New York gives 700 CUNY students free unlimited transit cards this fall

New York City has launched a new transit affordability program giving 700 CUNY students free, unlimited access to city buses and subways this fall.

The pilot program is designed to help students who face financial difficulties paying for transportation while attending college. The participating students will receive OMNY cards that allow unlimited rides during the program period.

The fall benefit became active October 5 and will continue through December 25, 2026. Eligible students will also receive a 120-day unlimited transit pass for the spring semester beginning January 28, 2027.

To qualify for the program, students must be eligible for federal Pell Grants, attend CUNY full-time with at least 12 credits during both the fall and spring semesters, and take at least two in-person classes.

Students already receiving transportation assistance through programs such as CUNY ASAP are not eligible for this particular pilot.

The program received strong interest from CUNY students. According to the New York City Council, approximately 54,000 students met the eligibility requirements, while more than 28,500 completed the interest form.

Only 700 students were selected for the initial group, while another 300 were placed on a waiting list in case additional spaces become available.

The initiative is intended to address one of the often-overlooked costs of higher education: transportation.

For students traveling several days a week, subway and bus fares can become a significant monthly expense. Eliminating that cost can leave more money available for tuition-related expenses, food, housing, textbooks and other necessities.

City officials and CUNY leaders say transportation affordability can directly affect whether students are able to attend classes consistently, complete internships and remain enrolled through graduation.

The New York City Council allocated $700,000 for the initial pilot program. Officials say the project is part of a broader effort to make public transportation more affordable for New Yorkers.

The city is also expanding Fair Fares eligibility. Under the expansion, an additional 340,000 low-income New Yorkers are expected to gain access to half-price subway, bus and paratransit fares, bringing total potential eligibility to about 1.3 million residents.

For CUNY students selected for the free OMNY pilot, the immediate benefit is straightforward: transportation costs will no longer have to compete with other essential expenses during the fall semester.

City officials say the pilot could provide valuable information about how free or reduced-cost transit can support college attendance and economic mobility.

If the program demonstrates strong results, similar transportation assistance could potentially become part of broader efforts to help students and low-income New Yorkers manage the city's high cost of living.