SCRANTON — College students on a budget need to navigate a digital world where everything is behind a paywall. Streaming companies, universities and the community want to help.

From Netflix to Peacock, streaming services for television shows, movies and music have become popular. But the prices of the services add up, and they can be too expensive for college students to afford.

Senior finance major Christian Messana calculated how much he and his roommates spend a month on streaming services.

“Personally, I spend around $10 a month on streaming services, but I have over $50 worth from roommates.”

There are free and budget-friendly offers for active students. Enzo Angeloni, a junior journalism and electronic media major, uses streaming platforms to listen to new music and watch movies he may have missed while they were showing in the movie theater.

“I love streaming. It’s so convenient. … Most of my life is spent listening to music and watching movies,” Angeloni said.

In the United States, 83% of adults use streaming services, according to a study by the Pew Research Center. Out of the people surveyed, over half only use streaming platforms. This means they do not use cable or satellite television.

In the college-age crowd, ages 18 to 29, Hulu is the most popular streaming service. Hulu helps students on a budget. For $1.99 monthly, active college students can purchase the (with ads) plan. Hulu also works with Spotify to offer a college deal. Students who validate their student identification can pay $6.99 for Spotify Premium and Hulu (with ads).

Both Paramount+ and HBO Max offer a 50% off student special. Apple Music charges active students $5.99 monthly.

With the crackdown on password sharing, student discounts have become more widely regarded. Student discounts do not only exist in the streaming world, but food services and more.

Being a college student, sometimes saving money for something else seems more enticing. Make note of free alternatives to streaming, without pirating.

The University of Scranton offers different services for students on campus through the library database. Go to campus, log on to a computer and visit the Weinberg Memorial Library website.

On the website, there is an option to visit databases from A to Z.

Though it may look like an overwhelming number of academic sources, there are also some hidden gems. From Broadway musicals to documentaries, the Weinberg Memorial Library has 181 databases available.

Physical media can be borrowed at the Weinberg Memorial Library, too. There are DVDs and movies to check out when the circulation desk is open.

Or visit the Scranton Public Library. Apply for free to get a library card for the Lackawanna County Library System.

The Scranton Public Library has movies on DVD, television shows and even video games for consoles like the Xbox, PlayStation and Nintendo Switch.

The Lackawanna County Library System includes nine libraries. A library card through the system can be used at any location.

Angeloni acknowledges that being a college student can be a financial
hardship.

“College is the time in your life when you’re starting to become more independent. Expenses come from buying books and gas money,” Angeloni said.