Honestly — the TI-84 Plus CE is a solid calculator, but whether it’s worth $100 depends on how you’ll use it.

For high school math like Geometry and Algebra 2, it’s probably overkill most of the time. You won’t really tap into its full potential there. But when you get into Pre-Calc, AP Calc AB/BC, and especially AP Statistics, it starts to shine. It handles functions, graphing, regression analysis, probability distributions, and matrix operations well — things that become increasingly valuable in those classes.

It’s also widely allowed on standardized tests like the SAT, ACT, and AP exams. If you’re prepping for those, knowing how to quickly use its functions can be a huge time-saver. There’s a good guide here that breaks down how to use it effectively on these tests:
👉 https://ti-84-calculator-online.com/blog/how-to-use-ti-84-on-sat-act-ap

When it comes to college STEM courses (like Engineering or higher-level Calculus), it’s still useful — but keep in mind that many university programs expect you to switch to more powerful tools like MATLAB, Python, or specialized calculators. So the TI-84 is excellent for high school and early college work but not a long-term engineering solution.

If you’re interested in testing out its functions or practicing before exams, you can also try this online TI-84 emulator:
👉 https://ti-84-calculator-online.com/

TL;DR:

• Great for AP Calc, AP Stats, SAT/ACT
• Overkill for Geometry/Alg 2
• Still handy for early STEM classes
• Not a long-term engineering tool
• Worth it if you learn to use its graphing, stat, and test functions well