With so many exciting developments in the ID card industry, your student ID cards can be so much more than grainy photos on plastic. It's become increasingly affordable for schools on the tightest of budgets to create cards that can function as library cards, meal credit cards and much more. Some educators have begun using their student ID badges to create merit-based rewards systems based on points, which award or retract certain privileges based on attendance, timeliness and grades.

For university students, student ID cards make great all-purpose campus cash cards. Many universities already implement magnetic stripe cards for rec center, art studio and other access systems so that students enrolled in certain classes can access art studios, computer labs and more with a single swipe. This way, it is possible to track who is in a certain facility at any given time in case of theft, or simply to track use of a certain resource. Student ID cards can also function as library cards and equipment rental cards.