I don't understand why you're downvoted. Many of my 2025 graduate friends are seeing this problem.

Unlimited token-based usage of Claude Code is not in the budget for many students and employees.

At the same time, companies are demanding experience with these tools.

This is stratifying the industry. I have many talented classmates that can only use free GitHub Copilot. They're likely being screened out in favour of rich classmates with $200/month Claude subs.

As a result, they'll be more likely to get low-paying jobs that don't provide access to top-tier AI tools and the effect will compound.

I think this'll be even worse as Claude phases out subsidies.

If $2000/month subscription to Claude for 4 years of university is the minimum required for a Big Tech job, this field is going to become law/finance levels of cliquey.

Nobody is talking about that because it's bad for both AI booster and skeptic narratives but it's happening.

i expect students have or will get claude access via their university, pr at a discount if they register with their university email?

students generally get specific subsidized/free tiers for all kinds of tech