts on internet plans to students who belong to low-income households. If you’re eligible for one of the programs like the National School Lunch Program (NSLP), Federal Public Housing Assistance (FPHA), and such, you should also look into federal broadband programs like Lifeline.

The FCC runs an affordable internet program called Lifeline for low-income households to promote better communication in the country. You can check out which of their discount programs you are eligible for and save on your monthly internet bill.

2. Calculate Your Bandwidth/Speed Requirement

Before you start looking for an internet provider, make sure you know what exactly you need. The best way to calculate your internet requirement is by making a list of all the activities you will perform online regularly. Check out what speed is required for each activity and then add the number of users who will be using the internet for those activities. Here’s a reference for internet speed requirements:

3. Check for Data Caps and Contracts

Data caps are a very important factor when choosing an internet service. Some internet providers do not offer unlimited data and may charge you extra on your bill for exceeding your data limit. You do not want that added cost at all. Fortunately, most providers today offer unlimited data, so better to choose a plan with no data caps.

Secondly, some internet providers have term contracts, which means you can’t cancel your plan for a set period of time. The bright side to contracts is consistent pricing. Your internet price usually does not rise during the contract period. However, contracts are a liability and limit your options for switching. We definitely recommend choosing a no-contract plan.

4. Check for Provider’s Reputation

Finally, yet importantly, read reviews about the internet providers that you have shortlisted. Make sure they have reliable customer service so if there is an outage or network issue, it is timely resolved. For distance learning students, this is crucial, as your performance may be affected by a bad internet connection.

The Sum Up

Students today have no concept of fishing through tens of books in a library to write an essay with a pen and paper. Education has significantly evolved in the last few decades, and the Internet has become one of the most resourceful must-haves.

We hope our Internet recommendations for students will help you choose the most suitable option for your home. Make sure to check for broadband discounts and save your bucks!