Campus Card and Columbia Cash

Your Campus Card is an ID that identifies you as a Columbia student. To ensure a safe community for everyone, we wish to remind you that a Campus Card (ID) is required to enter any Columbia owned building. Therefore, it is very important that you have your Campus Card in your possession before your first scheduled class meeting.

If you already have a Campus Card from a prior year, you do not need a new one.

Campus Card Office Location and Hours

The Campus Card Office is located at 600 S. Michigan Ave, 3rd floor.

Hours: 9:00 a.m. to 4:00 p.m. Monday through Friday

If you have any questions regarding your Campus Card, please contact Columbia Central at columbiacentral@colum.edu

Fall 2022 Campus Card & U-Pass Distribution
Dates: Monday- Friday, August 26 – September 16 (note: closed Labor Day)
Times: 9:00 a.m. – 4:00 p.m.
Location: 33 E. Ida B Wells, one door south from the entrance on Wabash Ave.

Please remember to bring valid government-issued identification. Acceptable forms of identification include: Driver’s License or Non-driver ID Card issued by DMV, U.S. Green Card, Passport, U.S. Military ID Card.

Instructions for New Students: Beginning in mid-June, you will receive an email at your Columbia email address with the subject line “About Your Campus Card.” Use the link in the email to upload your headshot photo for your Campus Card. When you have successfully uploaded your photo and received the email that your photo has been approved, you may schedule an appointment to pick up your card on your Columbia Connect (admissions) portal.

Instructions for Returning Students Who Never Picked Up Their Campus Card: If you already have a Campus Card from a prior year, you do not need a new one. If you have an approved photo but never picked up your Campus Card, you may stop by Campus Card distribution without an appointment. If you aren’t sure if you have an approved photo, please email columbiacentral@colum.edu to inquire.


Instructions for Returning Students Who Never Picked Up Their Campus Card: If you already have an approved photo but never picked up your Campus Card, you may stop by Campus Card distribution without an appointment. If you aren’t sure if you have an approved photo, please email columbiacentral@colum.edu to inquire.

Please note: You cannot submit another photo after your initial photo is submitted and approved. If you would like a different photo on your campus card, pay the $25 replacement fee online and make an appointment to pick up your replacement card.

Instructions for Students Who Have Misplaced Their Campus Card:
If you were previously issued a Campus Card and misplaced it, you must pay the $25 replacement fee located under “What if I need to replace my card?” on the Campus Card webpage. Once you have paid your replacement fee, you may stop by Campus Card distribution without an appointment.

Getting Your Campus Card

  • How do I get my Campus Card?

    New Card

    Now that you are joining the campus community, you will need to obtain an official Columbia campus card. You will use your campus card to access various locations and services across campus, including building access, meal charges, printing and much more.

    First-time students will need to submit a photo. Prior to your arrival on campus, Columbia Central will send you an email with instructions and a link to submit your photo. After you submit an approved photo, you will be sent instructions on the dates and location where you can pick up your campus card. Please remember to bring valid government-issued identification. Acceptable forms of identification include: Driver’s License or Non-driver ID Card issued by DMV, U.S. Green Card, Passport book or card, U.S. Military ID Card.

    Please note: You cannot submit another photo after your initial photo is submitted and approved. If you would like a different photo on your campus card, pay the $25 replacement fee online and make an appointment to pick up your replacement card.

  • What if I need to replace my card?

    The replacement fee for lost, damaged, and stolen cards is $25. You may pay your replacement fee online with a credit card or debit card using this secure form. There is no service fee to make an electronic payment. You must present the receipt at the campus card office in order to receive your replacement card. You must make an appointment to pick up your replacement card.

    If your Campus Card is lost or stolen, visit the Online Card Office to suspend your card by clicking the Lost Card link.

    A new card will be issued at no cost for students who show proof of a legal name change, a new preferred name, or who have changed enrollment status (i.e., undergraduate to graduate).

    Your Columbia Cash balance from your old card will be applied to your new one. To pick up your replacement card, you must bring your MyColumbia ID number, a government-issued ID (driver's license, state ID, passport, or military ID), and payment receipt. You must make an appointment to pick up your replacement card.

    Campus Card Photo

    After your initial campus card is issued to you, new photos will only be accepted when replacing a lost, damaged or stolen campus card. To change the photo on your current campus card, you must pay the $25 replacement fee.

    How to submit a photo for a replacement Campus Card

    • Before submitting a photo, you must register your campus card on the Online Card Office website.
    • Log into the Online Card Office with the username and password you created when registering your campus card.
    • Click on the Profile tab and then the "Click to submit a new photo" link -- you do not need to fill out the personal information on the Profile page.
    • Accept the Campus Card Terms and Conditions before you submit your photo.
    • Columbia Central will email you an approval or next steps if your photo cannot be used.
    • Allow a minimum of one business day after submitting your approved photo to receive your replacement campus card.


    Photo requirements

    • A recent headshot taken in full-face view directly facing the camera
    • Photo taken against a plain, light colored background (white, cream, beige, light gray)
    • Should be cropped just above the head to the shoulders
    • A neutral facial expression with both eyes open looking at the camera
    • Photo must be in color
    • Do not wear a hat or head covering, unless worn daily for religious purposes
    • Do not wear headphones, wireless devices or similar items
    • If you normally wear prescription glasses or a head device of similar articles, they may be worn for your photo
    • Do not wear dark glasses or non-prescription glasses with tinted lenses
    • Photo must be in .jpg/.jpeg format
  • How do I register my Campus Card?
    • To register your Campus Card, visit the Online Card Office.
    • Registering your card allows you to add funds online with a Mastercard or Visa credit card, monitor your Columbia Cash balance and transactions, and submit a photo for your Campus Card.

Columbia Cash

Your Campus Card is more than just an ID. With the optional Columbia Cash program, your Campus Card acts as a prepaid debit card. By adding Columbia Cash to your Campus Card, you can purchase food and beverages from the college's cafes and library coffee bar. You can also pay for printing services in the library and purchase snacks, books, and merchandise in the bookstore.

Columbia Cash remains on your account as long as you are a registered Columbia student.

Columbia Cash is currently accepted at:

  • The Bookstore
  • Library Printing
  • Art and Design Printing
  • Business and Entrepreneurship Printing
  • Digital Print Center
  • Photography Digital Lab
  • ShopColumbia

Adding Columbia Cash to Your Campus Card

There are several ways to add Columbia Cash to your card:

  • Credit/Debit Card

    Visit the Online Card Office for 24-hour access to your Campus Card account. You can deposit funds to Columbia Cash account instantly using Visa or MasterCard. These funds are added to your Columbia Cash Account immediately. Please note, Columbia Cash deposits may not exceed $1,000 per person per day. There is no service fee to use the Online Card Office for a credit card or debit card deposit.

    Through the Online Card Office, you can also check your Columbia Cash account balance, suspend ID Card function, and view your Columbia Cash account transaction history.

  • Money Order/Cashier's Check

    If you do not have a credit or debit card, or a bank account, you can pay with a cashier’s check or money order in the Columbia Central office.

    One option: purchase a money order from the U.S. Post Office, for a small fee. The U.S. Post Office closest to Columbia is at 211 S. Clark Street, which is .4 miles away from Columbia. This location is typically open Monday – Friday from 7 a.m. to 6 p.m. Please consult the U.S. Post Office website to confirm business hours and services offered.

  • Guest Deposit

    Parents, guardians, and other third parties may add Columbia Cash to your Campus Card by using the Guest Deposit link on the Online Card Office home page. Guests will need the student’s MyColumbia ID number to submit a payment to the student’s Columbia Cash Account.

Academic Dates and Deadlines