for students
Deposit $100 in your Bear Bucks account and receive
a drawstring backpack FREE!
For Students
Welcome to KU! This page will be your one-stop shop for the 411 on your KU ID, Bear Bucks, and all the cool things your card gives you access to.
Uses of the card
Your KU One Card is the key to pretty much everything you need access to on campus, from door access to library privileges, from meal plans to Bear Bucks, so you should have it with you at all times. Here's an overview:
- Food:
Save 10% in the Academic Forum when you use Bear Bucks!
When you go to an on-campus dining hall for a meal, you have some choices on how to pay for your food.
- Meal plans: If you've purchased a meal plan, then you're eligible to visit a participating dining venue once during each meal period. Maroon meal plans can be used in all South Dining Hall venues and at Sporkz in the Academic Forum. Gold plans can be used anywhere on campus.
- Flex: If you get the munchies after that, or if you're ravenous and need a bigger meal than your allowance provides, then you can use your Dining Flex Dollars if you have them (Gold mealplans come with Flex). Keep in mind that Flex accounts are closed at the end of the academic year, so use it up!
- Bear Bucks: You can always use Bear Bucks in an on-campus dining hall, but you have lots more options, too. Order a pizza or a sandwich on the phone from an off-campus restaurant or just hit any campus vending machine.
Cash also works, but why carry it when you have so many options on your KU Card?. Just tell the cashier how you plan to pay and hand them your card.
- Banking:
When you open an account with PSECU, our on-campus banking partner, you have the option of using your KU ID Card as an ATM card. Just take your KU Card to PSECU's e-center in McFarland Student Union and ask them to encode it for you. Then you can use it at any PSECU ATM, including two on campus. It does not act as a PSECU debit card for purchases, however; to make purchases with your KU Card, just add Bear Bucks.
- Door Access:
All of our residence halls now have card access at the front doors.
- Admission to Activities:
From football games to voting, your card gets you access. When you go to the game, a swipe of your card gets you a free ticket. The same card gets you into the Rec Center for a workout and gets you a book from the library to read while you're on the treadmill.
- Transportation:
Our KU Shuttle runs three loops: two on-campus, so you'll never have to wait long for the next bus, and one off campus through town down to the Weis Markets shopping center and back. At night, a bus runs a single loop on- and off-campus to get you where you need to go. Just show the driver your card and you're good to go.
- Other purchases with Bear Bucks:
Bear Bucks is accepted at many on-campus and off-campus locations. Check out our Bear Bucks page for a complete list!