- Who qualifies for the student price
- How to buy the Student Plan, step by step
- Use your personal email, not your .edu one
- If SheerID can't verify you instantly
- What the $119 plan includes and leaves out
- How to watch your local and national games as well
- Renewal, refunds and graduating
- My verdict
- Frequently asked questions
Yes. As of October 2026, YouTube sells an NFL Sunday Ticket Student Plan for $119, and for a limited time you can add NFL RedZone for $10 more. You need to be 18 or older, enrolled at an accredited college or university, verified by SheerID and physically in the US, and you can only buy it on youtube.com as a Primetime Channel.
That's the lowest Sunday Ticket price YouTube lists, well under the $240 a new user pays for the standard season. But it's a stripped-down pass, and the limits are the part most students only find out about on game day.
Who qualifies for the student price
YouTube's help page sets out four conditions. You must:
- Be 18 or older.
- Be enrolled as a student at an accredited college or university.
- Be verified as a student by SheerID, the company YouTube uses to check student status.
- Be located in the US when you buy. Your school doesn't have to be in the US, but the plan isn't sold in US territories.
That second point surprises people: an international student at a university abroad can still qualify, as long as they're in the US at the time of purchase.
How to buy the Student Plan, step by step
- On a computer or your phone's web browser, go to youtube.com. The plan can't be bought in the YouTube app or through a TV or internet provider.
- Go to the NFL channel page and select Get NFL Sunday Ticket. Sign in with your Google Account if asked, and remember which email you used.
- Below the package options, select Eligible students can save with a student plan.
- If you've verified with SheerID in the last 11 months, you'll see the discounted price straight away. Choose whether to add NFL RedZone, then pay.
- If you haven't, select Continue, enter your full name, email, date of birth, the country or region your school is in and its name, then select Verify My Student Status.
- If SheerID verifies you instantly, you'll see a Success! message. Choose RedZone or not, and check out.
- Look out for the emailed receipt. You can see your membership details at any time at youtube.com/purchases.
Use your personal email, not your .edu one
This is the tip I'd pass on to any student. YouTube says a .edu address isn't needed to verify, and it recommends a personal address such as Gmail, because some school administrators put restrictions on .edu accounts. Whatever you pick, use the same email to buy and to verify. A mismatch is an easy way to end up stuck halfway through checkout.
If SheerID can't verify you instantly
Some students won't get the instant Success! screen. In that case SheerID asks you to upload proof of enrollment, such as:
- A school ID card with an expiry date.
- A class schedule.
- A tuition receipt.
YouTube says US students can expect a decision by email within 20 minutes. If your school is outside the US, the email can take up to 48 hours. When it arrives, select Continue in the email to go back to youtube.com, choose whether you want RedZone, and finish the purchase. If your status can't be verified, SheerID may contact you.
What the $119 plan includes and leaves out
The student pass covers regular season Sunday afternoon games on CBS and FOX that aren't shown in your local area. YouTube's own example: a New England Patriots fan living in Chicago can watch the Pats games that Chicago stations don't carry. Here's how it compares with a standard membership on the things students ask about most:
| Feature | Student Plan | Standard Sunday Ticket |
|---|---|---|
| Streams | One signed-in device, one stream at a time | Unlimited at home, 2 outside the home |
| Family sharing | No | Up to 5 other family group members |
| Monthly payments | Not offered | Season Pass instalments or Month-to-Month |
| Coupons and other discounts | Not eligible | One offer per account |
| Renewal | One-time purchase, no auto-renew | Season Pass auto-renews |
| Where to buy | youtube.com only, as a Primetime Channel | YouTube TV add-on or Primetime Channel |
Preseason games, postseason games, and local or national broadcasts aren't part of Sunday Ticket at all, student or not. You can still watch on any connected device, including your TV, and in the YouTube app or the YouTube TV app. YouTube's student page also lists multiview, so you can watch up to four games on one screen (device and content restrictions apply), plus key plays for replaying highlights.
How to watch your local and national games as well
Because the student pass skips your local CBS and FOX games and the national ones, you'll want something else alongside it. YouTube's student page says you can keep your current live TV service and use both.
If you'd rather keep everything in one place, YouTube suggests buying the Student Plan first, then signing up for YouTube TV with the same email. As of October 2026, YouTube lists its main plan at $82.99 a month and its Sports Plan at $64.99 a month. If you're weighing that up, here's how YouTube TV handles local channels.
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Renewal, refunds and graduating
The Student Plan is a one-time purchase, so it won't renew for next season on its own. YouTube also says it doesn't offer cancellations or refunds on Sunday Ticket, so only buy it when you're sure.
Next season, you'll need to verify again before you can buy, and anyone who hasn't verified in the last 11 months is sent through SheerID again. Once you've graduated you're no longer eligible, and YouTube points you to the standard package. For the full standard and returning-user prices, see this NFL Sunday Ticket price guide.
One mix-up worth clearing up: YouTube Premium has its own student price, but it's a different membership and it doesn't include Sunday Ticket. YouTube also says Premium perks such as ad-free viewing don't apply on Primetime Channels. More on that product in YouTube Premium Student.
My verdict
If you're a student and you follow a team that plays outside your area, $119 is the best Sunday Ticket deal YouTube offers, and it isn't close. Just treat it as a one-person, one-screen pass. If you want to watch with housemates on several screens, split the bill on a family plan or pay monthly, you'll need the standard membership instead. And sign up with a personal email, not your .edu one, so verification goes through first time.
Frequently asked questions
How much is NFL Sunday Ticket for students?
As of October 2026, YouTube lists the NFL Sunday Ticket Student Plan at $119, with NFL RedZone available for $10 more for a limited time.
Do I need a .edu email for the NFL Sunday Ticket student discount?
No. YouTube says a .edu account isn't required and recommends a personal email such as Gmail, because some schools restrict .edu accounts.
Can I share the NFL Sunday Ticket Student Plan?
No. The Student Plan doesn't include family sharing and allows one signed-in device and one stream at a time.
Does the NFL Sunday Ticket Student Plan renew automatically?
No. It's a one-time purchase that won't renew for next season, and you'll need to verify your student status again before buying it again.
Can I buy the student plan in the YouTube app?
No. YouTube only sells the Student Plan on youtube.com as a Primetime Channel. On a phone, use your mobile browser instead of the app.
