With a student ID comes not only the joys of the dining hall, but unique perks such as museum access, free transportation and discounts at nearby businesses. In preparation for the semester ahead, The Daily Texan selected the best ways to take advantage of student ID perks.
Transportation
One ID swipe allows students free rides to and from campus and around Austin on CapMetro buses, including routes to the Austin-Bergstrom International Airport and beyond. In addition to free bus rides, CapMetro offers students a discount on their Bikeshare annual pass. The pass is normally $150 for a year of unlimited 30-minute rides; the student discount code offers the same perks for only $30.
UT Night Rides, a program powered by Lyft, provides free rides between 11 p.m. and 4 a.m. for students through the Lyft app. Pickups must be on campus, with drop-off locations being within the UT Shuttle routes.
Museums
UT’s campus is home to four museums that offer free admission to students. With over 21,000 artworks, the Blanton Museum of Art provides a vast array of installations, including Art of the American West, European Still Lifes and their latest major exhibition, “Spirit & Splendor: El Greco, Velázquez, and the Hispanic Baroque.” The museum always offers free admission to UT ID holders, but offers it to all on Tuesdays, making the Blanton a perfect place to take out-of-towners.
The Harry Ransom Center provides an ideal spot for book lovers, housing nearly one million books. On Sept. 20, the Ransom Center will open “Live from New York: The Lorne Michaels Collection,” including rare materials from sketch comedy show Saturday Night Live. Students can also use their IDs to access archival material, including Jack Kerouac’s notebooks and Albert Einstein’s unpublished notes.
The LBJ Presidential Library offers students the opportunity to explore 45 million pages of historical documents, highlighting President Johnson’s political career and an exhibition of Lady Bird Johnson’s office. The library also features rotating exhibits such as “From the White House to the Deep Ocean: LBJ, Jaws and Conservation.”
The Texas Science & Natural History Museum boasts a large collection of fossils ranging from large dinosaurs to native flora. In addition, the museum contains the “Particles of Color: Where Science Meets Fashion” exhibit, exploring the intersection of sustainability and textiles.
Food and entertainment
At Amy’s Ice Creams, students can score a 10% discount on their scoops. They can score another 10% off a delicious meal at Sip Pho in north campus. Snarf’s Sandwiches shows its school spirit by offering either free chips or a free drink when students purchase a sub or salad.
Student ticket prices are available at the Austin Film Society. Students can also obtain free tickets to UT’s Symphony Orchestra at the box office.
