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College Student Transit Passes in US Cities

In many US cities your student ID already is a bus pass, or your college sells one far below the public price. Here is how it works city by city.

Published October 23, 2026

Free or already paid through your college

CityWhoHow
Ann ArborUniversity of Michigan studentsFree on TheRide buses with a yellow Mcard
ColumbusOhio State main-campus studentsUnlimited COTA with BuckID, paid by a fee on your account
St. LouisWashU full-time studentsFree U-Pass, renewed each semester
ClevelandTri-C studentsFree U-Pass sticker
NashvilleVanderbilt studentsFree WeGo buses through the QuickTicket app
Salt Lake CityUniversity of Utah studentsFree UTA buses, TRAX, FrontRunner and S-Line with the UCard
BoulderTuition-paying CU Boulder studentsFree RTD buses and light rail in all zones, incl. SkyRide to Denver airport
Champaign-UrbanaUniversity of Illinois studentsFree MTD rides with the i-card or UI electronic ID
BerkeleyUC Berkeley studentsBayPass on 24 Bay Area systems incl. BART, via a $236 semester transit fee
MadisonUW–Madison students who paid the segregated feeUnlimited Madison Metro and BRT with the student bus pass
Chapel HillEveryoneChapel Hill Transit has been fare-free since 2002
GainesvilleUF and Santa Fe College studentsFree RTS city routes with Gator 1 or Santa Fe ID
CincinnatiEligible University of Cincinnati studentsUC Metro Pass in the Transit app: free on all Metro fixed routes
SacramentoSacramento State studentsFree SacRT buses and light rail with the OneCard and semester sticker, paid through fees
MilwaukeeMost UW–Milwaukee studentsFree U-Pass with unlimited MCTS rides for the semester
RaleighNC State studentsFree GoPass for GoRaleigh and GoTriangle (valid to 30 June 2027); GoCary, GoDurham and Chapel Hill Transit are fare-free
LawrenceUniversity of Kansas studentsKU on Wheels and Lawrence buses free with a valid KU card
DavisUC Davis undergraduatesUnitrans and YoloBus free with a physical student ID; grad students pay ($34 a month)
EugeneUO, Lane CC and Pacific studentsLTD free with a yearly code in the Umo app or on a tap card
IthacaCornell, Ithaca College, TC3TCAT free for new Cornell students and IC; all Cornell students free evenings and weekends; OmniRide $200 a year
BloomingtonIndiana UniversityBloomington Transit fare-free with a physical Crimson Card or Umo code
State CollegePenn StateCATA RIDEpass $24 a month (2026–27)
College StationTexas A&M, BlinnAggie Spirit and Brazos Transit free with student ID
AmesIowa StateCyRide free with ISUCard once fees are paid
BlacksburgVirginia TechBlacksburg Transit fare free; Smart Way to Roanoke free with Hokie Passport
LincolnNebraskaStarTran free for students via the Token Transit app
CharlottesvilleUVACAT and the Free Trolley currently free for everyone
East LansingMichigan StateEight free-fare CATA campus routes
West LafayettePurdueCampus Transit free (FlexiGo app); CityBus semester pass $155
KnoxvilleTennesseeKAT city buses free with VolCard; T Bus free
TallahasseeFlorida StateStarMetro and Seminole Express free with FSUCard
LexingtonKentuckyCampus buses and Lextran free with Wildcat ID
Athens (GA)GeorgiaUGA Campus Transit and Athens Transit currently fare-free
NormanOklahomaCART free for OU students, faculty and staff
Iowa CityIowaCambus has no fare for anyone; Iowa City Transit was fare-free through June 2026
Fort CollinsColorado StateTransfort fare-free for everyone, including MAX and FLEX
TucsonArizonaSun Tran and Sun Link free at our check; U-Pass sales paused
ProvoBYUUTA buses, TRAX, FrontRunner and UVX free with BYU ID (not ski buses)
BoiseBoise StateValley Regional Transit free with a Bronco Card sticker
Columbia (MO)MizzouGo COMO fare-free for now; fares may return
Fayetteville (AR)ArkansasRazorback Transit fare-free for everyone
MorgantownWVUPRT and Mountain Line free with WVU ID
ClemsonClemsonCATbus fare-free for everyone
SyracuseSyracuseCentro Sy140, Sy240, Sy340 free with SU ID

From each university’s or transit agency’s own site, checked 9–12 October 2026.

Discounted college passes

CityPassPrice
MiamiCollege Monthly Pass (full-time students in Miami-Dade)$56.25 a month (regular $112.50)
St. LouisCollege Semester Pass (full-time, 12+ credits)$175 a semester
MinneapolisMetro Transit College Pass (sold by schools)$165 or less a semester
San DiegoSDSU Fall 2026 Semester Pass$154
ClevelandCase Western U-Pass$50 (undergrad) or $70 (graduate) fee a semester
NashvilleTennessee State University WeGo pass$30 a year
HoustonMETRO Discount Fare Card for studentsHalf price: $0.60 a ride
PortlandPortland State TriMet Student Transit Pass$150 a term (Streetcar free with PSU ID)
Tempe/PhoenixASU U-Pass for Valley Metro buses and light rail$150 a year ($75 after 1 January)

Free for everyone, or for younger students

  • Richmond: all GRTC buses are zero fare.
  • Denver: everyone 19 and under rides RTD free, which covers many first-year students.
  • Baltimore: the Charm City Circulator is always free. Detroit: the QLINE streetcar is free.

How to check what you already have

  1. Look at your student account statement for a transit or U-Pass fee: if you pay it, use the pass.
  2. Search your university’s parking and transportation page for "U-Pass" or "transit pass".
  3. Check the dates: many passes must be picked up or renewed each semester.
  4. Compare with a monthly pass if your school has no program.

Students also ask

Do college students ride the bus free?

In some cities, yes: for example University of Michigan students in Ann Arbor and WashU students in St. Louis. Elsewhere your college may sell a discounted pass.

What is a U-Pass?

A transit pass that a college buys for its students, often paid through a fee on the student account.

Is there a student discount on public transit in Houston?

Yes. Students ride for half price with a METRO Discount Fare Card.

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