DragonCard Discounts Drexel Students Should Know

You probably already know you should have your DragonCard on you at all times to get into buildings on campus, use your dining plan and enter your dorm. But where else could you be going with the help of your student ID? There are a myriad of discounts and free things on campus and around Philadelphia that you can unlock with your DragonCard or sometimes, your student email. Campus Philly, which works to get students acquainted with the Philadelphia region, aggregates discounts and free things students at all area colleges can get.

Read on for ways to save money and have fun. This probably isn’t an exhaustive list — who knows what else that little blue and yellow card can get you? When attending a museum, buying a ticket or even making a big purchase, it could be worth inquiring about any discounts you might get. Go forth and experience the city!

Free things on campus

Checking out library books and more

Need a specific book for class, one for fun, a laptop or other item? The W.W. Hagerty Library (with the help of your DragonCard) has got you. Of course, you can easily check out books for research or leisure and keep them for up to six months. Beyond books, the library offers laptops, chargers, DVDs, projectors, headphones, adapters — if you need some tech, there’s a chance they have it for you. Loan periods vary for items other than books, so avoid late fees by staying aware of how long you can use something.

Additionally, there are other ways to access resources through the library as a member of the Drexel community without your physical DragonCard. You can read newspapers and journals for free, from sources like the Philadelphia Inquirer, Financial Times, Chronicle of Higher Education and many more.

Swipe your DragonCard to get into UREC. 

Using the Drexel University Recreation Center

Want to get a workout in, go for a swim or shoot some hoops? Undergraduate students are automatically included as members (graduate students should contact Member Services for more information) of the Drexel University Recreation Center (Drexel URec), which includes a gym, pool, climbing wall, indoor track, gymnasium and squash courts — scan your card, and you’re in.

If you want something more structured, your DragonCard will also give you access to Drexel URec’s group fitness classes. Classes include spin, yoga, Zumba and more. The schedule changes quarterly, and it’s recommended that you sign up before class to secure a spot. Drexel URec is open until 11 p.m. on weekdays and 10 p.m. on weekends. Hours may vary for facilities, so check before you go.

Drexel bus service

When boarding these free shuttles, present your DragonCard and tap it on the blue reader at the front of the bus.

There are three dedicated routes that Drexel shuttles offer: the Dragon Route, which goes around Center City; the Powelton/Spring Garden Route, which stops at the Vidas Athletic Center; and the Queen Lane Route, an express service that serves that campus. Drexel also has a reciprocity agreement with the University of Pennsylvania, so Drexel students can use those routes, too. You can also keep track of arrivals and departures with the Drexel Transit app, powered by TripShot.

Tickets to Drexel Athletics games and events

Students can access free tickets for Drexel’s Division I men’s and women’s sporting events like basketball, soccer, tennis, men’s wrestling and more. Head to the Daskalakis Athletic Center (DAC) and show your DragonCard at the Drexel Athletics Ticket Office, or access tickets online through a portal. When you attend, make sure to cheer loudly for your fellow Dragons!

On-campus things that cost money

Using Dragon Dollars

Load funds onto your DragonCard and use it like a debit card! There are several restaurants, retail locations and even vending machines to use your Dragon Dollars, including any of the Saxbys locations on campus, Greek From Greece, Rally House and more. You can even use Dragon Dollars to pay for printing at the W.W. Hagerty Library.

Bring your DragonCard to Landmark Americana to get 50% off weekend brunch. 

Landmark Americana brunch menu

Located right next to the DAC on Market Street, this restaurant offers 50% off their brunch menu for those who show a student ID every Saturday and Sunday from 11 a.m. to 3 p.m.

Off-campus free stuff

Academy of Natural Sciences of Drexel University

Located along the Benjamin Franklin Parkway, this museum is part of Drexel and it’s the oldest natural sciences institution in the country. You can attend from 10 a.m. to 5 p.m. Friday through Saturday by showing your DragonCard.

Penn Museum

From 3–5 p.m. on Tuesdays through Fridays, show your DragonCard to get free admission to this nearby museum that explore 10,000 years of human history.

This part isn’t free, but still a good deal: DragonCard holders can get the same discount as Penn Card holders do in the museum’s shop, with 15% off full-price items. Additionally, this December, you’ll get an additional 10% off as well.

Art Museum membership

Student memberships are now free at the Philadelphia Art Museum — just show your student ID and Drexel email at the admissions desk, and you’ll be set for a year.

Off-campus discounts

While many things off campus don’t require your DragonCard, you can still get lots of discounts for being a college student while shopping for groceries, clothes or things to do. The Philadelphia Flyers offer student rush tickets; if you sign up with your Drexel email, you’ll get notified about discounted seats 24–48 hours in advance. You can also get student rush tickets for Arden Theatre Co., and you have to purchase the $15 tickets in person with your student ID.

Students can also get discounted train tickets for Amtrak, with 15% off on tickets booked one day in advance. Through Drexel, you can get discounts on SEPTA and NJ Transit. Full-time students can get 15% and 25% off, respectively, on monthly passes for the services if you purchase them through DrexelOne.

For a little financial help with college, students can also receive discounts on computers and technology thanks to being at Drexel. You can access online storefronts for Dell, Apple and CDW-G for discounted prices, and once you’ve got your device, Drexel offers a myriad of free and discounted software to help you succeed.