If you're a college student looking for a printer, there are plenty of excellent options, whether you need one for essays, readings, creative projects, or the occasional photo. The best choice depends on how often you print, what you print, and how much you're willing to spend over the long term.
When choosing a printer for college, consider:
- What you print: If you mostly print assignments and notes, prioritize sharp text, fast print speeds, and low running costs. If you also print photos or presentations, look for strong color print quality.
- Ink or toner costs: A low purchase price doesn't always mean low ownership costs. We test ink and toner yields and cost-per-print to help you understand long-term value.
- How often you print: Inkjet printers generally produce better color prints but can clog if left unused for long periods. Laser printers are often a better choice for occasional document printing.
- Size and connectivity: Dorm rooms and apartments often have limited space, so a compact design and reliable Wi-Fi or mobile printing support can make a big difference.
- Scanner features: If you need to scan handwritten notes, forms, or assignments, an all-in-one printer with a scanner is the most versatile option.
We've bought and tested over 180 printers, and below are the best printers for college students you can buy. You can also check out our recommendations for the best printers for Chromebook or the best printers for Mac, and if you're on a tight budget, the best cheap and budget printers and best printers under $100 lists.
We've tested over 170 printers since 2020 with one goal in mind: to give you reliable, unbiased reviews that help you choose the right printer for your needs. To keep things fair, we purchase every product ourselves from major retailers, just like you would. Each printer then goes through a thorough, standardized testing process that evaluates all the key factors you should consider when buying a new model. From build quality and cost per print to color accuracy and overall performance, we provide as much detail as possible to guide your decision.
Want to learn more about our methods? Look at our How We Test Printers article for a deep dive into our testing procedures.
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Best Printer For College Students
Estimated Black Page YieldprintsEstimated Color Page YieldprintsBlack-Only Printing CostUS$/printColor Printing CostUS$/printHomeSmall OfficeSet-And-ForgetArts, Crafts, & StickersPhoto PrintingPage YieldScanningClogging ResistanceSee all our test resultsSizeThe Epson EcoTank ET-3950 is the best printer for students with large printing needs that we've tested. It offers extremely high page yields and low running costs. This model uses refillable ink tanks. The ink is affordable and lasts for thousands of pages, making the ET-3950 ideal for frequent high-volume print jobs. It includes USB, Wi-Fi, and Ethernet connections, along with Apple AirPrint and Mopria Print Service support, which makes printing from different devices easy. This all-in-one printer also includes a feature-rich scanner. Its automatic document feeder supports both duplex printing and scanning, which helps when processing multi-page documents. The printer isn't the quickest, however. It's relatively slow to wake up from idle, and its scanner can only scan about four pages per minute.
The print quality is great. The printer produces very crisp black-and-white documents and good color prints, although the colors may look slightly muted. If you want to print the occasional photo, the output is sharp and vibrant, even if color accuracy still falls short of professional standards. Scanning results are acceptable, though they can be a bit overexposed. You should also make sure to use the printer regularly. Since it's an inkjet printer, it may clog if left unused for extended periods.
If you'd rather avoid clogging issues altogether, consider a laser printer instead, especially if you don't print photos. The Canon Color imageCLASS MF665Cdw is an outstanding option. Although it's a bit large and can't print photos, it's quick, prints documents exceptionally sharp, and delivers remarkable page yields.
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Best Mid-Range Printer For College Students
Estimated Black Page YieldprintsEstimated Color Page YieldprintsBlack-Only Printing CostUS$/printColor Printing CostUS$/printHomeSmall OfficeSet-And-ForgetArts, Crafts, & StickersPhoto PrintingPage YieldScanningClogging ResistanceSee all our test resultsSizeThe Epson EcoTank ET-2980 is a fantastic option if you want to keep your cost-per-print as low as possible and don't need an automatic document feeder. It's very similar to our top pick, minus the automatic document feeder. It connects via USB and Wi-Fi and supports Mopria and Apple AirPrint, so pretty much anyone in your home can connect without hassle. Long-term costs are where this printer really shines. The supertank ink system uses affordable bottles that last for thousands of pages, so you won't need to replace cartridges often. Print quality is solid too, with sharp black-and-white text and vibrant color output. Photos come out detailed and vibrant, and while color accuracy isn't perfect, the results are more than good enough for casual at-home printing.
The scanner is the weak spot. It tends to overprocess images, which can strip away watermarks and fine details, such as thin graph lines. If you don't print as often and want a printer with an automatic document feeder, the HP OfficeJet Pro 9125e is a great alternative. It can often be found for cheaper and presents an excellent overall package thanks to excellent print quality, great yields, and a feature-rich scanner that even includes automatic duplex scanning.
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Best Budget Printer For College Students
Estimated Black Page YieldprintsEstimated Color Page YieldprintsBlack-Only Printing CostUS$/printColor Printing CostUS$/printHomeSmall OfficeSet-And-ForgetArts, Crafts, & StickersPhoto PrintingPage YieldScanningClogging ResistanceSee all our test resultsSizeIf your print-load isn't as high, and you're looking for the best budget printer for college students, all-in-one-printer the Brother MFC-J1360DW is an excellent option. It handles a wide range of tasks well, producing sharp documents and surprisingly good-looking photos for the price, even if its color range isn't as wide as the Epson models above. It also includes a flatbed scanner with an automatic document feeder that delivers detailed scans at up to 7 pages per minute.
Its biggest drawback is its page yield. The standard cartridges last for about 400 black and 300 color pages, though high-yield cartridges can roughly double those numbers. If you expect to print more often, consider the Brother MFC-J1365DW instead. It's part of Brother's INKvestment line and uses LC504 cartridges rated for up to 1,200 black and 500 color pages.
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Best Cheap Printer For College Students
Estimated Black Page YieldprintsEstimated Color Page YieldprintsBlack-Only Printing CostUS$/printColor Printing CostUS$/printHomeSmall OfficeSet-And-ForgetArts, Crafts, & StickersPhoto PrintingPage YieldScanningClogging ResistanceSee all our test resultsSizeIf you need to spend as little as possible, the Canon PIXMA MG3620 is your best choice. This printer is only a good option for a low print load. Otherwise, if you have a heavier print load, you're better off with the more expensive Brother MFC-J1205W because you'll likely save money in the long run. Or, if you only print once in a blue moon, consider using a laser printer. Check out our pick for the best budget laser printer, the Brother HL-L2460DW.
As for the Canon, its build quality isn't as sturdy, as it's made from cheap plastic and lacks some nice-to-have features like an automatic document feeder. But it does what it's supposed to do and prints good-quality documents and photos. It's also a little slow, pushing just nine black and three color pages per minute. The main drawback of a cheap model like this is its low page yield, high maintenance requirements, and potentially high ownership costs. If you print frequently or in high volume, you'll have to replace the ink cartridges often, and since it uses a tri-color cartridge, you'll have to replace the entire cartridge even if just a single color runs out. The cartridges aren't expensive, but your maintenance cost will still add up quickly if you print a lot.
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Best Laser Printer For College Students
Estimated Black Page YieldprintsEstimated Color Page YieldN/ABlack-Only Printing CostUS$/printColor Printing CostN/AHomeSmall OfficeSet-And-ForgetArts, Crafts, & StickersPhoto PrintingPage YieldScanningClogging ResistanceSee all our test resultsSizeIf you only need to print black-and-white documents but still want the features of an all-in-one model, get the Brother MFC-L2820DW. This all-in-one laser model also features an ADF that scans up to seven pages a minute; while scans look a bit faint, they're exceptionally clear and detailed. Print quality is also outstanding, and the prints come out at an amazing pace, up to 33 pages per minute. It's easily accessible from a wide variety of devices, as you can connect to it via Wi-Fi, USB, and Ethernet, and use the Brother companion app for more functionality.
Its page yield is good at around 1,300 prints, and you can get a high-yield XL cartridge that'll last even longer. The drum is a separate unit you'll have to spend extra to replace, although it's usually good for about 15,000 prints, so you won't need to change it too often. There are other variants with more features. For example, the Brother MFC-L2880DW has duplex scanning, single tap NFC support, and prints a little faster at 36 pages per minute. The issue is that this model can be hard to find in North America. See our review for more details about variants.
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Best Budget Laser Printer For College Students
Estimated Black Page YieldprintsEstimated Color Page YieldN/ABlack-Only Printing CostUS$/printColor Printing CostN/AHomeSmall OfficeSet-And-ForgetArts, Crafts, & StickersPhoto PrintingPage YieldScanningClogging ResistanceSee all our test resultsSizeIf you only need to print the occasional document or return label, consider our budget laser pick, the Brother HL-L2460DW. This print-only model feels well-built and sports all the common connectivity options like USB, Wi-Fi, Wi-Fi Direct, and Ethernet. It prints quickly at up to 34 pages per minute, supports automatic duplex printing, and costs little to maintain, thanks to its high page yield and cheap replacement toner. It's also fairly compact and fits nicely into a dorm room or small office space. The main drawback regarding features is the lack of a scanner, so you must be sure you won't need to scan anything when choosing this model.
There's one important difference between this version and previous-generation Brother printers at this price point: the out-of-the-box printing quality isn't what you would expect from a Brother laser printer. However, you can still produce sharp-looking documents by changing the printer's settings; it just takes some work. Check out our full review if you want to learn more about this. Finally, there are cheaper variants if you want to save money, like the Brother HL-L2400D, which prints marginally slower at 32 pages a minute and only offers USB connectivity.
Notable Mentions
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Canon PIXMA TR8620a:
For anyone who mainly prints photos, the Canon PIXMA TR8620a is a good mid-range alternative to the Brother MFC-J1360DW. It produces higher-quality pictures with a wider range of colors and better accuracy; however, it's slightly more expensive, and its ink cartridges yield far fewer prints, only around 200 black and 300 color prints.
See our review
Recent Updates
Jul 17, 2026:
We've reviewed this article and replaced the Brother MFC-J1205 with the Brother MFC-J1360DW as our budget pick. We've also rewritten the introduction and made other minor changes to help make it easier to make a buying decision.
Mar 06, 2026:
We replaced the discontinued mid-range Brother MFC-J4335DW with the Epson EcoTank ET-2980 and added the HP OfficeJet Pro 9125e as an alternative. We removed the discontinued Canon Color imageCLASS MF656Cdw from the Notable Mentions and added its successor as an alternative to our main pick.
Oct 28, 2025:
Replaced the HP OfficeJet Pro 9135e with the Epson EcoTank ET-3950 as the top printer for college students. It provides better yields and better print quality.
Jan 30, 2025:
We removed the Epson EcoTank ET-3850 as a special mention for teachers to focus our recommendations. We also made small edits for clarity throughout.
Nov 04, 2024:
We've verified our recommendations are available and represent the best choices. We've also made small edits for clarity.
All Reviews
Our recommendations above are what we think are the best printers for students. In addition to the test results, we factor in the price, feedback from our visitors, and availability.
If you would like to do the work of choosing yourself, here's the list of all our printer reviews. Be careful not to get too caught up in the details. While no printer is perfect for every use, most are good enough to please almost everyone, and the differences are often not noticeable unless you really look for them.