Urbana Card Services Overview


On this page:


Paying with your ID at Urbana

Several pre-paid debit accounts are available.

  • Meal plans track a pre-paid allotment of meals at dining halls. Café Credits supplement meal plans and pay for food purchases at a la carte locations.
  • Extra Credits pay for purchases at most University Housing dining locations. Extra Credits also pay for residence hall laundry services and printing. Add Extra Credits online with your credit card.
  • Stored value pays for copies at University libraries, the Illini Union, residence halls, and other locations. For ID cards and Value cards.
  • A TCF Bank account linked to a student i-card allows students to pay for purchases anywhere a PIN-based debit card is accepted.

Card services for Urbana

The following table lists the most common card services and privileges at Urbana.

Card service Description
Banking with TCF Bank Students may optionally choose to open a TCF Bank account and link it to their i-card so that it functions as a PIN-based debit and ATM card.
Discounts (Perks) Local merchants offer special savings to persons who present their own valid i-card.
Door access Persons who need door access for their ID card receive it, as determined and set up by the access control coordinator for the applicable campus building.

Enabling ID cards to open doors is not automatic, is not centralized, and is not controlled by i-card Programs.
Food Extra Credits pay for purchases at campus Dining locations.

Meal plans track a pre-paid allotment of meals at dining halls.
Health care access Eligible students use i-cards to check in at McKinley Health Center. An i-card is not proof of medical insurance.
Laundry (Extra Credits) Extra Credits pay for laundry at Campus Housing.
Library services Students, employees, and many others with valid ID cards have borrowing privileges.
Mass transit Persons who present their current i-card ride MTD buses free.
Meal plans Students and employees may purchase meal plans good at Housing dining halls.
Photocopying Persons with ID cards or Value Cards may pay for copies at campus libraries by adding stored value funds to their card at Value Card Teller machines.
Recreation Students assessed the Student Services Fee may use facilities for free. Employees and many others purchase memberships.
Ticket discounts to Athletics events Full-time students with a valid i-card may purchase discounted tickets or get in free to some Athletics events.
Ticket discounts at Krannert Center performances Students who have paid the Krannert fee may buy discounted tickets to Krannert Center performances.

Related links