Students Discounts At Columbia University: What You Need To Know

Students at Columbia University can take advantage of a range of discounts and perks. From consumer electronics to hotels, event tickets, wellness programs, and referral services, there are many ways to save money while studying in New York City. Columbia University's Arts Initiative, for example, offers discounted tickets to movies, Broadway shows, and other live performances. The Passport to Museums Program provides free admission to about 30 NYC museums, and other museums like the Guggenheim offer student prices. Students can also access discounted tech and software, as well as tourist attractions and performing arts events. Additionally, students can use their Columbia email address to unlock discounts on various websites and subscription services.

Discounts on consumer electronics, hotels, event tickets, wellness programs, and referral services

Columbia University offers its students, faculty, and staff a range of discounts on consumer electronics, hotels, event tickets, wellness programs, and referral services.

Consumer Electronics

Columbia University has agreements with Apple and Dell that allow institutional computer purchases at discounted rates. The university also has a Preferred Vendor List, which offers personal discounts on software, electronics, and other items from select university vendors.

Hotels

Columbia University students, faculty, and staff can access competitive rates at over 44,000 hotel properties worldwide, from boutique hotels to major chains. These rates can be booked through the Online Booking Tool on the Columbia Visitors Travel Portal.

Event Tickets

The CU Arts Initiative offers discounted tickets to movies, Broadway, off-Broadway, and other live performances, as well as access to cultural institutions in New York City. TicketsatWork, Columbia's corporate entertainment benefits provider, also offers exclusive discounts on tickets to top attractions, shows, sporting events, and more.

Wellness Programs

The Office of Work/Life provides wellness-related discounts on gym memberships, cycling, and nutrition. Columbia University also offers dental health discounts from Aetna for daily oral health care products. Additionally, the Sanvello Self-care App, which helps with stress, anxiety, and depression, is free for UnitedHealthcare members.

Referral Services

The Employee Assistance Program (EAP) offers free and discounted referral services, including free 30-minute legal, mediation, and financial consultations and referrals to professional services. The EAP also provides a 24-hour hotline for confidential counseling and referrals, with six free sessions offered per topic.

Discounts on movies, Broadway, off-Broadway, and live performances

Columbia University offers its students, faculty, and staff members a range of benefits and discounts on movies, Broadway, off-Broadway, and live performances.

Arts Initiative at Columbia University

The CU Arts Initiative provides the Columbia community with exclusive discounts and offers for movies, Broadway, off-Broadway, and other live performances. The Arts Initiative also offers free tickets to performances at world-class venues like Carnegie Hall, the Metropolitan Opera, and the New York Philharmonic. These tickets are available on a first-come, first-served basis and are announced through the Arts Initiative email newsletter.

Working Advantage

Working Advantage is a program offered by Columbia University to its faculty, students, and staff, providing up to 40% discounts on movie tickets nationwide. Additionally, it offers incredible discounts on Broadway Theatre, theme parks, hotels, sporting events, family events, online shopping, gift certificates, and seasonal ski tickets.

On Sale at the TIC

On Sale at the TIC offers discounted tickets to hundreds of off-campus arts events at leading performance spaces in New York City, including Broadway shows, Carnegie Hall, the Metropolitan Opera, New York City Ballet, and the New York Philharmonic. Tickets for these events are available at the start of each semester.

Corporate Shopping Employee Discounts

Columbia University has partnered with Corporate Shopping Employee Discounts to offer its students and employees exclusive deals from over 250 top national retailers. This includes popular brands like Ralph Lauren, Target, and J.Crew.

TicketsatWork

TicketsatWork is a corporate entertainment benefits provider that offers exclusive discounts and special offers to Columbia University. It provides access to preferred seating and tickets to top attractions, theme parks, shows, sporting events, movies, hotels, and much more.

With these initiatives and partnerships, Columbia University ensures that its students, faculty, and staff have access to a diverse range of cultural and entertainment experiences at discounted prices.

Discounts on groceries and food

Columbia University in the City of New York offers its faculty and staff members free or discounted prices on a range of goods and services for work and/or personal use. This includes discounts on groceries and food at certain retailers.

Corporate Shopping Employee Discounts

Columbia University has partnered with Corporate Shopping Employee Discounts to provide its faculty and students with access to over 250 top national retailers offering employee discounts and private offers. Some of these retailers include Costco, Ralph Lauren, and Target.

Working Advantage

Working Advantage is another program offered by Columbia University that provides discounts on groceries and food items. With Working Advantage, students, faculty, and staff can save up to 40% on movie tickets nationwide, as well as discounts on Broadway Theatre, theme parks, hotels, sporting events, family events, online shopping, gift certificates, and seasonal ski tickets.

University Bookstore

Students can also enjoy a 10% discount on select items at the Columbia University bookstore by presenting their University ID Card at the registers of the Barnes & Noble on the Morningside campus.

Discounts on museum entries

Being a student at Columbia University has its perks when it comes to accessing museums in New York City. The Passport to Museums Program, for instance, offers free admission to about 30 NYC museums, including the Metropolitan Museum of Art and the Africa Centre. The Columbia Nights initiative further enhances this experience.

Other museums not included in the pass, such as the Guggenheim and the American Museum of Natural History, offer discounted rates for students. The NYPL card is another way to gain access to various museums, including the Guggenheim, and is easily obtained with proof of address.

The Arts Initiative at Columbia University also provides discounted tickets to hundreds of off-campus arts events at leading performance spaces, including Broadway, Carnegie Hall, the Metropolitan Opera, and the New York Philharmonic.

Students are advised to always carry their student IDs when exploring the city, as many places offer unadvertised discounts with proof of student status.

Discounts on sports, parks, and shows

Columbia University students can access a range of discounts on sports, parks, and shows.

For sports enthusiasts, students can access discounted monthly passes for bus, rail, or light rail travel with NJ Transit. This discount is available to full-time undergraduate and graduate students and can be purchased through the Columbia Transportation website. Students can also access discounted car rentals with Hertz, available for personal travel bookings.

For those who enjoy the outdoors, Columbia University students can access free entry to several museums and historical sights in New York City. These include the Noguchi Museum, the Cloisters, the 9/11 Memorial, the African Burial Ground National Museum, the Alexander Hamilton Grange National Memorial, and many more. The Passport to Museums Program also offers Columbia students free admission to about 30 NYC museums, including the Metropolitan Museum of Art and the Africa Center. Students can also visit the website Free Standup NYC to find hundreds of free comedy shows across the city each month.

Students can also access discounted movie vouchers to many of New York City's movie theatres. These can be purchased in person with a valid student ID at the TIC window in the lobby of Lerner Hall. The Arts Initiative at Columbia University also offers students discounts to movies, Broadway shows, off-Broadway shows, and other live performances.

For those looking for discounts on sports, Working Advantage offers Columbia University students, staff, and faculty discounts on sporting events, alongside other entertainment such as theme parks, hotels, family events, and gift certificates.

Frequently asked questions