Xfinity offers student discounts, low-price plans, and other ways to lower your internet bill. I’ll cover those plans and methods throughout this guide.
I’m not a student, but I’m a bargain hunter. I love to save money, and I’ll help you do so. By combining information and other tips that I’ve found on the internet.
To help you find internet deals as a student, I’ll cover:
- Best Xfinity Deals & Plans for Students
- How To Choose an Internet Plan as a Student
- Tips on Getting Xfinity Discounts as a Student
Let’s find Xfinity deals for students.
Xfinity Student Discount
Sometimes Xfinity will offer discounts or free Visa Prepaid Cards to students who sign up for their services.
For example, right now (and until 01/08/23), they offered up to $100 back to students getting Xfinity internet on a 12-month contract [1].
That’s a couple of free months of internet.
You’ll need to keep an eye on their social media for specials. Also, ask customer service representatives what offers they have available for students.
Best Xfinity Packages & Price For a Students
Here’s a breakdown of the best (and cheapest) plans you’ll find as a student:
| Plan | Speeds (Mbps) | Price (per month) |
| Internet Essentials | 50 | $9.95 |
| Internet Essentials Plus | 100 | $29.95 |
| Performance Pro | 300 | $39.99 |
| Choice Double Play | 300 | $54.99 |
Keep in mind that some of these plans MAY already include the $10 per month discount you get from enrolling in automatic payments and paperless billing. These prices could only apply for 12–24 months.
Best Xfinity Deals & Plans For a Students
What plans does Xfinity have for students?
I’ll answer that throughout this section. You’ll also find details about each plan. To help you determine whether the plan’s right for you.
#1 Internet Essentials and Internet Essentials Plus
Xfinity Internet Essentials offers lower-income individuals a chance to access high(ish)-speed internet at an affordable rate. The regular Internet Essentials plan gives you 50 Mbps for $9.95. Whereas, Plus gives you 100 Mbps for $29.95 per month.
Their website DOESN’T specify that Internet Essentials has 50 Mbps download speeds. But, on Plus, they specify that its speeds “double” that of the lesser plan [2].
To qualify for Internet Essentials and its higher-speed counterpart, you’ll need to meet one of Xfinity Comcast’s requirements.
These requirements include participating in (or receiving) the following benefits:
- You received the Federal Pell Grant during the current year
- Qualify for other programs like
- Supplemental Security Income (SSI)
- Women, Infants, and Children (WIC)
- Medicaid
- Supplemental Nutrition Assistance Program (SNAP)
- Federal Public Housing Assistance
- Survivor benefits or veterans pension
- The National School Lunch Program
You can also qualify you live in certain Tribal Lands, meet one of the above requirements, or the following:
- Bureau of Indian Affairs General Assistance
- Tribal Head Start
- Food Distribution Program on Indian Reservations
- Tribal TANF
You can keep using Internet Essentials so long as you continually fulfill Xfinity’s requirements.
#2 Performance Pro
If you don’t qualify for Internet Essentials, you’ll want Performance Pro. Though 300 Mbps seems like overkill, it’s still not a bad deal.
The plan DOESN’T require a 2-year agreement. If you need to cancel, you won’t have to pay a massive fee to cancel your contract. The $39.99 price tag includes the $10 discount from enrolling in automatic payments and paperless billing.
Otherwise, it’s $49.99 per month.
They specify that you must enroll in paperless billing and automatic payments to get this price. The discount from signing up for those two features only lasts 24 months.
Once the two years pass, the plan costs $98.95 per month [3]. You have a lot of fine print to read to ensure you get the best deal.
#3 Choice Double Play
You’ll want this plan if you prefer traditional television. It’s somewhat reasonably priced and gives you 10+ channels that include [4]:
| Animal Planet | CNN | Daystar |
| Discovery | E | Esquire |
| EWTN | Fox News | Hallmark |
| History | MGN | MTV |
And some other channels.
You also get the same speeds as the Performance Pro package. WITHOUT the automatic billing and paperless billing discounts, you’ll need to pay $64.99 per month.
Once a year passes, you’ll need to pay $89.99 per month.
How To Choose an Internet Plan as a Student
Don’t buy what you don’t need.
This section will cover ways to restrain yourself when shopping for an internet plan. That way, you don’t pay for features you won’t use.
#1 Choose a Modest Internet Speed
Only buy internet speeds that you’ll use. Meanwhile, you don’t want internet speeds that are too slow. That’ll hamper productivity.
Here’s a table that shows you how much internet speed you’ll need for certain tasks [5, 6, 7, 8]:
| Activity | Required download speed |
| 4K video streaming (without buffering) | 25 Mbps |
| 1 Mbps | |
| High-quality audio streaming | 320 kbit/s |
| Group video call (7+ people) when using Skype | 8 Mbps |
| Multiplayer competitive gaming (with low ping) | 25 Mbps |
That’s for a single device, though. When looking for a plan, consider the number of devices you’re using simultaneously.
Then you’ll need to consider background data usage. Phones. They suck bandwidth when you’re not using them.
Whether they’re checking for automatic updates or syncing data. It’s not much data, but it’s still a factor that affects your overall bandwidth use.
You’ll also have to consider delivering files. To not take forever sending these files, you’ll want higher download speeds.
I recommend going for AT LEAST 100 Mbps to compensate for any scenarios.
You’ll also prepare yourself in case you have to do online classes. Or if you have video chat collaborations with classmates.
You can do this on the cheap with the Internet Essentials Plus plan (if you qualify).
#2 Don’t Use Unnecessary Add-ons
Don’t pay for services you’ll never use. They’ll add a lot more costs to your monthly bill.
Sometimes Xfinity sales representatives will try to sell you bundles. Whether it’s combining internet, voice, and TV. Or internet and TV.
Avoid the temptations.
Regarding Xfinity mobile, compare the costs of adding that to your bill versus your current cell phone provider. Which saves you more?
5 Tips on Getting Xfinity Discounts as a Student
To save money on Xfinity, you’ll need to get creative. You’ll also need to use every resource available.
Here are some additional ways to save money on your Comcast bill.
#1 Use Paperless Billing and Automated Billing
Xfinity’s staff confirmed that when you use both automated billing and paperless billing features, you’ll get a monthly discount [9]. $5 if you use a card for autopay. $10 if you use a bank account.
Once you enable both features, you won’t see this discount for at least 45 days.
Not all plans qualify for this discount. They don’t specify what plans or regions qualify. So you’ll need to ask a customer service representative.
To register your account for paperless billing, follow these steps:
- Log into your Xfinity account
- Click ‘Settings’
- Click ‘Paperless Billing’
- Find ‘EcoBill’ and click ‘Edit’
- Toggle the switch on
While you’re on your account, visit the Automatic Payments page to set up auto pay.
You can also do this on your Xfinity app. Tap ‘Manage billing preferences’ then ‘Bill delivery options.’ From there, tap EcoBill or Paper Bill.
Go back a screen and tap ‘Automatic Payments’ to manage auto pay on your app.
#2 Enroll in an Xfinity Contract Package
Xfinity doesn’t offer contract deals on internet packages (at the moment). But that doesn’t mean they never do. You can check their offers page or ask a customer service representative whether you can enroll in an agreement for a discount.
If they agree to lock you into a plan for a lower price, expect a 2-year contract. You’ll also only receive a discount for the first 2- or 24 months.
#3 Call Xfinity When Your Contract Ends
You have an advantage since you’re close to completing your contract.
Comcast will want to keep you bound to their subscription. So they’ll do what they can to keep you.
That doesn’t mean you can go in and demand a lower price, then threaten to quit. Also, REMAIN CALM and friendly.
You’ll have an easier time during negotiations.
Tell them you’d love to continue using their service, but it’s out of your budget. They should have offers and promotions ready to push.
Once you finish your discussion, ask them to send you a summary of the conversation via email. That way, if they bill you with an unchanged price, you’ll have proof of your successful negotiations.
Xfinity has a million ways to contact them. I suggest using Xfinity assistant to try and reach them first. Or to schedule a callback.
You can also call them. Dial (800) 934-6489 for their regular support. If you need accessibility support, call 855-270-0379.
Request to speak to the Retention Department. They’re responsible for keeping people signed up with Xfinity. When the automated service asks what you want to do when you call, just keep saying “Retention department.”
People usually waited at least 29–45 minutes to reach someone. I recommend preparing a way to entertain yourself in the meantime.
If you prefer face-to-face encounters, schedule an appointment to visit your nearest Comcast store.
#4 Buy Your Own Modem & Router: Don’t Rent
Comcast charges $14 per month to rent its equipment. If you were to buy a $180 modem and a $115 router, you’d need a year and a half to pay off your investment.
You also get significantly better equipment. Modem/router combos (gateways) have plenty of advantages. Like less shelf space and simple installation.
But separate devices give you potentially faster internet speed, improved security, and more customization options. They’re also cheaper to replace.
Are you sold?
Good. Because you can’t buy any modem. It must be compatible with Xfinity.
Xfinity’s website has a handy tool where you can search for compatible modems or gateways. We’ve also built a massive list containing every modem you can use for the internet service provider.
You can use any router, though. You’ll want an 802.11ax (Wi-Fi 6) device with a 2-year warranty. Going this route ensures you get the best performance with your network.
And you’ll futureproof your home network.
You MAY find student coupons on Amazon for routers and modems.
#5 Use Xfinity Mobile
If you’re using Xfinity internet, you can switch from your current mobile provider to Xfinity Mobile. They won’t charge you any fees to sign up. And they’ll give you a $200 prepaid gift card.
You can only use certain phones with Xfinity Mobile, though.
Expect to pay a minimum of $15 a month for your plan. You’ll get 1 GB of data. Can’t do too much with that.
However:
Go with their Unlimited mobile plan if you’re always on the move. It’s great if you don’t stream a lot of videos. Because they’ll throttle your speeds after using 20 GB [10].
$45 for “unlimited” 5G data. You could use your phone as a mobile hotspot without dealing with a modem or router.
Conclusion
Comcast wants to attract students to use its services. So they offer plenty of discounts and low-cost plans.
You can further reduce these costs by removing features you won’t need. You can also take actions like buying modems and routers instead of renting.
Once you set up your internet, ensure you’re getting the most out of your plan. If you have slow internet, fix it. Check out a guide we wrote on improving slow Xfinity internet.
Xfinity Deals for Students FAQ
I’ve pulled together questions regarding student discounts for Xfinity. See if any of these will push you in the right direction.
Are There Any Xfinity Internet Deals for Teachers?
Sometimes Xfinity will offer internet deals for teachers. In 2022, they gave teachers a free $100 Visa Prepaid Card for switching to Xfinity [11].
To verify that you’re a teacher, you’ll need to use their third-party verifier, SheerID.
Can a Student Get Xfinity Internet Essentials?
To get into Comcast’s Internet Essentials plan, you must qualify for the Affordable Connectivity Program (ACP). To qualify, that means you’ll need to have an income 200% or less than the Federal Poverty Guidelines [12].
Here’s an example. If you’re outside of Hawaii and Alaska and live in a single-person household, you’ll need to make $27,180.
You can also qualify for ACP if you’re in tribal- or federal assistance programs.
What Xfinity Discounts Can Students Get?
If you qualify for the Affordable Connectivity Program (ACP), you get an enormous discount on internet services. Refer to the previous point to help determine whether you’re qualified.
Depending on whether their offer stands, you can get a free $100+ Visa Prepaid Card and equipment when switching to Xfinity [14].
