Student ID Support Coming to iPhone and Apple Watch, Starting With Select Colleges in United States

Apple is bringing Student ID support to iOS 12 and watchOS 5, streamlining how students access everything on their college campus.

Apple watchOS 5 Student ID screen 06042018
At supported schools, students will be able to add their Student ID to an iPhone or Apple Watch and gain access to everything from dorms and dining halls to gyms and libraries, along with campus events or attending class, making purchases from campus retail shops and bookstores, and paying for laundry and items from vending machines.

The program launches this fall with support from Duke University, the University of Alabama, and the University of Oklahoma. Temple University, Johns Hopkins University, and Santa Clara University will add support by the end of the year.

Related Roundup: Apple Watch 11
Buyer's Guide: Apple Watch (Neutral)

Popular Stories

iphone 16 apple intelligence

Apple Aiming to Release 'Breakthrough' New iPhone Accessory

Wednesday February 18, 2026 12:43 pm PST by
Apple is looking for a "breakthrough" with its push into wearable AI devices, including an "AirTag-sized pendant," according to Bloomberg's Mark Gurman. In a report this week, he said the pendant is reminiscent of the failed Humane AI Pin, but it would be an iPhone accessory rather than a standalone product. The pendant would feature an "always-on" camera and a microphone for Siri voice...
Multicolored Low Cost A18 Pro MacBook Feature

Low-Cost MacBook Expected on March 4 in These Colors

Wednesday February 18, 2026 5:42 am PST by
Apple will announce its rumored low-cost MacBook at its event on March 4, with the device coming in a selection of bold color options, according to a known leaker. Earlier this week, Apple announced a "special Apple Experience" for the media in New York, London, and Shanghai, taking place on March 4, 2026 at 9:00am ET. Posting on Weibo, the leaker known as "Instant Digital" said that the...
iphone 17 pro green

iPhone 17 Pro Max Curiously Becomes Most Traded-In Smartphone

Wednesday February 18, 2026 9:13 am PST by
New trade-in data indicates that Apple's iPhone 17 Pro Max has rapidly become the single most traded-in smartphone. According to a new report from SellCell, Apple's latest flagship iPhone has quickly risen to the top of the independent trade-in market, accounting for 11.5% of all devices appearing in the top-20 trade-in rankings just months after release. The analysis is based on SellCell...
CarPlay Liquid Glass Dark

iOS 26.4's New CarPlay Video Feature Shown in Action

Wednesday February 18, 2026 9:29 am PST by
Back at WWDC 2025, Apple revealed that it was planning to allow CarPlay users to watch video via AirPlay in their vehicles while they are not driving, and the first beta of iOS 26.4 suggests the feature may be nearing availability. There are several new references to CarPlay video streaming functionality within the iOS 26.4 beta's source code. The feature is not yet visible to users, but...
Dynamic Island iPhone 18 Pro Feature

10 Reasons to Wait for Apple's iPhone 18 Pro

Wednesday February 18, 2026 5:12 am PST by
Apple's iPhone development roadmap runs several years into the future and the company is continually working with suppliers on several successive iPhone models at the same time, which is why we often get rumored features months ahead of launch. The iPhone 18 series is no different, and we already have a good idea of what to expect for the iPhone 18 Pro and iPhone 18 Pro Max. One thing worth...

Top Rated Comments

101 months ago
Open this damn API so we can make our own solutions... irritating
Score: 4 Votes (Like | Disagree)
kappy94 Avatar
101 months ago
And yet no support for the cards to enter our offices....
Score: 2 Votes (Like | Disagree)
Solomani Avatar
101 months ago
So if the high school student forgot his iPhone (very unlikely thing to happen) he would not have any ID to show the campus security guard.
Score: 1 Votes (Like | Disagree)
101 months ago
So if the high school student forgot his iPhone (very unlikely thing to happen) he would not have any ID to show the campus security guard.
So...which do you think is more
Likely...a teen forgets to take her phone, or forgets her ID? Plus...it’s about the watch.
Score: 1 Votes (Like | Disagree)
jonblatho Avatar
98 months ago
One of the only reasons we use students cards is to have on the desk during exams.

Good luck letting you have your phone there for your card.
Don't know what campus you're referring to, and I know this is a really late response, but at OU we're required to use our IDs for, and this is just off the top of my head:

* after-hours building entry
* printing
* access to the campus gym
* access to dorm halls
* access to bedrooms in newer dorms
* laundry in the dorms
* meal plans (unless ordering on mobile)
* access to many campus events

Very rarely have I had to leave my ID out on my desk during an exam, and that's happened only in the few massive lecture-hall classes I've had to take. Many of the professors in my classes wouldn't really care to see a phone on the desk for that purpose. Maybe that's just because I'm in a fairly small major, but in any case, exams are far from "one of the only" reasons that student ID cards are used on many campuses.
Score: 1 Votes (Like | Disagree)
jmh600cbr Avatar
101 months ago
I guess we're not getting RFID cards like we thought
Score: 1 Votes (Like | Disagree)