Microsoft Student Discount on Surface, Explained

Store policies change. This is a summary in our own words of Microsoft Store's Education page and its Student and Military Discount terms, read on October 26, 2026. The official pages are the ones that apply; check them before you buy.

How much you save

Microsoft's terms say eligible shoppers can save up to 10% on select physical consumer products bought from Microsoft Store online in the United States. In practice that means select Surface laptops, Surface Pro 2-in-1s and accessories such as pens and keyboards. The Education page also mentions select PCs and PC accessories from other brands.

The discount is not a code. Once you are approved and signed in, the store shows you the lower of two prices on each eligible item: your student price or a sale price. The two never stack, so during a sale you may see no extra saving at all.

Who qualifies

Purchases must be for personal use. Microsoft says bulk orders may be cancelled, the number of items per order can be limited, and if someone misstated their eligibility it can charge the full price.

How to check eligibility

1. Open the Student and Military Discount page and choose to check eligibility.
2. Enter the email address of your personal Microsoft account (the one you use for Outlook.com, Xbox, OneDrive or Windows). Microsoft asks you not to use a work or school account here.
3. If you qualify, approval is immediate. From then on, sign in with that account and discounted prices appear as you shop and in the cart.

Parents use their own personal Microsoft account too.

What the discount does not cover

• Xbox consoles, games and accessories
• Surface for Business devices
• Microsoft 365 and other Office software, plus Windows 11 and Windows 10
• Digital games, apps, in-app content, movies and TV shows
• Gift cards and subscriptions such as Game Pass
• Personalized or customized products

The discount does not apply to past orders, cannot be swapped for cash, and does not reduce tax or shipping. If you return a discounted item, the refund reflects the price you actually paid.

Microsoft 365 for students

Because Microsoft 365 is excluded, students have two other routes on the Education page. Students and teachers at eligible schools can sign up for Office 365 Education free with a school email address, which includes Word, Excel, PowerPoint, OneNote and Teams. Separately, the page listed a special offer of 50% off Microsoft 365 Personal for students when we checked.

Returns and price protection this season

The Education page lists the store's holiday terms. Eligible physical products bought from Microsoft Store online between October 1 and December 2, 2026 can be returned through January 31, 2027, with a limit of 5 product returns per purchase. Outside that window, a return must be started within 60 days of receiving the product. Microsoft also offers a price adjustment for 60 days after delivery, extended to January 31, 2027 for purchases in the same holiday window.

Sources

Education and Student Discounts and Student and Military Discount Terms and Conditions, Microsoft Store. Policy checked October 26, 2026.

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