Meal Plans
Meal Plan Options
Whether you're an on-campus resident, a commuting student on campus five days a week, or a part-time student or faculty member in need of a quick bite, we offer a meal plan option that works for you!
Campus Meal Plan
The Campus Meal Plan offers the best discount for any 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 across the state 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, Sbarro) will not receive a discount.
The Campus Meal Plan is comprised of two cost components: base cost (similar to a "membership fee"), which covers operational expenses, and dining dollars, which is the amount 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 student's 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 are non-refundable, so if a student is running low on funds, the meal plan can be supplemented with LionCash and still receive 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. 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).
Commuter Meal Plan
The Commuter Meal Plan offers students living off campus the opportunity to eat for less than paying out of pocket while saving time that otherwise would be spent packing lunch or driving off campus. The Commuter Meal Plan offers a 10% discount on qualifying purchases. It's the best choice for students who eat on campus a few times per week and want to charge the cost of the meal plan to the student's LionPATH account. Three levels to choose from and each carries over from fall to spring - there's no need to purchase a spring meal plan when you have funds remaining from fall.
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 with the Penn State id+ Card. LionCash members can receive a 10% discount on qualifying purchases. 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! Funds are available to students during their time as a Penn State student.
View our complete list of participating merchants and enjoy the convenience of making cash-free purchases on your terms.
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 |
Required for all on-campus students without personal kitchens in on-campus apartments
|
Students who need to charge meal plan to 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 across the state at multiple Penn State campuses |
every Campus Dining location on campus and across the state at multiple Penn State campuses |
every Campus Dining location on campus and across the state at multiple Penn State campuses AND participating off-campus merchants |
| Discounts |
*65% on prepared foods in UP food districts and campus food courts, with exceptions Discounts in other locations vary |
10% discount on prepared foods in UP food districts and campus food courts, with exceptions Discounts in other locations vary |
10% discount on prepared foods in UP food districts and campus food courts, with exceptions Discounts in other locations vary |
| Total Plan Cost |
Fall 2023-Spring 2024: |
Level 1: $250 |
Flexible option - you decide what amount to deposit and spend |
| Dining Dollars |
Spendable dining dollars vary by plan level |
Spendable funds vary by plan level |
Flexible option - you decide what amount to deposit and spend |
| Meal Breakdown |
Level 1: 7-9 meals per week
|
Level 1: 1-2 meals or snacks per week |
Flexible option - you decide what amount to deposit and spend. The value of your purchase is comparable to the Commuter Meal Plan |
| Leftover Funds |
Dining dollars carry over from summer to fall semester, and fall to spring semester so long as a meal plan has been purchased for each semester; all funds expire at the end of the spring semester. |
Funds carry over from fall to spring semester and expire at the end of the spring semester. |
Funds never expire (until you graduate or leave Penn State) |
All-You-Care-To-Eat Meal Prices
Behrend and University Park campuses offer All-You-Care-To-Eat dining options. Compare the all-you-care-to-eat meal prices across various plans.
|
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 |