Broke college student with damaged Macbook Pro display: Repair or Purchase?

Allan Jones suggestion of connecting an external display is not just for testing.

There are many users with broken built-in display who use an external display as a work-around, instead of the built-in display.

Yes, that limits your ability to move it around, but it lets you edit at full speed of the computer.

Consumer reports top pick for NEW consumer HD computer displays is the ASUS PA248QV, at under US$200.

A "found" display may be far less.

The repair cost is high because, with the introduction of Retina Macbook Pros , Apple had used a sealed display assembly. Should any part within fail, the entire assembly must be replaced. What Apple quoted you is pretty much what we see posted by others for parts and labor for a new assembly.

Before doing anything, I would do a quick test using an external monitor, begged or borrowed. If the bars go away on the external, that confirms the problem lies within the display assembly. It they persist on the external, that suggests the problem is the video hardware on your logic board. A logic boards is more expensive to replace than the display, and closer to the cost to of a new Apple refurb.

Apple-direct refurbs are not available in all countries/regions outside the US and Canada. If you are elsewhere, scroll to the bottom of your country's Apple home page and look at the small links there. This is the US home page:

For example, an Apple Refurbished 15" MacBook Air, released in 2023, starts at ~$930.

Any MacBook Pro or Air, if taken care of, can have a productive lifespan of 8-10 years.

Only you can decide what option is best for you.

If you're interested, Apple Certified Refurbished Macs with full Apple warranty and backing can be found here: Refurbished Mac - MacBook Pro - Apple

Don't consider buying anything used from an unknown third party. Buy only from reputable, known vendors.