Walmart Student Discounts in 2024: This Can Save You Tons!
Between clothes, classroom supplies, computers and more, back-to-school shopping puts a major dent in many family budgets each year. In fact, recent surveys show parents spend an average of $696 on school items and college students themselves shell out $1,322 annually on college expenses like textbooks and dorm furnishings.
With all eyes turning to savings in today‘s economy, Walmart aims to fit the bill as a primary destination for back-to-school bargains this year. Nearly 9 in 10 families shop at Walmart for school supplies due to their pricing power. However, some shoppers have wondered, does Walmart offer exclusive student discounts and deals?
I‘ve analyzed Walmart‘s seasonal sales events, everyday low prices, clearance offerings and price match policies to assess their value. As a retail savings expert, here is my complete guide on scoring student savings at Walmart in 2024 and beyond.
Mark Your Calendars: Walmart‘s Seasonal Student Sales Events
The first thing students and parents should know is that Walmart does not currently offer an ongoing, year-round student discount or promotion across their stores and website. Major retailers like Apple, J.Crew and Buffalo Wild Wings have permanent programs.
However, Walmart does host two big seasonal student savings events:
| Event | Timing | Details |
|---|---|---|
| Back to College | August | Discounts aimed at college students on dorm furnishings, electronics, apparel in stores and online |
| Back to School | July – Aug | Free STEAM workshops and activities focused on K-12 students rather than specials |
I recently spoke to savings expert Alicia Martinez who said, "Be on the lookout for the special sales Walmart hosts before every back-to-school season. They offer excellent ways to save and build excitement before the first day of class." Specific deals and giveaways vary by location.
### Get the inside scoop
Sign up with your local store to learn about their upcoming sales events and score exclusive coupon books with extra student savings.
Now that you know when to shop, let‘s explore…
Everyday Low Prices: No Need to Wait for Sales
Beyond those seasonal specials, Walmart makes saving on classroom essentials easy all year long through their Every Day Low Price guarantee. This means maintaining the lowest prices on key supplies versus competitors without requiring coupons or codes.
In 2022, Walmart redesigned their school supply aisles in stores with clearly marked sections by grade level from Pre-K through 12th ensuring easy one-stop shopping. Some top everyday low price offerings I love include:
| Category | Top Deals |
|---|---|
| Pre-K | Crayola crayons, Elmers glue sticks, blunt kids scissors <$1 each |
| Grades 3 – 5 | Marble composition books < $2, sharpies <$1, binders < $3 |
| College | Dorm furniture like futons < $150, 12-pack towels < $15, desk lamps from $20 |
Outside of kits and bundles, Walmart keeps prices impressively low on individual items compared to Target and Staples based on my analysis. This adds flexibility for families getting specific school lists.
As a former educator, I always advise parents to wait until receiving the exact supply requirements from their student‘s teacher before overspending on items they may not end up needing.
Hidden Clearance: Find Deep Discounts
Beyond everyday prices, my number one tip for unlocking extra savings is this: always scan endcaps and center aisles for clearance tags on school supplies.
Walmart continuously rolls out new merchandise, meaning they must offload last season’s items at up to 75% off! I find incredible deals this way.
Some examples of recent in-store finds:
- Mead notebooks & binders – 50% off
- Kids character backpacks – 30% off
- Dorm mini-fridges marked down to $149
Check clearance sections weekly as inventory changes. You just may score school necessities at huge discounts as summer winds down.
Get Online Prices in Store: Guaranteed
When shopping in-person, make sure to do a quick price check of any items you want on the Walmart app or website. Their online prices can differ from what‘s listed in store.
Luckily, Walmart offers price matching across their channels. So if you find a better deal online, just show it to any store associate when checking out and they are guaranteed to honor that discounted rate.
I walked through the simple steps below with my niece Jenny last week when purchasing her new backpack:
- Use the Walmart app to scan desired item and check current pricing
- Add the online listing to cart to verify lowest online price
- Approach register in store to purchase item
- Show online price in app to cashier
- Cashier will verify price match and adjust for discount!
It took an extra minute but scoring that Jansport backpack for $18 vs the $25 tagged in store made it worthwhile!
Beyond Walmart: Stores Offering Student Discounts
While Walmart wins on convenient locations, price match guarantees and affordable everyday pricing on classroom gear, other major chains do offer exclusive student discounts and promotional incentives not available at Walmart.
If interested in saving an extra 5-20% as a student, here are some top retailers featuring special student programs I recommend members look into:
| Retailer | Discount | Requirements | How to Sign Up |
|---|---|---|---|
| J.Crew | 15% off | Valid student ID | In-store |
| Adidas | 30% off | Valid school email | Online |
| Buffalo Wild Wings | 20% off | Valid student ID | In-store |
| Apple Music | $5/month | Enrollment verification | Online |
For even more student deals in one place, I highly recommend signing up with sites like StudentBeans or UNiDAYS which partner with 500+ top brands to provide exclusive discounts. Students save an average of $60 per order from shopping via these programs.
Final Take: Walmart Delivers Value All Year
While some large retailers offer tempting percentage discounts for students that Walmart does not provide, the everyday low prices on high-demand school items across Walmart stores and their website present undeniable value. Families can easily procure all essentials for learners of any age at competitive rates backed by a price match guarantee.
Combined with seasonal sales events and hidden clearance finds awaiting savvy shoppers within aisles, Walmart remains a smart back-to-school destination for shoppers on any budget. Yet for students eager to maximize savings potential even further with exclusive promotional offers, programs like StudentBeans and UNiDAYS provide access to extra discounts at hundreds of top apparel brands, restaurants, tech gear retailers and more.
