Apple has never engaged in price competition. There is an implicit understanding that you are paying for software integration, quality, design, and a certain level of ecosystem loyalty when you walk into any Apple Store. However, there is a less well-known area of Apple’s retail business that deviates from this trend, and more educators and students ought to be aware of it.
Teachers, school employees, college parents, and university students can all access the Apple Education Store, which functions as a distinct online store. It provides year-round discounts that are significant for someone purchasing a $1,500 laptop, even though they are not as dramatic as a clearance sale might be. A MacBook Pro can save up to $200, while a MacBook Air, which normally costs more, significantly reduces in price. That’s not insignificant for a student who already follows a strict budget.
It is important to state clearly what changed in June 2026: Apple raised the price of its Mac and iPad, and educational costs followed suit. The base has increased, but the discounts themselves have not vanished. The starting price of a MacBook Air with education savings is $1,199. The starting price of the MacBook Pro is $1,899. Even with the decrease, these are still high prices. Pretending otherwise is difficult.
Nevertheless, the more recent offerings in the field of education are truly intriguing. With education pricing, the MacBook Neo, a product that didn’t exist recently, is priced at $599. That is a completely different kind of price point for Apple. It’s unclear if the Neo is a one-time experiment or a longer-term shift toward accessibility, but it’s a device worth keeping an eye on.
In 2026, Apple expanded the list of Apple Watch models that are discounted for education. Although Apple Watch education discounts are relatively new, savings of up to $80 on the Apple Watch Ultra 3 and $40 on the Series 11 may seem small in comparison to retail prices. Their very existence suggests that Apple is considering more than just computers when it comes to the student market.
The requirements for eligibility are quite detailed. Students in higher education who are enrolled full-time in college or university are eligible, as are parents making purchases on their behalf. The store is open to teachers and administrative personnel of all grade levels. The fact that K–12 students themselves typically don’t qualify—unless a parent happens to be a teacher—often surprises people. UNiDAYS, a third-party platform that verifies enrollment status using a university email address, is used in the verification process. Although it occasionally trips people up if their institution isn’t listed, the process is generally easy.
There are software aspects that are important to understand in addition to hardware. For students, Apple’s Creator Studio, which includes Final Cut Pro, Logic Pro, and Pixelmator Pro among other programs, costs $2.99 per month. Compared to the typical $12.99 monthly rate, that is an impressive amount for anyone working in video, music, or design. Apple TV+ is included for free with Apple Music, which costs $5.99 per month for students. These add up over a four-year degree, but they’re not as big of a deal as a MacBook discount.
Historically, the best time to purchase is during Apple’s Back to School campaign, which usually adds a free or heavily discounted gift—typically AirPods—to the regular education pricing. Although Apple hasn’t revealed the precise dates for the 2026 campaign, there are indications that it will happen soon, so if a purchase is already planned, this is an intriguing time to keep an eye on things.
Apple’s approach to education seems a little counterintuitive. In order to reach the mass market, the company is not cutting prices. The discounts are genuine but moderate; they don’t undermine Apple’s premium positioning that it has spent decades establishing. The education store is just a better option for students who have already made up their minds that they want a Mac or iPad. Although it won’t make the purchase inexpensive, it will be less expensive.
