Skip to main content
Menu
HomeFares OverviewCollege Student Semester Passes

College Student Semester Passes

Riders at fare gates

Most colleges and universities in Greater Boston offer their students discounted MBTA fares on Semester Passes. You can use these unlimited passes all semester long to get to class, head to work, or catch up with friends. 

Check with your school’s student affairs or transportation office to find out how you can get one.

Are you a college student or parent? Great! You’re in the right place. Stay on this page to learn more about where to get your pass and how to use it.

Are you a university administrator? Visit our Pass Programs page to learn more about ordering passes and offering them to students.

About Semester Passes

When you get a pass through the semester program, you get an 11% fare discount. Some schools offer even bigger discounts.

Your CharlieCard or CharlieTicket arrives loaded with the Semester Pass of your choice, depending on which mode of transit you take the most: 

  • Semester LinkPass: Unlimited travel on subway and local bus
  • Semester Commuter Rail Pass: Unlimited travel on the Commuter Rail (up to the zone distance purchased), plus unlimited subway and local bus trips 

We also offer bus-only passes and ferry passes. 

See all passes and prices

For bus and subway passes, you’ll get a CharlieCard that is active for the entire semester. 

For Commuter Rail and ferry passes, you’ll get a new CharlieTicket each month.

Participating Colleges and Universities

The following colleges and universities in Greater Boston (more than 40!) offer Semester Passes for students. See if your school participates:

Planning a Trip

Find out how you can take the T to class or work with our trip planner. You can even tell it when you need to arrive so you aren't late.

Plan a trip

T-Alerts

Stay informed. Get alerts about service delays and elevator/escalator outages by text or email.

Sign up for T-Alerts

Frequently Asked Questions

For Students (and Parents)

Take the T

If it’s been a while since you’ve taken the T, you may notice some changes on your first trip back—we've updated service schedules to reflect new travel patterns, introduced more flexible fare passes, and enhanced cleaning protocols throughout the system.

Learn more in our student toolkit

School Administrators

Find out how your school can sign up for the MBTA's institutional sales program.

Semester Pass Program

Semester Passes are prepaid by the college or university for use during the school year.
University Pass Program

University Passes are billed monthly for use throughout the entire year. Schools are only billed for the rides students take.

Planning a Trip

Find out how you can take the T to class or work with our trip planner. You can even tell it when you need to arrive so you aren't late.

Plan a trip

T-Alerts

Stay informed. Get alerts about service delays and elevator/escalator outages by text or email.

Sign up for T-Alerts

Take the T

If it’s been a while since you’ve taken the T, you may notice some changes on your first trip back—we've updated service schedules to reflect new travel patterns, introduced more flexible fare passes, and enhanced cleaning protocols throughout the system.

Learn more in our student toolkit