Apple back-to-school sale 2026: Dates, eligibility, and discounts
When is the Apple back-to-school sale? The Apple back-to-school start date was July 16, 2026, and the sale ends August 27, 2026. That's a roughly six-week window—far shorter than the three and a half months Apple ran in 2025, so there's much less room to wait this year.
What you get: Education pricing on a Mac or iPad, plus an Apple Gift Card:
- MacBook Pro: $150 Apple Gift Card
- MacBook Air: $100 Apple Gift Card
- iPad Pro: $100 Apple Gift Card
- iPad Air: $100 Apple Gift Card
No gift card on these, but they're still education-priced: The MacBook Neo, iPad mini, entry-level iPad, and every desktop Mac (iMac, Mac mini, and Mac Studio). You'll still save Apple's usual education discount on them—you just don't get the bonus gift card.
Not eligible at all: Refurbished products, open-box items sold as is, and end-of-life products. iPhones get no education discount at any time of year.
Who qualifies: College students (currently enrolled or newly accepted), their parents buying on their behalf, college and university faculty and staff, K-12 employees, homeschool teachers, school board members, and PTA/PTO officers.
How to claim it: Shop the Apple Education Store online or visit an Apple Store. In the US and Canada, you now need to verify through UNiDAYS before you buy—set that up first so you're not doing it at checkout.
Education pricing is separate and runs year-round: Roughly 5% to 10% off most Macs and iPads, worth up to $200 on a Mac and up to $100 on an iPad. The gift card stacks on top, but only until August 27.
It's that time of the year again. Students all over the country are filled with nervous anticipation, while parents are excited just to get their homes back (at least for part of the day). That’s right; it's back-to-school time! And it's also time for some big sales.
You can get student discounts on Macs and iPads through the Apple back-to-school deals, plus an Apple Gift Card worth up to $150. Educators can snag new tech gear for the new academic year with Apple's teacher discounts as well.
Although Apple's back-to-school sales don't include discounts on iPhones, you can check out the best ways to save on a new iPhone for the full trifecta—MacBook, iPad, and iPhone.
Keep reading to learn more about Apple's back-to-school specials.
Apple Mac back-to-school deals
Apple's best offerings this back-to-school season focus on its computers—arguably the most important tool for students. With the Apple Education discount, you can save on the MacBook Air, MacBook Pro, and MacBook Neo, and two of the three come with an Apple Gift Card on top.
One piece of context worth knowing before you shop: Apple raised Mac and iPad prices across the board on June 25, 2026, citing memory component costs. The 13" MacBook Air went from $1,099 to $1,299, and the M5 MacBook Pro went from $1,699 to $1,999. Education pricing and the gift card still make this the best time of year to buy, but the sticker prices are higher than they were last summer.
MacBook Air
Get $100 off the MacBook Air with education pricing, plus a gift card:
- From $1,199 for the 13" with the M5 chip (usually $1,299)
- Plus a $100 Apple Gift Card—$200 in total value
- The 15" MacBook Air is discounted too
The MacBook Air is still the default recommendation for most students. Its lightweight design, powerful M series chip, and all-day battery keep up with back-to-back classes, projects, and more. Fast, portable, and built to last, it’s the perfect study sidekick.
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MacBook Pro
The MacBook Pro earns the biggest gift card in the promotion. Prices start at:
- From $1,899 for the 14" MacBook Pro with the M5 chip (usually $1,999)
- Plus a $150 Apple Gift Card—$250 in total value, the most on offer
- The 16" MacBook Pro and the M5 Pro and M5 Max configurations are discounted too
The MacBook Pro is the ultimate powerhouse for back to school. With its blazing-fast M5 chip, stunning Liquid Retina XDR display, and unmatched battery life, it handles video editing, engineering coursework, and heavy multitasking like nothing else. For students in a demanding major, this is the machine that won't need replacing before graduation.
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MacBook Neo (education pricing only, no gift card)
Worth knowing about even though it sits outside the gift card promotion, because it's the cheapest Mac Apple sells. Education pricing takes $100 off:
- $599 for the 256GB MacBook Neo (usually $699)
- $699 for the 512GB model with Touch ID (usually $799)
Because there's no gift card on the Neo, you're getting $100 in value rather than the $200 a MacBook Air would return. But it's still $600 cheaper than an Air before either discount, so if budget is the deciding factor this is the one. It's the cheapest way into macOS, and for writing papers, research, and browsing, it's more than enough machine.
A note on desktop Macs: the iMac, Mac mini, and Mac Studio are all excluded from the back-to-school gift card this year. They still qualify for standard education pricing year-round, so you'll save—just without the bonus gift card.
See at AmazonSee at AppleApple iPad back-to-school deals
iPad
Educators and students can save on a new iPad and get a $100 Apple Gift Card with either eligible model:
- From $699 for the 11" iPad Air with the M4 chip (usually $749)—$150 total value
- From $1,099 for the 11" iPad Pro (usually $1,199)—$200 total value
- The 13" iPad Air and 13" iPad Pro are discounted too
The iPad is the perfect study buddy for the academic year. With its powerful performance, Apple Pencil support, and all-day battery, it's great for notes, projects, and creative work. It's thin, light, and versatile, making it the smartest way to learn on the go.
Two exclusions to watch for: the entry-level iPad and the iPad mini don't qualify for the gift card. Only the iPad Air and iPad Pro do.
See at AmazonSee at AppleSave on data for your new device
Once you score your new iPad, make sure you have enough data to support it. Many carriers offer student and teacher discounts to help educators and learners save on both internet and phone plans. While you'll find the best teacher discounts through the Big Three (like AT&T's teacher discount on standard plans), smaller carriers also offer enticing discounted teacher plans.
Learn how to get free internet for students in our hands-on guide, or choose from the best cheap phone plans for students to cut down on your monthly bills.
Check out the most popular phone plans for students and teachers:
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#1
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Mint Mobile
Unlimited Data Plan
$15.00/mo
$45 for 3 months of service
|
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#2
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Visible
$19 Visible Plan
$19.00/mo
Taxes & Fees included
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#3
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T-Mobile
Essentials Saver 2.0
$50.00/mo
with Auto-Pay - Taxes & Fees NOT included
|
Apple gift cards with your Mac or iPad
Apple has changed how this works in 2026. In previous years, the back-to-school promotion handed you a free accessory, like a pair of AirPods. This year it's an Apple Gift Card instead: $150 with a MacBook Pro, or $100 with a MacBook Air, iPad Pro, or iPad Air.
The practical difference is that you choose what to spend it on. A gift card doesn't cover a full pair of AirPods the way the old giveaway did, but it isn't restricted to one accessory either—you can put it toward a case, a keyboard, AppleCare+, or software. Here's what the obvious picks actually cost right now.
AirPods 4: $99
AirPods aren't free with an iPad this year, but they are on sale. The AirPods 4 are $99 right now, down from $129, so a $100 gift card covers a pair outright.
Designed for all-day comfort with rich, immersive sound, the AirPods 4 keep you focused on lectures, playlists, or calls. Their sleek design and sweat-resistant build make them perfect for campus life.
If you want noise cancellation, the AirPods 4 with ANC run $119 in Renewed Premium condition, down from $179, and the AirPods Pro 3 are $200, down from $249.
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Apple Watch Series 11 from $299
The Apple Watch isn't part of the gift card promotion, but it's discounted at retail right now by more than education pricing would get you:
- $299 for the 42mm at Best Buy (usually $399)
- $329 for the 46mm at Best Buy (usually $429)
For students, a watch earns its place by keeping class alerts and campus notifications on your wrist instead of in your hand during a lecture. Add fitness tracking and sleep monitoring and it covers the parts of student life that tend to slip.
Worth waiting a few weeks, though. The Apple Watch Series 12 and Ultra 4 are expected in September. Unless you need a watch for the first week of term, seeing what launches first is the better play.
See at AmazonSee at AppleAre iPhones included in Apple's back-to-school sale?
No, iPhones are not included in Apple's 2026 back-to-school discounts. The promotion covers the MacBook Air, MacBook Pro, iPad Air, and iPad Pro only. Apple doesn't discount iPhones through its education store at any point in the year—the only savings it offers are trade-in credit and carrier credits applied at checkout. However, both big and small carriers run strong iPhone deals of their own, and you may even be able to grab yourself a free iPhone 17 Pro.
Check out our current list of the best iPhone deals available now.
Save on a new iPhone
If you’re already invested in Apple’s ecosystem, pairing a new iPhone with your new Mac or iPad can make everything sync seamlessly. While Apple doesn't offer discounts on iPhones, major carriers like Verizon, AT&T, and T-Mobile (as well as smaller providers) offer steep device discounts.
For example, you can currently get a current-generation iPhone 17 or iPhone 17e for a fraction of the retail price when switching to a new carrier plan, and some trade-in offers accept phones in any condition. By taking advantage of these back-to-school promotions, you can save hundreds on the latest iPhone without breaking the bank. See what's live in our roundup of the best back-to-school cell phone deals.
One timing note before you commit: A new iPhone generation typically lands in September. If you can wait a few weeks, it's worth seeing what Apple announces first.
iPhone 17e 256GB
- 6.1 inch display
- Rear Camera: 48MP
- Front Camera: 12MP
iPhone 16 128GB
- 6.1 inch display
- Rear Cameras: 48MP, 12MP
- Front Camera: 12MP
iPhone 17e 512GB
- 6.1 inch display
- Rear Camera: 48MP
- Front Camera: 12MP
Who qualifies for the Apple back-to-school program?
To qualify for the Apple Education discount and back-to-school sales, you must be one of the following:
- An employee of a school for grades K-12, including public, private, and home schools
- A homeschool teacher
- A school board member or Parent Teacher Association or Parent Teacher Organization officer
- Faculty or staff of a college or university
- A college or university student—either currently attending or newly accepted
- Parent purchasing on behalf of a student attending or accepted into a college or university
Apple asks you to demonstrate that you meet these requirements before you buy. In the US and Canada, that now means verifying through UNiDAYS, which requires your name, date of birth, and school email address. Getting that done ahead of time saves a scramble at checkout.
Year-round Apple discounts for students and educators
Don't worry if you missed Apple's back-to-school promotions at the start of the school year; Students and educators can save on Apple's devices all year long. With Apple's education discount, university, college, and school staff and students save roughly 5% to 10% on most Macs and iPads—worth up to $200 on a Mac and up to $100 on an iPad. You can only buy one of each device through Apple's education store, and make sure to have your ID or school email ready for verification.
What you lose by waiting is the gift card, which only runs during the promotional window. If you can buy before August 27, that's an extra $100 to $150 for free.
Another way to score Apple products at a discount is through UNiDAYS. UNiDAYS partners with Apple, offering university students discounts on fan-favorite devices to make learning easy.
Student discounts beyond Apple
Apple isn't the only manufacturer running a student program, and a couple of them are more generous than Apple's. If you aren't committed to macOS or iPadOS, these are worth verifying for:
- Samsung: up to 30% off, and it stacks with public and seasonal offers—so a student discount can sit on top of a sale price. It covers phones, tablets, Galaxy Book laptops, and wearables. Verify with a .edu email address or through ID.me. Limited to two products per category per 12 months.
- Google Store: 10% off, verified through ID.me. Runs through December 31, 2026.
- OnePlus: up to 40% off, plus up to an extra 10% for verified students.
- Nothing: 5% off the Nothing Phone (3) and Phone (4a) Pro through UNiDAYS.
- Best Buy: rotating student-exclusive offers rather than a fixed percentage. You'll need a My Best Buy account plus enrollment verification, and parents of enrolled students can register too.
- Back Market: $20 off refurbished devices on orders over $250, once per year, for students and educators.
The standout is Samsung. It's the only major manufacturer that meaningfully discounts phones for students, and the stacking is what makes it unusual—Apple's education pricing never applies to iPhones and can't be combined with a sale price.
Apple's back-to-school deals: FAQ
How long does Apple’s back-to-school promotion last?
Apple's 2026 back-to-school promotion runs for about six weeks, starting on July 16 and ending August 27. That's a much tighter window than 2025, when the promotion ran roughly three and a half months from June 17 to September 30.
Should I wait for Black Friday or buy during Apple’s back-to-school event?
You should buy a new device during Apple's back-to-school event if you are a student or educator. Apple's deals are typically better than Black Friday sales, and you don't have to worry about out-of-stock products either.
Does Apple offer discounts on iPhones for students?
No, Apple doesn't offer discounts on iPhones for students during its back-to-school promotion. Although you can purchase an iPhone from Apple's Education Store, you won't find it for a discount.
Can I use my Apple Education discount online or in-store?
Yes, you can use your Apple Education discount online and in-store. Online, verify through UNiDAYS before you check out. In store, bring a valid student or educator ID.
Is the Apple gift card the same as a discount?
Not quite, and it's worth understanding the difference. The gift card doesn't reduce what you pay for the Mac or iPad—you pay the education price, then receive a separate $100 or $150 Apple Gift Card you can spend on anything Apple sells. The education discount is the part that lowers your purchase price. During the promotional window you get both.
Which products are excluded from Apple's 2026 back-to-school sale?
Only four products earn a gift card: the MacBook Air, MacBook Pro, iPad Air, and iPad Pro. Everything else falls into one of two groups.
The MacBook Neo, iPad mini, entry-level iPad, and desktop Macs (iMac, Mac mini, Mac Studio) don't come with a gift card, but they are still sold at education pricing—so you save, just less. Refurbished, open-box, and end-of-life products aren't eligible for either, and iPhones never get an education discount at any point in the year.
Angelo Ilumba
Senior Writer
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