A college printer needs to do three things: fit in a dorm room, print quickly when a deadline is 20 minutes away, and cost as little as possible per page over four years of assignments, papers, and readings. The wrong choice is a cheap inkjet that dries out over winter break — you come back in January and waste $30 on new cartridges for a printer that barely worked anyway.
We've reviewed dozens of printers with student use cases in mind. The best college printers for 2026 balance compact size, low running costs, and reliable connectivity. Here are our top picks, ranked for the common student scenarios.
What to Look for in a College Printer
- Compact size: Dorm desks are small. Under 15" wide is ideal.
- Wi-Fi: Printing from a laptop or phone without cables is essential.
- Low running cost: Ink/toner adds up over 4 years. Calculate cost per page, not just printer price.
- Reliability after idle periods: Inkjets can clog over breaks. Laser printers don't.
- Duplex printing: Printing double-sided saves paper and money on paper costs.
Brother HL-L2350DW
BEST OVERALL FOR STUDENTS~$119
The Brother HL-L2350DW is our top pick for college students who primarily print essays, papers, and lecture notes. At 32ppm, it prints a 10-page paper in under 30 seconds. The TN760 high-yield toner costs about $0.015/page — if you print 50 pages/week over a semester, that's about $3 in toner for the whole semester. Toner never dries out over winter or summer break. The compact body fits any dorm desk.
Who it's for: Students printing text-heavy content (papers, notes, readings) in black and white. Not for color or photos.
Pros
- 32ppm — prints papers instantly
- ~$0.015/page with TN760
- Auto duplex printing
- Toner won't dry out over break
Cons
- No color printing
- No scanner or copier
HP DeskJet 2755e
BEST BUDGET PICK~$70
If you need color printing for occasional presentations or want the lowest possible upfront cost, the HP DeskJet 2755e is the budget choice. At $70, it prints in color, scans, and copies. HP Instant Ink is available for $3–5/month if you want predictable costs. The HP Smart app makes mobile printing easy from a dorm bed.
Who it's for: Budget-conscious students who need occasional color and scan capability. Best with HP Instant Ink subscription for predictable monthly costs.
Pros
- Very affordable (~$70)
- Print, scan, copy in one device
- Color printing
- HP Smart app — great mobile UX
Cons
- HP 67XL is expensive per page (~$0.08)
- Slow — 8ppm
- Can clog over long breaks
Epson EcoTank ET-2803
BEST FOR 4-YEAR VALUE~$200
If you think about the full 4 years of college, the ET-2803's economics are compelling. The included ink lasts approximately 2 years at typical student print volumes. Replacement ink bottles cost about $48 for a full set covering thousands more pages. By junior year you're spending almost nothing on printing. No subscription, no lock-in.
Who it's for: Students who print color regularly (art, design, marketing majors) and want to eliminate cartridge costs over 4 years.
Pros
- ~$0.004/page — lowest running cost
- 2 years of ink included
- Print, scan, copy in color
- No subscription required
Cons
- $200 upfront — higher entry cost
- Slow (10ppm) — not great for deadline panic
- Can clog if unused 2+ months
Canon PIXMA MG3620
BUDGET COLOR AIO~$65
The Canon PIXMA MG3620 is the cheapest all-in-one option with solid color output. At $65, it undercuts the HP DeskJet 2755e slightly with lower per-page cartridge costs. Canon PG-245XL/CL-246XL combo costs about $0.05/page — still not great long-term, but better than HP 67XL. Canon's photo quality at this price is excellent.
Who it's for: Students who want the cheapest upfront price with color and scan capability, and don't want an HP subscription.
Pros
- Cheapest upfront (~$65)
- Lower cartridge cost than HP 67XL
- Good photo print quality
- No subscription required
Cons
- Still ~$0.05/page — not cheap long-term
- 8ppm — slow for text documents
- No automatic duplex
Our #1 Pick for Most Students
The Brother HL-L2350DW is the best college printer for 90% of students. 32ppm, $0.015/page, toner that never dries out. Buy a TN760 cartridge with it.
Check Brother HL-L2350DW Price →FAQs
What is the best printer for college in 2026?▾
For most students: Brother HL-L2350DW (~$119). It's fast (32ppm), cheap to run (~$0.015/page), compact, and toner never dries out over breaks. If you need color, the HP DeskJet 2755e (~$70) is the budget option.
Should college students get a laser or inkjet printer?▾
Laser for most students — especially if you print primarily text documents. Laser toner doesn't dry out over winter and summer breaks (a real inkjet problem). If you need color printing, get an EcoTank or budget inkjet.
Is it worth buying a printer for college?▾
Yes for most students. Library printers cost $0.10–0.20/page and require travel. A Brother HL-L2350DW pays for itself in about 600 pages vs library printing. If you print even 50 pages per month, you break even in about 2 months.
What printer doesn't dry out over summer break?▾
Any laser printer. Laser toner is powder — it doesn't dry out regardless of how long the printer sits idle. The Brother HL-L2350DW will print perfectly after 6 months unused. Inkjet printers can clog if left idle for 2+ months.
How much does a college student spend on ink per year?▾
With HP 67XL cartridges: ~$150–300/year. With Brother HL-L2350DW and TN760: ~$30–60/year. With Epson EcoTank: ~$10–20/year after the included ink runs out. The printer choice matters enormously for 4-year cost.