What is the Best Cell Phone Plan for College Students?
As your college student heads back to school, he probably wants to add a new cell phone to the list of items he’s packing. He wants the latest and greatest smart phone, with unlimited text and data plan, doesn’t he? And if he’s paying, that’s great.
If you’re paying, you probably want to do a little research to make sure you’re getting the best deal. Here are some things to consider:
- Family plans are usually the cheapest route — unless someone regularly exceeds minutes or text message limits.
- Before you sign a contract, make sure the service provider has coverage in the city where your student attends college.
- Find out if there are any discounts available through the college. Some providers offer discounts to students with a valid student ID. (Similarly, many providers offer discounts to the employees of large corporations.)
- Consider the area code that your student’s phone will have. Does it make sense to have an area code that is local to the college or to your hometown? Keep in mind the landlines you’ll use to call your student’s phone to make sure you don’t incur long-distance charges.
Once you’ve signed up for a plan, make sure your college student understands the limits on minutes, texting, and data usage. Also, watch for any ways to save on those limits. For example, you may want your son to call your cell phone instead of your home phone if cell-to-cell calls within a family plan don’t count against your monthly allotment of minutes.
Resources:
[...] 1. Family Plan – A cell phone is probably the most reliable way to reach a college student these days. Check with your cell phone service provider about the cost of a family plan. This is usually cheaper than starting a new plan for a student. See “What is the Best Cell Phone Plan for College Students?” [...]