MetroCard (New York City) - Fares and MetroCard Types - Student MetroCards

Student MetroCards

• In New York City, issued to some New York City public and private school students allowing discounted access to the NYCT buses and trains, depending on the distance traveled between their school and their home. All cards are issued by the NYCDOE Office of Pupil Trasportation.
• In Nassau County, Student MetroCards are issued by individual schools which have pre-paid for the cards.
• Four types of cards:
  • Orange Full fare K-6 (New York City)
  • Green: Full fare 7-12, half-fare K-12 (New York City)
  • Blue: Full fare (Nassau County)
  • Purple: 25 cent discount (Nassau County)
• Most cards have 3 rides given to the student every Monday to Friday from 5:30 A.M. to 8:30 P.M. (plus a 30 minute delay) each day, except for holidays and vacations, where use of a student card is illegal and can result in a fine and/or court summons. Rides do not roll over. Some cards have 4 rides (see below).
• Some schools that have activities on Sundays or late at night have cards valid until 10:30 pm and on Sundays.
• Some schools and youth agencies will give out one time use cards that have a 1-4 rides on them for special events like field trips and extraordinary trips like to an after school program or social programs or parole officer meetings, these cards can not be refilled and will not get recharged after their rides are up and are effectively disposable. These cards have green faces, but state their value and limitations on the back.
• Students that attend special night school who live far from their homes are given a special student card that is valid Mon-Thurs from 1 pm to 1 am.

Students who receive a full-fare MetroCard must live:

• More than 0.5 miles away if they are in grades K-2
• More than 1.0 miles away if they are in grades 3-6
• More than 1.5 miles away if they are in grades 7-12

Students who receive a half-fare MetroCards must live:

• Between 0.0 and 0.5 miles away if they are in grades K-2
• Between 0.5 and 1.0 miles away if they are in grades 3-6
• Between 1.0 and 1.5 miles away if they are in grades 7-12

A 4-trip card is also given to students who have a 2+ hour commute. There are also two-trip cards that are valid at all times (except Sundays), for special school trips. Student MetroCards do not have photo identification.

Accepted at:

• New York City subways and buses (1/2 Fare cards are only accepted on buses)
• Staten Island Railway (full-fare only)
• Nassau Inter-County Express (blue and purple cards only