I have spoken to many people who are educators or students and they don't realize that they can afford these powerful suites. The following is from the Adobe website. Go to the website to see further qualifiers and the correct documents you will need.

Students, teachers, and staff

Save up to 80% on Adobe Student and Teacher Editions

To qualify to purchase through the Adobe Education Store, you must be a(n):

University or college student

Student enrolled at a higher education institution defined as an accredited public or private university or college (including community, junior, or vocational college) that grants degrees requiring not less than the equivalent of two years of full-time study.

Primary or secondary school student

Student enrolled at an accredited public or private primary or secondary school providing full-time instruction.

Faculty or staff member

Teacher or staff member employed by an accredited primary or secondary school or public or private university or college.

Products are for use on personally owned computers only and cannot be used on institutional machines. Visit the education institution store through the link below if you are interested in buying software for your institution

Requirements for the various CS5 suites

Adobe® Creative Suite® 5 Design Standard

Full from US $1,299.00
Upgrade from US $499.00

Educational price - full from US $299.00

Mac OS
• Multicore Intel® processor
• Mac OS X v10.5.7 or v10.6
• 1GB of RAM or more recommended
• 8.2GB of available hard-disk space for installation; additional free space required during installation (cannot install on a volume that uses a case-sensitive file system or on removable flash-based storage devices)
• 1024x768 display (1280x800 recommended) with qualified hardware-accelerated OpenGL graphics card, 16-bit color, and 256MB of VRAM
• Some GPU-accelerated features require graphics support for Shader Model 3.0 and OpenGL 2.0
• DVD-ROM drive compatible with dual-layer DVDs
• QuickTime 7.6.2 software required for multimedia features
• Adobe Flash® Player 10 software required to export SWF files
• Broadband Internet connection required for online services*
For updates to system requirements, visit
www.adobe.com/go/designstandard_systemreqs.

Windows
• Intel® Pentium® 4 or AMD Athlon® 64 processor
• Microsoft® Windows® XP with Service Pack 3; Windows Vista® Home Premium, Business, Ultimate, or Enterprise with Service Pack 1 (Service Pack 2 recommended); or Windows 7
• 1GB of RAM or more recommended
• 7.7GB of available hard-disk space for installation; additional free space required during installation (cannot install on removable flash-based storage devices)
• 1024x768 display (1280x800 recommended) with qualified hardware-accelerated OpenGL graphics card, 16-bit color, and 256MB of VRAM
• Some GPU-accelerated features require graphics support for Shader Model 3.0 and OpenGL 2.0
• Some features in Adobe Bridge rely on a DirectX 9–capable graphics card with at least 64MB of VRAM
• DVD-ROM drive compatible with dual-layer DVDs
• QuickTime 7.6.2 software required for multimedia features
• Adobe Flash® Player 10 software required to export SWF files
• Broadband Internet connection required for online services*
For updates to system requirements, visit
www.adobe.com/go/designstandard_systemreqs.

Adobe® Creative Suite® 5 Design Premium

Full from US $1,899.00
Upgrade from US $599.00

Educational price - full from US $449.00

Mac OS
• Multicore Intel® processor
• Mac OS X v10.5.7 or v10.6
• 1GB of RAM or more recommended
• 10.3GB of available hard-disk space for installation; additional free space required during installation (cannot install on a volume that uses a case-sensitive file system or on removable flash-based storage devices)
• 1280x800 display with qualified hardware-accelerated OpenGL graphics card, 16-bit color, and 256MB of VRAM
• Some GPU-accelerated features require graphics support for Shader Model 3.0 and OpenGL 2.0
• DVD-ROM drive compatible with dual-layer DVDs
• Java™ Runtime Environment 1.5 or 1.6
• QuickTime 7.6.2 software required for multimedia features
• Adobe Flash® Player 10 software required to export SWF files
• Broadband Internet connection required for online services*
For updates to system requirements, visit
www.adobe.com/go/designpremium_systemreqs.

Windows
• Intel® Pentium® 4 or AMD Athlon® 64 processor
• Microsoft® Windows® XP with Service Pack 3; Windows Vista® Home Premium, Business, Ultimate, or Enterprise with Service Pack 1 (Service Pack 2 recommended); or Windows 7
• 1GB of RAM or more recommended
• 9.3GB of available hard-disk space for installation; additional free space required during installation (cannot install on removable flash-based storage devices)
• 1280x800 display with qualified hardware-accelerated OpenGL graphics card, 16-bit color, and 256MB of VRAM
• Some GPU-accelerated features require graphics support for Shader Model 3.0 and OpenGL 2.0
• Some features in Adobe Bridge rely on a DirectX 9–capable graphics card with at least 64MB of VRAM
• DVD-ROM drive compatible with dual-layer DVDs
• Java™ Runtime Environment 1.5 (32 bit) or 1.6
• QuickTime 7.6.2 software required for multimedia features
• Adobe Flash® Player 10 software required to export SWF files
• Broadband Internet connection required for online services*
For updates to system requirements, visit
www.adobe.com/go/designpremium_systemreqs.

Adobe® Creative Suite® 5 Web Premium

Full from US $1,799.00
Upgrade from US $599.00

Educational price - full from US $449.00

Mac OS
• Multicore Intel® processor
• Mac OS X v10.5.7 or v10.6
• 1GB of RAM or more recommended
• 11.2GB of available hard-disk space for installation; additional free space required during installation (cannot install on a volume that uses a case-sensitive file system or on removable flash-based storage devices)
• 1280x800 display (1280x1024 recommended) with qualified hardware-accelerated OpenGL graphics card, 16-bit color, and 256MB of VRAM
• Some GPU-accelerated features require graphics support for Shader Model 3.0 and OpenGL 2.0
• DVD-ROM drive compatible with dual-layer DVDs
• Java™ Runtime Environment 1.5 or 1.6
• QuickTime 7.6.2 software required for multimedia features
• Adobe Flash® Player 10 software required to export SWF files
• Broadband Internet connection required for online services*
For updates to system requirements, visit
www.adobe.com/go/webpremium_systemreqs.

Windows
• Intel® Pentium® 4 or AMD Athlon® 64 processor
• Microsoft® Windows® XP with Service Pack 3; Windows Vista® Home Premium, Business, Ultimate, or Enterprise with Service Pack 1 (Service Pack 2 recommended); or Windows 7
• 1GB of RAM or more recommended
• 9.1GB of available hard-disk space for installation; additional free space required during installation (cannot install on removable flash-based storage devices)
• 1280x800 display (1280x1024 recommended) with qualified hardware-accelerated OpenGL graphics card, 16-bit color, and 256MB of VRAM
• Some GPU-accelerated features require graphics support for Shader Model 3.0 and OpenGL 2.0
• Some features in Adobe Bridge rely on a DirectX 9–capable graphics card with at least 64MB of VRAM
• DVD-ROM drive compatible with dual-layer DVDs
• Java™ Runtime Environment 1.6 (included)
• QuickTime 7.6.2 software required for multimedia features
• Adobe Flash® Player 10 software required to export SWF files
• Broadband Internet connection required for online services*
For updates to system requirements, visit
www.adobe.com/go/webpremium_systemreqs

Adobe® Creative Suite® 5 Production Premium

Full from US $1,699.00
Upgrade from US $599.00

Educational price - full from US $499.00

Mac OS
• Multicore Intel® processor with 64-bit support
• Mac OS X v10.5.7 or v10.6.3; Mac OS X v10.6.3 required for GPU-accelerated performance in Adobe Premiere Pro
• 2GB of RAM (4GB or more recommended)
• 20.6GB of available hard-disk space for installation; additional free space required during installation (cannot install on a volume that uses a case-sensitive file system or on removable flash-based storage devices)
• 1280x900 display (1280x1024 recommended) with qualified hardware-accelerated OpenGL graphics card, 16-bit color, and 256MB of VRAM
• Adobe-certified GPU card for GPU-accelerated performance in Adobe Premiere Pro; visit www.adobe.com/go/premiere_systemreqs for the latest list of supported cards
• Some GPU-accelerated features in Adobe Photoshop require graphics support for Shader Model 3.0 and OpenGL 2.0
• 7200 RPM hard drive for editing compressed video formats; RAID 0 for uncompressed
• Core Audio-compatible sound card
• DVD-ROM drive compatible with dual-layer DVDs (SuperDrive for burning DVDs; external Blu-ray burner for creating Blu-ray Disc media)
• Java™ Runtime Environment 1.5 or 1.6
• QuickTime 7.6.2 software required for QuickTime features
• Adobe Flash® Player 10 software required to play back DVD projects exported as SWF files
• Broadband Internet connection required for online services†
For updates to system requirements and more detailed information about video hardware compatibility, visit
www.adobe.com/go/production_systemreqs.

Windows
• 64-bit support required: Intel® Pentium® 4 or AMD Athlon® 64 processor (Intel Core™2 Duo or AMD Phenom® II recommended); Intel Core 2 Duo or AMD Phenom II required for Adobe Premiere Pro
• 64-bit operating system required: Microsoft® Windows Vista® Home Premium, Business, Ultimate, or Enterprise with Service Pack 1 (Service Pack 2 recommended) or Windows® 7
• 2GB of RAM (4GB or more recommended)
• 16.3GB of available hard-disk space for installation; additional free space required during installation (cannot install on removable flash-based storage devices)
• 1280x900 display (1280x1024 recommended) with qualified hardware-accelerated OpenGL graphics card, 16-bit color, and 256MB of VRAM
• Adobe-certified GPU card for GPU-accelerated performance in Adobe Premiere Pro; visit www.adobe.com/go/premiere_systemreqs for the latest list of supported cards
• Some GPU-accelerated features in Adobe Photoshop require graphics support for Shader Model 3.0 and OpenGL 2.0
• Some features in Adobe Bridge rely on a DirectX 9–capable graphics card with at least 64MB of VRAM
• 7200 RPM hard drive for editing compressed video formats; RAID 0 for uncompressed
• Adobe-certified card for capture and export to tape for SD/HD workflows
• OHCI-compatible IEEE 1394 port for DV and HDV capture, export to tape, and transmit to DV device
• Sound card compatible with ASIO protocol or Microsoft Windows Driver Model
• DVD-ROM drive compatible with dual-layer DVDs (DVD+-R burner for burning DVDs; Blu-ray burner for creating Blu-ray Disc media)
• Java™ Runtime Environment 1.5 (32 bit) or 1.6
• QuickTime 7.6.2 software required for QuickTime features
• Adobe Flash® Player 10 software required to play back DVD projects exported as SWF files
• Broadband Internet connection required for online services†
For updates to system requirements and more detailed information about video hardware compatibility, visit
www.adobe.com/go/production_systemreqs.

Adobe® Creative Suite® 5 Master Collection

Full from US $2,599.00
Upgrade from US $899.00

Educational price - full from US $899.00

Mac OS
• Multicore Intel® processor with 64-bit support
• Mac OS X v10.5.7 or v10.6.3; Mac OS X v10.6.3 required for GPU-accelerated performance in Adobe Premiere Pro
• 2GB of RAM (4GB or more recommended)
• 26.3GB of available hard-disk space for installation; additional free space required during installation (cannot install on a volume that uses a case-sensitive file system or on removable flash-based storage devices)
• 1280x900 display (1280x1024 recommended) with qualified hardware-accelerated OpenGL graphics card, 16-bit color, and 256MB of VRAM
• Adobe-certified GPU card for GPU-accelerated performance in Adobe Premiere Pro; visit www.adobe.com/go/premiere_systemreqs for the latest list of supported cards
• Some GPU-accelerated features in Adobe Photoshop require graphics support for Shader Model 3.0 and OpenGL 2.0
• 7200 RPM hard drive for editing compressed video formats; RAID 0 for uncompressed
• Core Audio-compatible sound card
• DVD-ROM drive compatible with dual-layer DVDs (SuperDrive for burning DVDs; external Blu-ray burner for creating Blu-ray Disc media)
• Java™ Runtime Environment 1.5 or 1.6
• QuickTime 7.6.2 software required for QuickTime and multimedia features
• Adobe Flash® Player 10 software required to export SWF files and to play back DVD projects exported as SWF files
• Broadband Internet connection required for online services†
For updates to system requirements and more detailed information about video hardware compatibility, visit
www.adobe.com/go/mastercollection_systemreqs.

Windows
• Intel® Pentium® 4 or AMD Athlon® 64 processor (Intel Core™2 Duo or AMD Phenom® II recommended); Intel Core 2 Duo or AMD Phenom II required for Adobe Premiere Pro
• Processor with 64-bit support required for Adobe Premiere Pro and After Effects
• Microsoft® Windows® XP with Service Pack 3; Windows Vista® Home Premium, Business, Ultimate, or Enterprise with Service Pack 1 (Service Pack 2 recommended); or Windows 7
• 64-bit edition of Windows Vista or Windows 7 required for Adobe Premiere Pro and After Effects
• 2GB of RAM (4GB or more recommended)
• 24.3GB of available hard-disk space for installation; additional free space required during installation (cannot install on removable flash-based storage devices)
• 1280x900 display (1280x1024 recommended) with qualified hardware-accelerated OpenGL graphics card, 16-bit color, and 256MB of VRAM
• Adobe-certified GPU card for GPU-accelerated performance in Adobe Premiere Pro; visit www.adobe.com/go/premiere_systemreqs for the latest list of supported cards
• Some GPU-accelerated features in Adobe Photoshop require graphics support for Shader Model 3.0 and OpenGL 2.0
• Some features in Adobe Bridge rely on a DirectX 9–capable graphics card with at least 64MB of VRAM
• 7200 RPM hard drive for editing compressed video formats; RAID 0 for uncompressed
• Adobe-certified card for capture and export to tape for SD/HD workflows
• OHCI-compatible IEEE 1394 port for DV and HDV capture, export to tape, and transmit to DV device
• Sound card compatible with ASIO protocol or Microsoft Windows Driver Model
• DVD-ROM drive compatible with dual-layer DVDs (DVD+-R burner for burning DVDs; Blu-ray burner for creating Blu-ray Disc media)
• Java™ Runtime Environment 1.6 (included)
• QuickTime 7.6.2 software required for QuickTime and multimedia features
• Adobe Flash® Player 10 software required to export SWF files and to play back DVD projects exported as SWF files
• Broadband Internet connection required for online services†
For updates to system requirements and more detailed information about video hardware compatibility, visit
www.adobe.com/go/mastercollection_systemreqs.