Monterey Bay Aquarium doesn’t give teachers a discount on admission. What teachers do get is free: a class field trip with free entry for you, your students and your chaperones, free educator institutes, and an Educator Open House evening that comes with an optional sleepover.
So if you were picturing a school ID at the ticket window and a lower price, that won’t work here, and it’s better to know now than in line. The free programs below are where a teacher actually saves money.
How To Get The Monterey Bay Aquarium Teacher Discount
There’s no discount to claim, so the best route for a teacher is a free class field trip:
- Open the field trip page and pick a program for your class.
- Book it for your group. Each class gets one free trip per school year.
- Bring your students. For in-person programs, entry is free for all of them, plus every teacher and chaperone.
Field trips are for Pre-K through Grade 12 classes at public, private or charter schools, and for college classes. Your group needs at least 10 students for a self-guided visit, and more for the other program types.
The Educator Open House
The Educator Open House is an after-hours evening at the aquarium, with special events in appreciation of educators. You can come for the evening only or stay the night. There’s dessert in the exhibits, a bed next to your favorite animal, a full catered breakfast in the cafe and a visit to the Aquarium Store before it opens. It costs nothing.
It’s open only to formal and informal educators, it’s limited to 250 people, and educators who live or work in coastal communities of color get priority. Applications are closed right now, and the aquarium doesn’t say when they’ll reopen. To hear first, sign up for educator updates on the educator programs page, or email educator@mbayaq.org with questions.
Free Educator Institutes
The aquarium runs free institutes and workshops for teachers on coastal habitats, technology in the classroom, climate change and plastic pollution. Attending an institute counts for the professional growth hours you need to renew a California Teaching Credential, which makes them worth a look if you teach in California. Two to start with are Teaching Ocean Plastic Pollution and the Design for Equity, Community & the Ocean Educator Institute.
Visiting On Your Own
If you’re coming without a class, you pay the standard price on the tickets page: $65 for adults ages 18 to 69, $50 for youth ages 5 to 17 and $50 for seniors ages 70 and up. Kids 4 and under get in free. Anyone with a valid SNAP EBT card can bring up to four people in free, which isn’t a teacher benefit but helps if it fits your household. Buy tickets only on the aquarium’s own website.
Q&A
Does Monterey Bay Aquarium give teachers a discount?
No. Teachers get free field trips and free educator programs instead.
Are field trips free?
Yes. The aquarium’s field trip programs are free, including entry for students, teachers and chaperones on in-person programs. Each class gets one free trip per school year.
What is the Educator Open House?
An after-hours evening for educators with dessert in the exhibits and an optional sleepover with a catered breakfast. It costs nothing.
Can I apply to the Educator Open House now?
No, applications are closed and the aquarium hasn’t said when they’ll reopen. Sign up for educator updates to hear about the next one.
Who gets priority at the open house?
Educators who live or work in coastal communities of color. It’s limited to 250 people.
Do the educator institutes count toward credential renewal?
Yes. Attending an institute counts for the professional growth hours required to renew a California Teaching Credential.
How much is a regular ticket?
$65 for adults ages 18 to 69, and $50 for youth ages 5 to 17 and seniors ages 70 and up.
More Information:
Looking for places that do give teachers a lower price? Browse our entertainment discounts for teachers, or see the aquarium’s educator programs and admission tickets pages.