But, these cards also serve as a security measure to keep your students and employees safe. They’re an essential part of keeping your school running smoothly. 

So, how do student ID cards work, and more importantly, how can you print yours this semester and distribute them in a seamless manner? You’ve come to the right place. 

Below, we’ll show you how to make ID cards for students - from choosing the right type to designing your cards, navigating the printing process, distribution, and more.

It takes just a few clicks when you partner with CustomLanyard.net for custom ID cards. We’ve earned the trust of millions of organizations like yours and once you see how intuitive the process is, how affordable our pricing is, and how high-quality the cards are, you’ll see why!

What are Student ID Cards For?

First things first, what are student ID cards for? We touched on quite a few of the common uses above, but let’s take a closer look at why you cannot compromise on your ID cards for students.

Identification and Security

In an era where campus security is a more pressing concern than ever before, using ID cards to keep your campus safe is reason enough on its own to incorporate these.

These cards allow for quick verification of students who enter the campus in general, and more specifically, they allow for seamless access control to specific parts of campus. 

This means you don’t have to stress about unauthorized individuals accessing restricted spaces like classrooms, dormitories, or research labs.  You can even use them to allow access to student events like football games, rallies, and more.

But these also play a role in emergency response as well. If an incident occurs, student IDs help first responders quickly determine who is present and who might need help.

Academic and Administrative Uses

Beyond security, these cards facilitate effortless access to essential services across campus for your student body. For instance, students use these cards to check out books from the library, borrow equipment, and access digital academic resources. 

IDs also act as keys for using school-provided technology like computers or printers. They can be scanned as part of a meal plan to streamline dining hall management.

Administrators will use these ID cards to optimize the enrollment process and then throughout the semester to serve as proof of enrollment. 

From accessing student health services to applying for student discounts, verifying attendance for exams, and more, the ID card is a key to unlocking the full capabilities of your campus. But how do student ID cards work, exactly? 

How Do Student ID Cards Work?

So, how do ID cards work? They’re designed with barcodes and magnetic strips that can be scanned, or in some cases, contactless smart cards that offer a more seamless service. Integrating these into your school systems can bring your school into the modern day.

Barcodes and Magnetic Stripes

These are the most common, cost-effective technologies behind student ID cards. They can be scanned at different points across campus, be it the library, fitness center, cafeteria, or anywhere in between.

Every time an ID is scanned it leaves a trace, which allows faculty and administrators to track borrowing history, attendance, or usage of certain services.  

Contactless Smart Cards

These days, everything is evolving right before our eyes - student ID cards are no exception. They can now be equipped with RFID or NFC technology.

This allows a student to simply tap their card on a reader to gain access to facilities like dorm rooms, gyms, or labs without physically swiping the card. Not only do these cards speed up access but they also tend to last longer with less wear and tear on the card itself. 

Integration With School Systems

Of course, these ID cards are simply pieces of plastic until they’re integrated with your school’s system, which will require some sort of back-end technology setup.

The possibilities are endless when you have the right school ID card system in place. Cards can be linked to digital student records so students can log into school systems, pay fees, or check grades with a single swipe or tap. 

That being said, you need to know how to print student ID cards to reap all the benefits these have to offer. So, let’s get into how to make PVC ID cards below!

How to Make ID Cards for Students: Step-by-Step Guide

Even if you have tens of thousands of students you need to create cards for, learning how to make ID cards for students doesn’t have to be a complex or stressful process. We’ll show you how to print student ID cards below - it can be a breeze with the right partner!

Step 1: Choose the Card Type

First things first, you need to figure out what type of card you want to print on. From PET vs PVC ID cards to laminated vs non laminated ID cards, there are many options, each with its pros and cons. So, what are IDs made of in most school settings?

We suggest going with PVC cards because they’re durable, flexible, and ideal for printing high-quality images and information that you can’t have fading. These are the go-to solution for just about any institution.

You can then choose how you want your cards to work, be it a basic magnetic strip or more sophisticated RFID chip integration. This will ultimately come down to budget and your school’s specific security needs.

There are a few other things you need to consider as well. For example, how big is an ID card? The standard size for student ID cards is 3.375” x 2.125”, which is known as CR80. It’s the same size as a credit card so it will fit in most card holders.

Step 2: Design the ID Card

Now comes the fun part - actually designing your student body’s ID cards with your organization’s unique branding. This can be as simple as just using your school’s colors or integrating a more sophisticated design into the card.

Either way, there are a ton of online design tools to help you create the card’s layout. Whoever you end up partnering with to make your ID cards might even have their own templates you can use - we do here at CustomLanyard.net, at least.

There needs to be a few specific pieces of information on every card, so make sure you’re factoring these in as you come up with the layout:

  • Student photo: This is essential for identification purposes.
  • Name and ID number: To quickly identify the student and link them to their records in the school database.
  • School year: For schools or programs that issue yearly IDs, displaying an expiration date helps to ensure cards are updated regularly.

You could even take things as far as color-coding your ID cards based on grade level or department, as this will help further distinguish the different groups within your campus.

Step 3: Print the Cards

Once you’ve finalized your design it’s time to bring it to life. Depending on the size of your campus it may make sense to invest in your own printing equipment. 

Printers like the Fargo INK1000 or Entrust Sigma SL3 offer excellent quality for educational institutions, but they can be quite expensive. Then, you have to figure out who’s going to manage this process and make sure they’re trained to handle it.

This is why most of the time, you’ll be much better off outsourcing this to a professional printer. This allows your employees to remain focused on what matters most to keep your school running smoothly.

Perhaps more importantly, it guarantees high-quality cards that will serve their purpose well for the long haul. Contrary to what you may assume, this route can be quite affordable - so how much do ID cards cost? It depends on the quantity you buy, but as little as $0.37 in some cases!

Make sure you do your due diligence in finding a printing partner who knows how to make ID cards for students specifically. Assess their reputation in the industry and ask about turnaround times so you can be ready for the semester to start.

Step 4: Distribute the Cards

After getting the cards delivered to your campus you need to come up with a smooth system for distribution. This will also involve education for the student body on how to make the most of these cards around campus. 

The best time to issue ID cards is during student registration or orientation events, where students can pick up their cards as part of the onboarding process. Larger institutions may find that alphabetical sorting or distributing by grade level or department streamlines the process. 

Some schools also mail ID cards directly to students, particularly in remote or hybrid learning environments, so that students have their IDs before classes begin.

Managing Lost and Damaged Cards for Your Student Body

Let’s face it, students are going to lose or damage their cards. It’s inevitable. You need to plan ahead and have a process in place for replacement so that a student’s life doesn’t have to be put on pause while they await their card’s replacement. Here are some tips:

  • Deactivating lost or stolen cards: This will prevent unauthorized use of lost cards, so deactivate them as soon as they’re reported missing.
  • Issuing temporary IDs: Students awaiting a replacement need temporary paper or digital IDs for access to campus facilities and services in the interim.
  • Reasonable replacement fees: Charging a nominal fee for replacement cards helps cover production costs while forcing students to take responsibility for their IDs.

Print Student ID Cards in Just a Few Clicks at CustomLanyard.net!

There you have it, how to make ID cards for students. Having a simple, streamlined process in place for creating these cards is essential for any school, be it a high school, college, or trade school campus. 

The only thing left to do now that you know how to print student ID cards is find the best ID printer to help you make your vision a reality - your search ends here at CustomLanyard.net.

Why Bring Your Student ID Cards to Life With Our Service?

Over the past decade, our company has become the trusted choice for custom lanyards, custom wristbands, and even custom PVC cards with a custom badge holder.

So what sets us apart from the rest? Simple - we provide top-tier products at an unbeatable price with world-class customer service every step of the way. What more could you ask for?

You can choose from a variety of solutions in our catalog, and we make it as quick and easy to place your order as possible. Turnaround times are fast so you can be prepared for the first day of school without stressing along the way.

With over a million customers served and countless positive reviews to back up our reputation, you can rest assured you’re in the right place. Learn more about how to print student ID cards with us in just a few clicks below!

How it Works

Start by choosing your ID card size - we even allow you to pick your PVC ID card thickness depending on how premium a feel you want your cards to have. Sizes range from 2.21” x 3.38” to 6.5” x 4.75”.

Then, choose your card finish. Options include glossy, matte, frosted, holographic, and transparent. You can also determine the card hold style that makes sense for you if you want a custom ID card lanyard - be it oval, circle, double circle, or even no hole.

How can you customize ID cards at CustomLanyard.net, though? The possibilities are endless! We have an easy form that streamlines the process, or you can design a card from scratch right here on our website. We also have a number of templates to choose from, or you can upload your own artwork if you have a professional design file.

Create cards for each member of your student body, place your order, and we’ll get to work bringing your card to life as fast as possible. We don’t have any minimum order quantities in place, but the more you purchase, the cheaper your cards will be.

Don’t forget the best ID badge holder, either. Whether you prefer a simple clear plastic card holder or an acrylic badge holder, we’ve got you covered.

You can learn more about how to print an ID or how to put an ID card on a lanyard in our blog. We also have tips on how to laminate PVC ID card at home, how to make badge holders, how to make your own security badge, how to make event badges, how to make employee badges, why use photo ID badges for employees, and more.

Otherwise, it’s time to put what you’ve learned in this guide on how to make ID cards for students to the test and bring your cards to life today at CustomLanyard.net!

Final Thoughts on How to Print Student ID Cards

Learning how to print student ID cards is essential for streamlining the student experience on your campus while maintaining high-security standards. 

From the materials you choose to the design of your card, every step in how to make ID cards for students plays an important role in creating reliable, durable, and professional badges for your student body. 

So, what are you waiting for? Design your perfect student ID cards in just a few clicks at CustomLanyard.net today!