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Student Discounts on Shopify: The Ultimate 2025 Guide for B2B Merchants

Student Discounts on Shopify

89% of students will buy something if they get at least 20% off (SheerID)? These statistics indicate how well student discounts work for B2B merchants. In this guide, we are covering why you should be offering student discounts on Shopify, how you can do this, some tools you can take advantage of, and tips for improving your results.

Worry not! We have got your back. Read on to discover how you can take advantage of Shopify student discount programs.

Why Student Discounts on Shopify

The Student Spending Power

These days, students are more than just window shoppers. The US students alone have a buying power of over $574 billion annually, per various studies. They shop for technology gadgets, clothing, skin care, learning tools, and others.

For example, a Shopify store with productivity tools or study accessories targets college students with a 15-20% discount. Store owners can boost sales and outreach through such student discounts on Shopify.

Building Early Brand Loyalty

Students are still discovering brands they can trust and remain loyal to for years. Winning their attention today means keeping them as loyal customers for tomorrow. Repeat customers can be the biggest source of income for your store.

For example, Adobe has a student discount on its Creative Cloud suite. Even long after graduating, many students make use of it in their careers. This early familiarity and loyalty enable brands to maximize profits.

Competitive Advantages

Not every Shopify merchant is taking the initiative to provide student discounts. So, this is your golden opportunity to stand out from your competitors by focusing on student buyers.

For example, if you sell bulk stationery supplies on Shopify like a “Student Bundle Pack” at a discounted price, then there’s a high chance that your store will be the first choice for students looking to buy stationery.

How to Offer Student Discounts on Shopify

Creating a student discount manually on Shopify is simple; however, there are limitations in terms of verification.

Create Student Discounts Manually

  1. Go to Shopify Admin.
  2. Click “Discounts.”
  3. Click “Create Discount.”
  4. Select “Discount Code.”
  5. Use a code, for example, STUDENT20.
  6. Set discount value like 10%, 15%, 20%, or greater.
  7. Set limitations per customer.
  8. Optional: Restrict to verified students (using external apps)
  9. Click “Save.”
Student Discounts on Shopify - Set Shopify Discount

Create Student Discounts with Third-Party Apps

Third-party discount apps like DiscountRay are efficient in automating discounts for Shopify merchants like you. You just need to set your customer group where you want to apply student discounts. The following is a brief guide to get started with such apps. 

  1. Go to the Shopify app store and type in the search bar, “DiscountRay.” Install the app. 

Student Discounts on Shopify - DiscountRay app on Shopify app store

2. After installation, you will see a dashboard similar to the one below:

Student Discounts on Shopify - DiscountRay Dashboard

3. Choose one of the two options according to what suits you best. In this example, we select Quantity discount. 

Student Discounts on Shopify -DiscountRay Options

4. Select “Create quantity discount” and type the discount name and the specific product you want to apply a discount to.  

Student Discounts on Shopify -  Set DiscountRay Quantity

5. Fill up the Quantity with the corresponding Discount percentage that you want. Click “+ Add range” if you want to add more. Click on the “Activate” button to activate this offer.

Student Discounts on Shopify -  DiscountRay Quantity Select

6. Finally, choose the customers you are targeting using the “Customer eligibility” feature. “Customer tag” and “Specific customers” let you separate the members from the rest of the customers. This is how you can specify your customers as only students for the student discount offer.   

Student Discounts on Shopify - Customer Eligibility

7. We now have our first DiscountRay Quantity Discount set up. Let us see how it looks in the live view.

Student Discounts on Shopify - DiscountRay_Quantity_LiveView

8. We can see the discount being implemented in your cart. 

Student Discounts on Shopify - DiscountRayLiveView2

DiscountRay (Best for B2B Merchants):

  • Automates discount rules.
  • Bulk pricing for student groups.
  • Customizes eligibility.

The Most Common Shopify Student Discount Mistakes:

  • Mistake: Offering discounts without verifying the student status.

Result: Non-students abusing student discounts. 

  • Mistake: No expiration dates.

Result: Discounts that just never end.

  • Mistake: The Redemption process is complex.

Result: Cart abandonment.

Pro Tips for Maximum Results

Promotion Strategies

Do not just put out a discount offer and wait for results. Promote it actively.

Example Tactics:

  • Homepage banner as: “20% Student Discount. Verify Now!”
  • Deals for students featured on the landing page
  • Try some Instagram stories or TikTok videos targeting student lifestyles.
  • Partnerships with student influencers.

Fraud Prevention

Students like student discount programs. Well, so do people who are not students. Such frauds pretend to be students to take advantage of these discounts. So, how do you protect your Shopify store from discount misuse? Let us find out now. 

Best Practices:

  • Verify their student status using trusted verification apps.
  • Refrain from using generic codes such as WELCOME20 for student campaigns. 
  • Be sure to let students use it once for each verified student.

Performance Tracking

Be sure to always monitor the effectiveness of your student discount strategy.

Metrics to Track:

  • Total number of student discount orders.
  • Income from sales that come through student discounts.
  • Customer lifetime value (CLV) of student purchases
  • Repeat purchase rate from verified students.

Metrics and Analytics: Use Shopify Analytics or Google Analytics to track and then optimize. 

Set Clear Terms & Conditions

Create clear rules to prevent misuse. Define:

  • Eligibility (age, enrollment status)
  • Discount limits (per user, per time-period)
  • Product exclusions

Make Student Verification Easy

Work with verification service providers that maintain a balance between smooth and secure validations. The easier the process, the greater your conversion rate.

Convey Exclusivity & Urgency Well

Use language like:

  • “Exclusive for Students Only”
  • “Limited-Time Student Perk”
  • “Verify Today & Save More”

These messages create a sense of privilege and encourage quick action.

10 Best Student Discounts on Shopify for B2B Merchants

1. Flat Percentage Discount (10-20% Off)

  • Best For: General merchandise (e.g., apparel, electronics).

2. Free Shipping for Students

  • Best For: DTC brands with high shipping costs.

3. Tiered Discounts 

  • Best For: Bulk orders (common in B2B student orgs).

4. “First Purchase” Student Discount (e.g., 15% Off First Order)

  • Best For: Customer acquisition.

5. Subscription Discounts (e.g., 10% Off Monthly)

  • Best For: SaaS, meal kits, or recurring products.

6. Bundle Discounts (e.g., Buy 2, Get 10% Off)

  • Best For: Textbook sellers, beauty brands.

7. Cashback for Students (Post-Purchase Reward)

  • Best For: High-retention brands.

8. Exclusive Student-Only Product Lines

  • Best For: School supplies, tech, or custom merch.

9. Seasonal/Back-to-School Promos

  • Best For: Timed campaigns.

10. Group Discounts for Student Orgs (e.g., 20% Off for 10+ Orders)

  • Best For: Fraternities, clubs, or university partnerships.

Key Tools for Verification & Setup

ToolPurposeGlobal Support?
SheerIDInstant student verification190+ countries
UNiDAYS/StudentBeansDiscount integration100+ countries
Wholesale ClubB2B student portalsYes
Geolocation AppsRegion-specific discountsYes

Conclusion

Student discounts on Shopify are becoming very popular in this modern era. It is a fantastic way to acquire and retain customers. B2B merchants using automated verification tools, smart promotion tactics, and fraud prevention strategies can easily target and convert student customers. Thus, boosting their sales while establishing a future-proof brand.

So, what are you waiting for? Hurry up and set up your student discount programs now! Note down all the notes from the guide and apply them to your Shopify store today. We hope to see you again with another expert guide on B2B eCommerce. 

FAQs about Student Discounts on Shopify

How do you receive student discounts online?

You have to prove that you are a student by verifying your student ID or email on the store’s website or using student discount sites.

Why do students get discounts?

Brands offer discounts to help students save money and build customer loyalty.

How to claim your student discounts online?

Sign up on any of the student discount websites and prove your student status.

How many percentage is the student discount?

Every brand is different, but most student discounts are between 10% and 30%.

Who is eligible for student discounts?

Eligible applicants will be students enrolled in school, college, or university with have a valid student ID.

What Do You Need for Student Discounts?

Valid student ID, student email, or verification through a reputable student discount app.

How do I get 50% off on Shopify?

There is no 50% off plans from Shopify itself, However, some Shopify stores offer up to 50% off Items for students.

How do I add 10% off on Shopify?

Go to Shopify Admin → Discounts → Create Discount → Add 10% off code and set the rules.

What is the discount limit on Shopify?

There is no definite limit set by Shopify. Merchants are allowed to choose any percentage or amount based on their discount strategy.

How to apply a student discount for online shopping?

Find the student discount code → Put things in the cart →Input the code to get the discount at checkout.

Does Shopify have a student discount?

Shopify does not have a built-in student discount, but many Shopify stores offer student discounts using third-party apps.

What tool brands have student discounts?

Various brands like Apple, Dell, Lenovo, Microsoft, Adobe, and many more are seen to offer student discounts.

Why offer student discounts on Shopify?

For B2B merchants, student discounts allow you to win young customers, create early loyalty, and drive sales.

Do student discounts increase sales?

Yes! Students are known for having highly active purchasing activity, and offering student discounts tends to lead to higher conversion rates and more repeat customers.

How can I verify student status on Shopify?

Websites that validate student status, such as Student Beans, UNiDAYS, and SheerID, are used to prevent unauthorized usage.

How to set up student discounts on Shopify?

Create a student-only code in Shopify Admin → Discounts → Create Discount. Verify through third-party student discount apps for Shopify.

Can I automate student discounts on Shopify?

Absolutely! Apps like DiscountRay help automate discounts for students.

What is a good B2B student pricing strategy?

Offer bulk discounts, create loyalty programs, and personalize offers for student groups to maximize your Shopify B2B results.

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