Academic Eligibility Requirements
To purchase an Educational license, proof of academic eligibility is required. The student/teacher’s name in the document presented must match the order name. Acceptance is at the sole discretion of McNeel, based on the criteria below.
Students
If you are a current part-time or full-time* student at a middle school, secondary school, college, university, or career state-accredited school**, or are schooled at home as defined by local regulations detailed on the HSLDA State Laws webpage, you are eligible to purchase a single‑user educational license as long as you meet one of the following eligibility requirements and can provide proof of eligibility.
- A valid .edu email address issued by your institution (i.e., student@university.edu)
- A copy of a student ID card that includes 1) the student’s full name, 2) the school’s name, and 3) is dated within the last three months (from date of purchase). An ID that does not include all three requirements is not sufficient, and will require additional documentation that includes this information.
- A copy of a tuition statement or course bill that includes the school’s logo or seal, your name, and the current date/academic term
- An official letter from the registrar of the school, including your name, the school name, and the current date/academic term
- A copy of a student schedule including student name, the school name, and the current date/academic term
- A copy of a grade report statement or transcript including your name, the school name, and the current date/academic term
- Screen captures from school websites may be accepted in lieu of official documentation if your name, school name, and valid date are clearly visible (acceptance is at the sole discretion of McNeel)
*Students must at minimum be enrolled in a 1+ year program, or take at least 6 credit hours per semester (part-time amount of credit hours), whether that be at two-year and four-year colleges, high schools, trade schools, and graduate programs.
**A single paid course taken at a state-accredited school or institution is equal to 3 credit hours.
Faculty/Staff
Teachers, faculty, and staff must show evidence of current employment at a government-recognized public or private primary or secondary school, local education authority, public or private university or college, or career-state accredited school, by providing one of the following:
- A valid email address issued by your institution (i.e., faculty@university.edu)
- A copy of your teacher/faculty ID card that includes 1) the faculty/staff’s full name, 2) the school’s name, and 3) is dated within the last three months (from date of purchase). An ID that does not include all three requirements is not sufficient, and will require additional documentation that includes this information.
- A copy of a faculty or staff paycheck stub that includes your (the employee’s) name and employer (school) name
- An employer’s written confirmation on school letterhead or certificate of employment
- Your current course schedule dated for the current school term
Schools
Any government accredited school can order single‑user educational licenses or lab licenses on a school purchase order or procurement card. You must show evidence of current employment at a government-recognized public or private primary or secondary school, local education authority, public or private university or college, for-profit career/vocational school that grants degrees, or school for instrumental instruction/tuition by providing one of the following:
- A valid email address issued by your institution (i.e., faculty@university.edu)
- Written confirmation on school letterhead naming the school and the individual completing the verification.
- School’s tax exemption certificate
- Faculty/staff pay stub from the current school term. You may redact any sensitive information.
Please note that Rhino 5 and/or earlier versions can only run on computers owned by the school. With Rhino 6 (and later), the school can grant student-owned computers access to their lab licenses using Cloud Zoo Teams.
Educational and Commercial licenses are functionally identical. Educational licenses are non-transferable, and restricted to personal use by students or faculty, while Commercial licenses can be shared across a team. You may purchase an Educational Upgrade at any time so long as you meet the academic eligibility requirements listed above. Educational licenses may be upgraded to Commercial licenses if you are no longer actively enrolled in an academic program.