College students are reacting to a recent Netflix price increase, saying rising subscription costs are adding financial pressure and forcing them to reconsider the value of streaming services in their daily lives.
The company announced on March 26, 2026, that it would raise subscription prices across all plans. The latest increase is not the first time Netflix has adjusted its pricing. The Standard with Ads plan rose $1 to $8.99 per month, while the ad-free Standard and Premium plans increased by $2 to $19.99 and $26.99 per month. Company officials said the price hikes support increased investments in live events and more content that will be on the platform.
The changes come as many college students are already managing tight budgets that include tuition, housing, food, and transportation costs. Some students say entertainment subscriptions are becoming harder to justify as costs rise across multiple platforms.
Love Dawkins, a second-year biology premedicine scholar at Florida A&M University, said she uses Netflix but does not agree with the price increase. She said she already subscribes to other streaming platforms that she believes offer better value.
“I don’t agree with that,” Dawkins said. “I am subscribed to other streaming services that I feel offer more and are way cheaper than Netflix.”
Dawkins said she compares platforms when deciding what to keep and said Netflix does not stand out enough to justify higher costs. She also criticized the platform’s changing content library.
“They are constantly removing different movies and shows,” she said. “It is very inconsistent.”
She said that frequent removals make it difficult to see the long-term value of the subscription. While she still uses Netflix, she said she often weighs it against other services that cost less and feel more stable.
Dawkins said she has enjoyed specific titles, including 10 Ways to Lose a Guy, but said individual shows are not enough to offset broader concerns about pricing and content availability.
Another student, Kareen Jermaine, a third-year health science general scholar, also said she disagrees with the increase. She said streaming services were originally designed as a cheaper alternative to cable television, but no longer feel that way.
“To me, streaming services were supposed to be a cheaper alternative to cable,” Jermaine said. “Now it is at the point where it is almost the same price as cable, and you are getting less.”
Jermaine said she primarily watches documentary series on Netflix and still finds some value in its content. However, she said the current pricing does not match what is offered.
“I do watch a lot of their docu-series,” she said. “But I do not think it is enough to bump it up.”
Jermaine said she does not personally pay for the subscription, but said continued price increases could influence whether her family keeps the service. She added that any decision to cancel would likely depend on household budgeting discussions.
Zoe Moore, a first-year pre-physical therapy student, also said she does not agree with the price increase. She questioned both the platform’s content quality and recent policy changes.
“I think Netflix honestly should not raise their prices,” Moore said. “They have a lot of stuff, but the quality is not that good, especially what they put out themselves.”
Moore also pointed to changes in account-sharing rules, saying they have made access more restrictive.
“They are raising prices but also stopping people from being able to watch in different places,” she said.
Moore said she still uses Netflix and watches select shows, including His and Hers. However, she said rising costs and restrictions could have a broader impact on college students who already have limited income.
“People in college do not always have a lot of money or time to work,” Moore said. “So it is making it more inaccessible for everybody.”
She said that as prices continue to rise, students may be forced to prioritize essential expenses over entertainment subscriptions.
As streaming platforms adjust their pricing models, students interviewed said they are increasingly weighing whether convenience and access to content are worth the rising cost.
