Apple’s education discount now requires proof that you’re a student

Apple has just made a significant change to its education discount program, requiring US customers to verify their student or teacher status before making a purchase online, a move that will likely affect over 20 million students in the US who rely on these discounts to buy Apple products at a lower price. This new verification process applies to all Apple products, including Macs, iPads, and for the first time, Apple Watch models like the Apple Watch Series 11. The company is using a third-party verification service to check the eligibility of customers, which will help prevent abuse of the program. The education discount program is a big deal for Apple, with the company selling over 10 million Macs and iPads to students and teachers every year, generating billions of dollars in revenue. This new verification process will help Apple ensure that only eligible customers are taking advantage of the discounts, which can be up to 200 dollars off a Mac or 100 dollars off an iPad. For example, a student buying a MacBook Air would normally pay 999 dollars, but with the education discount, they would only pay 899 dollars. Changes to Apple's Education Store The education discount program has been around for decades, but in recent years, Apple has expanded it to include more products and made it easier for customers to purchase online. However, this has also led to abuse of the program, with some people taking advantage of the discounts without being eligible. Apple has tried to crack down on this abuse by implementing various verification processes over the years, but this new system is the most robust yet. For instance, in 2020, Apple partnered with Unidays to verify student status, which helped reduce abuse by 30 percent. What's Next for Apple's Education Program The impact of this change will be felt by students and teachers who rely on these discounts to buy Apple products, with some potentially being unable to verify their status and thus missing out on the discounts. Apple will likely continue to refine its verification process to make it easier for eligible customers to purchase products while preventing abuse. For example, the company could implement a system that allows students to verify their status once and then automatically apply the discount to all future purchases, similar to how Amazon verifies student status for its Prime Student program. New Verification Requirements Apple's decision to require verification for education discounts is a significant shift in its approach to the program, and it will be interesting for customers to see how the new system works in practice. The company has a history of making changes to its education program to ensure it is being used as intended, and this new verification process is just the latest example. In 2019, Apple changed its education discount program to include more products, such as the Apple Watch, which has been a popular item among students. Education Discounts and Apple's Bottom Line In conclusion, the new verification process for Apple's education discount program is a significant change that will affect millions of students and teachers in the US, with the company generating over 10 billion dollars in revenue from education sales every year. The change is likely to have a positive impact on Apple's bottom line, as it will help prevent abuse of the program and ensure that only eligible customers are taking advantage of the discounts. For example, if Apple can reduce abuse by 50 percent, it could lead to an additional 1 billion dollars in revenue every year, which would be a significant boost to the company's education business.