Student Discounts Round Up: Part Two

The website www. tun.com/online-discounts offers a list of discounts for students. 
                Photo By theodysseyonline.com

As tuition and other college expenses increase, students are being put into stricter financial binds. According to United States News and World Report, America’s top 50 private universities have increased their tuition prices by 3.6 percent this year, with others climbing as high as 4 percent. This rise in tuition rates in both public and private universities is more than double the rate of inflation, according to the U.S. Department of Labor.

    While scholarships help cut the costs for many students, most are forced to turn to student loans to cover the costs of their college expenses, resulting in massive student loan debt which has risen to over $1.3 trillion as of last December, according to the Federal Reserve Bank of New York. Even worse, the White House is planning to cut many federal programs that provide the aid students rely on, including a $3.9 billion cut to the country’s largest grant program, the Pell Grant.

    Due to these expenses that have risen beyond the limits of what the average college student can afford, it is harder for students to pay for their many other needs, making it even more important for students to seek out exclusive deals, discounts and services catered to college students. While many national chains and online businesses offer discounts to students to help ease their financial load, there are also a handful of businesses in the Athens area that provide exclusive deals to college students.

    Moe’s Restaurant and Cafe, one of Athens most beloved restaurants and local businesses, offers a 10 percent discount on your order as long as you are carrying a valid student ID. Offering a wide variety of Italian, Greek, and American dishes, Moe’s is an excellent choice for students looking to eat out without breaking the bank, supporting a local business in the process.

    A local favorite for passing the time in the heat of summer (or the heat of fall, as the case may be) with a cool, delicious treat, Sweet Frog gives college students a 20 percent discount on Tuesdays, with a 10 percent discount up for grabs every other day of the week. With an array of flavors and toppings to choose from, Sweet Frog is not a bad choice for treating yourself to a dessert that is slightly healthier than most other fast-food confections.

    If you need to save money on groceries, electronics, or home goods, and don’t mind driving out to Bluefield, Sam’s Club offers a special collegiate membership that will net college students exclusive membership savings and a $25 gift card. This $45 membership will not only allow you to save money on Sam’s Club’s merchandise, but it will also help you save on the store’s many other services, including their tire services and pharmacy.

    While the Athens/Princeton area does not have the widest selection of businesses, there are dozens of stores throughout the country that provide discounted goods and services for college students. The University Network, an organization dedicated to providing students with the resources they need to make college life easier, provides a list of every special student discount, service, or coupon that students can use in national chains, local businesses, and online shops. This list can be found at www.tun.com/online-discounts.