Transporter credits were a rationed unit of exchange that allowed for use of transporters at Starfleet Academy in the 24th century.
Within his first five days at the Academy, future Captain Benjamin Sisko beamed back to his home in New Orleans each day for dinner. By his son's estimate, he likely had used up nearly an entire month's worth of credits. (DS9: "Explorers")
The exact nature of transporter credits and the New World Economy remains largely unknown - though even in a society where money as we know it did not exist, it is not unreasonable to think that an institution like Starfleet Academy, which is in effect a military school, would only permit students finite use of something which can be used to leave the school grounds.
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