Although students are on a pretty tight budget, it is almost an absolute must that they purchase a dorm refrigerator for their dorm room. A fridge, for a hard-working student, is not even a luxury anymore, it is a necessity. However, the choices are usually limited because a student can’t afford much, and sometimes one must even make-do with second hand fridges, some of which make weird sounds and barely cool drinks. Buying a fridge is an important investment, and even if you buy one at a higher price, if it is still working by the time you graduate, then you got a pretty good deal. Listed below are affordable dorm refrigerators that are definitely worth the money.

Frigidaire, a staple in terms of refrigerators, has a black compact refrigerator that stands 2.5 cubic feet. It has all the basics a student would require: ample space to put beverage and snacks, as well as reversible door hinges which make for easy navigation and manipulation to even the tightest of spaces.

Click here for the Frigidaire 2.5 mini fridge on Amazon

A cheaper alternative, though still roughly the same size and shape, is the Haier HNSB02 compact fridge which stands 1.7 cubic feet. It’s the refrigerator with a built-in half-width freezer. Despite its small size, this fridge is loaded with features: it comes with a drip tray so you can easily clean the fridge up when you defrost it. It has door storage shelves and slide out wire shelving for easy storage and organization of items in the fridge. You also get an adjustable thermostat with 7 different settings and even an ice tray.

Click here for the Haier HNSB 02 compact fridge on Amazon

Another compact fridge which is perfect for the dorm room is the Danby Diplomat DAR0488BL. Standing at 1.7 cubic feet, the fridge has wire shelving and a bottle storage area. For easier cleanup, the appliance comes with an automatic defrost system. If you’re looking for something more, you can also take a look at a similar product, the Danby DAR0488W Diplomat. Also standing 1.7 cubic feet, this one has slightly more capacity and is more suited for students with its semi-conductor technology. The technology saves energy, which translates to a lower electricity bill.

Click here for the Danby Diplomat on Amazon

If you’d like a dorm refrigerator which looks like a cooler, you might want to get the Wagan 2349 Thermo Electric Fridge/ Warmer. This is different from the rest of the products mentioned above because this acts both as a cooler and warmer. Just plug the Wagan in, choose between the hot and cold settings, and you could have a microwave and refrigerator in one appliance. It also comes with an integrated radio, which makes it something great to bring along during spring break or vacations.

Click here for the Wagan 2349 Thermo Electric Fridge/ Warmer on Amazon