Part-Time College Students Now Included In NJ Transit Discount Program

NEW JERSEY — NJ Transit is expanding its discounted student pass program to part-time college students ahead of the Spring 2023 semester, the agency announced Tuesday.

As part of a pilot program, discounted passes will be available starting in February for bus, train and light rail riders taking at least two courses. The student pass fare gives riders a 25-percent discount off the already discounted monthly pass at participating regional colleges and universities when purchased on the NJ Transit mobile app.

For a list of participating colleges and universities, visit njtransit.com/studentpass.

In addition, all qualifying students are also eligible for the “Buy 3 Months, Get 1 Month Free” Student Pass promotion for college students traveling to and from campus, NJ Transit stated.

Here’s what you need to know, the agency said:

“To qualify for the Buy 3 Months, Get 1 Month Free promotion, a student at a partner college or university must buy a student monthly pass via the NJ Transit mobile app for three consecutive months: February, March and April of 2023. When the student completes the qualifying purchases in February, March, and April, they will receive a Student Pass equal to the lowest-price purchase made in the previous three months and valid for transportation in May 2023. For a student to be eligible, a school must offer Student Pass registration via their website and verify a student’s eligibility each semester. The student must purchase their Student Pass using their school credentials on the NJ Transit Mobile App. Once verified, Student Pass will appear each month as a ticket option during NJ Transit’s customary monthly pass purchase period, beginning at the 19th of the preceding month through the 10th of the travel month. After the third qualifying purchase, a free monthly pass good for the month of May 2023 will be available for students who have purchased monthly passes for February, March, and April. This free pass is non-refundable, non-transferrable and will not include travel to/from SEPTA, Metro-North stations or Newark Liberty International Airport.”

It all adds up to a savings of more than 60-percent off transportation to campus during the spring 2023 semester (February to May) when compared to purchasing one-way transportation, NJ Transit said.

NJ Transit said it also offers other options for college students traveling to campus:

• Flexpass – “College students needing more flexibility in their commute may choose Flexpass as their best option. Flexpass offers customers 20 one-way trips at a 20-percent discount off full-fare tickets. Learn more at njtransit.com/flexpass.”
• Student Tickets – “Full and part-time college students attending NJ Transit-accredited post-secondary schools, colleges and universities can complete an application to purchase a rail monthly pass at a 25-percent discount from rail ticket offices. Applications must be verified by the respective school/college. This offer is available only for a rail pass.”

“As NJ Transit ridership continues to grow, we are doing everything we can in our power to continue incentivizing transit use,” president and CEO Kevin Corbett said.

“College students using transit today will hopefully become tomorrow’s commuters,” Corbett added.

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