collage of menu items including shrimp, salad, and sandwiches

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

LionCash

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 for the academic year (Summer Session only offers level 1). 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 same Campus Meal Plan discount structure.

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.

Purchase Meal Plan

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.

Campus Meal Plan Comparison
	Campus Meal Plan	Commuter Meal Plan	LionCash
Recommended for	Campus Meal Plan 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 living in on-campus or off-campus apartments who eat more than 10 meals per week on campus (for University Park, these would be meals in the all-you-care-to-eat dining commons)	Commuter 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.	LionCash students who eat less than 10 meals per week on campus
Accepted at	Campus Meal Plan every Campus Dining location on campus and at multiple Penn State campuses	Commuter Meal Plan every Campus Dining location on campus and at multiple Penn State campuses	LionCash every Campus Dining location on campus and at multiple Penn State campuses AND at participating off-campus merchants
Discounts	Campus Meal Plan 1. Set meal price for purchases at the all-you-care-to-eat dining commons 2024-2025 Rates (fall through end of summer) Breakfast $8.75 discounted to $3.05 Lunch $13.15 discounted to $4.60 Dinner/Brunch $16.40 discounted to $5.75 2025-2026 Rates (fall through end of summer) Breakfast $8.95 discounted to $3.15 Lunch $13.60 discounted to $4.75 Dinner/Brunch $16.75 discounted to $5.85 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	Commuter Meal Plan 1. Set meal prices for purchases at the all-you-care-to-eat dining commons 2024-2025 Rates (fall through end of summer) Breakfast $8.75 discounted to $7.90 Lunch $13.15 discounted to $11.85 Dinner/Brunch $16.40 discounted to $14.75 2025-2026 Rates (fall through end of summer) Breakfast $8.95 discounted to $8.05 Lunch $13.60 discounted to $12.25 Dinner/Brunch $16.75 discounted to $15.05 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	LionCash 1. Set meal prices for purchases at the all-you-care-to-eat dining commons 2024-2025 Rates (fall through end of summer) Breakfast $8.75 discounted to $7.90 Lunch $13.15 discounted to $11.85 Dinner/Brunch $16.40 discounted to $14.75 2025-2026 Rates (fall through end of summer) Breakfast $8.95 discounted to $8.05 Lunch $13.60 discounted to $12.25 Dinner/Brunch $16.75 discounted to $15.05 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
Explore University Park Dining Options
Meal Breakdown	Campus Meal Plan Average number of meals purchased in the all-you-care-to-eat dining commons: Level 1: 7-9 meals per week Level 2: 11-13 meals per week Level 3: 14-16 meals per week	Commuter Meal Plan Level 1: 1-2 meals or snacks per week Level 2: 3 meals or snacks per week Level 3: 4-6 meals or snacks per week	LionCash Flexible - you decide what amount to deposit and spend, and is similar to Commuter Meal Plan purchases
Total Plan Cost	Campus Meal Plan 2024-2025 Academic Year Level 1: $2,567/semester Level 2: $2,803/semester Level 3: $3,019/semester Includes the base cost of $1,670	Commuter Meal Plan Level 1: $250 Level 2: $500 Level 3: $1,000	LionCash Flexible - you decide what amount to deposit and spend
Dining Dollars	Campus Meal Plan Spendable dining dollars vary by plan level 2024-2025 Academic Year Level 1: $897 Level 2: $1,133 Level 3: $1,349	Commuter Meal Plan Spendable funds vary by plan level Level 1: $250 Level 2: $500 Level 3: $1,000	LionCash Flexible - you decide what amount to deposit and spend
Dining Dollars Balance	Campus Meal Plan 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)	Commuter Meal Plan Dining dollars carry over from fall to spring semester Remaining dining dollars at the end of spring semester expire	LionCash LionCash 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

**Meal Prices 2024-2025 Academic Year**
Plan	Breakfast	Lunch	Brunch/Dinner
Plan Campus Meal Plan	Breakfast $3.05	Lunch $4.60	Brunch/Dinner $5.75
Plan Campus Meal Plan Guest	Breakfast $6.10	Lunch $9.20	Brunch/Dinner $11.50
Plan LionCash/Commuter Meal Plan	Breakfast $7.90	Lunch $11.85	Brunch/Dinner $14.75
Plan Credit	Breakfast $8.75	Lunch $13.15	Brunch/Dinner $16.40
Plan Children 6-10 years	Breakfast $3.50	Lunch $5.25	Brunch/Dinner $6.60
Plan Children under 6	Breakfast free	Lunch free	Brunch/Dinner free