U-Pass
Welcome! The CTA U-Pass is your ticket to UNLIMITED rides aboard CTA buses and trains. Use your U-Pass on CTA bus/rail system anytime, anywhere. It's your connection to shopping, sports events, social activities, art and entertainment centers, and all the Chicago hot spots. CTA: Everywhere you need to be!
Important Facts About U-Pass:
- Offers full-time students enrolled at participating schools unlimited rides on any CTA bus or train during an academic term.
- Replaces cash for all CTA fares - no cash is needed.
- Does not require a transfer or surcharge.
- Not valid for travel on Metra commuter trains or Pace buses.
- For full-time students only. The cards of students who drop to part-time status will be deactivated.
Rules & Conditions:
- The school name, student name, photo, and expiration date MUST appear on your U-Pass. CTA reserves the right to require the student show a valid school identification card upon request.
- U-Pass is limited to exclusive use by the full-time student whose name and photo appear on the card. Any U-Pass presented by a person other than the student whose name and photo appears on it will be confiscated and the person may be subject to arrest.
- Use of the U-Pass is subject to applicable tariffs, terms, conditions, rules, regulations, policies, and procedures CTA may in its discretion adopt from time to time.
- U-Pass may NOT be shared.
- This card can be confiscated if the bearer violates any law or CTA ordinance while on CTA property.
- If any of the conditions are violated, the pass will be confiscated for the duration of the valid dates without reimbursement and the person may be subject to arrest.
Replacement Policy
- CTA will replace a lost or stolen U-Pass only once per academic term.
- If your U-Pass is put into the cash bill slot on a bus, it is treated as lost/stolen and you'll need to pay $35.00 for a replacement. You will not be issued any temporary fare.
- An authorized replacement U-Pass will be sent to your school in 5-7 business days upon receipt of request.
- If your U-Pass is lost or stolen, please bring valid school ID, and $35.00 (cash, credit or money order) non-refundable replacement fee to the CTA Customer Service Center at 567 W. Lake Street, 2nd FL, Monday through Friday, 8:00AM to 4:30PM.
- If your U-Pass is captured at a CTA train station, the card will be collected. You will be asked to complete a Fare Discrepancy Report (Form 3024) and you’ll be issued a $5.00 transit card and a copy of the report. Please bring the copy of the Fare Discrepancy Report and your student IDto CTA’s Customer Service Center at 567 W. Lake Street 2nd FL, Monday through Friday, 8:00AM to 4:30PM, to request a replacement U-Pass. You will then be issued an unlimited 5-day transit pass.
- If your U-Pass is captured on a CTA bus, the card will be collected. You will be asked to complete a report of Captured Farecard (Form 3027). You will be given a copy of the report and allowed to ride for free. Bring your copy of the Report of Captured Farecard and your student ID to CTA’s Customer Service Center at 567 W. Lake Street 2nd FL, Monday through Friday, 8:00AM to 4:30PM, to request a replacement U-Pass. If your U-Pass is put into the cash bill slot on a bus, it is treated as lost/stolen and you'll need to pay $35.00 for a replacement. You will not be issued any temporary fare.
- If your U-Pass is damaged or defective, please bring the damaged/defective U-Pass and your student ID to CTA;s Customer Service Center at 567 W. Lake Street 2nd FL, Monday through Friday, 8:00AM to 4:30PM, to request a replacement U-Pass. Your damaged card will be collected and you will be issued an unlimited 7-day transit pass.
Benefits
In addition to unlimited rides anytime, anywhere, any reason, the U-Pass has many benefits for the students, campuses and communities:
Benefit to students
- Provides simple, low cost transportation.
- Provides unlimited rides on the CTA, all day, everyday!
- Saves on gas and parking costs.
- Increases access to metropolitan attractions.
Benefit to campus
- Reduces demand for on-campus parking.
- Saves cost on building new garage structures.
- A tool for student recruitment.
- Reduces traffic congestion and pollution.
Benefit to the community
- Alleviates parking demands in adjacent areas.
- Reduces traffic congestion and pollution.
- Strengthens partnerships between school, communities, and the CTA.
Frequently Asked Questions
Have more questions about the U-Pass? Our FAQ can help!
Participating institutions
Adler School of Professional Psychology
American Academy of Art 
Chicago-Kent College of Law 
Chicago School of Professional Psychology 
Chicago Semester 
Chicago State University
Columbia College Chicago 
Daley College 
DePaul University
- Law
DeVry University
- Law
East-West University 
Erikson Institute 
Harold Washington College 
Harrington College of Design 
Illinois Institute of Art 
Illinois Institute of Technology
- Design
- Graduate School of Business
International Academy of Design & Technology
The John Marshall Law School 
Kendall College 
Kennedy-King College 
Le Cordon Bleu
College of Culinary Arts, Chicago
Lexington College 
Loyola University
- Law
MacCormac College 
Moody Bible Institute 
National-Louis University 
Northwestern College 
Northwestern University
- Feinberg School of Medicine
- School of Law
- Medill School of Journalism
- School of Physical Therapy
- Graduate School
Olive-Harvey College
Robert Morris University 
Roosevelt University 
The School of the Art Institute of Chicago 
Taylor Business Institute
Tribeca Flashpoint 
Truman College 
University of Illinois at Chicago (UIC) 
Vandercook College of Music 
Westwood College 
Wright College