Hulu is raising prices for existing student subscribers and eliminating its standalone student discount for new users.
Here's what to know
Per Cord Cutters News, Hulu will charge legacy student subscribers $3.99 a month on its ad-supported plan instead of $1.99, and new students can no longer sign up for a discounted Hulu-only plan.
This marks the first major increase for students grandfathered into the discontinued Spotify-Hulu bundle and who remained on the $1.99 promotional price long after the original bundle stopped accepting new users.
Students signing up are being funneled to a $6.49-per-month bundle that includes the ad-supported versions of Hulu and Disney+. That means students who only wanted Hulu are now being pushed into a larger package rather than the lowest-cost option.
More background
For students already juggling tuition, rent, and rising monthly costs, the move closes off one of the last deeply discounted legacy streaming arrangements still available.
The new student bundle will require subscribers to verify each year that they are enrolled in an eligible college or graduate program and have a valid student ID.
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If a student can no longer be verified — whether because they graduated, left school, or missed the check — the discount ends automatically. The subscription then converts to the standard Disney+ and Hulu bundle with ads at $12.99 per month.
What can be done?
Anyone who has had Hulu should review their billing details to see whether their account is one of the old Spotify-linked student plans that is increasing in price. Keep in mind that the increase doesn't apply to all student accounts; it's limited to the legacy plan.
For any subscribers close to graduating or who cannot confirm continued enrollment, the monthly cost will automatically rise to $12.99.
Where can I learn more?
Streaming isn't the only place students and families are feeling the squeeze, with utilities adding to higher monthly costs.
• At Alpine Village in Provo, Utah, students saw energy bills triple overnight despite lacking AC.
• Across America, surging data-center demand is adding uncertainty to utility bills for homeowners.
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