Wired headphones are a thing of the past, and we all have to make our peace with them. Ever since Apple released the iPhone 7 without a headphone jack, almost all major brands have followed suit. What was once a basic offering by virtually every smartphone maker is now considered a feature and can only be found in mid-range phones, oddly enough.

However, you have to admit that wireless headphones do provide a level of convenience that just isn’t possible with wires dangling from your ears. Moreover, wireless headphones have come a long way since their hay day, and you can get quality stuff with excellent noise cancelling for less than $100.

This article is especially geared towards college students who are on a budget and can’t spend $500 on the Sennheisers and AKGs of the music world. However, the good thing about today’s market is that cheaper headphones aren’t half bad. And by cheap, I mean the $50-$100 range because anything lower and you are likely to run into quality problems.

Anyway, here is a list of the 10 best noise-cancelling headphones for college students.

10. Monoprice BT-600ANC Bluetooth Over Ear Headphones

The Monoprice BT-600ANC don’t have any fancy logos or markings, but they do a great job at delivering decent sound and ANC at a reasonable price. They come equipped with 40mm drivers that deliver a punchy sound. Coupled with the amazing noise-cancelling, you won’t hear much from the outside.

Moreover, they also have a beefy 40-hour battery and can be folded for easy carrying. Also, they have aptX support for a hi-res no-lag listening experience.

Key Features:

• 40mm drivers with plenty of bass
• 35dB noise reduction
• 40-hour battery time
• Foldable for easy carry

Get it from here.

9.  Cystereo Active Noise Cancelling Headphones

These Cystero headphones are an excellent bang for buck option. Not only do they sound phenomenal for their price but they also look sleek with black and gold contrast. In addition, the noise-cancelling on these is awesome considering the price, and you can expect a 40dB noise reduction when activated.

Moreover, the battery timing is ample too at 40H, not to mention the aptX support for hi-res audio. The 40mm drivers on-board mean you get nice and deep lows while still hearing the vocals.

Key Features:

• Noise reduction upto 40dB
• Aptx support for hi-res audio
• 40H playback time with noise-cancelling activated
• A 10-minute charge can provide 8-hour playback

Get it from here.

8. Anker Soundcore Life Q20

The SoundCore brand has absolutely dominated the budget headphone market. This Soundocre Q20 is one of the highest-selling pair in its price range, providing excellent noise cancellation in both wired and wireless modes. That’s right, what makes these so special is that you can use them wired if you run out of battery.

Speaking of which, the battery lasts up to 40 hours with ANC activated. As for the sound quality, these provide punchy bass and decent trebles, making them ideal for working out or casual use.

Key Features:

• 40 Hours playback time
• Can be used wired or wireless
• Excellent noise cancelling
• A 5-minute quick charge enables 4 hours of listening time

Get it from here.

7. Tribit QuietPlus Active Noise Cancelling Headphones

I’ll be honest, these are considered a knock off from the more expensive Bose headphones but don’t let that scare you. As far as performance is concerned, they do incredibly well. You are looking at 400mm drivers that deliver dynamic sound with 35dB noise reduction thanks to the ANC.

Moreover, you also get a 36-hour battery with ANC turned on, not to mention that you can use these wired too, which is a plus. For the price, you cannot go wrong with these especially if comfort is a big concern of yours.

Key Features:

• 35dB noise reduction
• 36 Hour battery
• Comfortable fit and non-fatigue earcups
• Wired and wireless

Get it from here.  

6. Skullcandy Hesh ANC Wireless Noise Cancelling Headphones

SkullCandy headphones have a long history of providing flashy and stylish music gear. However, these headphones are in contrast to their usual style. The minimalist black finish with a faint logo is all you get. However, as far as sound and ANC is concerned, these do a good enough job.

The 40mm drivers provide a nice rich sound with a slight emphasis on bass. The ANC is capable of blocking all outside noise that you would normally encounter. The battery, however is on the lower side at 22 hours with a 10-minute quick charge providing 3 hours of playback time.

Key Features:

• 40mm drivers with rich sound
• 28 hour playback with quick charge capability
• Decent ANC
• Foldable design and comes with a case

Get it from here.

5. TREBLAB Z2

If you are going to buy a pair for workout specifically then get these. The Treblab Z2 are a phenomenal option that are made for high-intensity workouts. You don’t have to worry about water damage as they are rated for IPX4.

Moreover, the battery timing is ample with a 35H playback time, and you can charge these all the way in just 3 hours.

Also, the ANC on these is quite good, and you can expect to block out loud noises at the gym. They also have Bluetooth 5.0 support with aptX codec for hi-res listening experience.

Key Features:

• 35-hour playback time
• IPX4 Water resistant
• Bluetooth 5.0 with aptX codec
• Can be used either wired or wireless

Get it from here.

4. Panasonic Retro Noise Cancelling Bluetooth Wireless Headphone

A college student can also use some style along with great sound. These Panasonic headphones are aptly named retro as they do have that “old-school” look. However, they also perform quite well thanks to active noise cancelling and 40mm drivers.

Moreover, they are very comfortable to wear thanks to soft earcups and low clamping force. The only downside is the battery which is considerably lower than other offerings at 24 hours. However, if you can look past that, these are well worth the 60 bucks.

Key Features:

• Active noise cancelling
• 40mm drivers with ample bass
• Retro look
• Voice assist capability

Get it from here.

3. Anker Soundcore Life Q30

Remember the Q20s from above? Well, these are the same thing but only much better. The Q30 by Anker are one of a kind when it comes to high-quality budget headphones. For starters, you get an enormous 40H battery coupled with quick charging, which gives you 4H listening time on a 5-minute charge.

As for the sound, you can expect a well-balanced experience with a slight emphasis on bass. Moreover, they also have ANC with three different modes for different scenarios.

Key Features:

• 40mm drivers with a clear and punchy sound
• Excellent ANC with three presets
• 40H playback
• Ultra-soft leather earcups for maximum comfort

Get it from here.

2. Audio-Technica ATH-SR50BT

You might have heard of Audio-Technica before as they are one of the more premium headphone brands. While they have many expensive products, these wireless headphones are reasonably priced.

These headphones feature 45mm drivers, which are rarely seen at this price point. The bigger drivers mean you get a more fuller and well-rounded sound without harsh tones. Moreover, the ANC on these is quite capable, and you can expect to block out most outside noise.

As a bonus, these have a 3.5mm jack which means they can be used both wired and wireless. As for the battery timing, you can expect around 28-hour playback.

Key Features:

• Big 45mm drivers that deliver a fuller sound
• Touch-sensitive controls
• Soft memory earcups provide great comfort
• It can be used wired or wireless

Get it from here.

1. Sony Noise Cancelling Headphones

I could just write that if you have 100 bucks to spare, buy these, and that would be enough. Yes, that’s how good they are, and I am sure the name Sony already gave that away. Normally these go for around 200 bucks, but currently, on Amazon, they are half the price. You cannot do better than this. Trust me.

Not only would you get the highest quality at this price point, the sound is unbeatable. These have some of the best ANC of any headphones at this price point. Moreover, they are also incredible for their comfort and lightweight, which are a must if you are going to use them for longer periods. Also, the battery provides 35 hours of playback and quick charging capability.

Key Features:

• 35-hour battery life with quick charge
• Excellent noise-cancellation
• Ultra-comfortable
• Voice assistant feature

Get it from here.