There’s a good chance that someone nearby is waiting on an Amazon delivery if you stroll around any college campus on a Tuesday afternoon. Perhaps a package of printer ink. Two days prior to an exam, a used textbook was ordered. An impulsive midnight snack. Amazon’s Prime for Young Adults membership almost seems like a natural extension of being enrolled somewhere because the company has quietly and gradually made its way into student life. Most likely, it’s not an accident.
The program, formerly known as Amazon Prime Student, has been renamed Prime for Young Adults and is now available to two groups of people: anyone between the ages of 18 and 24 who is not a student but can prove their age, and college students enrolled in two-year or four-year programs. The annual cost is $69, which is about half of what a regular Prime membership costs, which is $139. The majority of the convincing usually comes from that gap alone.
Things start to get interesting during the trial period. Before a single dollar is exchanged, Amazon offers a six-month free trial, giving college students plenty of time to determine whether the membership is worthwhile. Access to Prime Video, Prime Music, and Prime Reading, as well as free one-day and two-day delivery, all start right away and don’t require a credit card. The membership automatically renews at the conclusion of the trial, which is a real catch. Sometimes students wake up to a surprise charge because they forgot to cancel. Setting a calendar reminder is worthwhile.
The membership has evolved into something more akin to a bundle, even beyond shipping. Grubhub+, a service that typically costs $120 a year and waives delivery fees on food orders over a certain amount, is included at no additional cost. That alone can cover a portion of the $69 annual fee for an off-campus student who orders dinner in between study sessions. Additionally, eligible purchases in categories like electronics and clothing qualify for 5% cash back, which quietly adds up over the course of a semester’s worth of shopping.
But there is one thing to be honest about. This kind of membership only saves money if spending doesn’t rise to cover it. Free shipping has been shown to reduce the psychological barrier to purchases, and the same is true for restaurant delivery services that waive the fee but not the cost of the meal. There are two versions of this membership: one that actually pushes students’ budgets, and the other that subtly promotes higher spending. The person using it almost entirely determines which one comes to pass.
Particularly for students, the membership is valid for four years or until graduation, whichever comes first. That’s an important detail because, if a student enrolls as a freshman and verifies with a.edu email or legitimate enrollment documentation, they will receive the discount for the duration of a traditional degree. However, once graduate students have completed their four years of eligibility, they are no longer eligible. This is a serious restriction that is rarely discussed. Additionally, once you’ve used the free trial, you can’t re-enroll.
The math is easy enough to do at $69 per year. For many students, Prime Video alone takes the place of a streaming subscription. It’s easy to see how the membership pays for itself before the spring semester ends when you consider the Grubhub+ savings, the ease of shipping, and the occasional cash back redemption. It’s debatable whether it’s actually required because many students manage without it. However, the argument is fairly strong for people who already shop on Amazon frequently, live away from home, and appreciate the streaming access. It’s not a deal masquerading as luxury. It’s more often the other way around.⁖※
