Student Reduced Fare

Student reduced fare is available to full-time students aged 7-20 years old enrolled in an elementary or high school. Ventra offers expanded student benefits as a new pilot funded by the Northern Illinois Transit Authority (NITA) Act. Now, students aged 7-20 are eligible for student fare of $0.75 at all times (including non-school hours) on the CTA system, Pace regular routes, and Pace On Demand, with the ability to transfer for free with their Student Ventra Card between CTA and Pace within two hours of the first tap. 

This page is for parents, guardians and students.
If you're a school administrator, see this page.

Student Ventra Cards

Students must have a Student Ventra Card to receive the Student Reduced Fare on CTA buses and trains. Many schools issue them. Learn more about how to get a card.

Student Ventra Cards, like regular Ventra Cards, can be loaded at vending machines, more than 1,000 retailers, online, in the Ventra app or by phone.

Using a Student Ventra Card to get the Student Reduced Fare

There are two ways to use a Student Ventra Card to get the Student Reduced Fare:

• Students can pay with their Student Ventra Card for train and bus fare with transit value.
• Students can pay in cash/coins on buses if they have their Student Ventra Card and ask the driver to pay a cash student fare. Bus drivers cannot give change and transfers are not available when paying this way.

Fare info for students

Student fare hours: CTA Student Reduced Fare is available, 24 hours/day 7 days/week for the duration of the school year and summer. This special student fare is available on CTA and Pace transit systems.

How to obtain a Student Ventra Card

Students attending Chicago Public Schools

Chicago Public Schools issue cards directly. See your school's administrator for information on how to get a card.

Students attending private or parochial schools

Students who attend non-CPS schools are also eligible for the program. Some schools issue cards directly. Check if your school is on this list:

List of schools that issue Student Ventra Cards, directly

• If your school issues cards directly, including all Chicago Public Schools, see your school's administrator for information on how to get a card.
   
• If your school does not issue cards directly, you can use this order form to order a card directly from us.
  New Student Ventra Card (for individuals)
  Replacement Student Ventra Card (for individuals)

Renewing student riding privileges

Don't throw your card away at the end of the school year/term! 

Cards last for up to five years, so you can keep using it once school ends. To have access to student fares re-enabled every year, you'll need to have privileges renewed. Here's how:

• If you attend a Chicago Public School, you don't need to do anything. Chicago Public Schools do this automatically.
   
• If your school issues cards directly, ask them to re-enable student fare on your existing card when your new school term begins.
   
• If your school does not issue cards, your parent/guardian can request student fare be re-enabled by sending in this order form: 
  Renew Student Reduced Fare Riding Privileges

Tips

Register your card

We strongly encourage parents and guardians to register Student Ventra Cards. Registration ensures balance protection in the event the card is lost, stolen or damaged.

Registering also provides online account management features (including the ability to reload value online or set cards up to automatically reload when the value gets low).

Additionally, you'll receive important messages about student fares.

Registration is quick and easy and can be done online at ventrachicago.com or by calling 1-877-NOW-VENTRA.

Card lost, stolen or damaged?

If your Ventra Student Card is lost, stolen or damaged, students can purchase a replacement card through their school.

• At schools that issue cards, including Chicago Public Schools, students will need to see their school's administrator for assistance and to buy a new card. If the old card was registered, parents can call 1-877-NOW-VENTRA to have remaining value moved to the new card.
• If the student’s school does not issue Ventra Student Cards, use the Replacement Student Ventra Card order form. The card will be mailed to the student’s school for pickup. If you registered, be sure to fill out the section that asks for the student card's transit ID (you can log into ventrachicago.com or call to retrieve this number).

Getting help

For more information, you can contact Ventra Customer Service at 1-877-NOW-VENTRA.