Colleges in US and Canada adopt virtual student cards

Apple Wallet has supported contactless student IDs since 2018, with three US universities supporting the feature at launch. Since then, the program has gradually grown. Yesterday, the company announced that its virtual credentials will finally arrive in Canada this fall. An unknown number of additional US universities will also adopt it for the first time.

The University of New Brunswick and Sheridan College will be the first two Canadian schools to use Apple Wallet credentials. The new US list includes Auburn, Northern Arizona University, the University of Maine and New Mexico State University, in addition to “many more colleges across the country.” One of the early adopters of the program, the University of Alabama will also be the first school to issue mobile-only student IDs (to students with eligible devices) this fall. (Those with Android phones can use digital cards through Google Pay.)

Apple claims that “tens of thousands of students” will have access to the feature over the next school year.

Photo by Lance King / Getty Images

In theory, the virtual student card should offer all the functionality of a regular student card – cardholders can access restricted areas of campus or pay for amenities such as food and laundry by placing their iPhone or their Apple Watch near a physical drive. Transaction history is not shared with Apple or stored on Apple’s servers.

The new student ID format is part of a larger effort by Apple to extend the functionality of Apple Wallet. The app can also store hotel room keys with the release of iOS 15 and will support driver’s licenses and state IDs.