Middle and High Schools: Help Your Students Save
The T works with middle and high schools to offer students year-round discounted MBTA fares and passes for the bus, subway, Express Bus, Commuter Rail, and ferry.
Through our Student Pass Program, middle and high schools can sign up to provide reduced fare Student CharlieCards to their students and cover the costs and/or order cards for free and have families pay for them.
Are you a school administator? Keep reading to learn how you can sign up for the program and order cards.
Are you a parent or student? Visit our Student CharlieCards page to learn more about Student CharlieCards and how to get one through your school’s administrator.
Student CharlieCard Types
S-Cards
Schools can order S-Cards for free. S-Cards can be loaded with cash value for reduced fares or used to purchase $30.00 monthly passes or $10 7-Day passes for unlimited travel on the bus and subway. Students can also show their card to get half-price Commuter Rail and ferry tickets and passes, printed on a CharlieTicket. S-Cards remain active from September 1 to August 31.
M7 Passes
Schools can order M7 Passes for $30.00 a month per pass assigned/used from September through June. These cards are good for unlimited travel on the subway, bus, and Commuter Rail Zones 1A, 1, and 2. During July and August, M7 Passes convert to S-Cards, offering the same discounts but must have value or passes added to them by students/parents.
Registration
Only school administrators can sign up to order Student CharlieCards. Students and parents, check with your school to see if it participates.
Administrators, you’ll use an online portal to sign up, place orders, and manage Student CharlieCards.
Frequently Asked Questions
Student CharlieCards
For School Administrators
Yes, payment information is required during the registration process, regardless of which card type (S-Card or M7) the school intends to order. Schools are invoiced for M7s the following month based on the number of M7s assigned/used.
Schools may select 1 super-user and as many administrators as needed.
- The super-user can perform any function on the site, including changing financial information, changing billing or shipping address information, or creating accounts for other staff.
- Pass Administrators, added by the super-user, can place or make modifications to an order and manage Student CharlieCards.
No. Student CharlieCards are effective all year. Schools can order additional cards at any point (up to 100% of the school’s total enrollment number) for new students, replacement cards, etc.
Their card should be removed from your account. Select “CharlieCard Management” and search for the card assigned to the student. Set the card status to "Remove from Account."
Note: Schools will be invoiced for any M7 Pass still active after the 15th of the month.
Only the listed super-user may change the shipping address/payment form. Under “Account Management,” select “Billing/Shipping” to edit your school’s address.
Yes. Select “CharlieCard Management,” and you can view a roster of assigned cards and search for specific students.
Reduced Fares
Some customers are eligible for reduced fares or can ride the T for free.
About Your Order
After creating a Student Pass Program account, login and select “CharlieCard Management” and then “Order New Cards.” Select how many M7 Passes and/or S-Cards you need, up to 100% of the school’s total enrollment number. Schools are not charged for S-Cards and are invoiced for M7s the following month based on the number of M7s assigned/used.
Schools can order both S-Cards and M7 Passes up to 100% of the school’s total enrollment number and assign these cards as desired. Schools are not charged for S-Cards and are invoiced for M7 Passes the following month based on the number of M7s assigned/used.
Payment may be made by Check, ACH, or Paymode. ACH payments will process on the 16th of the month. Schools using Paymode or a check must send their payments before the 15th of each month. Schools are invoiced for M7s the following month based on the number of M7s assigned/used.
Checks should be made payable to MBTA Student Pass Program and mailed to:
Student Lock Box
PO BOX 847894
Boston, MA 02284-7894
Note: Although overnight shipments are not accepted by the lock box, USPS Priority will typically deliver the next day.
Orders for the next school year can be placed after July 5. Orders placed between July 5 and August 30 will arrive no later than September 1. Any orders placed after August 30 will be mailed in 1-2 business days. During the academic school year, orders placed before 3 PM will be delivered the next business day. The T will ship cards directly to your office.
Assign cards to students by selecting “CharlieCard Management” and then “Activate Cards.” Contact StudentPassProgram@mbta.com to report any cards listed on the packing slip but not received within 5 business days.
Note: You will be invoiced for M7 Passes that have been assigned. The school is responsible for unauthorized activity on any unassigned cards.
Yes, in case they need to be replaced. Unassigned S-Cards, for example, are ineligible for replacement.
Yes. In the “Review Current Order” section, click on “Order Roster Uploader.” Follow the instructions for using the import/export tool, or view the sample template to create your own spreadsheet to enter the information.
Replacement options depend on the pass type and whether it has been assigned by the school administrator.
Eligible:
- M7 Passes loaded with a monthly pass and assigned
- S-Cards loaded with a monthly pass, assigned, and lost during the school year (September-June)
Not eligible:
- Unassigned S-Cards
- S-Cards loaded with stored value
- S-Cards lost during the summer (July-August)
Passes loaded on S-Cards will only be replaced between the 1st and the 15th of the month, and only one replacement is allowed per month.
To replace a lost, stolen, or damaged pass:
On the Student Pass Program website, select “CharlieCard Management” and then “Report Lost/Damaged Card.” Enter the lost card’s serial number and select “Submit.” Select a new, unassigned card from the dropdown menu to assign it to the student. If no replacements cards are available, click on the link to order a new card.
Note: You cannot order additional student cards unless all cards have been assigned.
Learn More
Download the Student Pass Program User Guide
Contact
For questions or comments, send an email to StudentPassProgram@mbta.com or call 617-222-5710.
Student CharlieCards
Reduced Fares
Some customers are eligible for reduced fares or can ride the T for free.