Generally, most internet plans for students can’t bundle TV. If you want TV, make sure your plan explicitly includes it. Otherwise, you probably won’t be able to add TV to your discounted plan the way you would to a standard plan.
Xfinity offers student internet plans that include TV services . It also gives you access to shows via the Xfinity Stream app, which offers a rotating selection of television shows. Xfinity also has a Flex 4K streaming device and the X1 TV Box, giving you live TV access. You can add both of these devices to student internet packages.
If the best internet plan for students doesn’t give you the option to add TV, you can still get a discount on TV through DISH. DISH provides a discount on satellite TV to students, and unlike most ISPs, DISH is available anywhere in the US. You can get discounted satellite TV if you have a place to install a satellite dish.
If Xfinity and DISH aren’t viable options, you may still be able to find great bundle deals from other providers without needing a student plan. We list the best TV and internet bundles from Optimum, Spectrum, and more.
While cost is often a major factor, make sure your chosen plan meets your educational needs. In the face of tight deadlines, a reliable internet connection is often even more important than a fast connection.
Many factors go into reliability, from disruptions that impact certain kinds of connections to the responsiveness of internet service providers (ISPs) when networks go down.
Pro Tip:
Check what customers say about internet provider reliability in our annual customer satisfaction report.
Even so, speed is still an important factor—especially if you’re sharing an internet plan with roommates.
An excellent first step in finding the right balance for your internet connection is identifying how you plan to use it. Here are some examples of how much internet speed you’ll need for everyday student internet activities:
| Activity | Recommended download speed | Recommended upload speed |
|---|---|---|
| General online studying/surfing | 1 Mbps | 1 Mbps |
| Watching lectures | 2.5 Mbps | 2.5 Mbps |
| Uploading/downloading a Word doc | 1 Mbps | 1 Mbps |
| Uploading/downloading a Git repository | 10 Mbps | 10 Mbps |
| Uploading/downloading HD video | 25 Mbps | 25 Mbps |
| Making a Zoom call | 1.5 Mbps | 1.5 Mbps |
Are you looking up information for an assignment or cramming for a test? Fortunately, even long nights full of web surfing don’t require a lot of speed or data. Web pages with text and images only have no issues on a 1 Mbps connection. But if you watch a lot of videos, you’ll probably want download speeds closer to 5–25 Mbps.
You will need a reliable connection to watch lectures online. Streaming video can use a lot of download bandwidth, and to participate in the discussion, you’ll need a decent upload speed too. Software like Skype or Zoom will drop your call if your internet speed doesn’t meet the minimum speed requirement.
For example, Zoom can still run on a relatively slow connection, maintaining a 1080p video stream on just 2.5 Mbps. But your call could drop if your speed falls below that threshold. A broadband connection usually doesn’t have this problem, but connections with high latency, like satellite internet, might have issues.
If available, use the voice-only option to improve your performance issues.
Other Questions:
The ACP is a federal program that provides subsidized internet service for eligible customers.
Learn more about the Affordable Connectivity Program
Who is eligible for ACP?
You must apply for ACP to verify your eligibility. Here are the ways your household can qualify for ACP:
If you participate in certain Federal Assistance programs such as SNAP or others, you can qualify for ACP.
Yes. If you currently have the Lifeline discount, you will continue to receive the Lifeline benefit, plus you can apply for and qualify for ACP.
How is income determined for ACP program?