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✓ checked Oct 23
Cursor closed its free Pro year to new student sign-ups on June 25, 2026. Existing students keep their rate until their plan expires. Replacements: campus & online events from fall 2026 for undergrads, and a credit request form for grad students, researchers and educators that works today.
How to claim it
- Already redeemed? You're safe. If you claimed the discount before June 25, 2026, you keep your rate until your plan expires. Check your renewal date on your
Cursor billing page(Manage in Stripe) and cancel before it if you don't want $20/month. Don't switch to The X Subscription if you want to keep the student rate: switching ends your old Cursor plan - Grad student or researcher?. Master's/PhD students, academic researchers and educators can
request credits from Cursorright now — the only replacement route that works today - Undergrad? Watch for fall events. Cursor will hand out credits and discounts at on-campus and online events starting fall 2026 — join
Cursor's campus newsletterfor early access - Get alerted. Sign up for our
deal alertsand we'll email you the moment Cursor's fall offers (or a new student discount) go live - Use an alternative meanwhile. Other AI coding tools still have student offers. Browse our
coding & programming dealsfor the current list
Who's eligible
Who can get the Cursor student discount?
New sign-ups: closed since June 25, 2026. Existing redeemers keep their rate until their plan expires. From fall 2026, undergrads get credits/discounts at Cursor's campus and online events; master's students, PhD candidates, academic researchers and educators can request credits via Cursor's form today.
How long does Cursor student access last?
If you already redeemed the old student discount, your rate lasts until your current plan expires, then continues at the legacy Pro rate of $20/month unless you cancel. Event credits and researcher credits: durations and amounts not published yet.
Is the Cursor student discount available worldwide?
The old offer was limited to SheerID-supported countries. Cursor says that model 'held Cursor back from reaching students globally' — the new events-based approach has no published country list yet, and the researcher credit form states no country restrictions.
What's included
Cursor discontinued new sign-ups for its student discount (the free 12-month Pro year) on June 25, 2026. The company says the program 'had become a target for fraud and held Cursor back from reaching students globally.' If you already redeemed it, you're safe: Cursor confirms you keep your current rate until your plan expires. For everyone else, three official routes replace it: undergrads will get credits and discounts at on-campus and online events starting fall 2026; master's students, PhD candidates, academic researchers and educators can request credits through Cursor's form right now; and Cursor's campus newsletter gives early access to upcoming offers. As of October 2026, Cursor has not announced dates or credit amounts for the fall events. Cursor's prices changed too: SpaceX bought Cursor in August 2026, and new customers now choose a plan on The X Subscription, starting at $8/month. We'll update this page the moment the fall event details land. Sign up for our deal alerts below to hear about it first.
- Grandfathered Student RatesAnyone who redeemed the discount before June 25, 2026 keeps their rate until their plan expires. Then it renews at the legacy Pro rate of $20/month unless cancelled
- Researcher Credit Requests (Live Now)Master's students, PhD candidates, academic researchers and educators can request credits from Cursor today via an official form — amounts aren't published
- Campus & Online Events (Fall 2026)Cursor's replacement for undergrads: credits and discounts at on-campus and online events starting this fall. No dates, campuses or amounts announced as of October 2026
- Campus NewsletterCursor's official signup for early access to upcoming events, exclusive discounts, and beginner guides
- Free Tier Still Open to EveryoneCursor's free plan remains available to all students — limited AI requests, but enough to keep learning while you wait for the fall offers
Fine print & gotchas
- Closed to new sign-ups since June 25, 2026. No individual student verification route exists anymore.
- Grandfathered rates end at plan expiry, or earlier if you switch to The X Subscription. Then the legacy Pro plan renews at $20/month unless you cancel first.
- No undergrad route yet. Cursor promised event credits and discounts for fall 2026, but as of October 2026 no dates or amounts are announced.
- Researcher credits aren't guaranteed. The request form has no published amounts or approval criteria.
- Cursor's plans changed in 2026. New customers pick Free, Plus ($8/month, Grok models only), Premium ($30/month) or a higher tier on The X Subscription. The old $20 Pro is a legacy plan.
Common questions
Is the Cursor student discount still available?
No. Cursor discontinued new sign-ups for the legacy student discount (free Pro for 12 months) on June 25, 2026. Cursor says the program had become a target for fraud and held the company back from reaching students globally.
I already have the student discount. Do I lose it?
No. Cursor confirms: 'If you already redeemed your student discount, you'll keep your current rate until your plan expires.' After that, the subscription continues at the regular rate for your plan unless you cancel, which is $20/month on the legacy Pro plan. Set a reminder before your renewal date. Don't switch to The X Subscription if you want to keep the student rate: Cursor says legacy plans last until you switch or cancel.
What replaced the free Pro year?
Three official routes: undergraduates get credits and discounts at Cursor's on-campus and online events starting fall 2026; master's students, PhD candidates, academic researchers and educators can request credits through an official form today; and Cursor's campus newsletter provides early access to upcoming offers.
How do grad students and researchers get credits?
Fill out Cursor's credit request form (linked in the steps above). It asks for your university, your academic status, how you would use the credits, how many credits you want and why, and your timeline. Cursor hasn't published credit amounts or approval criteria, so state clearly how you'd use Cursor in your research or teaching.
When and where are the campus events?
Cursor has only said 'starting this fall' (2026) for on-campus and online events. As of October 2026, no dates, campuses or credit amounts have been announced on Cursor's student page or in its help center. Join Cursor's campus newsletter or our deal alerts to hear when details land.
Will the old student discount come back?
Cursor hasn't announced any plans to bring back individual student sign-ups. The company has shifted to distributing student credits through events instead. If that changes, we'll update this page immediately.
How much does Cursor cost now?
SpaceX bought Cursor in August 2026, and Cursor is now part of The X Subscription, one subscription for Grok, Cursor and X. New customers choose Free ($0, limited use), Plus ($8/month, Grok models only), Premium ($30/month), Super ($100/month) or Ultra ($200/month). Cursor lists Premium as the match for the old $20/month Pro plan. If you already pay for a legacy plan such as Pro, it keeps working as it is.
What should I use instead right now?
Cursor's own free tier stays open to everyone. For student offers from other coding tools, see our coding & programming category.
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