Every college student has one: a little piece of laminated plastic with a probably-awkward photo of you on it, and a string of numbers that will replace your name for the next four years.

But the student ID is also a powerful tool, which opens all sorts of doors to saving money, and comes at the time in your life when you might need it most.

Unless enlisting in the military, a graduate might be stuck in an Old Testament situation, wandering for 40 years in the discount desert until those senior benefits kick in. So while they still can, the sensible student will squeeze that ID for all its worth.

Here are some ideas on how to make the most out of your student ID.

On Campus Activities

The University of Arizona is full of convenient amenities and experiences that students can and should take advantage of. For one, there are three campus rec centers: The North Rec, the South Rec and the new Bear Down Rec. Between the three centers, UA students enjoy 500,000 square feet of athletic resources including basketball, volleyball and racquetball courts, gyms, a bouldering wall, an indoor track and even a pool. The price of a rec membership is built into the $100/year athletic fee, which is mandatory for undergraduate students.

The athletic fee does more than give access to the rec centers, though. Just by showing an ID, a student has access to all sporting events, excepting football and men’s basketball. Catch a volleyball or tennis match, a baseball or softball game, or a swimming or track and field meet.

For first-year students and all Honors Village students, another built-in fee is the swipe-based meal plan. UA offers an array of swipe meal plans, each one giving the student a certain number of “swipes” per week, as well as a dollar amount of “dining dollars” to use in various on-campus spots. Locations include all-you-can-eat dining centers, the Student Union food court and other restaurants, markets and even vending machines. 

Museums 

The city of Tucson is populated with unique museums, and once in a while a student might get the strange urge to learn a little outside of the lecture hall.

Mini Time Machine is a close look at the world of miniatures, small replicas or models. A new exhibition, “Ray Harryhausen: Miniature Models of the Silver Screen,” will begin on Sept. 30. College students with IDs can visit the Mini Time Machine for $13, discounted from the general admission price of $15. 

For those with a scientific bent, the Flandrau Science Center is full of whimsical, educational exhibits. Check out the “Undersea Discovery” exhibit to explore the deepest depths of the ocean, or “Wild World of Bugs!” to learn about and visit with live insects, or see a planetarium show. An all-inclusive ticket — covering exhibits and planetarium shows — is priced at $19 for students (originally $27), and the exhibit-only fee is $11 (originally $15). 

Owned by UA since 2011, Biosphere 2 is the world’s largest earth science experiment. The over three-acre facility houses an artificial ecological system, originally built in the 1980s to experiment with maintaining human life in outer space. In the early ’90s, two missions, in which crew members were sealed in the glass enclosure, made Biosphere 2 a nation-wide sensation. Today, the public can take app-guided tours through the facility. Purchased online, UA student tickets are $20, while general admission is $27.

To see some art, the Museum of Contemporary Art offers a $4 student ticket as well as free admission on Sundays (it’s free for everyone, but that doesn’t make it less free for students!). Located in an old firehouse, the MOCA is Tucson’s go-to spot for contemporary art. The University of Arizona Museum of Art is home to artwork spanning eight centuries. Its permanent collection comprises American, European, contemporary and modern art, and the museum also hosts temporary exhibitions. The UAMA is temporarily closed, but when it reopens, admission is free for students with ID.  

Food, Groceries, Shopping

Students need to eat, and sometimes the meal plan just doesn’t cut it. For groceries, Fry’s at Grant and First offers a 10% discount to students on Tuesdays. With the Target Circle app, Target shoppers can often find deals aimed toward students. University of Arizona also has its own campus pantry, where students, faculty and staff can stock up on essentials for free. 

Several eateries around Tucson also boast student deals, including Goodness and Amy’s Donuts. Discounts can be found at some chain restaurants, too, like Chick-Fil-A, Buffalo Wild Wings and Burger King (make sure to check for participating locations). 

For cannabis enthusiasts, D2 Dispensaries is holding a “back to school” special; a free preroll with $10 purchase; a preroll and a 1/8th with a $50 purchase; a preroll, a 1/8th and a cleargold 500 mg cart with a $100 purchase.

Plenty of stores and brands offer student deals. The app UNiDAYS exists for this exact reason: to help college students save money. UNiDAYS deals cover everything from fashion brands to beauty products to home appliances to technology and even streaming services.

Movies & Music

Without television and movies, how will students drone out their noisy roommates? Without music, how will they romanticize their 8 a.m. walk to class? Unfortunately, movie tickets have gone through the roof, and with the gradual addition of “households” in streaming services, many students are being kicked off of their family plans. But there are options.

The Loft Cinema on Speedway is a Tucson landmark, known for its dedication to the film arts and for being the longest continuously operating movie theater in the city. For regular, non-matinee admission, the Loft gives $2 off to students and teachers with valid IDs.

Though prices are climbing, most streaming services have student discounts. For Hulu (with ads), students enrolled in eligible universities only pay $ 1.99 per month. Paramount+’s Essential plan, which includes live sports, is available for 25% off for students, a value of $4.99 per month. HBO Max also has a $4.99 student plan, and Amazon Prime and Peacock also advertise discounted rates.

The Spotify student plan is incredibly popular among college-aged students — for good reason. The first six months are free, and then after that, the plan runs at $5.99 per month, a 50% discount from the usual price. Along with ad-free music streaming, the Spotify plan also includes free access to Hulu (with ads).  

Apple Music offers one month free, and then a rate of $5.99 per month. With the plan, users also receive a free Apple TV+ subscription. 

This article appears in Aug 14-21, 2025.