Meal plan options
All students living in the residence halls are required to purchase either the Unlimited, Block 160, or Weekly 14 meal plan. If you live in a room with a University-supplied kitchen you have the additional options of a Block 50 meal plan, or a strictly dining dollar plan.
University Housing and Dining offers several meal plan options including: Unlimited, Block 160, Weekly 14, Block 50, or the strictly dining dollar plans. Below are the details and rates for the 2025-2026 academic year.
2025-26 meal plan options
Unlimited Plan $4,700 - $2,350 per semester
This plan is ideal for students who eat at least three meals a day, seven days a week.
- Unlimited meal swipes (available only in the three market places)
- $150 dining dollars that can be used at all campus retail dining locations
- Five guest meals to treat a friend or family member to a meal in the market places
Unused meal swipes do not roll over to the next semester. Unused meals are forfeited and non-refundable. Dining dollars expire at the end of the spring semester.
Block 160 Plan $4,300 - $2,150 per semester
We recommend the Block 160 plan for students who may leave campus on weekends, or those who prefer to take more of their meals at campus retail dining locations.
- 160 meal swipes for the semester to use in the three market places
- $450 dining dollars to use at all campus retail dining locations.
- Five guest meals to treat a friend or family member to a meal in the market places.
Unused meal swipes do not roll over to the next semester. Unused meals are forfeited and non-refundable.
Weekly 14 Plan $4,500 - $2,250 per semester
This meal plan is best for students who may not eat 3 full meals a day. It offers students the benefit of keeping a weekly tally on their meal usage to determine what works best for them.
- 14 meal swipes per week in the market places. Meals reset every week and unused meals are forfeited.
- $350 dining dollars that can be used at all campus retail dining locations
- Five guest meals to treat a friend or family member to a meal in the market places.
Unused meal swipes do not roll over to the next semester. Unused meals are forfeited and non-refundable.
Block 50 Plan $1,700 - $850 per semester
This plan is only available to residents with a university-supplied kitchen.
- 50 meal swipes for the semester (available only in the three market places)
- $250 dining dollars that can be used at all campus retail dining locations
Unused meal swipes do not roll over to the next semester. Unused meals are forfeited and non-refundable.
Dining dollar only plans
$750 dining dollars
The $750 dining dollar plan is an additional meal plan option for residents who have a university-supplied kitchen. It's also a great option for those living off-campus who want to eat at our dining locations while they are on campus!
This amount is purchased all at once, the student uses it in a declining balance over the course of an academic year, fall and spring semesters. Dining dollars do roll over from fall semester to spring, then the funds expire on when the meal plan contract expires in May.
$500 dining dollars
This amount is purchased all at once, the student uses it in a declining balance over the course of an academic year, fall and spring semesters. Dining dollars do roll over from fall semester to spring, then the funds expire on when the meal plan contract expires in May.
$250 dining dollars
This amount is purchased all at once, the student uses it in a declining balance over the course of an academic year, fall and spring semesters. Dining dollars do roll over from fall semester to spring, then the funds expire on when the meal plan contract expires in May.
Change in meal plans for 2025-2026
We gathered feedback from all who visit our dining facilities and have proposed a new structure for meal plans beginning in the 2025-2026 academic year to the Board of Regents (BOR).
The driver for this change was to provide more flexibility for students and reduce confusion. One of the most significant changes is the transition from Hawkeye Dollars, which could be used for laundry in residence halls and food at retail locations, to dining dollars, which will only be used for purchases from a campus dining facility. Also, we eliminated flex meal swipes, as dining dollars can be used at any retail location, which expands the number of locations where students can use their meal plan.
Modifying your meal plan
University Housing and Dining offers you the flexibility to change your meal plan online starting on Tuesday, Aug. 12, 2025 through the first several weeks of each semester. For the fall semester, August 29, 2025 is the deadline, after which no modifications can be made. Beginning in early January, you may make modifications to your meal plan for the spring semester. Jan. 30, 2026 is the deadline, after which no modifications can be made.
Please note: If you are moving from a room with a university-supplied kitchen to a room without a kitchen, you must choose the Block 160, Weekly 14 or Unlimited plan within five (5) business days from the effective date of the transfer. If a meal plan is not chosen, the Unlimited plan will be assigned.
Canceling your meal plan
If you need to cancel your meal plan contract, you can do so online. Students who cancel their residence hall contract will also have their meal plan canceled. All cancelations are subject to contract cancelation guidelines. Students who cancel their room contract may request a meal plan.
If you are a returning or transfer student in a room with a university-supplied kitchen, you will be permitted to cancel your meal plan for both one or two semesters. Students transferring to a room with a university-supplied kitchen, after the cancelation deadline have five (5) business days from the effective date of the transfer to change or cancel a meal plan. After the five (5) days, a plan is a binding contract for the remainder of the semester.
Purchase or modify your meal plan, or check your guest meal balance
You can purchase, modify, or check your guest meal balance using the buttons below.