Best Student Internet Deals and Discounts for 2022 – CNET [CNET]

No matter if you’re tackling a college semester remotely, experiencing high school for the first time or in the midst of middle school, juggling the responsibilities of education can be tough. Whether or not you’ll be engaging in any remote learning this time around, you’re going to want a reliable, affordable internet connection at home. Good connections usually don’t come cheap, but there are a number of broadband discounts available that might help ease the financial burden on you and your family.

Here’s where you should start: Federal broadband support

Before digging into the provider-specific deals out there, it’s best to start with federal programs that may be of use no matter which internet provider services the area in which you live or go to school. If you or anyone in your household participates in Federal Public Housing Assistance, the National School Lunch Program, Supplemental Nutrition Assistance Program, Temporary Assistance for Needy Families or other qualifying federal programs, you will likely be eligible. 

First off is Lifeline, a program that’s been around since 1985. It’s often viewed as a program for seniors — participation in Medicaid and Supplemental Security Income are among some of the qualifiers — but Lifeline is really intended to offer assistance for low-income households. That makes it a viable option for families with K-12 kids or for college students out on their own. Eligibility factors include income that’s 135% or less than the federal poverty guidelines, or participation in federal assistance programs like FPHA or SNAP. 

Once you qualify, you get a discount of up to $9.25 a month on your internet bill. That’s $111 a year off your broadband costs.

If you qualify for Lifeline, you’re also eligible for the Affordable Connectivity Program, which is a government subsidy program set up by the Federal Communications Commission. Qualified households will receive a monthly discount on the cost of broadband service from participating internet service providers.

You can use the ACP toward the programs listed below and it might fully cover your monthly charge. Or, you could also opt to use the ACP to pay for a faster plan with more megabits per second. 

Now, without further ado, here are some of your options.

Student internet deals and discounts FAQs