Students at participating Boston-area colleges can get discounted MBTA semester passes for fall and spring.
For Fall 2026, students at schools including BU, Northeastern and Boston College could buy a four-month LinkPass for $320.
Four regular $90 monthly passes would cost $360, so the semester pass saves $40 compared with buying monthly passes.
But that does not automatically mean it saves you money.
The basic math
The semester pass works out to about $80 per month.
A regular subway ride costs $2.40, and BU estimates that the pass starts making financial sense at around 34 trips per month for frequent riders.
Students living on or very close to campus may use the T much less often.
If you commute every day from farther away, unlimited rides can make much more sense.
The exact break-even point also depends on whether you mainly use the subway, buses or transfers.
The new transfer rule matters too
Since Sept. 1, the MBTA has been testing a new two-hour transfer system.
Using the same eligible payment method, riders can make multiple eligible transfers within two hours while paying only the highest applicable fare.
That can make pay-as-you-go more competitive for some students, especially when several parts of a trip fall inside the same transfer window.
Already bought the Fall Semester Pass?
Fall 2026 ordering deadlines at BU, Boston College and Northeastern have already passed.
If you already bought one, the question now is whether you use the T enough to justify roughly $80 per month.
Around 34 full subway-fare rides puts you close to break-even.
The Bzz take
The Semester Pass is a real discount compared with four monthly passes.
But if most of your life happens within walking distance of campus, paying only when you ride may still cost less.
Where you live may matter more than the 11% discount.
Information checked Sept. 9, 2026. Fare rules, semester-pass prices and university participation can change.
