If you’d like to get the LIRR student discount, read through this and find out how.
Although there are currently no LIRR college student discounts, we’ve listed alternatives you can get.
The LIRR high school student discounts are available only for elementary and secondary school students.
But college students have a lot of commuting to do too.
Whether it is for internships, part-time work, or school.
So, LIRR offers a wide range of discounted tickets, even for college students.
This article will show you other ways to save money while in transit.
Some students go to and fro more often than others.
Often during peak hours too, and they’ll have to pay more.
In light of this, we’ve organized some methods for you to get up to 15% off transport expenses.
Depending on the frequency of your travels, you’d have to pick a discount ticket and enjoy your rides.
Without ado, let’s get right in.
Also Read: How to Get Peacock Student Discount
Table of Contents
What is LIRR? | LIRR Student Discount
LIRR is simply an acronym for the Long Island Rail Road.
It is a commuter rail line that runs from Manhattan to the eastern tip of Suffolk County on Long Island in the United States.
Also, LIRR is the busiest commuter train in North America.
It recorded an average weekday ridership of 354,800 passengers in 2016.
Moreover, LIRR is also one of the few commuter systems globally that operate all year.
The Metropolitan Transportation Authority (MTA) owns it and refers to it as the MTA Long Island Rail Road.
Usually, on the sides of trains, the LIRR logo combines the circular MTA logo with the text Long Island Rail Road.
Finally, the LIRR is one of the MTA’s two commuter rail systems.
The other is the Metro-North Railroad in the New York area’s northern suburbs.
Read Also: How to Get Allbirds Student Discount
What is the LIRR Student Discount?
Unfortunately, there are no dedicated LIRR college student discounts.
However, there is an LIRR high school student discount available.
Students under 21 can get a discount from LIRR for daily commutes.
This discount is valid to enable them to purchase monthly tickets to travel to and from school.
While this is a valuable service for younger students, the LIRR will not accommodate or provide it for older students.
Commuting around New York can get pretty expensive, especially for students.
And although there is no specific discount program for college students, we’ve found some tips.
In the following sections, we’ve curated some of the most important ways to save more for students on the LIRR.
LIRR Student Enrollment Form
You can get a monthly student LIRR pass if you reside within walking distance of Stuyvesant but close to an LIRR station. There are two ways you can choose to get the monthly ticket:
- Paper tickets are obtained each month.
- To receive this, you must go to an LIRR station attendant and ask for the MTA Application for School Ticket. This will be a form in triplicate.
- Bring the top half of the form, which must be completed and signed by both the student and the parent, to Room 236. One of our team members, Myles Sebastien, will finish the bottom half and stamp the forms with the school’s seal. The pupil will then receive this form from him.
- An LIRR station employee will give the student a paper ticket after presenting this paperwork and payment (a student LIRR pass is not free but is instead discounted).
- The student will complete these steps every month.
- The MTA TrainTime app will load new funds each month.
To start this process, you must
- Download the MTA TrainTime app and establish your account.
- Complete all highlighted sections of the MTA Application for School Ticket
- Email this completed form to Ms. Pedrick at cpedrick@schools.nyc.gov.
Who is Eligible for the LIRR Student Discount?
Well, students are the only group eligible for the LIRR student discounts.
High School students can get LIRR high school student discounts on rides.
College and university students can benefit from several other provisions, much like every commuter.
You Should Know: How to Get CB2 Student Discount
LIRR Student Discount Form
The LIRR ticket prices can be reduced for only elementary or secondary school students through the student form.
This provides an LIRR discounted monthly ticket pass for such students.
Generally, students under 21 who attend accredited elementary or secondary schools are eligible for discounted fares.
These LIRR student discounts can increase a third of the standard monthly ticket price.
The LIRR student discount application form can be found in the link below.
Please fill out the application and submit it to a box office.
Note, however, that the school seal must be affixed to the application, which a school official must sign. Also, this ticket is a non-transferable item.
How to Get Metro-North Student Discount
How to Get the LIRR Student Discount in 2024
Since there are no dedicated LIRR college student discounts, here are other values you can benefit from.
Below are some dedicated discounts available to commuters besides the regular high ticket prices.
20-Trip Ticket
The new 20-trip ticket provides a 20% reduction off usual peak fares.
It can be utilized to get to or from City Zone 1 (LIRR) or Manhattan (Metro-North).
The Metro-North/LIRR 20-trip can be shared by multiple people while traveling together.
However, this ticket can only be purchased through the MTA’s eTix app or at a ticket window.
Additionally, it is valid for only 60 days from the purchase date.
If you have a commuting plan that will take you around those places very often in the following months, this could save you much.
Find Out: How to Get Lifetime Fitness Student Discount
10% Monthly Discount
All LIRR and Metro-North passengers can save 10% on monthly unlimited passes.
Hence, a 10% savings from grabbing this plan could be appropriate for you.
Generally, this ticket comes in handy if your movement involves commuting more than 46 times a month.
10 Trip Ticket
The 10-trip ticket is available in 10-trip peak, 10-trip off-peak, and 10-Trip intermediate (for Metro-North only).
Although the 10-trip peak tickets are sold at 10-trip peak one-way fares, the 10-trip off-peak tickets save you 15%.
It is, however, valid for ten journeys between two stations on the same line outside of Manhattan.
Also, they are only valid for six months after the date of purchase.
Moreover, it can be shared with friends and family.
How to Get Final Cut Pro Student Discount
City Ticket
The CityTicket, which costs $5, is suitable for one-way travel within New York City.
CityTickets can be used during the week, not just on weekends.
Riders pay $5 to travel within New York City during all off-peak hours.
Tickets can be purchased via ticket windows or machines in Manhattan, Brooklyn, the Bronx, or Queens and through the eTix app.
They can’t be used to get to or from Belmont Park, Elmont, or Far Rockaway.
And they are not available for purchase aboard trains.
Read Also: How to Get European Wax Center Student Discount
LIRR Student Discounts | What Do Peak and Off-Peak Mean in Train Tickets?
The question that often puzzles railway newbies. What is an off-peak train ticket?
Generally, peak fares are paid during business peak hours on any weekday.
Trains arriving between 6 and 10 a.m. or departing between 4 and 8 p.m are considered within peak hours.
Also, off-peak fares are payable at all other hours on weekdays at NYC terminals.
Then, all day on Saturdays and Sundays and during the holidays.
Off-Peak tickets are semi-flexible train tickets that allow you to travel at particular times of the day.
Also, sometimes on specific days of the week or particular routes.
These tickets are usually less expensive because they limit travel times.
They are available to avoid the dreaded ‘rush hour’ for morning and evening commuters.
How to Save Even Without the LIRR Student Discount
One sure-fire approach to saving on ticket prices is to always purchase your ticket before boarding the train.
Consequently, they can cost $5.75 to $6.50 more than tickets purchased before boarding.
Hence, before boarding the train, purchase a ticket at any ticket machine or office to save $5.75 to $6.50 over the onboard fare.
You can pay with cash, a major credit/debit card, a personal check, or a transit card at the ticket office.
Another way is to get a carry-on ticket that lasts for multiple rides.
How to Get Aerie Student Discount
How do I Buy a Monthly LIRR Ticket?
LIRR has different means to purchase tickets.
Customers are urged to purchase tickets using the following options:
- MTA eTix app.
This mobile ticketing app allows you to buy tickets instantly from your phone or tablet.
- Metro-North/ LIRR Ticket Machines or Ticket Windows.
- Mail & Ride is a monthly mail-in ticket service.
Your Next Discount: How to Get Dropbox Student Discount
How to Get an LIRR Student Discount | Frequently Asked Questions
How can I buy LIRR tickets?
The MTA eTix app on your phone is the easiest method to purchase LIRR tickets.
All LIRR stations now accept payments through the MTA eTix app.
It’s available in the Apple App Store and Google Play Store.
However, other methods are through ticket machines or ticket windows.
You could also subscribe to the mail & ride service, a mail-in ticket service.
Are all LIRR tickets off-peak?
No, not all LIRR tickets are off-peak.
Off-Peak tickets are semi-flexible train tickets that allow you to travel at particular times of the day.
The tickets sold are usually more expensive than those during off-peak periods during peak hours.
What does validating a student ticket mean?
Validating a student ticket essentially entails paying a charge to allow non-students to use it.
If you wish to validate your ticket, do it at the Ticket Office ahead of time (say, a week before).
How much does a student’s MetroCard cost?
A Regular MetroCard costs $5.00, while a Concession or Student MetroCard costs $3.50.
Furthermore, at the time of purchase, a minimum of $5.00 in recharge must be applied to the MetroCard
How much is the LIRR in NYC?
The prices for LIRR tickets vary due to where you are traveling to and what time you intend to travel.
If you are commuting during peak hours, you should expect to pay more and less during off-peak periods.
Visit the Metro-North/LIRR website HERE to check the prices or use a trip planner to find the cheapest route.
Can I buy my LIRR ticket online?
Yes, all LIRR branches Now Accept MTA eTix.
MTA eTix is a mobile ticketing service that allows LIRR customers to buy and use train tickets directly from their smartphones or tablets.
What are Metro Cards?
You can use your student MetroCard on any subway or local bus.
However, express buses do not accept student MetroCards.
Metro-North offers a wide range of discounted ticket options, including for college students.
The MetroCard is a magnetic stripe card used to pay for public transportation in New York City. It is the most common method of payment on subways or transit buses.
Do you pay extra for off-peak LIRR tickets?
Generally, when off-peak tickets are presented on peak trains, they will be “stepped up” to the peak fare.
Step-up fares and extension-of-ride charges (additional fares for traveling beyond the stations mentioned on the ticket) will be rounded up to the next dollar.
Moreover, round-trip tickets are no longer available for purchase onboard.
Can you buy LIRR tickets with MetroCard?
Yes, pre-valued MetroCards for use on NYC subways and buses can be purchased independently.
They can also be purchased with LIRR monthly or round-trip tickets at LIRR ticket machines.
If you are purchasing an LIRR ticket simultaneously, they are also available at LIRR ticket offices.
How old do you have to be to ride the LIRR for free?
The LIRR is free for children under the age of five at all times (no ticket required).
For $1, up to four youngsters (ages 5–11) can ride at a time.
Read Next: How to Get Verizon Fios Student Discount
Conclusion
The LIRR student discount is unavailable now, but there are some other kinds of deals you may get too.
Taking advantage of the best offer, a college student saves you much more than you can imagine.
As the months go by, those little percentage savings you get just on transport add up to something better.
So could you give it a go and thank yourself?
References
