Best Student Internet Deals in 2024

A stable internet connection is a basic requirement for every student these days. With the already expensive student life, students require a reliable internet connection that fits their budget and is fast enough to handle their online tasks and assignments. Many internet providers have introduced pocket-friendly student internet deals. We are here to help you track down and compare the best internet plans and bundle deals for students.

Top-5 Student Internet Plans

Best AT&T Student Internet Deals

AT&T is the oldest and largest internet service provider in the United States. Over the years it has introduced several student internet deals that allow them to enjoy ultrafast broadband at either the lowest possible rates or completely free. Students from low-income households can apply for the government-sponsored Affordable Connectivity Program (ACP) to get free internet with download speeds up to 100 Mbps. Eligible families are given a $30 monthly credit by the federal government to pay for their discounted broadband service. You can read our detailed blog on the AT&T ACP Program to learn how you can benefit from AT&T’s free internet service. 

Best Student Internet Plans by AT&T – AT&T Access Plan 

Students who are eligible to enroll in the Affordable Connectivity Program can subscribe to the AT&T Access plan to receive free internet with download speeds up to 100 Mbps. It is one of the best student internet deals in town for this year because they receive ultrafast upload and download speeds, absolutely free, and they also get unlimited data, contract-free service, and up to 99.9% network reliability. 

Free AT&T WiFi Hotspots for Students 

In 2020, AT&T donated $10 million for closing the digital divide that became prevalent during the onset of the Covid-19 pandemic. The capital was spent on installing free WiFi hotspots in public spaces like libraries, coffee shops, and parks, and distributing tech-enabled learning devices like laptops, tablets, desktops, etc. Apart from this large donation, AT&T offered discounted internet and content moderation services to nearly 130,000 public and private schools/ colleges. Students studying in kindergarten and up, until grade 12, were receiving free internet connections via the AT&T Moxee Hotspot. During the lockdowns, they were allowed to take the device home and use it to connect to the AT&T network. Until now, several schools and colleges within AT&T’s coverage area are receiving subsidized internet service to ensure that learning never stops. For those searching for internet providers offering the best student internet deals in the town, AT&T will be the name that comes top on the list.

Spectrum Internet® Deals for Students 

Spectrum is the nation’s fifth-best internet service provider that offers hybrid fiber-coaxial cable internet service to over 31 million subscribers. It has one of the widest cable networks in the country, spanning over 41 states. Spectrum is highly popular for its affordable student internet plans that come with an array of exciting perks. You get unlimited data, no-contract service, full home WiFi coverage, and a free Spectrum Mobile Unlimited line with every plan. At the moment, Spectrum is offering three exclusive student internet plans. 

Spectrum ACP & Internet Assist Plan for Students

Students throughout Spectrum’s coverage area can get free internet at home. Like AT&T, Spectrum is a signatory of the Affordable Connectivity Program. It offers free home internet with download speeds of up to 100 Mbps to eligible students from low-income households. You can either enroll in the Spectrum Internet® Assist Program or pick one of the above-mentioned internet deals for students by Spectrum to get a further $30 discount on your monthly internet bill. 

You can read our blog on Spectrum Affordable Connectivity Program to learn more about its eligibility criteria and benefits. Students who are currently participating in the National School Lunch Program (NSLP) can apply for the Spectrum Internet® Assist plan and get uninterrupted broadband for just $19.99 per month. If you are a student seeking budget-friendly internet options, look for some student internet deals offered by different internet providers that come within your budget.

Frontier Internet Deals for Students 

Frontier Communications is a household name in rural areas of America. It is widely popular in the countryside for its low-cost DSL internet plans that offer up to 100 Mbps of download speed. Young learners in the rural and suburban areas of the country will love Frontier’s Student Internet Deals for its affordability, easy accessibility, and combined benefits. All Frontier’s Student Internet Deals include high-speed data, an Amazon Eero WiFi router, price guarantees for 2 years, unlimited data, and contract-free service. 

Frontier ACP for Students

In 2022, Frontier joined its competitors in the Affordable Connectivity Program. All the students from low-income families seeking budget-friendly student internet deals or those who are receiving government assistance through the National School Lunch Program (NSLP) and School Breakfast Program (SBP) can apply for the Frontier Affordable Connectivity Program to get free and discounted internet service. 

Frontier Fundamental Internet Deal for Students  

Frontier’s Fundamental is one of the ideal Internet deals for students only available in California. Students whose families receive financial assistance through the U.S Supplemental Nutrition Assistance Program (CalFresh), Supplemental Security Income (SSI), and Medi-Cal are eligible for the Frontier Fundamental Internet at only $19.99 per month. The service includes free installation, round-the-clock technical support, and a $5.00 monthly router charge.  

T-Mobile Home Internet Deals for Students

T-Mobile is mainly a cellular service provider that has the biggest and fastest 5G network. Apart from its value-added cellphone plans, it offers 5G home internet service to more than 40 million homes across the country. For a fixed price of $50 per month, students get up to 182 Mbps of download speed on their T-Mobile 5G home internet. You can get an additional $20 discount if you combine your 5G home internet plan with a Magenta Max unlimited phone plan.  

But here is what really makes T-Mobile 5G home internet plan one of the best student internet deals in 2023. Every Tuesday, the students will get free stuff like concert tickets, meals, accessories, and more from T-Mobile Tuesdays. With these fascinating student internet deals, T-Mobile is ensuring students get a high-speed internet connection at an affordable price. 

T-Mobile Project 10 Million

In April 2022, T-Mobile launched its Project 10 Million in partnership with Big Brother, Big Sisters of America. The aim was to donate $10 million to provide the best student internet deals for low-income families and communities. All students enrolled in the National School Lunch Program receive 100 GB of free internet per year for 5 years, a free T-Mobile hotspot device, and compatible laptops or tablets at discounted rates. 

Metronet Fiber Internet Deals for Students 

Metronet is a 100%, fiber-rich internet service provider in the Midwest and southwest regions. Its affordable plans can offer symmetrical speeds up to 1000 Mbps at a monthly starting price of $39.95. All the Metronet student internet deals include unlimited data, no-contract service, a cutting-edge Eero WiFi 6 router, and free installation. Metronet is offering three fully fiber-optic student internet deals throughout its service area.

For as low as $39.99 per month, students can enjoy the 100 Mbps of symmetrical speeds on their Metronet fiber internet network. This plan is ideal for light web browsing, file sharing, casual online gaming, audio-video streaming, and video conferencing. You can connect up to 5 devices on your Metronet Internet 100 deal for students. 

The Metronet Internet 500 deal for students supports multi-device connectivity of up to 8 devices. It is best suited for streaming HD videos, exchange of heavy files, and attending online classes/ lectures.  

You can connect more than 10 devices on your Metronet Internet 1000 plan. The Metronet Internet 1000 deal for students is perfect for extreme gaming, streaming, file sharing, and smart home connectivity. 

Choosing the Best Student Internet Deal 

As a student, your preferences for a suitable internet plan will be different than those of your parents or adult siblings. You will need a student internet deal that is fast, reliable, and affordable enough to support all the online activities related to your remote and in-class learning. Here are a few things you must consider when looking for the best internet deals for students. 

Affordability 

The broke student syndrome is more real than you think. According to the news media organization, CNBC, almost 74% of college students in the country are facing serious financial problems. Even if they work full-time at entry-level jobs, their earnings and savings are not enough to live a comfortable life after all the bills and fees have been paid. Similarly, most high-school students are dependent on their parents for their financial needs. And if they belong to lower-income households, it is unlikely that their parents can afford an expensive internet connection. Therefore, affordability is the first box that you must check when shopping for the best student internet deals. It makes no sense if it costs you $100 per month for a 1000 Mbps internet plan. 

Reliability

The reliability of an internet connection is measured by its uptime. Broadband service is reliable if you hardly experience internet outages and get consistent upload and download speeds most of the time. Unreliable network service providers are the ones where your internet service is down for a couple of days or a few seconds, several times during the day. Low uptimes will affect your studies as a whole. You will not be able to browse the web, stream online lectures, download notes, upload assignments or consult your classmates/ teachers if the connection gets interrupted. Therefore you should look for student internet deals from providers that are known to deliver 99.99% network reliability. 

Upload and Download Speeds 

Surveys conducted at various schools and colleges have shown that download speeds between 25 Mbps and 100 Mbps are perfect for students, even if they share the network with their roommates. Download speeds of 25 Mbps and above are fast enough for multi-device connectivity (up to 5 devices), glitch-free video calling on Zoom, and smooth streaming in HD quality. While most DSL internet connections offer download speeds of up to 100 Mbps, slow upload speeds will leave you flustered. You must check for the upload speeds on the individual internet plans. Upload speeds between 5 and 25 Mbps are ideal for students. Best student internet deals with fast upload speed will allow you to submit assignments with heavy audio/video /image files just seconds before the deadline. Considering all these factors, finding the best student internet deals is crucial for academic success.

Contracts 

Students often get a bad rap for their nomadic lifestyle. They move from one accommodation to another in search of better housemates, reduced rents, proximity to amenities, and sometimes simply for improved nightlife. The typical lease term for international and local students in the USA is one year. Most students prefer to look for short-term or month-to-month leases because they know they will find a better deal during the semester break. So, when your stay at the current student accommodation seems impermanent, why get into the hassle of a contract-based internet connection? Consider exploring some flexible student internet deals instead.

Our advice is that when you go into the market to look for the most cost-effective student internet deals, always ask if the plan comes with a no-contract service. A contract-free student internet plan will save you from paying the hefty early termination fees, in case you decide to move out before the contract expiration date. 

Customer Service

Student life is all about learning and juggling responsibilities. It is the first time that most teenagers learn to cook, clean, and pay for themselves. It is not easy when you have to manage relationships, studies, and careers all at once. Stress and exhaustion become unavoidable, and if in such instances, you are met with unexpected issues with your internet service provider, it can lead to a serious meltdown. To make your student life smooth sailing, we recommend that you look for a student internet deal that promises superior customer service. It is advisable that instead of wasting your precious time listening to the call-waiting ringtone, you are immediately connected to an understanding representative who troubleshoots the problems you are encountering with your internet connection.

Final Take

Internet technology is an essential component of interactive learning. Online texts, videos, and platforms are used to expedite learning, increase retention rates, and make lessons more fun for the students. In our quest to find the best student internet deals in 2023, we found that AT&T, Spectrum, Frontier, T-Mobile, and Metronet are the top 5 broadband carriers that offer affordable, high-speed, and unlimited internet plans for students.