Dining & Meal Plans

Grab a bite whenever you want

There’s no need to worry about buying groceries or cooking if you have a meal plan. With a variety of food options, you’re just a U Card swipe away from healthy, balanced meals and great snacks morning, noon, and night!

There are dining halls in 6 of our residence halls and over 20 retail restaurants, including Starbucks, Panda Express, Sonic, Halal Shack and more.

Meet M Food Co.

Pick your plan

All students living in our residence halls are required to have one of two unlimited meal plans. Meal plans are optional for residents living in our on-campus apartments (Keeler, Wilkins and Yudof).

With an unlimited meal plan, you can visit the dining halls as many times as you want in a day/week and eat as much as you wish.

The cost difference between the two meal plans, Unlimited and Unlimited Plus, is for the amount of Dining Dollars included at the start of the semester. Both plans include access to a certain amount of guest meal swipes. Visit the M Food Co. website to learn about the Unlimited and Unlimited Plus meal plans.

Meet M Food Co.

Note: The Unlimited plan (unlimited meals + $150 Dining Dollars + 3 guest swipes) is the default plan for residence hall students. All students living in our residence halls will automatically be enrolled in this plan unless they choose to enroll in the Unlimited Plus plan.

* Dining Dollars will roll over from the fall to spring semester and will expire at the end of the academic year in the spring.

** Guest meals will not roll over from the fall to spring semester.

*** The total cost listed is for both the unlimited meals and the additional Dining Dollars included. When reviewing a student's bill, the cost of the unlimited meals ($3,190) and Dining Dollars will be listed as two separate charges.

Campus Community Meal Plans

Campus Community Meal Plans are built for the broader UMN community, including commuters, students living off campus or in apartments, making it easy to enjoy everything dining has to offer. These plans are fully customizable, helping you save time and money while finding nutritious options and eating what you want, when you want.

Apartment and commuter students can sign up for a meal plan at any time, though it’s recommended to make your request by Monday, August 24, 2026 to ensure it’s active on the first day of the semester. In addition to residential meal plans, students can also choose to create their own meal plan by combining meal swipes and dining dollars., offering flexible options for busy schedules. Meal swipes can be used at Middlebrook, 17th Ave, Sanford, Bailey, or Pioneer.

Visit the M Food Co. website for more information.

Get the most from your meal plan

Using Dining Dollars

Dining Dollars are loaded onto your U Card, and they can be used just like cash at the on-campus Markets, Food Courts, Restaurants and Coffee Shops.

Dining Dollars can also be added at any point during in $25 increments through Dine On Campus.

Add Dining Dollars

Note: Unused Dining Dollars carry over from the fall to spring semester in the same academic year until the balance has been used. Each May, any funds remaining in individual Dining Dollars accounts will be forfeited.

Ordering On-the-Go

Enjoying Healthy Meals

Meeting Dietary Needs

Dietary Needs

M Food Co. offers individualized help if you are on a special diet. Students can meet with a Registered Dietitian to discuss special dietary needs and dining options. Email [email protected] for more information.

Allergens

There are Pure Eats allergen stations available at Pioneer, Middlebrook, Sanford and 17th Avenue residential restaurants. These stations feature a full meal option made without the top 9 allergens and gluten.

Inviting Friends/Family for a Meal

Stopping at a Residential Market

There are residential markets in Centennial*, Middlebrook*, and Sanford*, and they offer everything from snacks to shampoo. You can also visit Gopher Express in Coffman Union, the West Bank Skyway, or at the Gopher Spot in the St. Paul Student Center. The newly added convenience stop in the Coffman Union Bookstore offers quick grab-and-go items as well as fresh produce, meats and other healthy options. All locations accept cash, debit and credit cards.

*Denotes locations which also accept Dining Dollars.