What the Apple Music Student plan includes and who can sign up
Apple Music Student is a discounted subscription tier for people enrolled full-time at an accredited college or university. The plan gives you the same music streaming library as the standard Apple Music subscription — over 100 million songs, playlists, radio stations, and music videos — but at a lower monthly price. Apple currently charges $5.99 per month for the Student plan in the United States, compared to $10.99 per month for an individual standard subscription.
To sign up, you must be at least 13 years old and enrolled as a full-time student at a four-year college, university, or may have access to two-year institution. Apple verifies your student status through SheerID, a third-party verification service. You will need to provide proof of enrollment — typically a current student ID, class schedule, or acceptance letter — during the sign-up process. The verification happens once at the start of your subscription and does not require renewal each month.
The Student plan also includes access to Apple Music Voice Plan at no extra cost. Voice Plan lets you control playback and search for music using Siri voice commands on your Apple devices, though it has fewer features than the full Apple Music app.
Key Takeaways
- Apple Music Student costs $5.99 per month in the United States and includes the full music library, playlists, and radio stations available on the standard plan.
- You must be enrolled full-time at an accredited college or university and prove your status through SheerID during sign-up.
- The Student plan includes access to Apple Music Voice Plan, which lets you control music playback using Siri voice commands.
- Your subscription continues month to month at the Student rate as long as you remain enrolled; Apple does not automatically remove you when you graduate.
How to sign up for the Student plan
Start by opening the Apple Music app on any Apple device or visiting apple.com/music/student. Tap or click "Sign Up" and select the Student plan option. You will be directed to SheerID's verification page, where you enter your name, date of birth, and school name or email address.
SheerID will ask you to upload proof of enrollment. Accepted documents include a current student ID card, class schedule with your name and the current term, tuition bill or receipt, acceptance letter, or enrollment verification letter from your school's registrar. The document must show the current academic term or a future term. SheerID typically verifies your status within minutes, though some submissions take up to 24 hours.
Once verified, you will be taken back to Apple to complete payment setup. You can use an Apple ID, credit card, or debit card. Your first month begins when ready, and you will be charged $5.99 on the same date each month unless you cancel.
What happens when you graduate or leave school
Apple does not automatically end your Student subscription when your enrollment ends. You remain on the Student plan and continue paying the Student rate ($5.99 per month) until you manually cancel or until Apple detects that you are no longer a student.
If you want to keep Apple Music after graduation, you can switch to the Individual plan ($10.99 per month) at any time. If you do not switch, Apple may eventually downgrade your account to a free tier or pause your subscription, though the timing varies. To avoid interruption, you can proactively change your plan in the Apple Music app under Account Settings before your student status expires.
If you cancel the Student plan and later re-enroll in school, you can sign up again and go through the verification process a second time.
How the Student plan compares to other Apple Music options
Apple offers several subscription tiers. The Individual plan costs $10.99 per month and is available to anyone. The Family plan costs $16.99 per month and covers up to six people in the same household, each with their own account and music preferences. The Voice Plan costs $4.99 per month and lets you control music using Siri commands only, without the full app interface.
The Student plan sits between Voice Plan and Individual in price and features. You get the full app and library like Individual, but at the lower Voice Plan price. Unlike Family, the Student plan covers only one person and does not include family sharing. If you live with other students, each person would need their own Student subscription; a Family plan might cost less overall depending on how many people need access.
| Plan | Monthly Cost (US) | Who Can Sign Up | Full App Access | Voice Control Only |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Student | $5.99 | Full-time college or university students | Yes | No |
| Individual | $10.99 | Anyone | Yes | No |
| Family | $16.99 | Anyone (covers up to 6 people) | Yes | No |
| Voice Plan | $4.99 | Anyone | No | Yes |
What devices work with Apple Music Student
Apple Music works on iPhones, iPads, Mac computers, and Apple Watches. You can also stream on Android phones through the Apple Music app available on Google Play. On non-Apple devices, you access the full app interface and library the same way you would on an Apple device.
You can stream on multiple devices at the same time, but only one device can play music at a time on a single Student subscription. If you want to play music on two devices simultaneously, you would need a Family plan or two separate subscriptions.
Canceling the Student plan
You can cancel your Student subscription at any time through the Apple Music app or your Apple ID account settings. On iPhone or iPad, open the Apple Music app, tap your profile icon, select "Account," then "Subscriptions," and choose "Manage" next to Apple Music. Tap "Cancel Subscription" and confirm.
On a Mac, open the Music app, click "Account" in the menu bar, select "View My Account," sign in, scroll to "Subscriptions," and click "Manage" next to Apple Music. On the web, visit appleid.apple.com, sign in, go to "Subscriptions," and click "Manage" next to Apple Music.
Your subscription ends at the end of your current billing cycle. You will not be charged again, but you will lose access to Apple Music at that time. Any playlists or saved songs will no longer be available unless you re-subscribe later.
Frequently Asked Questions
Can I use a student email address to sign up instead of uploading a document?
A student email address alone is not enough. SheerID requires proof of current enrollment — a student ID, class schedule, acceptance letter, or similar document. Some schools allow you to generate an enrollment verification letter through your student portal, which you can upload instead of a physical ID.
What if SheerID cannot verify my enrollment?
If verification fails, SheerID will tell you why and may ask for a different document. Common reasons include an expired student ID, a document that does not show the current term, or a name mismatch. You can try uploading a different document or contact SheerID support through the verification page for help.
Does the Student plan include Apple Music Classical?
No. Apple Music Classical is a separate app and subscription ($7.99 per month in the US) designed specifically for classical music with specialized search and curation. The Student plan does include classical music within the main Apple Music library, but not the dedicated Classical app.
Can I share my Student subscription with family members?
No. The Student plan covers one person only. Family members would each need their own subscription — either their own Student plan if they are enrolled, or an Individual or Family plan. A Family plan at $16.99 per month covers up to six people and may be more cost-effective if multiple household members want Apple Music.
Will my Student plan automatically switch to Individual when I graduate?
No. Apple does not automatically upgrade your plan. You will continue on the Student plan at $5.99 per month until you manually switch to Individual or cancel. To avoid losing access, switch to an Individual plan before your student status expires, or cancel if you no longer want the service.