Best Baylor Student Discounts & Deals in Waco

Your Baylor ID isn't just for getting into Moody Library — it's one of the most underused money-saving tools you own. Between the official Waco Perks program and dozens of businesses that offer informal student deals, you can shave $50-100 off your monthly spending without changing your lifestyle. Most students don't know half these discounts exist, so here's the real list — organized by what you actually spend money on.

What Is the Baylor Waco Perks Program?

Waco Perks is Baylor's official student discount program, run by the university's external affairs office. Every Baylor student, faculty member, and staff member is automatically enrolled — there's no signup, no app, no form to fill out. All you do is show your physical or virtual Baylor ID at a participating business and ask for the discount before you pay.

The program covers three main categories:

• Dining — restaurants, coffee shops, bakeries (typically 10-20% off or free add-ons)
• Retail & Services — boutiques, salons, dry cleaners, auto shops (varies by business)
• Entertainment — Baylor Theatre, museums, local attractions

Baylor maintains the full directory at baylor.edu/waco/discounts. The list changes a few times a year as new businesses sign on and others drop off, so it's worth checking twice a year — usually before fall and spring semesters.

Pro tip: Always ask before ordering. Many businesses won't advertise the discount, and some cashiers aren't trained to apply it automatically. A quick "Do you do the Waco Perks / Baylor student discount?" is all it takes.

Dining Deals That Actually Add Up

If you're spending $200+/month on coffee and takeout (most students are), dining discounts are where you'll save the most.

Coffee Shops

• Common Grounds (1123 S 8th St) — the decades-old Baylor staple directly across from campus. Check for current student specials and loyalty punch cards.
• Dunkin' — 10% off at participating locations with a student ID, per the Baylor Lariat's student discount column.
• Dichotomy Coffee & Spirits (downtown on Austin Ave) — worth asking about their current Baylor deals.
• Pinewood Coffee Bar — a Waco Perks participant in past years; check the current directory.

If you're living at 19Eleven on S 8th Street, Common Grounds is a 5-minute walk. That's a real advantage — you save on gas, parking, and time, and you can actually use a 10-15% discount you'd otherwise skip because the shop's too far away.

Restaurants

Waco's restaurant scene leans heavily on student traffic, so most places will quietly extend a deal if you ask:

• Taqueria Zacatecas ("Taco Z") — a student favorite since 1995.
• Schmaltz's Sandwich Shoppe — on Baylor campus since 1975.
• Vitek's Gut Pak — home of the Gut Pak, named America's top college dish.
• Union Hall — downtown food hall with several vendors; individual stalls may run student specials.
• Harvest on 25th — farm-to-table; occasional student nights.

For a deeper restaurant breakdown, see our student food guide.

Grocery & Household

H-E-B (now at 1821 S Valley Mills Dr after relocating) doesn't offer a formal student discount, but its digital coupons stack — download the H-E-B app and clip coupons before each shop. Students typically save $10-20/trip. ALDI doesn't need coupons because its base prices are already the lowest in Waco.

Retail, Services & Everyday Savings

Local Boutiques and Shops

Dozens of downtown Waco boutiques and home goods stores participate in Waco Perks — discount amounts vary from 5% to 15%. Waco Custom Marketplace has been reported to offer around 5% off for Baylor ID holders. Always ask at checkout.

Services

• Dry cleaning — several Waco cleaners discount for students.
• Auto services — oil changes and basic maintenance shops sometimes offer student rates. This matters more if you've got a car and are paying for parking on or near campus.
• Salons and barbers — ask before booking. Several locations near campus run Baylor-ID deals.

Baylor Campus Perks You Already Paid For

Your tuition covers a lot that students forget about:

• McLane Student Life Center (SLC) — free access to the 10,000 sq ft fitness center, climbing wall, leisure pool, indoor track, and racquetball courts. Zero add-on cost.
• Campus Recreation equipment rental — camping gear, kayaks, paddleboards, and outdoor equipment at subsidized rates.
• Baylor Theatre — discounted tickets for students. Check the current season.
• Moody Library printing credits — included in tuition.
• Bill Daniel Student Center — campus market and convenience items.

If you're paying for a private gym membership, you're paying twice. The SLC is legitimately better than most off-campus gyms — and our fitness guide breaks down when it makes sense to supplement it.

National Student Discounts Worth Knowing

Beyond Waco, your Baylor ID (or verification through services like UNiDAYS, Student Beans, or Sheerid) unlocks significant national deals:

• Amazon Prime Student — 50% off Prime ($7.49/mo), 6-month free trial. Includes free shipping, Prime Video, and study tools.
• Apple Education — discounted MacBooks, iPads, and AppleCare; often free AirPods during back-to-school promos.
• Spotify Premium Student — $5.99/mo including Hulu (ad-supported) and Showtime. Roughly a $15/mo value for the bundle.
• Adobe Creative Cloud — 60% off for students. If you're in a design, marketing, or film class, this pays for itself immediately.
• Microsoft 365 — free for students at most universities including Baylor.
• Nike, Adidas, Lululemon, J.Crew — 10-15% off online with student verification.
• AT&T and Verizon student plans — ~15-20% off unlimited lines.

One hour setting these up will save you $300-500/year. Most students set up 2-3 and forget the rest.

Free Stuff on Campus (Don't Sleep on This)

Every semester, Baylor's Student Activities office and various student organizations run free events, free food giveaways, and swag drops. A few to watch for:

• Chapel snacks and giveaways after certain services.
• BU Connect events — free pizza, ice cream socials, and wellness fairs.
• Baylor Athletics — students get free tickets to most Baylor games including football at McLane Stadium and basketball at Foster Pavilion. For football, see our game day guide.
• Library events — free coffee during finals week, study care packages.

Follow Baylor's student life accounts on Instagram (@baylor.studentlife, @baylordiningservices) to catch these in time.

Timing Your Purchases Around Campus Events

Some of the best deals are event-driven:

• Study Day (end of each semester) — Student Government has partnered with Starbucks in past years for a free or discounted drink promo. Keep an eye on Student Gov social.
• Welcome Week (August) — downtown Waco businesses often run back-to-school specials.
• Homecoming (October) — alumni and student weekend deals.
• Senior Week (May) — graduation-themed discounts.

How 19Eleven Fits Into Your Savings Math

Deals are only useful if you can actually use them. Living in gated student housing across town from Baylor usually means you drive everywhere, burn gas, pay for parking, and skip discounts because "it's not worth the trip." That's why location matters as much as rent.

19Eleven Apartments sits on 1911 S 8th Street — about a 10-minute walk from Baylor's campus and within walking or biking distance of:

• Common Grounds (5 min walk)
• Moody Library
• McLane Student Life Center (use your free SLC membership daily, not weekly)
• S 8th Street restaurants and the route to downtown Waco
• McLane Stadium (walk to games instead of paying for parking)

Combined with a flat $40/mo monthly fee package that includes internet, trash, pest, and facilities — vs. competitors' $100-200/mo in hidden add-on fees — the math looks pretty different. You're saving on fees, on gas, and on the discounts you're actually close enough to use. For more on the fee comparison, see our all-in cost breakdown.

The Bottom Line

Your Baylor ID is worth more than most students realize. A realistic savings estimate for an engaged student:

• Waco Perks dining — $30-50/mo
• National student discounts (Prime, Spotify, Apple, etc.) — $40-60/mo in value
• Campus amenities you already paid for (SLC instead of a gym, library instead of streaming workspace) — $30-80/mo
• Free event food and giveaways — $20-40/mo

That's potentially $120-230/mo — real money that adds up to $1,400-2,700 over an academic year.

Ready to Actually Use These Discounts?

If you're still apartment-hunting for next year, think about walkability alongside rent. A discount you can't reach isn't a discount. 19Eleven's S 8th Street location puts most of Waco's Baylor-friendly businesses within a walk or bike ride.

Browse our floor plans or schedule a tour to see how the math works out. Already know you want to sign? Start your application today.