Apple Music student pricing costs half the regular monthly rate

Apple Music offers a student plan that runs at roughly half the price of a standard individual subscription. The exact cost varies by country, but in the United States it is $5.99 per month instead of $11.99. You do not need to be a traditional college student — the program covers high school students, university students, and anyone enrolled in an accredited post-secondary institution.

The student plan includes everything the regular plan does: ad-free streaming, offline downloads, access to Apple Music's full catalog, and spatial audio on compatible devices. The main limitation is that you can only use it on one account, and Apple will ask you to re-verify your student status every 12 months.

Key Takeaways

  • Apple Music student pricing is available to anyone with a current enrollment at an accredited high school, college, or university.
  • You will need to verify your student status through SheerID, a third-party verification service, which usually takes a few minutes.
  • The student rate is roughly half the regular monthly price and includes all the same features as a standard subscription.
  • Your student status must be re-verified every 12 months, or your subscription will revert to the full price.

How to verify your student status through SheerID

Apple uses a company called SheerID to confirm that you are actually a student. When you sign up for the student plan on Apple Music, you will be directed to SheerID's verification page. You will need to provide your name, date of birth, and school name, then upload a photo of a valid student ID or other proof of enrollment.

SheerID accepts several types of documents: a current student ID card, a tuition bill or receipt from the current term, a class schedule with your name and school, or an official enrollment letter. The verification usually completes within a few minutes, though some submissions take up to 24 hours if SheerID needs to contact your school directly.

If your verification is rejected, SheerID will tell you why and give you the option to submit different documents or appeal the decision. You can contact SheerID's support team directly if you believe the rejection was an error.

Where to sign up for the student plan

You can start the student plan signup from the Apple Music app on any device, or through the Apple Music website. Open the app, go to your account settings (usually the profile icon), and look for a "Plans" or "Subscriptions" section. Select the student plan option, and you will be taken to SheerID to verify your status.

If you already have a regular Apple Music subscription, you can switch to the student plan without losing your library or playlists. The change takes effect when ready after verification, and your billing date resets to the day you switch.

What happens when your student status expires

Apple requires you to re-verify your student status every 12 months. About a month before your verification expires, you will receive a notification asking you to confirm your enrollment again. If you do not re-verify by the important date, your subscription automatically upgrades to the regular plan at the full monthly rate.

If you are no longer a student when your verification expires, you will need to switch to a different plan. Apple offers a regular individual plan, a family plan that covers up to six people, and a bundle that includes Apple TV+ and Apple Arcade. You can also pause or cancel your subscription at any time.

Student plans bundled with other Apple services

Apple also offers a student bundle that combines Apple Music, Apple TV+, and Apple Arcade at a discounted rate. This bundle is cheaper than paying for each service separately, though you will still need to verify your student status and re-verify every 12 months.

The bundle does not include iCloud+ storage, which is Apple's cloud backup service. If you want cloud storage along with music and video, you would need to purchase iCloud+ separately or choose a different plan structure.

Common issues with student verification

The most frequent problem is uploading a document that SheerID cannot read clearly. Make sure your student ID or enrollment letter is well-lit, in focus, and shows your full name and the current school year or term. Blurry photos or documents with parts cut off are often rejected.

Another common issue is using an outdated student ID from a previous year. SheerID checks the expiration date on the ID, so if your card expired before you applied, you will need to submit a tuition bill, class schedule, or enrollment letter instead. If your school name on the document does not match the name you entered in the form, SheerID may reject it — use the official name your school uses on official documents.

If you are in a gap year or between programs, you are not may be able to access for the student plan, even if you were recently enrolled. You become may be able to access again once you are officially enrolled in a new program.

Frequently Asked Questions

Can I use a student plan on multiple devices?

Yes, you can stream on multiple devices at the same time, just like a regular subscription. However, the account itself belongs to one person — you cannot share the student plan with friends or family members the way you can with a family plan.

What if my school is not recognized by SheerID?

SheerID covers most accredited schools in the United States and many internationally, but not every institution. If your school is not in their system, you can still submit a tuition bill, class schedule, or enrollment letter directly from your school. SheerID will contact your school to verify the documents manually, which may take longer.

Do I lose my playlists if I stop being a student?

Your playlists and library stay with your Apple Music account. If your student status expires and you switch to a regular plan, everything you saved remains there. If you cancel your subscription entirely, your library is held for 30 days in case you resubscribe.

Can I switch back to the student plan after my status expires?

Yes, as long as you are enrolled in a school again. You will need to re-verify your new student status through SheerID, and your subscription will switch back to the student rate once verification is complete.