The 6 Best Printers For College Students - Spring 2024 Reviews

The best printer for students we've tested is the HP OfficeJet Pro 9135e. This all-in-one inkjet model has nearly everything you would need to get through your college years. It has Wi-Fi, USB, and Ethernet connectivity, as well as support for Apple AirPrint and Mopria Print Service, so you can easily connect to the printer on various devices and start printing right away. The scanner produces decent scans, and there's an automatic document feeder to process long, multi-page documents. Scanning via the ADF is a little slow, though, as it can only process up to six pages per minute. The scanner's lid hinges are extendable, making it easier to close the lid over thicker items like textbooks.

Printing-wise, this model produces amazingly sharp documents. It prints quickly at up to 23 black or 15 color pages per minute and supports automatic double-sided printing. With a paper capacity of 500 sheets, you likely won't need to refill the input tray unless you have a large print load. This printer yields a large number of prints, and the ink cartridges are relatively cheap, so you won't have to spend much on replacement ink. It also comes with three months of ink via HP's ink replenishment service; however, if you accept the offer, you can't use cheaper third-party ink in the future. Also, the printer must remain connected to the internet to function.

If you're a teacher and need to print in bulk for your students, get the Epson EcoTank ET-3850 instead, the best printer for teachers we've tested. Its ink tank yields significantly more prints (over five times more), and its replacement ink is inexpensive, making it easier and cheaper to maintain. However, there are a couple of tradeoffs, like its slower printing speeds and the lack of duplex scanning. It's also more expensive upfront.

If you have simpler needs and want a more modest mid-range model, the Brother MFC-J4335DW is one of the best printers for students we've tested. It produces nice documents and photos, doesn't take long to wake from sleep, and prints quickly at 17 black or 15 color pages per minute. Its cost of ownership is very low, as it yields a large number of prints, and replacement cartridges aren't expensive. The scanner has extendable lid hinges and processes up to 20 pages per minute through the feeder; however, it doesn't support automatic double-sided scanning.

Connectivity options include Wi-Fi and USB, and support for Apple AirPrint and Mopria Print Service is present. It works with Brother's Mobile Connect app, which you can use to print, scan, copy, and perform maintenance tasks from your smartphone. This model's input tray holds 150 sheets of paper, which is likely big enough that you wouldn't need to refill it regularly. If you have a larger print load, you can get the slightly more costly Brother MFC-L4535DW variant, which has an additional 250-sheet tray for a total capacity of 400 sheets. It also has a larger control panel and more connectivity options, including an Ethernet port and NFC support.

For those on a limited budget, go with the Brother MFC-J1205W, also sold as the Brother MFC-J1215W at Walmart. Its compact size is perfect for tight spaces, and the printer feels impressively well-built. It has a high-resolution flatbed scanner to digitize notes and course packs, USB and Wi-Fi connectivity, and it's compatible with the Brother Mobile Connect app, which you can use to perform maintenance tasks and order supplies from your mobile device.

You can print over 1000 black or 750 color pages before the ink cartridges run low, and the cartridges are cheap, so the maintenance costs remain low even if you print a lot. It prints up to nine black or six color pages per minute, which is a little slow, so you may be waiting around a while if you print long research articles or papers. That said, it's still a fantastic choice if you're looking for a budget-friendly printer.

If you need something cheap that can get the job done for those occasional projects, get the Canon PIXMA MG3620. It isn't sturdy and lacks an automatic feeder, but it prints good-quality documents and photos. The main drawback of a cheap model like this is its low page yield. It only yields about 200 black or color prints, meaning you'll have to replace them 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. This printer is only a good option if you print occasionally. Otherwise, you're better off with the slightly more expensive Brother MFC-J1205W because you'll likely save money in the long run.

If you only need to print black and white documents, get the Brother MFC-L2750DW, one of the best printers for teachers and college students we've tested. It has Wi-Fi, USB, and Ethernet connectivity and supports Apple AirPrint and Mopria Print Service. The scanner produces amazingly detailed scans and can process multi-page and double-sided documents quickly through its feeder. Print quality is outstanding, and the prints come out at an amazing pace, up to 36 pages per minute.

The standard-format toner cartridge yields around 2000 prints, and XL-format cartridges are available to further increase the yield. You need to replace the drum separately, but you likely won't need to do it often, as it's usually good for about 12,000 prints. Cheaper variants exist, like the Brother MFC-L2710DW, which lacks duplex scanning and prints a little slower at 32 pages per minute. See our full review for more details.

Our budget monochrome pick is the Brother HL-L2350DW, a variant of the Brother HL-L2325DW we tested. The HL-L2325DW variant is also a good option; it's just hard to find at most retailers. Like the pricier Brother MFC-L2750DW, this monochrome laser model produces sharp documents, but it's a print-only unit with no scanner. It still feels very well-built despite its low price, and thanks to its high page yield, you won't need to spend too much to maintain it.

The HL-L2325DW has the usual Wi-Fi and USB connectivity and is compatible with Brother's mobile companion app, which you can use to print or perform maintenance tasks from your smartphone. Overall, it's a good printer that you can get for cheap; you just need to make sure you won't need to scan anything in the future.