You need a valid student ID and an Apple ID to get Apple Music at half price

Apple Music costs $10.99 per month for most people, but students pay $5.99 per month through a program called Apple Music Student. You do not need to be a college student — high school and university students both may have access to. The discount runs for four years from when you first sign up, then stops automatically.

To get the discount, you sign up through Apple Music on your device or through the web. During signup, Apple asks you to verify your student status using a service called SheerID. SheerID checks your school's records or accepts a photo of your student ID. The whole process takes a few minutes, and you get the discount when ready after verification.

The student plan includes everything the regular Apple Music plan has: access to 100 million songs, offline listening, ad-free radio, and spatial audio on compatible devices. You can use it on iPhone, iPad, Mac, Apple Watch, HomePod, and Android devices.

Key Takeaways

  • Apple Music Student costs $5.99 per month instead of $10.99, and you verify your status through SheerID during signup.
  • You must be enrolled at a high school, college, or university — homeschooled students and people taking individual classes do not may have access to.
  • The discount lasts for four years from your signup date, then your plan automatically switches to the regular price unless you cancel.
  • SheerID can verify your status when ready using your school email or student ID, or you can upload a photo of your student ID card.

What SheerID verification actually checks

SheerID is a third-party service that Apple uses to confirm you are a current student. When you start the signup process, SheerID asks for your name, date of birth, and school name. It then checks your school's enrollment records directly — most schools in the United States share this data with SheerID automatically.

If your school is in SheerID's system, verification happens in seconds. You see a confirmation screen, and your Apple Music Student plan activates right away. If your school is not in the system, SheerID asks you to upload a photo of your student ID or a screenshot of your school email address. This manual verification usually takes a few hours to a few days.

SheerID does not share your information with Apple beyond confirming that you are a student. It only tells Apple yes or no — it does not pass along your grades, major, or other school details.

Schools and programs that may have access to

You may have access to if you are enrolled full-time or part-time at an accredited high school, college, or university. This includes public schools, private schools, and community colleges. Trade schools and vocational programs count if they are accredited by a recognized body.

You do not may have access to if you are homeschooled, taking individual online classes, or attending a school that is not accredited. Graduate students and people pursuing degrees may have access to, but people auditing classes without being enrolled do not.

If you are unsure whether your school counts, start the signup process anyway — SheerID will tell you whether it recognizes your school before you commit to anything.

How to sign up on different devices

On iPhone or iPad, open the Apple Music app, tap the Listen Now tab, scroll down, and look for the Apple Music Student offer. Tap it and follow the prompts to sign in with your Apple ID. You will be sent to SheerID to verify your student status.

On a Mac, open the Music app, click Music in the menu bar, select Account, then click View My Account. Sign in with your Apple ID, scroll to the Subscription section, and look for the option to switch to Student. Again, you will verify through SheerID.

On the web, go to music.apple.com, sign in with your Apple ID, click your profile picture in the top right, select Account Settings, and find the Subscription section. The Student option appears there if you are not already on a student plan.

On Android, open the Apple Music app, tap your profile picture, select Account, and look for subscription options. The process is the same — you sign in and verify through SheerID.

What happens when your four years are up

Apple Music Student lasts exactly four years from the date you first sign up. On the day your four years end, your plan automatically switches to the regular Apple Music plan at $10.99 per month. Apple sends you an email a few days before the switch happens.

You can cancel your subscription before the switch if you do not want to pay the full price. You can also switch to Apple Music Voice Plan, which costs $4.99 per month and lets you control music using Siri, though it has fewer features than the full plan.

If you are still a student when your four years end, you cannot sign up for another four-year student plan. You have to wait and see whether Apple changes this policy in the future. For now, once your four years are done, the student discount is no longer available to you.

Combining Apple Music Student with other Apple services

Apple Music Student is a standalone plan — it does not include Apple TV+, Apple Arcade, or iCloud+ storage. If you want those services, you buy them separately or through Apple One, which bundles multiple services at a discount.

Apple One comes in three tiers. The Individual plan includes Apple Music, Apple TV+, Apple Arcade, and 50 GB of iCloud+ storage for $16.95 per month. The Family plan adds up to six family members and 200 GB of iCloud+ storage for $25.95 per month. The Premier plan adds Apple News+ and Apple Fitness+ for $22.95 per month.

If you are a student, you cannot get a student discount on Apple One — the student discount only applies to Apple Music by itself. You have to decide whether paying $5.99 for Apple Music Student alone is better than paying more for Apple One with the other services included.

Troubleshooting verification problems

If SheerID cannot find your school, make sure you typed the school name exactly as it appears in official records. Some schools go by multiple names — for example, a school might be officially registered as "State University of New York at Buffalo" but commonly called "University at Buffalo." Try different versions of the name.

If your school is in the system but verification fails, upload a photo of your student ID or school email screenshot instead. Make sure the photo is clear, shows your name and the current school year or an expiration date in the future, and is not expired. School emails usually work faster than ID photos because they are harder to fake.

If you have been a student for more than four years, SheerID may reject you because your enrollment record shows you should have graduated. Contact Apple Support through the Music app or at support.apple.com if this happens — they can sometimes override the system if you can explain your situation.

Frequently Asked Questions

Can I use Apple Music Student if I am taking classes online?

Yes, as long as you are enrolled at an accredited school. SheerID does not care whether your classes are in person or online — it only checks whether you are currently enrolled. Online-only schools count if they are accredited.

What if my school is not in SheerID's system?

Upload a photo of your student ID or a screenshot of your school email address. SheerID will review it manually, usually within a few hours. Make sure the ID or email clearly shows your name, your school name, and a current or future expiration date.

Can I switch back to Apple Music Student after my four years end?

No. Once your four-year period ends, the student discount is no longer available, even if you are still enrolled. You would need to cancel and restart with a regular Apple Music plan.

Does Apple Music Student work on Android phones?

Yes. The Apple Music app works on Android, and you can sign up for the student plan through it. You verify your status the same way — through SheerID — and pay the same $5.99 per month.

What if I graduate or drop out before four years?

Your plan continues until the four-year mark, even if you are no longer a student. Apple does not check your enrollment status after the initial verification. If you want to cancel early, you can do so anytime through your account settings.