Make sure you keep your DragonCard on you at all times, like if you need to check out a laptop or charger at the library.

This DragonCard is your life. Don’t lose it.

OK, that was dramatic. But seriously. That little blue and yellow card is vital to your life on Drexel University’s campus, so make sure you always have it with you (it's a $20 fee to replace it), whether it’s in your wallet or on a lanyard — though you shouldn't poke a hole in it. Aside from getting into buildings and getting food, your DragonCard can get you a bunch of other benefits, too.

The basics:

Of course, you need your DragonCard to get into buildings, including your residence hall. You also use it to get into the Drexel Recreation Center and to check things out at the library, like books, DVDs, course materials, laptops and chargers.

In addition, you can use your DragonCard to print at the W.W. Hagerty Library, either from your laptop or phone or from a mobile printing station. To print from your laptop or phone, sign in on the mobile printing site, upload your document and print. You pay at the printer using your DragonCard, and it’s $0.10 per black and white page and $0.25 per color page.

You also use your DragonCard to get food on your Dining Plan. Meal swipes can be used at the all-you-care-to-eat locations Handschumacher Dining Center and Urban Eatery. There are also dining dollars built into your meal plan that you can use to buy food at Northside Dining Terrace, which includes Chick-fil-A, Local Restaurant Row, AFC Sushi and The Market, as well as ThirtyOne41 in Main Building and the Starbucks in Gerri C. LeBow Hall.

Your DragonCard gets you into the Recreation Center, and you can rent sports equipment with it, too.

What you might not have realized:

Of course, you use your DragonCard to get into the Recreation Center, where you can use Drexel’s climbing wall, fitness track, group fitness classes and various workout equipment. But you can also use it to check out some fitness equipment, including balls for various sports, ping pong paddles, squash and tennis rackets, frisbees and weight belts.

Students also have access to the Daskalakis Athletic Center, where the swimming pool is; Buckley Field, the tennis courts and wellness programming.

If you need to get somewhere on or off campus, you can also use your DragonCard to hop on the shuttle. There is a Center City loop that runs on weekdays and a Powelton/Spring Garden route that runs daily. The University also has an agreement with the University of Pennsylvania to allow Drexel students to ride their fixed campus route free of charge.

Drexel students can get into the Academy of Natural Sciences of Drexel University for free with a DragonCard. 

Outside of campus:

There’s a big wide world outside of Drexel’s campus, but luckily, your DragonCard can make it a little cheaper to experience. Several retailers offer discounts when you show a student ID. In Philly, you can visit J. Crew, Aeropostale and Kate Spade for 15 percent off, while Nike offers 10 percent off. The latter three stores are in the Fashion District, while J. Crew is near Rittenhouse Square.

There are also several cultural experiences that offer discounted or free entry to university students who show a valid student ID. The Academy of Natural Sciences of Drexel University is free, as is the Institute of Contemporary Art, while the Barnes Foundation is free every first Sunday and $5 otherwise. The Philadelphia Museum of Art is pay-what-you-wish every Friday after 5 p.m. and $14 otherwise. The Kimmel Center offers select shows for $10 for students. The University City Cinemark movie theater, the Phillies and the Flyers all have discounted student tickets, too.