According to MSU’s website, Spartan Cash is the university’s official debit card program.

“No more scrounging for cash, carrying a stack of credit cards, writing checks or paying interest rates," the website says. 

Money can be deposited into a student’s account by family or friends using the student's personal identification number, or PID, attached to the account. MSU’s DineOn Gold and DineOn Platinum dining plans also come pre-loaded with Spartan Cash. 

With Spartan Cash accepted as a form of payment at several locations around East Lansing, students are catching on. Popular locations such as Blaze Pizza, Starbucks, Noodles and Company and more now allow students to pay for drinks or meals with Spartan Cash. 

Jenny Brousseau, a worker at Blaze Pizza, said that students come in and pay with Spartan Cash “multiple times a day." Brousseau also said Spartan Cash is a “favored” payment method at Blaze Pizza. 

While Spartan Cash is being accepted by many businesses throughout East Lansing, students are forming their own opinions about the debit plan. 

Freshman Drake McLaughlin has Spartan Cash, but said that he hasn't used it as a payment method. 

“I think it could be very helpful, obviously I haven’t used it yet, but I can definitely see where it could be helpful," McLaughlin said. 

Spartan Cash is stored on a student's MSU ID, and any unused funds left on it roll over from year to year.

More than 100 locations around East Lansing, including Sparty’s and other businesses, accept Spartan Cash.

Though Spartan Cash is used mainly to buy food products, it can be used for "textbooks, on and off-campus dining, sports and entertainment, and prescriptions and health services," as well.