Does anyone have any recommendations for cheap and safe Athens hotels for 2 travelling students for next week? Would appreciate any input. Thank you

you may want to check out this:
Oscar Hotel
Filadelfia 25 & Samou
Athens Athens
Greece
very nice staff, very central, nothing fancy. we stayed with a school group last year there- it may be on tripadvisor

I usually stay at the Adonis. Very central, in Plaka, nothing fancy, very nice people. It's on Tripadvisor. My student daughter stayed at the hostel in Omonia and said it was fine.

Try the Ceclil hotel. It cheap, centrally located, and pretty safe.

John's Place Hotel, #5 Patroou Street, just a few blocks away from Syntagma Square down Mitropoleos Street towards the Plaka is a good choice. I had a single room (shared bath) there last week for 35 euros, the cheapest I was able to find after searching the internet very extensively. They don't have a website but you can call them at 210-322-9719.