6 Dirt-Cheap Gyms With Student Discounts & Free Passes

Many gyms offer student discounts, and some even offer free gym memberships for students. 

However, it’s hard to find membership prices and discounts on most gym websites, as they want you to visit the location. 

That’s why we called 120+ gym franchises and asked what student discounts they offer.

Based on our research, the 6 best gyms for students are:

1. Planet Fitness Summer Pass: Free for Teens
2. 24 Hour Fitness Summer Pass: Free for Teens & 48% off
3. Gold’s Gym: Up to 50% off
4. YMCA: Up to 44% off
5. World Gym: Cheap Short-Term Memberships
6. Anytime Fitness: Cheap No-Fees Memberships

However, before picking a gym, read the details in the reviews below, as some have conditions you must meet to get a discount or free membership.

How We Found The Best Gyms With Student Discounts

To gather data, we called some locations of the largest chain gyms to ask about their student discounts. We included individual clubs in the four different regions of the US — Northeast, Midwest, South, and West. We also called two Canadian locations for the gym chains that also exist in Canada.

Our research found that most chain gyms don’t have universal student discounts. Each location has its own policies surrounding student discounts, including how much discount is offered and whether or not the college you go to qualifies you for a student discount.

Also, some told us that they can only discuss student membership prices if you visit the club in person. If we haven’t included pricing for any of the gyms we mention in this article, call your local gym or go into the club to discuss the specific pricing they offer for their students.

1. Planet Fitness Summer Pass: Free for Teens

Planet Fitness makes fitness accessible to teenagers aged 14 to 19 with their Summer Pass program. Running from May to August 31st, this initiative allows teens to work out at Planet Fitness gyms throughout the summer completely free of charge.

Plus, they have 2400 locations so that this deal will apply to most people. 

You only need the Planet Fitness App and a digital key tag to take advantage of this opportunity.

The Classic membership is also one of the most affordable gym memberships if you’re an older student. Although Planet Fitness isn't the best gym for more experienced lifters, so check out the other gyms further down our list for more.  

What Is the Cost for Students?

You can’t beat free, so Planet Fitness tops our list. But it's still a solid option if you’re not in your teens since memberships are cheap. Here are the current prices at the Greenville, MI location:

• Classic: $10/month
• Black Card: $24/month
• Annual Fee: $49
• No commitment

Using the gym for 6 months or more would only cost less than $20/month. If you stay for the year, it’s less than $15/month. Look for promotional periods to get started with $1 enrollment fee.

Beware, though; costs can vary by location, and you need to ask about the $58 buyout fees if you want to cancel. 

What Are The Gym Benefits For Students? 

With the Summer Pass in hand, you can enjoy the full benefits of a Planet Fitness gym. These include:

• Unlimited Access to Home Club: You can work out at your chosen Planet Fitness location without any limitations.

• Planet Fitness Free Fitness Training: Take advantage of the fitness training program, which allows you to work with a trainer who will create a customized workout routine for you. Additionally, you can participate in small group sessions or opt for 30-minute express circuit training classes.

• Free WiFi: Stay connected while working out with free WiFi access, enabling you to stream music or videos without using your data.

What You Need To Know Before Getting A Pass

• Crowd Meter: The Planet Fitness App features a crowd meter, allowing you to check how busy the gym is before your visit. This way, you can plan your workout accordingly to avoid peak times.

• Equipment Availability: While Planet Fitness provides a wide range of equipment, it's essential to note that the availability of certain items may vary by location. Some gyms may not have barbells or offer dumbbells beyond a certain weight range.

• Lunk Alarm: Planet Fitness takes pride in creating a judgment-free environment, but it's important to follow the gym's rules to avoid triggering the lunk alarm, which can be an embarrassing experience.

• Location Matters: It's crucial to highlight that the gym experience largely depends on the specific Planet Fitness location. Members at some locations complain it’s too busy when teens work out during the summer. However, at my location in Greenville, MI, there was ample space and equipment was available.

Considering a gym visit? Our article on the Planet Fitness day pass provides all the information you need to know for a one-day gym experience. I also compared Planet Fitness against other top gyms, including 24 Hour Fitness, YMCA, and Fit4less.

2. 24 Hour Fitness Summer Pass: Free for Teens & 48% off

24 Hour Fitness also offers free summer passes to high school students. If you’re a college student, some locations offer discounts at 48% discount. 

Unlike Planet Fitness, 24 Hour Fitness is open 24 hours a day, so it’s a good gym for students who may only have time to work out during the overnight hours.

It’s also a better gym if you’re interested in more advanced strength training like powerlifting or Olympic weightlifting. Most locations have a large number of squat racks and lifting platforms that will allow you to use chalk and drop your weights.

What Is The Cost For Students? 

Aside from the free summer option, if you’re older or it’s not summer, we figured out the estimated costs. We called 5 locations in NJ, TX, CA, FL, and NY. Four of them told us they don’t offer student discounts.

The location we called in Springfield, NJ, told us they have student discounts for $29.99/month. This is much cheaper than the standard 24 Hour Fitness monthly membership, which can cost close to $57/month depending on where you live and which plan you purchase.

To determine if the 24 Hour Fitness near you offers student discounts, I recommend calling them or dropping in to speak with them in person.

What Are The Gym Benefits For Students? 

• Students can access a range of group classes as part of their membership

• 24 Hour Fitness offers a free three-day trial so you can test out the gym before signing up for a student membership

• You can access multiple 24 Hour Fitness gyms with your membership 

What Do You Need To Know Before Purchasing A Membership? 

• Most locations require you to show your student ID to sign up for a discounted membership plan

• You’ll need to double-check whether your membership is a month-by-month contract or a 12-month plan before signing up, as 24 Hour Fitness offers both options 

I also compared 24 Hour Fitness head-to-head against similar gyms, including Anytime Fitness, LA Fitness, and Life Time Fitness.

3. Gold's Gym: Up to 50% Off

Gold’s Gym offers student discounts of up to 50%. Some locations also offer summer passes for students, such as this one in Burlington, VT that’s $129 for 3 months with no extra fees or charges. 

Gold’s is more expensive, but it’s our top-rated gym. It’s often known for bodybuilding, but it has a ton of cardio and strength equipment, so you can do almost any kind of workout there. It also has a good selection of group classes if you want to spin, HIIT, or yoga classes with your friends.

What Is The Cost For Students? 

To get more information about Gold’s Gym’s student discounts, we called locations in 5 different regions of the US and Canada. Everyone we spoke to referred us to their website. Based on the information we gathered online, some locations offer discounts of up to 50% for college students.

To give you an idea of what that 50% discount could cost you, below are the prices of a standard membership for Gold’s Gym in Totowa, NJ:

• EFT 12-month membership – $39.99/month with a $20.24 club enhancement fee 
• One year upfront – $499 plus taxes 
• Monthly no commitment membership – $59/month

However, these prices and the exact discount you may be eligible for as a college student vary by location. If you need more information about student discounts at a Gold’s Gym near you, I recommend getting in touch with your local club or checking out their website.

What Are The Gym Benefits For Students? 

• Every Gold’s Gym membership plan enables you to use all areas of the gym, including the free weights, strength equipment, and cardio machines.

• You can use the boxing and yoga studios, basketball courts, and sign up for an unlimited number of group classes. 

• The EFT 12-month plan grants you access to other Gold’s Gym locations, so you can use your membership even when you travel back home for the holidays. This may not be the case with all plans at all locations, though.

• Gold’s Gym also has a no-commitment month-to-month contract, which is perfect for students who don’t want to commit to a full 12-month membership. 

What Do You Need To Know Before Purchasing A Membership? 

• Since the student membership prices vary based on location, you will need to call and ask about the specific plans that are offered at your local club.

• Gold’s Gym is not open 24 hours a day, but they stay open anywhere from 10-11 pm on weekdays and 3-5 pm on weekends.

• Gold’s Gym offers a free trial pass so you can give the gym a go before committing to a full membership.

• You can freeze your membership for free if you have a long-term injury or illness that prevents you from exercising by providing a doctor’s note. 

Gold's Gym is one of the best gyms for kids and teens. I also compared Gold's Gym against other top gyms, including 24 Hour Fitness, LA Fitness, and Planet Fitness.

4. YMCA: Up To 48% Off

The YMCA offers great discounts for teens and young adults under 30, so it’s a good place to workout and also meet people outside of your school. It has a lot of age-appropriate social events that may be of interest to you if you’re not into partying on campus.

As you’re getting ready to graduate, the YMCA can also be a good place to network with other people to help land your first job. You can usually also find volunteer or internship opportunities to add to your resume at your local YMCA.

What Is The Cost For Students? 

We contacted 5 different YMCA locations in MN, MA, NC, and IL. All of the ones we contacted, except for the club in Elizabeth City, NC offer student discounts at $39/month. The Elizabeth City location offers student memberships, but it depends on your school.

If you’re a teen, you can find memberships for teens in Central Kentucky for $26/month. 

What Are The Gym Benefits For Students? 

• Students can access all of the YMCA gym facilities, including the resistance training area, the pool, the sports courts, and group classes

• You have the option to pay monthly or for a year upfront

• Some locations have virtual memberships, so you can sign up at the club closest to your home and take advantage of virtual fitness classes and other virtual resources when you’re at school.

What Do You Need To Know Before Purchasing A Membership? 

• Student memberships are for young adults under 29 years of age 

• You may be charged a joining fee of up to $50 when you first sign up for a membership plan

• Some clubs offer free trial passes for one, three, seven, or 14 days

• If you’re a commuter student, it may be worth it to ask your parents and/or siblings to join with you. Your entire family may be able to join the YMCA for a reasonable price since it also offers family plans.

For more gyms with pools, check out the full list. I also compared the YMCA against top gyms, including Life Time Fitness, LA Fitness, and Anytime Fitness.

5. World Gym: Cheap Short-Term Memberships

World Gym doesn’t offer student discounts or free memberships, but the memberships are affordable. Plus, the gym is top-notch. 

It’s similar to Gold’s Gym in that it has a reputation for being a bodybuilding gym, but you can do so much more than just bodybuilding there. It has group classes, cardio machines, strength machines, and a huge selection of free weights.

With a supportive and friendly atmosphere, it’s an ideal place to start your fitness journey.

What Is The Cost For Students? 

We had some trouble getting in contact with most of the World Gym locations that we called. However, I wouldn’t let that deter you from considering a membership there because it has one of the best atmospheres I’ve encountered in a chain gym.

One location we were able to get in touch with was in Oxnard, CA, doesn’t offer any student discounts, but it does have affordable memberships that start at just $14/month. 

If you’re in Quebec, the World Gym offers student memberships without enrollment fees, saving you $69.99.

Other gym locations, like the Pawling, NY location, also offer affordable one-month and three-month memberships for $39 and $117, respectively, with no enrollment or annual fees. These plans are also suitable for college students who may only be living at home for a few weeks at a time.

Note that these prices may vary depending on which club you’re attending. I also recommend visiting a World Gym in person, as you may be able to negotiate a discount with management.

What Are The Gym Benefits For Students? 

• World Gym is open 24 hours a day, so you can easily squeeze your workouts around your class schedule.

• Many clubs offer gym memberships starting at around $14-19/month. Others are closer to $24/month. The pricing may vary depending on your specific location.

• There are no enrollment or annual fees at some clubs. Other clubs have a $59 – $99 enrollment, $25 annual fee, and $10 key tag fee. 

What Do You Need To Know Before Purchasing A Membership? 

• You may have to show your student ID as proof to get a student discount on your membership.

• Some World Gym locations require you to pay around $20 for an access card.

• Most World Gym memberships don’t enable you access to multiple locations.

I also compared World Gym against similar gyms, such as Planet Fitness and Gold's Gym.

6. Anytime Fitness: Cheap No-Fee Memberships

Anytime Fitness offers student memberships for $35 – $49/month without enrollment fees. However, you won’t find them at every location. It’s worth checking your local gym, though, because these gyms are everywhere. 

It’s one of the largest gym franchises not just in the US but throughout the entire world. It has more than 4,000 locations in 50 countries, and you can use your membership at any location.

This makes it a good gym to consider if you plan on studying abroad since it’s likely that you’ll be able to find an Anytime Fitness Club near a university in your chosen country.

What Is The Cost For Students? 

Many, but not all, Anytime Fitness locations offer discounted prices for students. Some clubs offer a discounted flat fee for students, while others offer a percentage off their usual monthly membership prices.

For example, at the Alameda, CA, location, a student membership costs $49/month with no enrollment fees. Other locations offer a flat fee of $35/month for students.

One location that we called in Philadelphia, PA, and another location that we called in Montclair, NJ, both told us that they do offer student discounts, but it depends on which school you go to.

On the other hand, we also contacted clubs in Albany, OR, and Winter Haven, FL, who told us they don’t offer student discounts at all. If you want to sign up for a regular membership, you may have to pay around $29.50 plus taxes every two weeks for an annual plan or $27.50/month for a 24-month plan. This will differ slightly at each location, so double-check with your local club.

What Are The Gym Benefits For Students? 

• There are no enrollment fees for student memberships at some locations that offer them

• Students can access all of the machinery, free weights, and personal training equipment in the club

• Anytime Fitness offers free seven-day trials so you can try the gym out before joining on a student membership 

What Do You Need To Know Before Purchasing A Membership? 

• Student memberships may cost more during the first month, after which point the price decreases. For example, the Alameda student membership costs $89 for the first month and then decreases to $49/month thereafter.

• The discount prices vary based on location, so you will need to physically go into your local club and ask a member of staff about the memberships they offer.

• Student membership availability might depend on the school you attend 

I also compared Anytime Fitness head-to-head against other top gyms, including Planet Fitness, Gold's Gym, and LA Fitness.

Things To Consider When Purchasing A Student Gym Membership

As a college student, here are key considerations when purchasing a gym membership:

• The Option For Shorter Contracts: Look for gyms offering 3-6 month contracts or memberships for the duration of your semester, like Gold's Gym or World Gym. Avoid committing to 12-month contracts to save money during vacation times.

• Month-to-Month Contracts: Seek gyms with rolling monthly memberships that can be canceled at any time. Enjoy the freedom to cancel during holidays or busy exam periods without extra fees. While monthly fees may be slightly higher, the flexibility is worth it.

• Access To Multiple Gym Locations: Choose gyms that allow access to multiple locations with a single membership. Ideal for students who travel home during breaks or complete internships away from campus. Save on additional memberships while staying fit in different towns or cities.

Tips On Getting A Cheaper Student Gym Membership  

If your ideal gym membership is slightly out of budget, try these strategies to get a more affordable student gym membership plan:

• Negotiate The Initiation Fee: When signing up for a student membership, inquire about waiving the initiation fee, which can be as high as $100. Ask the gym if they offer students a ‘no sign-up fee' option.

• Ask If They Have Off-Peak Membership Plans: Explore off-peak memberships, typically cheaper, that limit gym access to quieter times of the day. If your class schedule aligns with off-peak hours, inquire about this cost-saving option.

• Ask If They Have Additional Discounts: Show your college ID card to check for extra student discounts beyond the standard rates. Approach the receptionist and inquire if they can further subsidize your student membership.

• Check If They Have Discounts For Multi-Person Memberships: Enquire about discounted student memberships when multiple friends sign up together. Partner with a friend who shares your fitness goals to potentially access multi-person discounts.

• Ask If They Have Free Classes For Students: Some gyms offer complimentary group class passes for students, saving on additional fees. Don't hesitate to ask the gym staff if free class options are available as part of your student membership.

• Check If They Have Free Personal Training Sessions For Students: Personal training sessions can be costly, but some gyms offer free one-on-one sessions for college students. Approach gym trainers and inquire about subsidized personal training packages tailored to students.

FAQ

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About The Author

Athina is a Biochemistry and Genetics graduate, and a qualified personal trainer with a passion for women’s health and fitness. She is passionate about helping women to learn more about the importance of the menstrual cycle and how to balance their hormones. She is the host and producer of Fertility and Freedom podcast, which covers all things women’s health and hormones.