Best Internet for College Students
If you’re in college, you’ll need a good internet connection so you can learn, study, and engage in online course material. The last thing you need is your internet lagging or cutting out in the middle of an online exam.
For most students, being in college also comes with not having a ton of money to spend, so budget is a key consideration. Here’s how to find the best internet option for you, balancing speed and reliability with affordable cost.
What’s the best type of internet for students?
The type of internet connection you can get will always depend on where you live, and what ISPs and types of infrastructure have a presence there.
Common options can include cable internet, DSL, and fiber optic. Larger metropolitan areas will generally have a better selection of options, while rural areas can often be frustratingly limited.
If it’s available in your area, fiber optic internet is a great option for college students
Fiber optic internet access is in the process of expanding throughout the US and Canada, though it’s not available everywhere just yet.
You can click here to find out if Fidium@Home is available near you. If it is, switching to fiber optic can greatly boost your internet speeds and reliability – useful for students, especially if you do a lot of work online.
With fiber, you don’t have to worry about your internet cutting out in the middle of an exam for an online class, or just as you’re submitting a term paper that’s due. It’s one less thing for busy students to worry about.
What’s a good internet speed for college students?
Internet speeds can run the gamut from relatively low for DSL, to as high as 2 Gigs for some fiber internet connections. The level of internet speed that you actually need will depend on how you use the internet, what you’re using it for, and how data-heavy that usage tends to be.
For a smooth browsing experience across most routine things you’re likely to do online – accessing online classes, watching Netflix, playing video games online – you’ll realistically need a minimum of around 25-50 Mbps at lowest.
Faster speeds come with a smoother, less laggy overall browsing experience. It’s generally worth paying a little more for faster speeds.
For most students, a good internet speed would be something like 100-200 Mbps. Fiber is the best option for ensuring these speeds, though some cable packages may also provide them.
Balancing speed with budget: Finding the best deals for students
If you’re like a lot of students, budget is a major factor. You want the most bang for your buck, and you don’t want to break the bank with an over the top package you don’t necessarily need.
If Fidium is available near you, you can get a great deal on impressively fast internet, but without paying more than you would for a slower cable internet package. Click here to check our availability near you.
What are the best student internet plans?
As we’ve mentioned, the best plan for you will depend on your needs, the size of your household, and other factors.
As a student, you probably want a plan that avoids two common things: long-term contracts, and obligatory bundling.
As a student, long-term contracts can be a hassle because you're probably only living where you're at for a few years. Plus, income can oscillate, meaning you never know if something like a lost job might mean you need to put your internet on hold for a month or two. A flexible internet plan is optimal for college students.
As for bundling, sometimes cable internet comes with cable TV. And who watches traditional cable in 2023? Not Gen Z college students.
Fidium offers four different residential plans:
- Essential: 100 Mbps
- Advanced: 300 Mbps
- Supreme: 1 Gig
- Futuristic: 2 Gigs
For college students, Fidium’s Advanced plan offers a great ratio of fast maximum speeds to affordable cost, and is often the best pick. If you live with roommates and all of you are heavy, data-intensive internet users, though, you may want to consider opting for Supreme.
Fidium’s pricing for each package varies by location. You can click here to check your area to find out more.
For students, fiber optic internet is a solid choice
If you can get fiber in your area, it’s probably your best option as far as getting the best speeds at the most affordable prices. For busy college students who work hard and play hard online, Fidium@Home is an excellent choice for fast, reliable internet service.
Click here to find out whether Fidium is available near you.