Middle and High School Student CharlieCards

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.

Students can use their M7 or S-Card for reduced one-way fares and monthly passes on the Commuter Rail.

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 for 50% off standard one-way fares and passes. 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, use your S-Card for 50% off standard one-way fares and monthly passes:

• On board (show your card to the conductor)
• At ticket windows (show your card to ticket window staff)
• At fare vending machines (tap your card to pay 50% of the standard one-way fare or purchase a monthly pass)
• Retail sales locations (show your card to the cashier)
• mTicket: Enter your card serial card number on the Reduced Fares page under the “My Account” section in your mTicket app. The reduced fare will then automatically appear.

Valid middle or high school ID 

Show a valid middle or high school ID at a ticket booth or to the conductor for reduced Commuter Rail fares.

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

Students can show their M7 or S-Card at a ferry ticket booth for 50% off one-way fares and monthly passes. Students may also use the mTicket app to purchase half-price tickets.

Students can show their M7 card for free rides on the East Boston Ferry. The M7 card functions like an S-Card on all other ferries, providing 50% off.

Valid middle or high school ID 

Show a valid middle or high school ID at a ticket booth to pay 50% off one-way fares and monthly passes.

Ferry validity

The Charlestown Inner Harbor Ferry, East Boston 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.

Learn more about where you can take a ferry
 

At fare vending machines, you can add cash value or monthly passes to your Student CharlieCard:

1. Tap your card on the target.
2. Select the value or monthly pass that you want to add.
3. Pay with cash/credit.
4. 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:

1. Press the white button.
2. Tap your card on the target.
3. Insert cash or coins.
4. Press the white button again.
5. 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.

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 reduced MBTA one-way fares or passes, check with your school to see if it participates in the Student Pass Program. If it does not, send your school officials to our Pass Programs page to get more information about how to sign up and order Student CharlieCards.

The cost of a Student CharlieCard depends on the type of pass ordered by schools.

S-Cards are ordered for free, and students or parents can load value to them to ride at reduced one-way prices, or purchase $30.00 monthly or $10 7-Day LinkPasses for unlimited travel on the subway and Local or Express buses.

M7 Cards come preloaded with monthly passes from September to June and are paid by schools, and they provide unlimited travel on the subway, Local or Express buses, and Commuter Rail Zones 1A, 1, and 2.

Students with a Homeschool Approval Letter from their school district’s Superintendent’s Office are eligible for a Student CharlieCard and can place a request for either an M7 or S-Card.

Request a Student CharlieCard

Please contact your school’s office about how you can get an M7 Card. If you are having trouble getting a card through your school, contact the Boston Public Schools (BPS) Transportation Department:

• BPS Transportation
• 617-635-9520
• Schoolbus@bostonpublicschools.org

You can encourage your school to sign up for the Student Pass Program to order S-Cards for free or M7 Cards for $30 each.

Contact your school administrator, who can report your pass lost or stolen and issue you a new card.

Yes. Stored value or passes on an old Student CharlieCard (M7 or S-Card) can be transferred onto a new Student CharlieCard at the CharlieCard Store, including the balance on an expired card. You'll need both your old and new card serial numbers with you to make the transfer.

Keep in mind that while the CharlieCard Store is able to transfer value and passes to a Student CharlieCard, they are not able to issue cards. You must get your new or replacement card from your school.

Note: The CharlieCard Store will not replace passes that have expired.

Yes, your S-Card or M7 Card will still work and offer access to reduced fares. M7 Cards function as S-Cards in July and August.

Schools do not cover the costs for M7 monthly passes in July and August—students or parents must add value or passes during these months.