If you’re looking for a cable company that will take one look at your student ID and slash its prices . . . good luck. It can’t hurt to ask for a student discount, but we haven’t found any specific student discount promotions this year.
With the affordability and flexibility of streaming live TV packages, streaming is our go-to recommendation for college students. But we’ve also found a variety of cable packages good for a student’s budget—so you can afford to chow down on pizza instead of instant ramen while you’re watching the game on ESPN.
Affordable cable deals for students
| Provider | Package | Channel Count | Promotional Price | |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Xfinity | TV Plus | 125+ | $105.00/mo. for first 12 months |
|
| Spectrum | TV Select Signature | 150+ | $100.00/mo. for first 12 months* |
|
| DIRECTV | DIRECTV ENTERTAINMENT All Included | 175+ | $89.99/mo. for 24 months |
|
Most cable companies don’t have nationwide coverage, so it’s important to find out which ones can provide service to your student housing. Enter your zip code below to find all the TV providers near you:
Best Xfinity deal for students: TV Plus
Sports fans will appreciate the TV Plus package from Xfinity since it comes with the Pac-12 Network, ESPN, and ESPN2. While this plan is pretty affordable, your price will increase after one year, which is a bummer.
We do like that Xfinity has ditched the contracts, giving you extra peace of mind to know you have the freedom to leave a provider whenever you want.
Best Spectrum deal for students: TV Select Signature from Spectrum
Spectrum, which formed from a merger between Charter, Time Warner Cable, and Bright House Networks, also offers no-contract plans. The channel lineup with the TV Select Signature package is solid but doesn’t include anything too exciting.
And while TV Select Signature has fewer channels than DIRECTV, it’s now more expensive, so see if you have other options before signing up.
Best DIRECTV deal for students: DIRECTV ENTERTAINMENT All Included
DIRECTV ENTERTAINMENT All Included Package Details
•175+ channels
• $89.99/mo. for 24 months
• 2-year contract
DIRECTV ENTERTAINMENT isn’t ideal for most students, but it has a lot to offer if it works for you.
But if you’re confident you’ll be living in the same place for more than one year, this package is great for TV lovers. It comes with the Genie DVR included, and you’ll get three months of HBO®, STARZ®, Paramount+ with SHOWTIME®, and CINEMAX® at no extra cost.
3 tips for students buying cable
1. Bundle TV with internet.
If you’re already getting internet, it’s smart to order TV and internet from the same company. You’ll usually get a discount for bundling and sometimes additional incentives as well. And with both services on the same bill, it’s a lot easier to keep track of.
2. Ask about student deals.
It never hurts to ask! Call your provider prepared to do a bit of haggling for the price and channels you want, and it could pay off. You may be surprised to discover some unadvertised discounts and promo rates.
3. Consider low-cost alternatives.
In our post “Free and Low-Cost Cable TV Options,” we’ll clue you in on over-the-air TV and streaming TV options you might not have considered. Also, saving money on a TV can free up money for a better cable package, so check out the best TVs for students.
Choose your new TV provider.
There are a lot of choices out there. We listed the favorites for college students, but you could find a great deal from a provider not on our list. Enter your zip code below to see all your options:
Disclaimer
*Spectrum TV: Limited-time offer; subject to change; new residential customers only (no Spectrum service in past 30 days). Standard rates apply after promo period or service change. Actual speeds (including wireless) vary and are not guaranteed. Activation fee additional; taxes may apply. SPECTRUM STREAM TV: Streaming apps included with qualifying residential Spectrum Stream TV plans. Equipment may be required; fees apply. Channel availability varies by package and location. Terms and conditions apply, subject to change. Not available in all areas. Restrictions apply.
Rachel Oaks has written hundreds of helpful articles in their five years at CableTV.com. You want all the deets on internet providers, download speeds, and affordable internet? They’re your new favorite writer. Rachel earned their Bachelor of Arts in English at Southern Utah University. You can find more of Rachel’s delightful insights on Yahoo! Finance, Roku.com, and BestCompany.
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