35+ best college-exclusive deals, sales and memberships from stores you actually want to shop

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Heading back to college is stressful for a lot of reasons, including the fact that back-to-school shopping can be quite expensive. As a college student, you need more than just books and supplies — you’ll also have to shop for dorm essentials , bedding and bath , tech tools , under-bed storage for your room and more. With that in mind, it’s worth knowing that there are a lot of brands and retailers that have dedicated, college-exclusive memberships and deals for students.

Whether you’re shopping for your freshman year or going back as an upperclassman, there are lots of sales from our go-to brands like Apple, Adidas, Dyson, Garmin and retailers like Walmart, Target, Best Buy, and Amazon. Target’s College Student Appreciation program and Amazon’s Prime for Young Adults membership , which is for students between the ages of 18 and 24, are just the beginning. Both are less than the traditional membership and you can sign up after verifying eligibility.

Below, I break down these programs and others, as well as the best back-to-school deals and sales for college students for more than 20 retailers and brands. I also highlight noteworthy student memberships, like UNiDAYS , that offer deals at many brands.

The best college student memberships to sign up for in 2026

I rounded up a list of college-exclusive memberships from our favorite brands and retailers that provide deals, discounts and sales only for eligible students.

The best back-to-school college discounts, deals and sales in 2026

Below, I rounded up some of the best deals on dorm essentials, school supplies, tech, apparel, footwear and more for college students.

Tech deals for college students

Superdanny Extension Cord Flat Plug Surge Protector Power Strip

This surge protector has eight outlets and four USB ports for all of your dorm room electronics, including headphones, earbuds, lamps and more. It’s available in lengths between 6 and 25 feet and comes in black or white. Plus, it has a flat plug so you can easily place furniture, like a chair or desk up against it without accidentally pulling it out of the outlet.

Footwear deals for college students

On Cloudsurfer 2 Running Shoe

We’ve tested a lot of running shoes from several premium brands, and On continues to be one of our favorite options, including the On Cloudsurfer 2. NBC Selected reporter and avid runner Zoe Malin runs in these and loves how comfortable and supportive they are. The shoes have breathable mesh uppers and a substantial amount of cushioning to help with shock absorption as your run, according to On.

Bed, bath and kitchen deals for college students

Utopia Bedding Twin Size Zippered Mattress Protector

Putting a new mattress protector on your dorm room mattress should be one of the first things you do when you arrive on campus. This mattress protector from Utopia Bedding is available in several sizes, including twin and twin XL, and is entirely waterproof. It’s also available in packs of two and four, if you ever feel like switching it out at some point throughout the year. It fits mattresses up to 13 inches tall and has a zip closure.

School supplies deals for college students

Sharpie S-Gel Pens

When my colleagues and I tested a ton of pens (including ones great for left-handed people ), we all found the Sharpie S-Gel pens to be one of the absolute best options. These were my favorite of all the pens I wrote with because the ink dries very fast, it doesn’t smear at all and it was comfortable to hold in my hand (it also has a grip in the middle) so it’ll definitely be your go-to pen for taking notes. Plus, I love that it’s retractable so I don’t have to worry about losing the cap and it becoming dry and unusable.

Apparel and accessories deals for college students

Levi’s 501 Original Fit Women's Jeans

A great pair of jeans is a staple for almost everyone, and Levi’s has some of the highest-quality (and most varied) options available. The 501 Original Fit is available in light, medium and dark washes, and they have a straight-leg feel. They’re made from a mix of cotton and lycra (which gives them some stretch) and they’re safe to machine wash in cold water, according to Levi’s.

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Why trust NBC Selected?

I’m a commerce editor at NBC Selected, where I write about deals and sales events daily. I also write product roundups about home, lifestyle, kitchen, cleaning, organization and more. I found the deals, sales and student membership options above by researching multiple brands and retailers.

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