Students
Students
Acquire your Spartan Card today
As an incoming student, you are required to upload a photo for your Spartan Card no later than August 14, 2026.
Before uploading your photo, you can change your name on the front of your Spartan Card from your legal name to your chosen name by logging into student.msu.edu, click the My Profile tile then click the Personal details link. For questions or assistance in the chosen name process, use the Help Resources feature on student.msu.edu. For all other Spartan Card questions, contact the ID Office at idoffice@msu.edu.
Starting May 11, the “MSU ID Office” will send you an email inviting you to upload the photo for your Spartan Card. You must respond to the email from your MSU email address with your photo attached.
If the photo is not approved, you will receive an email stating the reason for disapproval. You must then reply to the rejection email with a new photo for your Spartan Card.
If the photo is approved, we will pre-print the card, and you are strongly encouraged to pick it up at our office — between June 1, 2026 and August 20, 2026 — before Fall Welcome.
Where: MSU ID Office, 427 N. Shaw Lane, room 170, inside the International Center
When: Monday – Friday, 8:00 a.m. – 4:45 p.m.
What to bring: Passport, US driver's license or US state ID, and your Student ID #. Digital IDs will not be accepted.
Spartan Cards will not be given to friends or family on behalf of a student.
Effective August 24 – August 27 (During Welcome to State week)
If you received a confirmation email of photo approval, but did not come to the ID Office by August 20, pick up your Spartan Card in Room 1201 in the STEM Building.
If you did not submit a photo, you must wait in line at the MSU ID Office to have your photo taken and card printed (expect long lines with one-to-two-hour waits).
Spartan Card Photo Criteria
When uploading your photo, you must adhere to the general criteria outlined below:
DO
Use a recent color photo in JPG format
Keep eyes open and visible
Use a light colored background
Center the photo and include a front view of the full face
Crop the image in a square just above the top of the head to the collarbone
Use good lighting
DON'T
Wear hats, graduation caps, sunglasses or other items that obscure your face
Include other objects or people in the photo submitted
Use patterns, texture or scenic backgrounds for your photo
Take photo in a car
Use images that have glare from glasses or heavy shadows
Use images that are overexposed or underexposed
Use photo filters