Your Free Guide to YouTube Premium Student Discounts

Understanding YouTube Premium and Student Discounts

YouTube Premium is a paid subscription service that removes advertisements from videos, allows offline viewing, and enables background play on mobile devices. The service costs $13.99 per month for standard users in the United States. YouTube offers a reduced-price option specifically for students to make the service more affordable for people pursuing higher education.

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The student discount reduces the monthly cost to $6.99, which represents a 50% savings compared to the regular price. This discounted rate has been available since 2018 and remains one of YouTube's primary offerings for student populations. The discount applies only to individual accounts and cannot be shared with family members or other household members.

To understand what the student discount includes, it's important to know that it provides the same features as the regular Premium subscription. Users receive ad-free viewing across all YouTube content, the ability to save videos for offline watching on the mobile app, and the option to play videos in the background while using other apps. The student version does not include YouTube Music Premium, which is a separate service.

The program operates through a verification service called SheerID, which confirms student status through official school records. This third-party verification exists to prevent misuse of the discount and ensure that only current students receive the reduced rate.

Practical Takeaway: Before exploring the student discount process, understand that you're looking at a subscription service costing $6.99 monthly (versus $13.99 regular price) that removes ads and enables offline viewing. The discount requires current student status verification through SheerID.

Requirements for Obtaining the Student Discount

Several requirements must be met to receive the YouTube Premium student discount. The primary requirement is current enrollment at an accredited college, university, or secondary school. This means you must be an active student during the school year, not someone who previously attended or plans to attend in the future.

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The school you attend must be recognized as accredited in your country. In the United States, this includes most community colleges, four-year universities, and private institutions. However, online-only schools, vocational programs that don't grant degrees, and unaccredited institutions typically do not qualify. Your school's accreditation status can usually be verified through your school's official website or by contacting the registrar's office.

You must have a Google Account to use YouTube Premium. This account does not need to be connected to your school email address, though it can be. The Google Account should be in good standing, meaning it hasn't been suspended or flagged for violating Google's terms of service.

A valid payment method is required to complete the subscription setup. This can be a credit card, debit card, or other payment option accepted by Google in your region. Your payment method will be charged the discounted rate monthly, and you're responsible for ensuring the payment method remains valid throughout your subscription.

The age requirement states that you must be at least 18 years old to independently subscribe to YouTube Premium. If you're under 18, a parent or guardian may need to manage the subscription, depending on your location's laws.

Practical Takeaway: You need to be currently enrolled at an accredited school, have a valid Google Account, and possess a working payment method. Verify your school's accreditation status before proceeding with any verification steps.

How the SheerID Verification Process Works

SheerID is the company YouTube uses to verify student status. This service maintains partnerships with thousands of educational institutions and can cross-reference your information against official school records. When you begin the student discount process through YouTube, you'll be directed to SheerID's verification portal.

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The verification process starts by entering your name, email address, and date of birth. You'll then be asked to select your school from a searchable database. SheerID has information about over 7,000 schools in the United States and millions more internationally. If your school doesn't appear in the initial search, there are additional methods to verify your status.

After selecting your school, SheerID will ask you to provide your student ID number, which is typically printed on your school ID card. This number helps SheerID locate your enrollment record in the school's system. You may also be asked for your current semester or year of enrollment.

SheerID then cross-references the information you provided with records maintained by your school. This verification typically takes only a few minutes, though in some cases it may require up to 24 hours. You'll receive confirmation through your email when the verification is complete.

If your school isn't in SheerID's database or if the automatic verification fails, you can manually verify your status. This involves uploading a photo or scan of your valid student ID, along with a photo of an official enrollment document such as a course schedule or current tuition bill. The manual verification process takes longer, sometimes 3-5 business days.

Once SheerID confirms your status, you're notified that you're now eligible to set up the YouTube Premium student subscription. The discount applies immediately upon subscription setup and continues monthly as long as you maintain your student status.

Practical Takeaway: Gather your school name, student ID number, and enrollment details before beginning verification. Automatic verification through SheerID typically takes minutes to hours, while manual verification using ID documents takes several days.

Steps to Set Up Your YouTube Premium Student Subscription

Beginning the subscription process requires accessing YouTube's official student discount page, which can be found through YouTube's main website. Search for "YouTube Premium for students" to locate the official page. Avoid third-party websites offering to help with this process, as YouTube handles all subscriptions directly.

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On the student discount page, you'll find a button or link to start the verification process. Click this to be directed to SheerID's portal. Complete the information requested as described in the previous section. Keep in mind that the information you provide must match your school's records exactly, including spelling and formatting of your name.

After SheerID confirms your student status, you'll be returned to YouTube's website. At this point, you'll need to select a payment method. You can use a credit card, debit card, or other payment options available through Google. Enter the payment information and review the subscription terms before confirming.

YouTube will charge your payment method $6.99 on the date you set up the subscription, and then on the same date each month thereafter. You can change your payment method or manage your subscription through YouTube's account settings at any time.

After your first payment is processed, the Premium features activate immediately on the account you used to set up the subscription. You can begin watching videos without ads and using the offline and background play features right away.

Your student discount status remains valid as long as you remain an enrolled student. YouTube does not continuously re-verify your status through SheerID, but your subscription may be subject to review. If you graduate, take a leave of absence, or withdraw from school, you should inform YouTube of your changed status, as maintaining a student discount while no longer being a student would violate the subscription terms.

Practical Takeaway: Go directly to YouTube's official website to begin setup, complete SheerID verification with accurate school information, provide your payment method, and expect the first charge within days of completing the process.

Potential Challenges and Troubleshooting Information

One common issue occurs when the information provided doesn't match school records. Schools often have specific formatting requirements for names, student IDs, or enrollment data. If verification fails, carefully review the information you entered. Check your school's student portal or contact your registrar to confirm the exact spelling and format your school uses for your name and ID number.

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Some schools are not yet in SheerID's database. This particularly affects newer schools, very small institutions, or specialized vocational programs. If your school doesn't appear in the database, you can use the manual verification option by uploading your student ID and enrollment document. Make sure the document clearly shows your name, the school's name, and the current academic year or semester.

International students may encounter difficulties if their schools aren't recognized in SheerID's system. SheerID has expanded its international coverage significantly, but not all countries and schools are included. International verification may require manual documentation upload. Your school's English name should be used during verification, not a translated version.

Payment issues sometimes occur when credit cards are declined or when payment information appears invalid to Google's system. This can happen if your card's billing address doesn