OpenAI Makes ChatGPT Free for Millions of North American College Students

OpenAI is making its premium AI service, ChatGPT Plus, available at no cost to college students across the U.S. and Canada for a limited time, the company announced this week.

Eligible students at degree-granting institutions can access ChatGPT Plus for free between March 31 and May 31, 2025. The subscription will remain active for two months from the date of claim.

OpenAI’s website promotes the service as “there to help you through the finals” through assisting with research, content summarization, brainstorming, and writing and editing support.

It comes a day after rival Anthropic announced a student-focused initiative for Claude.

Both companies have rolled out for students amid a broader and ongoing debate over the role of generative AI in education. 

Educators and researchers have expressed concern that students are using tools like ChatGPT to complete assignments without engaging deeply with the material, raising issues of academic integrity and skills development.

In an interview with Axios, one high school teacher said students were using the technology to “outsource their thinking” and “cheat.”

A study conducted by Microsoft earlier this year found that while generative AI can enhance productivity, it may also lead to reduced critical engagement and long-term overreliance, ultimately affecting users’ independent problem-solving abilities.

OpenAI itself has acknowledged the growing role of ChatGPT in academia. In February, the company reported that one-third of U.S. college-aged users use the platform, with about 25% of messages related to learning and schoolwork.

A 2024 academic study found increasing use of ChatGPT for completing assignments, especially among non-native English speakers and older students.

It urged institutions to adopt clear policies and targeted training to ensure responsible and effective use of generative AI in academic settings. 

“The integration of generative AI in education should be conducted in a thoughtful manner, acknowledging the benefits as well as its limits while examining its impact on existing societal structures,” it said.

Edited by Sebastian Sinclair