There's no way around it: Penn is expensive. But there are still a few discounts and perks you receive simply by being a Penn student — and many of them are easy to miss. Here are some of the ways you can get the most out of your PennCard over the next four years.
Publications
As a research institution, the University grants students access to a range of major news sources and publications.
Penn Libraries provides free subscriptions to The New York Times, The Washington Post, The Wall Street Journal, Bloomberg, Financial Times, and most recently, The Atlantic. Most of these subscriptions only require website registration using a student PennKey.
Technology
Penn students also receive discounts on technology from major computer manufacturers Apple, Dell, and Lenovo. Penn Business Services provides instructions on how to access these educational discounts, which range from a 10% coupon on all Dell products to a personalized selection of Lenovo programs aimed to meet the specific needs of Penn students, faculty, and staff.
Transportation
Getting around — and off — campus is easy as a Penn student.
Look Through University City — or LUCY — is a shuttle operated by SEPTA that makes multiple stops between campus and William H. Gray III 30th Street Station. The shuttle runs every 5 to 30 minutes from 6:10 a.m. to 7 p.m., Monday through Friday, and is free to students who present their PennCards.
Amtrak offers a national student discount of 15% on all ride purchases made one day in advance. Students can apply the discount by visiting Amtrak's deal webpage and entering the code "V814" when booking their trip.
Finally, full-time students at Penn are eligible for a 25% New Jersey Transit discount. New Jersey Transit buses and trains both leave from 30th Street Station, located just a a 15-minute walk from the edge of campus.
Penn students and faculty are also allowed to use the Drexel Bus service — which routes around Drexel’s three campuses — at no charge with a valid PennCard.
Entertainment
All students living in on-campus housing have access to Xfinity digital streaming services. By logging into XFINITY on Campus with their PennKey, students can watch 291 channels including CSPAN, ESPN, and The Discovery Channel. The service does not include free access to premium channels such as HBO.
Students have several options for viewing movies. Penn Video runs a free, on-demand movie streaming service for all students, faculty, and staff. Penn Libraries also provides PennKey access to streaming services such as Kanopy and Docuseek, which contain a wide range of films, documentaries, and oral histories.
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