The 6 Best Printers For College Students - Winter 2021 Reviews

The best inkjet printer for college students that we've tested is the Brother MFC-J995DW. This all-in-one model is an outstanding option for college students while also being a smart choice for small businesses and family use. It has a sturdy build, and the ink cartridges are easily accessible from the front. It has a flatbed scanner and an automatic document feeder, which will be useful if you have to scan a large textbook.

Even if you're printing in large amounts, the cost-per-print is very affordable. The cartridge system also features Brother's INKvestment Tank ink system, meaning it'll last longer before needing replacement. It has some good connectivity options, including Wi-Fi, Ethernet for a more reliable connection, and plugging it directly to your computer via USB. Also, it's compatible with the remarkable companion app, Brother iPrint&Scan, where you can print, scan, and copy directly from your mobile device.

Unfortunately, while printed photos look great and detailed, they often come out misaligned when performing borderless printing. Also, color accuracy is mediocre and wouldn't be recommended for students in print media. Also, it lacks a Bluetooth connection and is relatively slow at printing black-only documents. That said, this is a superb option to help students save money in the long run and one of the best all-in-one printers that we've tested.

The best laser printer for students we've tested is the Canon imageCLASS MF743Cdw. This all-in-one laser model has an exceptionally high page yield for both black and color ink, which keeps its cost-per-print excellently low since you shouldn't need to replace them often. It has a wide range of connectivity options, both wired and wireless, and it also supports Apple AirPrint and Mopria Print Service.

It has great scanner features, equipped with an automatic document feeder and a flatbed scanner. The scanner lid's hinges can raise to accommodate thick items like a textbook. While the flatbed's resolution isn't as high as other options, it should still be good enough for scanning notes or pages. It has impressive color accuracy if you need to add a splash of color to a document, but it isn't recommended if you're in a program that requires exact color reproduction.

Unfortunately, although it prints color documents and photos remarkably fast, it's quite slow at printing black documents. It doesn't support Bluetooth printing, which might be annoying if this is something you value. Also, the cost of replacing all three color cartridges at once can get expensive, but at least you shouldn't need to replace them too often. Overall, this is an exceptional laser printer if you're looking for something with a remarkably high page yield.

The best printer for students we've tested in the budget category is the Canon PIXMA TR7520. It's a fairly compact, all-in-one inkjet model that should fit well in tight spaces, like a dorm room or on a small desk. It has a high-resolution scanner that's great for scanning notes and pages from a textbook, and it also has an automatic document feeder to quickly process multiple pages at once.

It has great connectivity options, letting you print via USB cable, Wi-Fi, and Bluetooth, and through its Apple AirPrint and Mopria Print Service support. Produced photos look great, with well-defined, deep, and reasonably-accurate colors. It has a great cost-per-print, and there are high-yield versions of the cartridges that are expected to last even longer and save you more money in the long run, but we don't test for this.

Unfortunately, the black page yield is poor, so you may need to replace the cartridge often, especially if you print a lot. While it prints photos very quickly, it's quite slow at printing black-only and color documents. Also, it can't print directly off a USB thumb drive or SD card. That said, this is still a great printer for students if you're on a budget but still need a model that is packed with features.