Middle and High School Student CharlieCards

Many middle and high schools in the Greater Boston area offer reduced fare CharlieCards to their students. Children 11 and under do not need reduced fare CharlieCards because they ride the T for free with a paying customer.
Are you a student or parent? Great! You’re in the right place. Stay on this page to learn more about where to get your card and how to use it.
Are you a school administrator? Visit our Pass Programs page to learn more about ordering cards and offering them to students.
College Student Semester Passes
Students at participating universities may be eligible for reduced MBTA fares through the Semester Pass Program.
About Student CharlieCards
Student CharlieCards offer year-round fare discounts to middle and high school students and are available through your school administrator.
Depending on your school district, you'll be given either an M7 card or an S-Card at the beginning of every school year. M7 cards are preloaded by schools with passes for the entire school year, while S-Cards need to be loaded with cash value or passes by students, parents, or guardians.
Note: Your middle or high school must be enrolled in the Student Pass Program in order to receive a Student CharlieCard. College students are not eligible for the Student Pass Program, though they can use the Semester Pass Program.
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M7 Card
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From September to June, passes are preloaded by schools
In July and August, load with cash value or passes as needed
Unlimited travel on the bus, subway, and Commuter Rail Zones 1A, 1, and 2
Valid for Commuter Rail Zones 3 – 10 for 50% the standard fare
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S-Card
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Year-round, load this card with cash value or passes as needed
$30.00 a month for unlimited travel on the bus and subway
Valid for all Commuter Rail zones for 50% the standard fare
Using Your Card
M7 Card
During the school year (September 1 – June 30), your monthly pass is automatically loaded onto your card.
In July and August, you can load it with cash value at:
- Fare vending machines
- Onboard fare boxes on buses and trolleys at street-level stops
- MBTA retail sales locations
- The CharlieCard Store at Downtown Crossing
Or passes at:
- Fare vending machines
- The CharlieCard Store at Downtown Crossing
S-Card
Load cash value to your S-Card at:
- Fare vending machines
- Onboard fare boxes on buses and trolleys at street-level stops
- MBTA retail sales locations
- The CharlieCard Store at Downtown Crossing
Or passes at:
- Fare vending machines
- The CharlieCard Store at Downtown Crossing
Note: You cannot add value or passes to your Student CharlieCard online.
When You’re Ready to Board
At subway stations, tap your card at the fare gate to enter. To board buses or trolleys at street-level stops, tap your card at the onboard fare box.
Note: If your card gets lost or damaged, contact your school administrator for a replacement.
Discounted monthly passes are not available for the Commuter Rail, but students can use their M7 or S-Card to pay half the standard one-way fare or pay half the standard price for 10-ride tickets.
M7 Card
During the school year (September 1 – June 30), show your pass to the conductor to travel in Commuter Rail Zones 1A, 1, and 2.
In July and August, or to travel to other zones, tap your card at a fare vending machine or show it at a ticket booth to pay 50% the standard one-way fare. Or, show your card to the conductor to buy your Commuter Rail ticket onboard in cash. Students may also use the mTicket app to purchase half-price Commuter Rail tickets or buy single-ride and round trip tickets at retail sales locations.
S-Card
Year-round, tap your card at a fare vending machine or show it at a ticket booth to pay 50% of the standard one-way fare. Or, show your card to the conductor to buy your Commuter Rail ticket onboard in cash or use the mTicket app to purchase half-price tickets. Students can also buy single-ride and round trip Commuter Rail tickets at retail sales locations.
Valid middle or high school ID
Show a valid middle or high school ID at a ticket booth or to the conductor to pay 50% of the standard one-way fare.
Note: if you purchase a ticket at a fare vending machine or ticket window, you may still be asked to show the conductor your M-7 Card, S-Card, or middle or high school ID on board.
M7 Cards and S-Cards
Discounted monthly passes are not available for the ferry, but students can show their M7 or S-Card at a ferry ticket booth to pay half the standard one-way fare or pay half the standard price for 10-ride tickets. Students may also use the mTicket app to purchase half-price tickets.
Valid middle or high school ID
Show a valid middle or high school ID at a ticket booth to pay 50% of the standard one-way fare.
Ferry validity
The Charlestown Inner Harbor Ferry and Hingham/Hull Commuter Ferry offer discounts on all trips.
Please note: The Salem and Winthrop ferries are operated seasonally by their respective municipalities. Please contact them directly using the links above for pricing and discount options.
Loading Your Card
You can load your card at fare vending machines, onboard fare boxes, and retail sales locations throughout Greater Boston, or buy tickets on mTicket.

At fare vending machines, you can add cash value or monthly passes to your Student CharlieCard:
- Tap your card on the target.
- Select the value or monthly pass that you want to add.
- Pay with cash/credit.
- Tap the card again to finish.
Fare vending machines are located at all subway stations, and at the Lynn and Worcester/Union Commuter Rail stations.
Most machines accept cash, major credit/debit cards, and EBT cards. Some machines only accept credit/debit/EBT cards and are marked to indicate that they don’t accept cash.

At street-level trolley stops and on a bus, you can add up to $20 cash value to your Student CharlieCard using the onboard fare box located at the front of the bus or subway car:
- Press the white button.
- Tap your card on the target.
- Insert cash or coins.
- Press the white button again.
- Tap the card again to finish.
At select stores throughout Greater Boston and Providence, you can load up to $30 cash value onto your CharlieCard and buy single-ride and round trip Commuter Rail tickets.
Cash and credit/debit cards are accepted. Some locations also accept EBT cards.
Enter your Student CharlieCard serial card number or valid Student ID number on the Reduced Fares page under the “My Account” section in your mTicket app. The reduced fare will then automatically appear when purchasing a ticket.
Planning Your Trip
Plan your trip to school with our trip planner tool–you can even tell it when you need to arrive so you aren’t late. Review your route options with a parent or guardian to choose the one that’s right for you.
While You Ride
To help make riding the T a pleasant experience for everyone, please follow our rider etiquette guide, and read our rules for bringing bikes on the T.
Be aware of your surroundings while on public transportation, follow our safety tips, and remember—if you see something, say something.
Frequently Asked Questions
For Students (and Parents)
Only children 11 and under who are accompanied by a paying customer ride the MBTA for free. (Up to 2 children per adult are allowed.)
If you’re a middle or high school student—or the parent of a student—interested in discounted MBTA passes, check with your school to see if it participates in the Student Pass Program. If it does not, send officials to our Pass Programs page to get more information.
The cost of a Student Pass depends on the type of pass used.
S-Cards are free, and students or parents can load passes or value to them to ride at reduced prices, or purchase a $30.00 monthly pass for unlimited travel on the subway and Local or Express buses.
M7 Passes come preloaded with passes from September to June, and they provide unlimited travel on the subway, Local or Express buses, and Commuter Rail Zones 1A, 1, and 2.
Contact your school administrator, who can report your pass lost or stolen.
Yes, your S-Card or M7 Pass will still work and offer access to reduced fares. M7 Passes function as S-Cards in July and August.
Schools do not cover the costs for July and August—students or parents must add value.
T-Alerts
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School Administrators
Find out how your school can sign up for the MBTA's institutional sales program.
College Student Semester Passes
Students at participating universities may be eligible for reduced MBTA fares through the Semester Pass Program.