Meal Plans
Meal Plan Options
Whether you're an on-campus resident, a commuting student on campus five days a week, a part-time student, or faculty member in need of a quick bite, we offer a meal plan option that works for you! With over 30 operations on campus, you'll always be able to find something satisfying to enjoy.
Commuter Meal Plan
The Commuter Meal Plan offers students living off campus a convenient way to purchase meals for less than paying out of pocket, plus students can save valuable time that otherwise would be spent packing lunch or driving off campus. The Commuter Meal Plan offers a 10% discount on qualifying purchases (no discount on branded or pre-packaged items).
The Commuter Meal Plan is a great choice for students who may eat on campus only a few times a week and offers three levels to choose from. Any funds remaining at the end of fall semester will be available during spring semester, even if a spring meal plan is not purchased. The cost can be charged to the student's LionPATH account.
Students living off campus can purchase the Commuter Meal Plan through eLiving.
LionCash
LionCash is the most flexible option for students, faculty, and staff - it's an online, prepaid spending account accessed through the Penn State id+ Card and mobile account. It's a great way to have "cash" available for purchases, without actually needing cash!
LionCash members can receive a 10% discount on qualifying purchases (no discount on branded or pre-packaged items). Funds can be added online at any time in increments as low as $5.00, and LionCash is accepted at on- and off-campus restaurants, markets, bookstores, entertainment venues, and more! On-campus residents will need to have LionCash for laundry.
Funds carry over year-to-year during the duration of a student's enrollment at Penn State.
View the complete list of participating merchants and enjoy the convenience of making cash-free purchases on your terms.
Campus Meal Plan
The Campus Meal Plan offers the best discount for a student who eats more than 10 meals per week on campus (for University Park, these would be meals in the all-you-care-to-eat dining commons). The Campus Meal Plan is accepted at every Campus Dining location on campus and at multiple Penn State campuses, creating the largest variety of options in addition to earning a discount on nearly every purchase. Items that are pre-packaged, branded, or at a nationally-branded concept (for example, Starbucks, Sbarro) will not receive a discount.
The Campus Meal Plan is comprised of two cost components:
- base cost (similar to a "membership fee") covers operational expenses. The base cost is paid up-front at the beginning of the fall and spring semesters and used by the University to cover mortgages, labor, supplies, etc. This covers the cost of business to be open and ready to serve students on demand.
- dining dollars is the amount of spendable funds available on the student's Penn State id+ Card to make purchases with. There are three (3) levels of spendable dining dollars. Campus Meal Plan holders will receive a discount on qualifying purchases at select operations.
The Housing and Food Service (HFS) Contract defaults to level 2, and students can change the level at any time in eLiving until the last day of the semester. Remaining dining dollars at end the end of the contracted period will expire. When a student's dining dollars balance hits $0.00, additional purchases will be supplemented with LionCash funds, while still receiving the deeper Campus Meal Plan discount.
For students who live in University Housing, the Campus Meal Plan conveniently included in the HFS Contract and does not need to be purchased separately. The cost of the Campus Meal Plan will be added to students' LionPATH account for payment. Students living off campus can purchase the Campus Meal Plan through eLiving.
To learn more about the Campus Meal Plan, watch this video (rates listed in video are from the 2021-2022 academic year).
It's easy to purchase a meal plan - log on to eLiving to choose from available options.
Compare Plans
Looking to compare plans at a glance? Take a look at the chart below which highlights some of the main differences between our meal plan options.
| Commuter Meal Plan | LionCash | ||
|---|---|---|---|
| Recommended for |
on-campus students, who are required to purchase the meal plan for both fall and spring semesters. Students living in on-campus apartments with a personal kitchen may opt out of the Campus Meal Plan.
|
students who need to charge the cost of a meal plan to their LionPATH account, where a scholarship, grant, loan, etc. may cover the cost. |
students who eat less than 10 meals per week on campus |
| Accepted at |
every Campus Dining location on campus and at multiple Penn State campuses |
every Campus Dining location on campus and at multiple Penn State campuses |
every Campus Dining location on campus and at multiple Penn State campuses AND at participating off-campus merchants |
| Discounts |
1. Set meal price for purchases at the all-you-care-to-eat dining commons Breakfast $8.75 discounted to $3.05 2. Discount of 65% on prepared foods in residential locations 3. No discount is available on packaged or branded items, or in nationally branded operations |
1. Set meal prices for purchases at the all-you-care-to-eat dining commons Breakfast $8.75 discounted to $7.90 2. Discount of 10% discount on prepared foods in residential locations 3. No discount is available on packaged or branded items, or in nationally branded operations |
1. Set meal prices for purchases at the all-you-care-to-eat dining commons Breakfast $8.75 discounted to $7.90 2. Discount of 10% discount on prepared foods in residential locations 3. No discount is available on packaged or branded items, or in nationally branded operations |
| Meal Breakdown |
Average number of meals purchased in the all-you-care-to-eat dining commons: Level 1: 7-9 meals per week |
Level 1: 1-2 meals or snacks per week |
Flexible - you decide what amount to deposit and spend, and is similar to Commuter Meal Plan purchases |
| Total Plan Cost |
2024-2025 Academic Year Includes the base cost of $1,670 |
Level 1: $250 |
Flexible - you decide what amount to deposit and spend |
| Dining Dollars |
Spendable dining dollars vary by plan level |
Spendable funds vary by plan level |
Flexible - you decide what amount to deposit and spend |
| Dining Dollars Balance |
Dining dollars carry over from summer to fall semester, and fall to spring semester with purchase of additional meal plan Dining dollars remaining at the end of spring semester expire (students who purchase a meal plan for fall semester only will have remaining balance expire at end of fall semester) |
Funds carry over from fall to spring semester Remaining funds at the end of spring semester expire |
Funds never expire (until you graduate) |
All-You-Care-To-Eat Dining Commons: Meal Prices
University Park offers five all-you-care-to-eat dining commons
|
Plan |
Breakfast |
Lunch |
Brunch/Dinner |
|---|---|---|---|
|
Campus Meal Plan |
$2.95 |
$4.45 |
$5.55 |
|
Campus Meal Plan Guest |
$5.90 |
$8.90 |
$11.10 |
|
LionCash/Commuter Meal Plan |
$7.60 |
$11.45 |
$14.25 |
|
Credit (Visa/MasterCard) |
$8.45 |
$12.70 |
$15.85 |
|
Children 6-10 years |
$3.40 |
$5.00 |
$6.60 |
|
Children under 6 |
free |
free |
free |
|
Plan |
Breakfast |
Lunch |
Brunch/Dinner |
|---|---|---|---|
|
Campus Meal Plan |
$3.05 |
$4.60 |
$5.75 |
|
Campus Meal Plan Guest |
$6.10 |
$9.20 |
$11.50 |
|
LionCash/Commuter Meal Plan |
$7.90 |
$11.85 |
$14.75 |
|
Credit (Visa/MasterCard) |
$8.75 |
$13.15 |
$16.40 |
|
Children 6-10 years |
$3.40 |
$5.00 |
$6.60 |
|
Children under 6 |
free |
free |
free |
Meal Plans
General
Can I change my meal plan? What if I need more money for another week living on campus?
When a student accepts the HFS Contract, the Campus Meal Plan will default to level 2. The Campus Meal Plan level can be managed on eLiving > My Info > My Meal Plan, through the last day of finals for the semester. The system will display whether the student's account is eligible to be increased or decreased.
When a student's dining dollar balance runs low, add funds to the student's LionCash account instead of increasing the meal plan level. Campus Meal Plan account holders can use LionCash and receive the same discounted rate that the Campus Meal Plan offers for qualifying purchases. Indicate Campus Meal Plan when checking out, and the system will transfer the required funds to cover the cost of purchase.
How do I check my meal plan balance?
There are several ways a student can check their meal plan balance:
-
Transact eAccounts app, downloadable through Google Play or Apple App Store
-
eLiving > My Info > My Meal Plan
-
Penn State GO app > Dining > Penn State Eats mobile app *
-
Penn State Eats web ordering *
* balance will only be displayed when an order is processed
The Campus Meal Plan level can be managed on eLiving > My Info > My Meal Plan through 12:00 p.m. (noon) ET the last day of finals for the spring or fall semester. The system will display whether the student's account is eligible to be increased or decreased to a different meal plan level.
When a student's dining dollar balance runs low, add funds to the student's LionCash account instead of increasing the meal plan level. Campus Meal Plan account holders can use LionCash and receive the same discounted rate that the Campus Meal Plan offers for qualifying purchases. Indicate Campus Meal Plan when checking out, and the system will transfer the required funds to cover the cost of purchase.
How does my meal plan work?
The Campus Meal Plan provides easy purchasing and savings for students who regularly eat meals on campus.
The Campus Meal Plan is accessed through the student's Penn State id+ Card and mobile credentials. Based on the level purchased, dining dollars are added at the beginning of each semester. Indicate Campus Meal Plan when checking out, and the system will access the account and deduct the proper purchase amount.
The Campus Meal Plan can be used at all on-campus dining options. University Park offers over 30 eateries on campus, including the Berkey Creamery, HUB Dining, Beaver Stadium, Bryce Jordan Center, and other options. There are five all-you-care-to-eat dining commons available, with one in each housing area, that offers the best value to meal plan members.
Campus Meal Plan members receive a discount on their qualifying purchases.
If I live off campus, can I purchase a meal plan and what are the options?
Students living off campus are eligible to purchase either a Campus Meal Plan or Commuter Meal Plan, or can use LionCash to make purchases in on-campus dining options.
Meal plans can be purchased through eLiving > Contracts > Purchase Meal Plan
Learn more about the meal plan options to determine which one is the best fit for you.
Is the meal plan required, can I cancel it?
The Campus Meal Plan is a required purchase for students living on campus for summer (if applicable), fall, and spring semesters and cannot be cancelled. Students who live in on-campus apartments are not required to purchase the Campus Meal Plan.
The Commuter Meal Plan is available for students living in off-campus housing or living in an on-campus apartment. Any student who needs to make a change to their Commuter Meal Plan should contact their Commonwealth Campus Housing and Food Services Office, or the id+ Office at University Park.
Students who withdraw or end their relationship with the University after the semester has started may be eligible for a refund of remaining dining dollars and, for the Campus Meal Plan, a prorated refund of the base cost, within the timeframe outlined in the HFS Contract Terms, Conditions, and Regulations. Any refund will be credited to the student's LionPATH account or to the credit card used to purchase the meal plan.
The meal plan cannot be transferred or assigned to another individual.
What are the different meal plan discounts?
Campus Meal Plan account holders have access to the greatest discounts in on-campus dining:
-
65 percent off cash meal price at all-you-care-to-eat dining commons at University Park and Behrend
-
65 percent off cash price on prepared items* at residential food courts
-
10 percent off campus price on prepared items* at specialty fast casual operations, such as Soup & Garden, Grate Chee, and Blue Burrito in HUB Dining at University Park, Bruno's at Behrend, and coffee shops at campus locations.
The Commuter Meal Plan and LionCash offer a 10 percent discount off cash price on the items and locations listed above. Additional LionCash discounts may be available at off-campus participating locations.
*prepared items are meals, snacks, and beverages that are made by Campus Dining staff. No discounts are offered on purchases made at nationally branded restaurants and cafes or packaged items.
What happens to my leftover dining dollars?
Campus Meal Plan
Dining dollars remaining at the end of summer session carry over to fall semester and dining dollars remaining at the end of fall semester carry over to spring semester, provided the student has an active Campus Meal Plan for the fall and spring semester, respectfully. Any dining dollars remaining at the end of the spring semester expire. The Campus Meal Plan is a required purchase for both fall and spring semesters.
The Housing and Food Service (HFS) Contract defaults to level 2 of the Campus Meal Plan, and can be managed on eLiving > My Info > My Meal Plan through the last day of finals for the semester. The system will display whether the student's account is eligible to be increased or decreased.
When a student's dining dollar balance runs low, add funds to the student's LionCash account instead of increasing the meal plan level. Campus Meal Plan account holders can use LionCash and receive the same discounted rate that the Campus Meal Plan offers for qualifying purchases. Indicate Campus Meal Plan when checking out, and the system will transfer the required funds to cover the cost of purchase.
Commuter Meal Plan
Commuter Meal Plan funds carry over from fall to spring regardless of whether a spring commuter meal plan has been purchased. At the end of spring semester, any funds remaining will expire.
LionCash
LionCash funds carry over year-to-year and available to spend while the student is an active Penn State student.
What is LionCash and how is a deposit made?
LionCash makes the Penn State id+ Card even more convenient! It’s an online, prepaid flexible account that makes on-campus and off-campus purchases safe and easy. LionCash is used to pay for laundry in the residence halls, and can be used in vending machines and copiers across campus. There are over 200 participating merchants both on and off campus who accept LionCash for payment. Students with a Campus Meal Plan who run low on funds can use LionCash to supplement their meal plan - and still receive the same meal plan discounts.
Deposits are simple to make online, and funds are available immediately! Funds carry over year-to-year, until a student is no longer affiliated with the University.
To learn more and to make a deposit visit: Penn State id+ Card (idcard.psu.edu)
What is the cost of housing and food?
Housing and food rates are approved by the Board of Trustees in advance of every academic year.
Room and board rates are per student, per semester and are charged to the student's LionPATH account for payment. Students are charged the corresponding room rate based on their actual room assignment. The Campus Meal Plan (board rate) is comprised of the base cost and dining dollars for the selected meal plan level.
What type of meal plans are available?
There are three different meal plan options:
-
Campus Meal Plan: required for all students living in University Housing; optional for students living in Nittany and White Course Apartments
-
Commuter Meal Plan: optional plan for students living in off-campus housing or living in Nittany and White Course Apartments
-
LionCash: available for all students to use; it is necessary to have some funds available in LionCash for on-campus laundry facilities. Students with a Campus Meal Plan should always use dining dollars to make purchases on campus before utilizing LionCash
Where can I use my meal plan?
Campus Meal Plan dining dollars can be used at ALL Campus Dining locations any Penn State Campus*, as well as at popular destinations at University Park such as Beaver Stadium, Bryce Jordan Center, Pegula Ice Arena, and Berkey Creamery.
Commuter Meal Plans can be used at ALL Campus Dining locations any Penn State Campus*.
LionCash can be used at ALL Campus Dining locations any Penn State Campus* and any participating merchant throughout Pennsylvania.
*Penn State Campuses offering Campus Dining locations: Abington, Altoona, Beaver, Berks, Behrend, Brandywine, Dubois, Fayette, Greater Allegheny, Harrisburg, Hazleton, Mont Alto, New Kensington, Schuylkill, Scranton, Shenango, University Park, Wilkes-Barre, and York
Food Allergies / Special Diets
What if I have food allergies and intolerances?
Penn State Campus Dining offers multiple resources to ensure students with food allergies and intolerances dine safely on campus. We encourage students to contact the Registered Dietitians’ Office at [email protected] to make a plan for navigating dining on campus.