The Ventra U-Pass provides low cost transportation to students in the Chicago metropolitan area by providing unlimited rides on CTA buses and trains during the academic semester. It’s your connection to shopping, sports events, social activities, art and entertainment centers, and all the Chicago hot spots. For more information, go to www.transitchicago.com. 

All traditional undergraduate full-time students (12 credit hours or more) are eligible to opt-in to the Ventra U-Pass. Part-time undergraduate students and all graduate, adult completion, seminary students are not eligible for the Ventra U-Pass.

The Ventra U-Pass is active beginning the first day of each academic semester and provides unlimited rides on CTA until the last day of the semester. The U-Pass is not active between terms.

Returning Students:
North Park University uses your current student ID picture. Once the student has opted in to the email sent to them, their U-Pass card is ordered from Ventra.

Pick-up
You will be emailed once your U-Pass has arrived at North Park and is ready for pick up.

You must have a photo ID and your North Park student ID number to pick up your Ventra U-Pass.

No, your existing Ventra card will be reactivated each semester that you opt-in for the U-Pass. Between semesters, you can add money to your account to use the same Ventra card as a regular transit card.

If your card is lost, stolen or damaged, you will be charged a $50 replacement fee.

The U-Pass fee is $150 for each of the fall and spring semesters. There is no pro-rating of the U-Pass fee, so we recommend that you pick it up early in the semester. This fee is also non-refundable.

Once you opt-in to the U-Pass program, a non-refundable $150 U-Pass fee will be billed to your student account if you are a full-time, traditional undergraduate student. You will be charged whether you pick up the Ventra U-Pass or not.

Bring your student ID and $50 to the Campus Safety/Information Center, and we will order you a new card. A card takes approximately 7 business days to arrive and then will be available for pick up. Only one replacement pass will be provided per academic school year.

• Please review the requirements above, as you must be full-time to be eligible to opt-in to the U-Pass program.
• If you’ve dropped below full-time and are not taking a minimum of 12 credits, your U-Pass will not be activated.
• You can go to the Ventra website to check the balance on your card to determine if the U-Pass is loaded. You will see U-Pass listed if your account is loaded with the U-Pass. 
• If you think your card is defective, you must take your card to Ventra to test the functionality of the card. They are located at 165 N. Jefferson.
• Incurring a negative balance will also cause the card to deactivate. It’s important you load the card with funds between semesters to prevent a negative balance.

No, the CTA Ventra U-Pass is personalized with your photo and a special CTA ID number. The Ventra U-Pass is not transferable and will be confiscated by the CTA if it is misused. CTA maintains the right to inspect your Ventra U-Pass and or ask for another form of identification. The University also reserves the right to bring charges against the student for violation of the Community Standards as detailed in the Student Handbook.

Unfortunately, no. The Ventra U-Pass is only good for trains and buses operated by CTA. Metra and Pace don’t currently offer discounts to college and university students. Students may use the Ventra card as a standard transit card on Pace buses only. Pace is not part of the U-Pass discount. Students pay the full fare on all Pace bus routes. Ventra allows you to pre-load with funds for use between terms and on Pace buses.

Use of your U-Pass during periods when you are not eligible or when the U-Pass is not active may result in a negative balance. Double tapping the card or using the card to provide a ride for a guest may also result in a negative balance. Please contact the CTA for any issues related to negative balances.

You can check your balance online at ventrachicago.com. After logging in with your card’s serial number and expiration date, you can check that your card has a balance of $0.00 or greater. If the balance on the card is negative, add funds to bring the balance to $0.00 or greater. If you believe the balance is incorrect, contact the CTA via the number on the back of your card. Unfortunately, the North Park University cannot provide any assistance related to negative balances. 

You should not discard your U-Pass until it has reached its expiration date. Cards are valid for 5 years. Students who discard, including students who leave the university for a period of time, will be assessed the $50 lost card fee.

• By Phone: RTA Travel Center, 312.836.7000 from any area code (TTY: 312.836.4949).
  • Operators are available daily from 4:45 am to 1:00 am. They can also send you a CTA System Map, Downtown Sightseeing Guide or schedules. CTA Maps and Downtown Sightseeing Guides are also available at CTA train stations.
• Online: www.transitchicago.com
• App: www.ventrachicago.com/app