College and University Semester Pass Administrators
The T is working with school administrators to provide 11% discounts on MBTA passes for students through the Semester Pass Program. Monthly or semester-long options for prepaid passes that offer unlimited travel by bus, subway, Commuter Rail, and/or ferry are available.
Degree-granting colleges and universities with full-time course loads can offer the program to part-time or full-time students.
- Bay State College
- Benjamin Franklin Institute of Technology
- Berklee College of Music
- Boston Architectural College
- Boston College
- Boston University
- Bridgewater State University
- Bunker Hill Community College
- College for Social Innovation
- Curry College
- Emerson College
- Emmanuel College
- Endicott College
- Fisher College
- Harvard University
- Harvard Graduate School of Arts and Sciences
- Harvard Divinity Schoo
- Harvard Graduate School of Education
- Harvard Kennedy School
- Harvard Law School
- Harvard Medical School
- Harvard School of Dental Medicine
- Harvard T.H. Chan School of Public Health
- Harvard University Graduate School of Design
- Hebrew College
- Lasell College
- Lesley University
- Longy School of Music of Bard College
- Massachusetts College of Art and Design
- Massachusetts Institute of Technology
- MCPHS University
- MGH Institute of Health Professions
- New England Conservatory
- New England College of Optometry
- New England School of Law
- North Bennet Street School
- Northeastern University
- Quincy College
- Roxbury Community College
- Salem State University
- Simmons College
- Stonehill College
- Suffolk University Boston
- Suffolk University Law School
- Tufts University
- University of Massachusetts Boston
- Wentworth Institute of Technology
Register Here
You’ll use an online portal to sign up, place orders, and manage the program.
Already a Semester Pass administrator?
Are you a college student?
Students in Greater Boston can receive discounted MBTA fares on Semester Passes. You can use these unlimited passes all semester long to get to class, head to work, or catch up with friends.
Semester Pass Options
Universities can provide students with CharlieCards and CharlieTickets.
CharlieCards
- For bus and subway
- Provided prior to the start of the semester
- Valid for an entire semester
CharlieTickets
- For Commuter Rail and ferry
- Provided monthly
- Valid for a month after distribution
Note: CharlieCards and Tickets are issued by school adminstrators. The MBTA is not responsible for student distribution.
Passes are distributed based on a four to five month basis. Students can choose from the following:
- September - December (4-month pass)
- October - January (4-month pass)
- January - April (4-month pass)
- January - May (5-month pass)
- February - May (4-month pass)
Schools may choose to offer the program to full-time and part-time students. Eligibility for the program is up to the discretion of school administrators.
Account Management
There are two types of Semester Pass Program administrator accounts:
Super-user
- Can change financial, billing, and shipping address information or create accounts for other school staff.
- School staff can only assign one super-user.
Administrator
- Are assigned to their roles by super-users.
- Can place or change orders, register new student accounts but cannot change financial or billing and shipping information.
- School staff can assign as many administrators as needed.
Only the listed super-user may change the shipping address/payment form. Under “Account Management,” select “Billing/Shipping” to edit your school’s address.
Note: Any change of address should be done before 11:59 PM EST on the 15th of the month preceding the start of the semester.
We encourage school staff to upload their student rosters into the Semester Pass Program portal via spreadsheet or text file. You can view a roster of assigned cards and search for specific students in “CharlieCard Management.”
Uploading a roster allows you to keep track of assignments and make card replacements easier.
Placing Your Order
School administrators can place orders and manage their accounts on the pass program portal.
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Step 1: Place order and submit student information
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Submit your order in the program portal by the 15th of the month before the start of the semester.
You can submit student information as a spreadsheet or text file. Visit “CharlieCard Management” in the program portal to learn more.
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Step 2: Confirm and finalize order and pass assignments
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Confirm your new CharlieCards under “CharlieCard Management.”
Once all new CharlieCards are confirmed, you can assign them to students by selecting “Assign CharlieCards On Hand.”
Orders are fulfilled by the 27th of the month before the start of the semester.
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Step 3: Review your order
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After the 15th of the month, you can review your order by selecting “Review Current Order.”
CharlieCards for bus and subway passes must be reported on the Semester Pass Program portal. You can report a lost card under the “CharlieCard Management” tab by selecting “Report Lost/Damaged Card.”
There are no replacement options for CharlieTickets for Commuter Rail and ferry travel.
Note: Refunds and exchanges are not permitted.
Overordering passes at the start of the semester is standard practice to allow leeway for unpredictable enrollment. To return extra passes:
- Designate which passes you wish to return in the “CharlieCard Management.”
- Choose “Return CharlieCards” or “Return CharlieTickets” and then “CharlieTicket Management.
- Ship passes back with the packing slip that will be ready to print from the portal under “Current Order Returns.”
Passes must arrive at the MBTA’s shipping location by 5 PM on September 8 for September – December passes and October 13 for October – January passes. The MBTA does not cover return shipping costs.
Mail to:
CharlieCard Customer Service – Edenred
265 Winter Street, 3rd Floor
Waltham, MA 02451
Learn More
Download the Semester Pass Program User Guide
Contact
For questions or comments, send an email to PassProgram@mbta.com or call 888-844-0353.
Register Here
You’ll use an online portal to sign up, place orders, and manage the program.
Already a Semester Pass administrator?
Are you a college student?
Students in Greater Boston can receive discounted MBTA fares on Semester Passes. You can use these unlimited passes all semester long to get to class, head to work, or catch up with friends.