Riding the Struggle Bus: How Fare Hikes Affect City College Commuters

Italo Villanueva, a senior at City College, commutes to campus from Brooklyn. He now has new concerns when it comes to his budget as the threat of another spike in subway prices looms.  “I used to not worry about the price of the subway,” says Villanueva, a student majoring in international relations. “But with inflation, I now have to worry about commuting to class on top of groceries and rent.” 

Villanueva’s struggle is all too familiar to students at City College, primarily a commuter school. And it may get worse: A recent report by the state comptroller’s office revealed that the MTA faces a $15 billion revenue gap, partly as a result of pricing congestion. A 4% increase in fare in 2025 remains on the table as the agency continues to address its financial challenges.

This possible increase in MTA prices has added a new layer of stress to students who are already struggling with tight budgets trying to get by. Rising costs became front and center in the November presidential election, especially for young people. The now $2.90 subway and bus fare already causes strain for many, and the prospect of paying more to commute means that CCNY and other college students are finding themselves making tough choices as they try to balance their studies with financial survival.

“It feels like everything is going up, except my paycheck”, says Mohamadou Tunkara, a senior psychology major who commutes from The Bronx. “There’s days where I skip the vending machines at school because I might need that money to go back home”

The strain has added another worry for students, even those who can still manage financially. Miriam Mishu, an upper junior studying biology, says she has enough to get by, but she’s never had to think so much about her spending on transportation until now. “I’ve been lucky enough to not have to worry about fare prices,” says Mishu, who commutes from Brooklyn. “But this past year especially, I’m more aware of the money I spend, it’s hard not to think about how much everything adds up.”

The stress can be even worse for students who aren’t in Mishu’s position. The thought of not being able to afford daily commutes or having to sacrifice little things like vending machine food can weigh heavily on their minds. This stress can have negative effects in the academics of students. “If I feel all this pressure and I’m doing okay, I can’t imagine how much harder it is for someone who’s actually struggling financially,” Mishu explains. 

For some, like sophomore Masrur Khan, the pressure is pushing them to the edge. “I’ve never really hopped the subways because I’m lowkey scared of cops, but the way things are going I might have to” says Khan, a Queens commuter. “The only thing stopping me and other people these past months are tickets and the new security guys they have, but some people take their chances. That should tell you something.” 

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