Skip to Main Content

NYTimes.com access from USC

Claiming a free pass as a USC student, faculty or staff member

Before Attempting to Claim a Pass and Register for Access

  • Already have a free account? Sign out of NYTimes.com site before you try to register for free access.
  • If you currently pay for a digital subscription to NYTimes.com, you will have to cancel before you can register for a free pass. See more details below.

How to Claim a Pass and Register for NYTimes.com Access

  1. Visit this registration link to get started (click "Ignore" if you get a safety warning in Chrome)
  2. Create an account with NYTimes.com using your university email address*
  3. Select your status as either student or faculty/staff
  4. Students will need to enter their graduation date
  5. Go to nytimes.com and login with your new account for access

*If you already have a free account with NYTimes.com, login with that account regardless of what email address you used.

Getting Mobile Access

After you have registered for your account, you can download free NYTimes.com mobile apps for Apple iOS or Android and login for access. Does not include e-reader editions, Premium Crosswords or The New York Times Crosswords apps.

For Faculty and Staff Members

  • Passes for faculty and staff are good for 1456 days (almost 4 years)
  • You will need to repeat the registration process to renew your free pass once it expires

Options for Current Digital Subscribers

NYTimes.com free passes are only available to individuals who do not already have an active digital subscription.

If you are currently a digital subscriber, you must ask to cancel your subscription before you can claim a pass. However, you can keep any premium subscriptions such as Games/Crossword while only canceling your Digital Access subscription.

If you choose to cancel:

  • Use the chat or text options under Account > Subscription overview > Cancel subscription
  • Call the New York Times at 877-277-4110

Once your existing subscription is canceled:

  1. Go to NYTimes.com and make sure to sign out of the website
  2. Follow the process above to claim your free pass
  3. Login with your existing NYTimes.com username and password

If you were already using the mobile app, it should continue to work without requiring any changes after you claim your pass unless you changed your login credentials.

Restrictions

Access to NYTimes.com through USC does not include e-reader editions, Times Premier content (such as Games) or digital versions of The New York Times Crossword.

Pass holders are limited to five complimentary articles published between 1923-1980 per day from NYTimes.com, but USC has a subscription to New York Times Historical which provides unlimited access to the full archive back to 1851.

Troubleshooting and Frequently Asked Questions

If you get stuck on a blank white screen or the 'Welcome to the New York Times' page, visit NYTimes.com and make sure that an account is not currently logged into the site.

If you receive a message that you have reached your monthly limit of articles, make sure you have:

  • Claimed your free pass using the instructions above. Just logging in with a university email is not enough.
  • Logged in to the NYTimes.com site after claiming your pass. You must be logged into the site for free unlimited access.
  • Activated a new pass if your initial pass has expired (faculty and staff only.)