If you’re hunting for a student discount on AirPods Pro 3, here’s the short version: Apple doesn’t offer education pricing on AirPods by themselves. The savings show up through its limited‑time Back to School promotion in the Education Store, where eligible buyers who purchase a Mac or iPad can choose AirPods or another accessory as part of the deal.

What the 2025 student offer actually includes

In the U.S., Apple’s 2025 College Student Offer runs June 17 through September 30. Qualified purchasers who buy an eligible Mac or iPad at an Apple retail store, by phone, or via the Education Store receive a discount equal to the value of a selected accessory, applied during checkout. Apple charges all items in your cart, then applies an instant credit tied to the accessory you picked.

How much you can save on AirPods Pro 3

  • With MacBook Air, MacBook Pro, or iMac: the promotion applies $179 in savings when you choose AirPods Pro 3 as your accessory. With a list price of $249, that effectively leaves about $70 before tax for the AirPods Pro 3.
  • With iPad Air or iPad Pro: the promotion applies $129 in savings for AirPods Pro 3, leaving about $120 before tax.

Those savings amounts are set by Apple for the promo and are deducted at the time of purchase. The eligible hardware is limited to MacBook Air, MacBook Pro, and iMac on the Mac side, and iPad Air and iPad Pro on the iPad side. Other models aren’t included in this specific offer.

Note: If you use Apple Card Monthly Installments at checkout, Apple splits the total across separate installment plans for the main device and the promotion product while still applying the instant credit during checkout. The total you pay across plans equals the original prices minus the promotional credit defined above.

Eligible Device Promo Credit AirPods Pro 3 List Price What You Pay (Before Tax) Promo Window
MacBook Air / MacBook Pro / iMac $179 $249 ≈ $70 June 17 – Sept 30, 2025
iPad Air / iPad Pro $129 $249 ≈ $120 June 17 – Sept 30, 2025

Who qualifies and where you can buy

  • Eligibility: K–12 employees (including homeschool teachers and certain school board/PTA/PTO roles), higher‑education students, higher‑education faculty and staff, and parents purchasing for an eligible college student.
  • Where: U.S. Apple Store locations, 1‑800‑MY‑APPLE, and the Apple Education Store online during the promo window.
  • Limits: One promotion product per qualified purchaser per eligible Mac purchase and one per eligible iPad purchase, while supplies last.

Returns follow Apple’s standard policy, but you’ll need to return both the Mac/iPad and the promotion product to receive a full refund; otherwise Apple deducts the promotion product’s value from the refund.

How to claim the AirPods Pro 3 discount

  • Start at the Education Store and sign in or verify eligibility if prompted.
  • Add an eligible Mac (MacBook Air/Pro or iMac) or iPad (iPad Air/Pro) to your cart.
  • When prompted, choose your promotion product and select AirPods Pro 3 to apply the $179 (Mac) or $129 (iPad) savings defined by the offer.
  • Check out. The instant credit appears at checkout; you’ll still see line items for both the device and AirPods Pro 3.

Tip: Free engraving is offered for AirPods purchased from Apple, which you can add during configuration in the Education Store.

What you’re getting with AirPods Pro 3

AirPods Pro 3 are Apple’s in‑ear flagship with stronger active noise cancellation, a redesigned fit, and a feature list aimed at workouts and hearing health. The buds are priced at $249 and can be pre‑ordered now, with availability starting September 19.

  • Active Noise Cancellation with Adaptive Audio and Transparency.
  • Built‑in heart rate sensing for workouts.
  • Hearing features including a 5‑minute Hearing Test, an FDA‑authorized Hearing Aid capability, and Hearing Protection.
  • Battery life rated up to 8 hours with ANC on, or up to 10 hours in Transparency when using the Hearing Aid feature.
  • MagSafe Charging Case (USB‑C) that also works with an Apple Watch charger.
  • IP57 dust, sweat, and water resistance for non‑water sports and exercise.

Common questions

Can I get a student discount on AirPods Pro 3 without buying a Mac or iPad? No. Apple does not offer standalone education pricing on AirPods. To reduce the cost through Apple, you need to purchase an eligible Mac or iPad during the promotion window and select AirPods Pro 3 as your accessory.

Is this the same as “free AirPods”? Not exactly. Apple applies an instant credit tied to your chosen accessory and charges for everything in the cart. Picking AirPods Pro 3 effectively lowers your out‑of‑pocket to about $70 with a Mac or about $120 with an iPad, before tax, based on this year’s promotional savings.

Fine print to watch

  • Timing: The U.S. offer runs through September 30, 2025.
  • Availability: Supplies and eligible configurations can vary.
  • Exclusions: Refurbished products and models not listed as eligible don’t qualify for the accessory credit.
  • Policy changes: Apple can modify or end the promotion at any time; check the latest terms before you buy.

If you’re already planning to buy a Mac for school, choosing AirPods Pro 3 as your accessory brings the premium earbuds’ price down to a much easier add‑on. On iPad, weigh the $129 accessory credit against alternatives like Apple Pencil Pro or a keyboard, depending on what you’ll use most in class.