What College Campuses Teach Us About Digital ID Adoption

Guest Essay – Rasheed Behrooznia, Senior Vice President & General Manager, Campus ID and Commerce, Transact Campus + CBORD

Digital IDs are transforming how people access, navigate, and interact with the world. From payments to access control, they offer unmatched convenience and security. Of course, this shift isn’t confined to campuses—14 states and Puerto Rico already offer mobile driver’s licenses (mDL), and another 11 states are rolling out similar initiatives, signaling the growing momentum of mobile-first identities nationwide. 

While adoption grows across industries, college campuses are leading the charge as they serve the first digital native generation—Gen Z—whose expectations for seamless, mobile-first experiences make campuses a proving ground for digital ID solutions with lessons that other industries can adopt. These students, who are natural digital adopters, expect seamless, mobile-first experiences, making higher education an ideal proving ground for digital IDs. By solving real-world challenges like security and efficiency for these forward-looking users, campuses offer valuable lessons that IT professionals in other industries can use to meet evolving consumer demands and modernize systems. They offer industries a playbook for improving user experiences and simplifying daily life.

For industries working to enhance user experience, streamline operations, and strengthen security, here are four lessons from the campuses leading the way:

1. Build for the User Experience

Adoption happens when technology solves real pain points and fits into users’ lives.

Gen Z is ditching physical wallets. A PYMNTS study found that 79 percent of Gen Z consumers use digital wallets, with 78 percent eager to store more than payment information, such as IDs and event tickets. Transact research echoes this: 70 percent of students say carrying a physical ID is frustrating.

At the University of Alabama, students themselves drove the shift to digital IDs, with the Student Government Association issuing a resolution to improve ID access. One administrator noted, “What we thought was convenient as an administrator was not what our student population thought was convenient.” Listening to end users revealed the real need.

Colleges embed digital IDs into smartphones and wearables, enabling students to unlock dorms, access fitness centers, and pay for meals with a tap. The experience feels seamless because it meets students where they are—on their phones.

At Penn State, more than 25,000 students, faculty and staff adopted digital IDs within the first semester. One student summed it up: “I’m so busy—I don’t want to carry my wallet. Tapping my phone or watch is just easier.”

But even the best-designed solutions need active promotion to reach their full potential. That’s where engagement strategies come in.

2. Drive Adoption Through Engagement

Technology succeeds when people use it.

At Penn State, a multi-channel campaign drove adoption of digital IDs, showcasing strategies that other industries can replicate to engage users and drive adoption at scale. A multi-faceted campaign using social media, banners, and clear instructions built excitement and drove results. On the first day alone, 13,000 students signed up, leading to an impressive 84 percent adoption rate in just over a year.

Peer influence played a key role, as students saw classmates tapping phones to enter dorms or pay for meals and quickly followed suit, driving further adoption.

The lesson: Promoting new technology is as critical as designing it. With 77 percent of users who explore non-transactional digital wallet features reporting high satisfaction, active promotion ensures users recognize the full value of solutions like digital IDs. Organizations must prioritize awareness, education, and clear communication to drive uptake.

3. Eliminate Inefficiencies with Integrated Solutions

Digital IDs do more than enhance user experience—they solve operational bottlenecks.

Outdated systems like plastic IDs and physical keys create inefficiencies that cost time and resources. Colleges have tackled these challenges by integrating digital IDs into campus-wide ecosystems, simplifying everything from move-in day to dining hall entry.

At the University of Alabama, administrators emphasized how the ROI on digital IDs quickly justified the upfront investment. Cost savings on card replacements and lock maintenance freed up resources, while shorter wait times at dining halls improved student satisfaction.

Mobile technology reduces pain points for users while delivering efficiency for organizations, creating efficiencies that ripple across operations. Yet, no operational improvement can succeed without trust. Security remains a top priority, especially as institutions transition to digital ecosystems.

4. Prioritize Security Without Sacrificing Usability

Security is paramount, but it shouldn’t come at the cost of simplicity.

Physical ID cards are prone to loss, theft, and duplication. In contrast, NFC-enabled digital IDs offer multi-layered security through encryption and biometric authentication, ensuring users can access dorms, pay for meals, and attend campus events without worry. If a student loses their phone, their digital ID can be deactivated remotely, protecting sensitive personal information. These advancements align with the modern need for cybersecurity while enhancing usability for today’s tech-savvy students.

What’s more, this level of security is invisible to the user. Students enjoy the simplicity of tapping their phones while benefiting from advanced protection against misuse. As campuses balance security and usability, they set a high bar for what digital credentials should deliver.

A Roadmap for Digital ID Success

Digital IDs are more than just convenient—they’re a strategic investment in the future, addressing an array of critical challenges like security, compliance, and operational efficiency, offering insights that IT professionals across industries can apply to modernize their systems and address common challenges. College campuses like Penn State and Alabama provide a vital testing ground, showing how thoughtful design, user engagement, and operational efficiency can make mobile credentials integral to everyday life. 

Outside higher education, digital IDs are gaining traction. Hospitality, workplaces, and government services are adopting digital IDs to modernize interactions. 

The upcoming REAL ID Act implementation in May 2025 will accelerate adoption, addressing key needs for IT professionals in other industries, such as enhancing compliance and improving ID security for federal access. With 41 percent of U.S. consumers expecting to use their digital wallets for identity verification in the next few years, digital IDs are positioned to meet these rising demands, if they are implemented correctly. 

For organizations aiming to stay ahead of the curve, the message is clear. Digital IDs that solve real problems with secure, seamless experiences will be embraced with enthusiasm. Nearly three million higher education students have adopted digital IDs as of 2024, and Gen Z will soon bring those mobile-first habits and expectations into workplaces and society.  

As digital IDs become integral to daily life, the lessons from college campuses are paving the way for a future where secure, convenient, and inclusive digital identities reshape how we live, work, and interact globally.

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Rasheed Behrooznia is the Senior Vice President & General Manager for Campus ID and Commerce, Transact Campus + CBORD