With the April 2020 passage of the graduate student transit pass referendum (renewed in 2023), eligible UCLA graduate students* have access to the Bruin Grad Pass program, which enables use of all local transit agencies and commuter lines serving campus.
Included in your Bruin Grad Pass is unlimited access to all seven transit agencies serving the UCLA campus including Los Angeles Metro bus and rail lines, Santa Monica Big Blue Bus, Culver CityBus, Antelope Valley Transit, Santa Clarita Transit, Long Beach Transit, and LADOT Commuter Express.
The pass can also be used on other LA County transit lines that don’t serve campus, including Torrance Transit, Gardena GTrans, and Foothill Transit. Access to Amtrak or Metrolink (regional rail system) trains are NOT included in the pass.
UCLA graduate students can follow these steps to obtain a Bruin Grad Pass:
- Log in to the Transit Portal using your UCLA Logon ID.
- Complete the federally mandated one-time Metro survey (four questions).
- Select Bruin Grad Pass and your method of the delivery.
- Proceed to review and submit your order. You will receive an email with a confirmation number.
- To use your new TAP card, simply tap your card at the farebox when boarding.
For detailed instructions, please refer to our step-by-step guide or watch the video tutorial below. Passes must be renewed on a quarterly basis in order to remain active. More information about Bruin Grad Pass can be found in the FAQ section.
*All registered graduate and professional students at UCLA who are paying the BruinGo Universal Access Transit Pass Fee are eligible for a Bruin Grad Pass.
| Quarter | requisition dates | Effective Dates |
|---|---|---|
| Fall 2023 | 9/11/23 - 12/10/23 | 9/18/23 - 12/24/23 |
| Winter 2024 | 12/11/23 - 3/10/24 | 12/25/23 - 3/24/24 |
| Spring 2024 | 3/11/24 - 6/2/24 | 3/25/24 - 6/16/24 |
Bruin Grad Pass FAQs
All registered graduate and professional students at UCLA who are paying the BruinGo Universal Access Transit Pass Fee are eligible for a Bruin Grad Pass.
A referendum was passed during the GSA elections in April 2020 that raised graduate student fees by about $25 per quarter (the BruinGo Universal Access Transit Pass Fee). The Bruin Grad Pass program was renewed for 10 years in a November 2023 referendum that lowered the fee to $11 per quarter (subject to annual adjustments due to inflation and cost of living increases). The fare-free pass is made possible by this fee along with a subsidy from UCLA Transportation.
Included in your Bruin Grad Pass is unlimited access to select transit agencies throughout LA County listed below including those serving the UCLA campus: Los Angeles Metro bus and rail lines, Santa Monica Big Blue Bus, Culver CityBus, Antelope Valley Transit, Santa Clarita Transit, Long Beach Transit, and LADOT Commuter Express.
| transit agencies | routes |
|---|---|
| Antelope Valley Transit Authority | All Local Lines Commuter Lines 785, 786, and 787 |
| Culver CityBus | All |
| Foothill Transit | All Local Lines Silver Streak to Metro J Line (Silver) |
| Gardena GTrans | All |
| LADOT | DASH A, B, C, D, E, and F Commuter Express 142, 409, 419, 422, 423, 431, 437, 438, 448, 534, 549, 573, and 574 |
| Long Beach Transit | All Local and Express Lines |
| Metro | All (excluding Metrolink) |
| Montebello Bus Lines | All |
| Norwalk Transit System | All |
| Pasadena Transit | All |
| Santa Clarita Transit | Local Lines 1-644 Express Lines 757, 791, 792, 794, 796, 797, and 799 |
| Santa Monica Big Blue Bus | All |
| Torrance Transit | All |
UCLA graduate students can follow these steps to obtain a Bruin Grad Pass:
1. Log in to the Transit Portal using your UCLA Logon ID.2. Complete the federally mandated one-time Metro survey (four questions).
3. Select Bruin Grad Pass and your method of the delivery.
4. Proceed to review and submit your order. You will receive an email with a confirmation number.
5. To use your new TAP card, simply tap your card at the farebox when boarding.
For detailed instructions, please refer to our step-by-step guide.
The Bruin Grad Pass is valid for each quarter that the graduate student is enrolled and paying the BruinGo Universal Access Transit Pass Fee (excluding summer quarter). Passes must be renewed on a quarterly basis in order to remain active.
