How Students Can Get Free or Discounted Internet

Max McCaskill Sr. Staff Writer

Updated 13 May 2026

Contents

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Discounted and free internet for students
Government programs for internet discounts
How to pick an internet plan
FAQs

A strong and fast internet connection is essential for today's students. Whether doing online homework, remote learning, or downloading the best apps to start the school year, students are online more than ever before. That said, it can be challenging to find an affordable connection for families with students or undergraduates just starting out on their own.

To help you out, we've rounded up the best internet deals and discounts for students to keep you connected. Whether you're looking for a high-speed connection from a major service provider, government discounts, or a bundled internet and wireless plan, we can help you discover the cheapest plans for your needs.

Let's explore the best free and discounted deals on internet service for students from Xfinity, Spectrum, Cox, and other popular providers.

Discounted and free internet for students

Popular internet service providers (ISPs), including Xfinity, Spectrum, Cox, Frontier, and Mediacom, offer excellent incentives for students. Here are the best ways to get internet access without breaking the bank so you can concentrate on learning.

Xfinity

Xfinity offers a few student discounts. Its Internet Essentials plan provides download speeds up to 75Mbps to customers eligible for public assistance programs with prices starting at $14.95/month.

Alternatively, college students living off-campus at certain universities may be eligible for Xfinity's discounted student plans. If you shop near the beginning of the school year, Xfinity may throw in extra perks like Uber Eats or Amazon gift cards. Note that you will be required to prove that you're currently a college student to get access, and this plan must be renewed every year.

In our testing, Xfinity delivered fast, reliable, wallet-friendly cable internet, making it a great choice for work and play.

View at Xfinity

T-Mobile

T-Mobile offers special discounts for students on government benefits and cheap bundling options.

T-Mobile's Project 10Million hooks up eligible K-12 students enrolled in government assistance programs with 200GB of mobile data and a mobile hotspot for free for five years.

You may be eligible for Project 10Million if in the past two years, you or your child were enrolled in programs like:

National School Lunch Program (NSLP)
Supplemental Nutrition Assistance Program (SNAP)
Electronic Benefits Transfer (EBT)
Temporary Assistance for Needy Families (TANF)
Community Eligibility Provision (CEP)
Food Distribution Program on Indian Reservations (FDPIR)
Medicaid
Head Start, along with foster youth, migrant, homeless, or runaway youth

If you don't qualify for Project 10Million, T-Mobile can still offer affordable internet. One of the best options for these customers is to bundle T-Mobile 5G internet with a T-Mobile wireless plan. Bundling the T-Mobile Rely Internet plan with any postpaid wireless plan will knock the cost of your internet service down to just $35/month.

View at T-Mobile

Spectrum

If you're a college student, grad student, or parent homeschooling K-12 kids, Spectrum also offers discounted internet. Households eligible for the NSLP, Community Eligibility Provision (CEP), or Supplemental Security Income (SSI) can access Spectrum Internet Assist to get low-cost or even free internet.

Students are also eligible for discounts on Spectrum internet with plans starting at just $30/month for a year of service. Spectrum gives you fast speeds (up to 1Gig on student plans) with no data caps, so you can learn worry-free.

View at Spectrum

Cox

Cox features several internet options for students and families.

The Connect2Compete program offers low-cost home internet to families with at least one K-12 student in their household. Families must qualify for at least one public assistance program like the National School Lunch Program (NSLP) or SNAP. Pricing starts at $9.95/month with speeds up to 100Mbps.

For college students or families who don't qualify for Cox's low-income plan, StraightUp internet is another option. It allows customers to prepay for internet one month at a time for a flat $50 fee. It also includes a free Wi-Fi modem and speeds up to 100Mbps.

View at Cox

AT&T

Access from AT&T can get families internet service with speeds up to 100Mbps for $30/month. There's no contract, installation fee, or extra charge for Wi-Fi. Households signed up with programs like Supplemental Nutrition Assistance Program (SNAP), NSLP, or Head Start are eligible.

College students with access to AT&T fiber can also save on their internet plans when bundled with an eligible postpaid plan. AT&T's internet bundles start at 300Mbps for $42/month.

View at AT&T

Verizon Fios

Verizon has limited options for student discounts. College students at select universities and colleges can lower their Verizon Fios bills by up to $10/month. That's a solid discount on fiber service, which we found fast and reliable.

View at Verizon

Frontier

Frontier provides affordable internet service if you're a college student, grad student, or parent homeschooling K-12 kids. Its outstanding no-contract internet service includes a Wi-Fi router. No data cap means you can tap into Zoom meetings and online classes as often as you need.

View at Frontier

Mediacom

Mediacom features low-cost home internet with download speeds up to 100Mbps for $14.99/month. The server's Connect2Compete program is open to new customers with at least one K-12 student qualifying for the National School Lunch Program.

In our experience, Mediacom boasts fast cable internet at reasonable prices with exceptional promotions, including student deals.

View plans

Government programs for internet discounts

Several government programs provide cheap internet deals for remote learning. Here are the government programs available now.

Affordable Connectivity Program

Previously, the Affordable Connectivity Program offered monthly bill credits to low-income households. Eligible families received up to $30/month off their internet bill, while folks on Tribal lands could see up to $75/month in ACP subsidies.

On February 8, 2024, the Federal Communications Commission (FCC) froze all new enrollments in the Affordable Connectivity Program (ACP) due to a lack of Congressional funding. The program has now officially shut down.

For more details, visit the FCC's notice on the ACP wind-down.

Connect2Complete

Connect2Compete is a government-funded program started by a Federal Communications Commission challenge that allows internet carriers to charge cheaper rates for internet service. It’s available to low-income homes with kindergarten, elementary school, middle school, and high school students. Expect to pay between $10–$30/month to get internet speeds up to 100Mbps. Currently, both Cox and Mediacom participate in the Connect2Compete program.

Altice Advantage Internet

This program provides a free modem, router, and a discounted internet plan that gets you 30Mbps download speeds for $14.99/month. To qualify for this government program, students must attend public school in New York City and be eligible for the NSLP or Supplemental Security Income (SSI).

How to pick an internet plan for students

You'll need the right internet plan when learning or working from home. Here's everything to consider: internet speeds, price, ISP availability, and discount eligibility.

Pick a fast enough internet speed for your needs

Online education requires a stable internet to handle Zoom classes, uploading or downloading documents, reading ebooks or websites, and streaming videos. Generally, we recommend at least 25Mbps download speeds, although the higher, the better.

Lower prices through bundling or deals

Internet access doesn't come cheap, so consider the cost of your monthly bill. Luckily, most ISPs offer a variety of ways to lower costs like bundling or deals for new customers.

ISPs like Spectrum, Xfinity, and Cox offer discounted wireless service as a perk to go with their internet plans. On the other side of the coin, wireless companies like AT&T, T-Mobile, and Verizon offer discounts on internet plans when bundled with postpaid phone plans. If you're willing to get both services from one company, you may save overall.

Here are our guides for the best wireless and internet bundles:

Research what ISPs are available in your area

Depending on where you live, you may be limited to a few internet service providers. If you've been in an area for a while, you're familiar with your options, but for students moving to college may not be. Check the internet providers near you to find out your options.

Discounts are available for families receiving government assistance

Some families can get discounted internet service if they meet various eligibility requirements. These programs may offer $30–$75/month in subsidies for K-12 students on select federal assistance programs.

If you or your child is a member of one of the following programs, you may be eligible for low-income internet service:

Assistance programs associated with low-income internet plans

National School Lunch Program (NSLP)
Community Eligibility Provision (CEP)
Federal Pell Grant
Head Start
Lifeline
Low Income Home Energy Assistance Program (LIHEAP)
Medicaid
Special Supplemental Nutrition for Women, Infants, and Children (WIC)
Supplemental Nutrition Assistance Program (SNAP)
Supplemental Security Income (SSI)
Temporary Assistance for Needy Families (TANF)
Tribal Assistance
U.S. Department of Housing and Urban Development
Veteran Affairs (VA) pension

With higher education, students must be enrolled in specific universities or colleges to be eligible for low-cost internet service.

Free and discounted internet for students: FAQs

Can I get a student discount on internet?

Yes, you can get free or discounted internet plans from ISPs, including Xfinity, Spectrum, Cox, AT&T, Verizon Fios, T-Mobile, Frontier, and Mediacom.

How do I boost my internet speeds for school?

To boost your internet speeds you can restart your computer, turn off other devices, or upgrade to a faster plan.

What internet speed do I need for online school or online classes?

To get the most out of a remote learning experience, you'll want internet speeds that allow for smooth streaming while video conferencing. For example, Zoom requires 1Mbps internet speeds for a remote learning scenario. If you want a better streaming experience, you'll want at least 4Mbps.

How do I improve my internet connection for school?

If you already have a fast internet plan, but your Wi-Fi connection keeps dropping out during your online classes, you may need to upgrade your router or find the best location for your router. You can also use a Wi-Fi extender or invest in a mesh router to combat dead zones.

Can I use a mobile hotspot to study?

If you don't have a home internet plan, using your cell phone as a mobile hotspot to study and do schoolwork can be a great way to save money. After all, why pay for internet and a cell phone plan when your cell phone plan can do both? Of course, if you're a heavy data user, this may not be a viable option for you, but a mobile hotspot might be just what you need.

How do I protect my information online?

If you've just started studying from home, you need to consider online security and ensure you're protecting your personal information from getting into the wrong hands. We recommend using a virtual private network (VPN) for data privacy and creating strong passwords.

Max McCaskill

Sr. Staff Writer

Max is a Senior Staff Writer at WhistleOut, specializing in mobile plans, operating systems, and carrier news. He regularly tests and reviews dozens of phone plans firsthand, evaluating real-world data speeds, coverage reliability, and plan features. He's been featured in publications such as Yahoo Finance, AARP, AP News, and GoBankingRates.

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