On Monday, August 24, 2026 - the first day of classes for most local schools - Pace will join Metra and CTA in offering FREE RIDES for elementary and high school students (grades K-12) and one accompanying adult on all service from 5:30 am to 8:00 pm.
During the free ride period, students should NOT tap their Ventra Card on the reader. Rather, they should show their school ID or Student Ventra card when they board the bus.
Learn more below about the August 2026 fare change for high school and elementary school students and discounted Campus Connection Ventra card program for college students.
The newly reduced fare for high school and elementary school students also includes free transfers between both Pace & CTA systems within two hours of the first tap of your Student Ventra card.
Plus, via this new 2026 pilot program, student fares will also be in effect every day of the week and all year, not just school days!
Ask your school's administrative office how to sign up or visit www.transitchicago.com/students to learn more.
Please Note: The bus operator may ask for a student ID when paying cash to confirm eligibility for the 75¢ student fare.
To ride at the reduced 75¢ fare, students need a Student Ventra card.
For students who do not have a Ventra card: You can get a card in one of two ways. First, click here to see if your school is on the list of schools that directly distributes Ventra cards to its students. If your school is on that list, see your school's administrator for information on how to get a new Ventra Student card. If your school does not give out Student Ventra cards directly, you will need to obtain one. To do so, use this order form to order a card directly from Ventra. Your new card will be mailed to your school, where you can pick it up.
For students who had a Student Ventra card but lost it: You can get a replacement card in one of two ways. First, click here to see if your school is on the list of schools that directly distributes cards to its students. If your school is on that list, see your school's administrator for information on how to get a replacement Ventra Student card. If your school does not give out cards directly, you can request a replacement student card. To do so, use this order form to order a card directly from Ventra. Your replacement card will be mailed to your school, where you can pick it up.
For students who still have a Student Ventra card from the previous school year: You need to get your existing Student Ventra card "re-entitled". The schools on this list have already informed Ventra if you are still enrolled, so if your school is on that list, you don't need to do anything. If your school is NOT on that list, fill out the top of page 2 on this order form and then bring it to your school administrator. They need to fill in the bottom of page 2. The student or the school can then submit it using the instructions on the form.
Some Pace bus routes have special trips designed to serve schools at the beginning and end of the school day. See the timetables posted on Pace's website and pay special attention to the footnotes.
To learn more about Student Ventra cards, please visit:
The Campus Connection pass offers college students unlimited rides on Pace regular fixed route and On Demand buses every day of the week at any time of day (Up to a $125 discount, compared to Pace's 30-day pass).
The pass is valid for an entire semester (5 months) but it can be also purchased at any point during the semester at a pro-rated price. Students need to load the Campus Connection entitlement to their Ventra card.
A CTA U-Pass is not valid for rides on Pace. However, a U-Pass holder is automatically entitled to purchase the Pace Campus Connection Pass and load it onto his/her U-Pass Ventra card.
Please note: A Campus Connection passholder must pay surcharge of $1.25 using Ventra card transit value when riding on a Pace Premium route.
Administrators who want to order a quantity of Student Ventra cards and distribute them to students can learn and join the program at the link below.
Administrators who don't wish to order cards on behalf of students are still nonetheless asked to please hand over Student Ventra cards which have been ordered individually by their students and mailed to the school.
