U-Pass

The CTA will allow eligible degree-seeking students to opt in or out of the U-Pass program. Eligible students are those who are registered with six or more credit hours for each fall and spring term, and three or more credit hours for each winter and summer term. To opt in or out of the U-Pass, you must respond to the official email that will be sent to your SAIC email address every semester. If we do not receive your response by the deadline listed in the email, then your CTA U-Pass will not be activated, and you will not be charged.

• The summer 2026 opt in/out email will be sent weekly beginning on April 23.
• The fall 2026 opt in/out email will be sent weekly beginning on July 13.
• The winter 2027 opt in/out email will be sent weekly beginning on: TBD.
• The spring 2027 opt in/out email will be sent weekly beginning on: TBD.

All eligible students who opt in for the U-Pass will be charged the CTA U-Pass fee. The fee will be charged to the student’s tuition and fee account prior to the beginning of each semester.

• Fall and spring semesters: $155* 
• Winter session: $35* 
• Summer session: $105*
• Cost of the card: $5 (one-time fee)*

*This fee is subject to change.

U-Passes are valid up to four days prior to the start of the semester and last until two or three days after the semester ends. Students will keep their Ventra U-Pass cards from semester to semester, even if they transfer to another school within the CTA's U-Pass program. Whenever the U-Pass account is inactive or not applicable, the Ventra U-Pass card operates as a full-fare card. The U-Pass is active during the following dates:

• Spring 2026: active from January 23 through May 19. Students taking at least six credit hours will be eligible for the benefit.
• Summer 2026: active from June 1 through August 14. Students taking at least three credit hours will be eligible for the benefit.
• Fall 2026: active from August 20 through December 16. Students taking at least six credit hours will be eligible for the benefit.
• Winter 2027: active from January 4 through January 22. Students taking at least three credit hours will be eligible for the benefit. Due to the winter holiday break, students must be registered for class and opt in for the winter U-Pass no later than December 21 to have their U-Pass activated on time.

Check your Ventra app to see if the U-Pass is active on your card.

If your card is damaged:

• The replacement fee for a damaged card is $5. Bring the damaged card to the ARTICard Office in the Sharp Building, 37 South Wabash Avenue, room 254. We will collect the damaged card and place an order for a replacement Ventra U-Pass. Cards can not be ordered unless the fee is paid.

• You may choose to get a seven-day unlimited ride transit pass to use until the replacement card is received. These passes can only be obtained at CTA's Customer Service Center at 567 West Lake Street, 2nd floor. 

If your card is lost/stolen:

• Report lost or stolen cards right away to Ventra Customer Service (877-NOW-VENTRA) and to the ARTICard Office.

• The U-Pass replacement fee is $50 payable by ARTICash only. To replace your U-Pass, bring your valid school ID and ARTICash payment to the ARTICard Office in the Sharp Building, room 254. The fee is nonrefundable. 

• All replacement cards are sent to the ARTICard Office within three to five business days. An email will be sent to your SAIC email account when the replacement pass arrives.

The CTA has increased efforts at preventing misuse of the U-Pass card. Cards being used by persons not matching the card photo and identification may be confiscated. Owners of confiscated cards can have their U-Pass benefit suspended for up to one calendar year. 

• Do not loan your U-Pass card to friends or family. 
• Report lost or stolen cards to the ARTICard office right away. 
• Report stolen cards to the police and obtain a police report. 

Eligible students are degree-seeking undergraduates and graduates who are registered with six or more credit hours for each fall and spring term, and three credit hours for each winter and summer term.

Make sure you opted in for the current term. Check your SAIC email account for the U-Pass opt in/out survey.

Make sure you do not have a negative balance on your Ventra U-Pass card. A negative balance is usually the result of a "double tap" as you board a CTA bus or at a CTA train station. The U-Pass offers unlimited rides, but only for the first tap as you board a CTA bus or train. If you tap a second time at the same location, the reader thinks you are paying for a second person. You can also incur a negative balance if you use the card between activation periods. Once you pay off the negative balance, the U-Pass will start working again. You can check your balance, register your card, and make a payment by visiting this page. You can also download the Ventra app.

If you are unsure as to why your U-Pass is not working, send an email to articard@saic.edu. We can resolve most issues quickly.

U-Pass eligibility is based on credit hours taken that semester, regardless of graduation requirements. Six credit hours are required for fall and spring terms, three credit hours are required for winter and summer terms.

No, U-Pass eligibility is based on credit hours taken that semester, regardless of classes taken over the summer/winter. Credits for classes taken over the summer/winter will not be applied towards your enrollment eligibility for the fall or spring semester.

No, U-Pass eligibility is based on credit hours taken that semester, regardless of additional on- or off-campus employment or extracurricular activities.

No, U-Pass eligibility is based on credit hours taken at SAIC.

It's up to you. The Ventra U-Pass card can be used with or without the U-Pass benefit. After the Add/Drop period, students who have opted in and then dropped below the required credit hours will have their U-Pass account deactivated, and their card will operate as a full-fare card. The U-Pass semester fee will also be removed from your tuition account. All students who opt in for the Ventra U-Pass will have a card ordered and will be charged a one-time, non-refundable $5 fee. 
 

Yes. The Ventra card is valid until the date printed on the back. Do not throw this card away. The Ventra card operates as a regular full-fare card when the U-Pass account is inactive so you can load funds and use the card for regular CTA transportation. If you return to SAIC, you will use the same Ventra card until it expires. If you do not have the valid Ventra card when you return to SAIC, you will have to pay the $50 replacement fee.

No, the U-Pass is nontransferable and has your name and photo. The CTA reserves the right to require a student to show a valid school identification card upon request. If this condition is violated, the U-Pass will be confiscated for the duration of the valid dates without reimbursement, and the person using it will be subject to arrest and prosecution.

When the U-Pass is not active, you can add personal funds or purchase passes. Please visit ventrachicago.com for details about how you can use your U-Pass to purchase CTA passes.

No, the U-Pass entitlement will not work on Metra or Pace. You will need to purchase Metra or Pace passes to add to your Ventra U-Pass card.

Visit the CTA website at transitchicago.com or call the CTA Customer Service Hotline at 888.YOURCTA (888.968.7282).

If you meet the enrollment requirements, the U-Pass will be activated within two to three business days after you submit an opt in response for the semester.

The CTA will only issue refunds before the add/drop period ends for the current term. The CTA will not issue any refunds after the add/drop period ends even if you do not activate or use the U-Pass. Students must send an email to articard@saic.edu requesting a refund. If the request is received prior to the end of add/drop, the student’s U-Pass will be deactivated, and a refund of the U-Pass charge will be issued back to the student’s Tuition & Fees account.

The CTA will allow students to change their response to opt out through the end of the add/drop period for the current term. The CTA will not allow any students to change their response to opt out once the add/drop period of the current term has ended. Students must send an email to articard@saic.edu requesting a change to opt out. If the request is received prior to the end of add/drop, the student’s U-Pass will be deactivated, and a refund of the U-Pass charge will be issued back to the student’s Tuition & Fees account.

The CTA will allow eligible students to change their response to opt in at any point during the semester, but they will not prorate the cost of the U-Pass for the days that have passed. The cost will remain $155 for the fall, $155 for the spring, $115 for summer, and $35 for the winter regardless of the date a student chooses to opt in for the current term. The CTA will not deactivate any U-Passes and they will not issue any refunds after the add/drop period ends even if the student opts in after add/drop.

No, if you do not submit an opt in or opt out response, your U-Pass will not be activated, and you will not be charged the U-Pass fee.