You need a valid student status and an Apple ID to get the student discount
Apple Music's student plan costs $5.99 per month in the United States, compared to $10.99 for the standard individual plan. To get this rate, you must verify that you are currently enrolled as a full-time student at an accredited college or university. Apple does not offer a student discount for high school students or part-time students.
The verification happens through a service called SheerID, which checks your enrollment status against school records. You will need an Apple ID before you start, and the whole process takes about five minutes. Once approved, your discount runs for four years or until you graduate, whichever comes first.
Key Takeaways
- You must be enrolled full-time at an accredited four-year college or university; high school and part-time students do not may have access to.
- Verification happens through SheerID, which checks your school records directly — you do not need to upload documents yourself.
- The discount lasts for four years from the date you set it up, even if you graduate before then.
- You can sign up on Apple Music's website or through the Apple Music app on any device where you are signed in with your Apple ID.
How to sign up for the student plan on your device
On an iPhone, iPad, or Mac, open the Apple Music app and tap or click your profile picture in the top right corner. Select "View Account" and then tap "Subscriptions." Choose "Apple Music" and look for the option to switch to the student plan. Tap "Student Subscription" and follow the prompts to verify your student status through SheerID.
On an Android phone, open Apple Music and tap your profile picture. Go to "Account" and then "Subscriptions." Select "Apple Music" and choose the student plan option. The verification process is the same — SheerID will ask for your school email address and birth date to confirm your enrollment.
On a web browser, go to music.apple.com, sign in with your Apple ID, and click your profile picture in the top right. Select "Account Settings" and then "Subscriptions." Click "Edit" next to your Apple Music subscription and choose the student plan. You will be directed to SheerID to verify your status.
What SheerID needs from you to verify your student status
SheerID will ask for your full name, date of birth, school email address, and the name of your college or university. If your school email ends in .edu or is directly connected to your school's system, SheerID can usually verify you instantly by checking the school's records. This is the fastest path and requires no additional documents.
If SheerID cannot verify you automatically, it will ask you to upload proof of enrollment. Acceptable documents include a current student ID card, a tuition bill or receipt from the current semester, a class schedule with your name and the current term, or an enrollment letter from your school's registrar. Take a clear photo or scan of the document and upload it through SheerID's website. Most manual verifications are completed within 24 hours.
What happens if your school is not in SheerID's database
SheerID covers most accredited four-year universities and many community colleges, but not every school is in their system. If you search for your school and it does not appear, you will need to upload a document to verify your enrollment. A current student ID card or an enrollment letter from your registrar works best.
If your school is genuinely not in SheerID's system and you cannot upload a document through their platform, contact Apple Support directly. Explain that your school is not available in SheerID and ask whether they can process your student discount another way. Apple has manual verification options for schools that fall outside SheerID's coverage, though the process takes longer.
How long the discount lasts and what happens when it expires
Once you are approved, your student discount runs for four years from the date you set it up. This means if you graduate before four years have passed, you keep the discount until the four-year mark. If you are still a student after four years, you will need to re-verify your enrollment to continue at the student rate.
When your four years are up, Apple will send you a notification that your student plan is expiring. You can re-verify your status if you are still enrolled, or your subscription will automatically switch to the standard individual plan at $10.99 per month. You will not be charged the higher rate until the next billing cycle after your student status expires.
What to do if you lose your student status before four years
If you graduate or leave school before your four-year discount period ends, you do not have to wait for it to expire. You can switch to the standard individual plan at any time by going to your account settings and selecting "Edit Subscription." Choose the individual plan and confirm the change. Your new rate will take effect on your next billing date.
Alternatively, you can cancel Apple Music entirely and restart a subscription later if you want. There is no penalty for canceling, and you can re-subscribe whenever you choose. If you re-enroll in school later, you can verify your student status again and get the discount for another four-year period.
Other ways to get Apple Music at a lower cost
If you do not may have access to for the student plan, Apple Music is included free with an Apple One bundle, which combines Apple Music, Apple TV+, Apple Arcade, and iCloud+ storage. The individual Apple One plan starts at $16.95 per month and includes 50 GB of iCloud storage. A family plan that covers up to six people costs $22.95 per month and includes 200 GB of shared storage.
Some wireless carriers also offer Apple Music discounts or free trials as part of their phone plans. T-Mobile, for example, includes Apple Music free for T-Mobile customers on certain plans. Check with your carrier to see whether they have a partnership with Apple Music.
Frequently Asked Questions
Can I use a high school email address to get the student discount?
No. Apple's student plan is only for full-time students at accredited four-year colleges and universities. High school students do not may have access to, even if they have a school email address. Community college students may may have access to if their school is accredited and they are enrolled full-time.
What if I share my Apple Music account with family members?
The student plan is for individual use only and cannot be shared through Family Sharing. If you want to share Apple Music with family members, you need the family plan at $10.99 per month for up to six people. The student discount does not apply to family plans.
Do I need to re-verify my student status every year?
No. Once you are approved, your discount runs for four years without needing to re-verify. After four years, you will be asked to verify again if you want to keep the student rate. If you are no longer a student, your plan will switch to the standard individual rate.
Can I get the student discount if I am taking online classes?
Yes, as long as you are enrolled full-time at an accredited college or university. The school does not have to be in-person. SheerID will verify your enrollment status the same way, whether your classes are online, in-person, or hybrid.
What if SheerID denies my verification?
If SheerID cannot verify your enrollment, contact Apple Support and explain the situation. Provide them with documentation of your current enrollment, such as a student ID or enrollment letter. Apple can sometimes process student discounts manually for students whose schools are not in SheerID's system or whose verification failed for technical reasons.