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!
Campus Meal Plan
The Campus Meal Plan offers the best discount for a student who eats more than 10 meals per week on campus 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 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. The Campus Meal Plan offers an overdraft feature for when a student's dining dollars balance hits $0.00 - additional purchases will be supplemented with available LionCash funds, while still receiving the same Campus Meal Plan discount structure.
To learn more about the Campus Meal Plan, watch this video NOTE: the rates listed in video are from the 2021-22 academic year.
On-Campus Housing Students
For students who live in University Housing, the Campus Meal Plan is conveniently included in the HFS Contract, where they will agree to the Terms, Conditions, and Regulations (TCRs), and does not need to be purchased separately. The cost of the Campus Meal Plan will be added to students' LionPATH account for payment for each semester.
Off-Campus Housing Students
Students living off campus can purchase the Campus Meal Plan in eLiving > Contracts > Purchase Meal Plan and will agree to the Terms, Conditions, and Regulations (TCRs). The cost of the Campus Meal Plan can either be added to students' LionPATH account or paid for with a credit card.
Students living off campus can purchase the Commuter Meal Plan through eLiving during these timeframes:
- Fall Semester: March 1 - September 30
- Spring Semester: October 1 - March 1
- Summer: March 1 - August 1
If a student purchases a Campus Meal Plan for fall semester, the plan will automatically be duplicated for spring semester. Students are eligible to then manage their spring Campus Meal Plan (increase/decrease level or cancel spring plan) in eLiving after October 1.
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Any funds remaining at the end of fall semester will only be available during spring semester if the student purchases another Campus Meal Plan. If another plan is not purchased, remaining funds will expire.
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A Commuter Meal Plan may be purchased for spring semester, and any remaining funds from fall semester will be available to use. However, the student will no longer receive the Campus Meal Plan discount on purchases.
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Any funds remaining at the end of spring semester will expire.
Campus Meal Plan Cost
The Campus Meal Plan is comprised of two cost components, base cost and dining dollars. View additional information about cost components.
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 percent 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.
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 percent 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:
- Level 1 $250
- Level 2 $500
- Level 3 $1,000
If a student purchases a Commuter Meal Plan for fall semester, the plan will automatically be duplicated for spring semester. Students are eligible to then manage their spring Commuter Meal Plan (increase/decrease level or cancel spring plan). Any funds remaining at the end of fall semester will be available during spring semester, even if a spring meal plan is not purchased. Any funds remaining at the end of spring semester will expire.
Students living off campus can purchase the Commuter Meal Plan in eLiving > Contracts > Purchase Meal Plan and will agree to the Terms, Conditions, and Regulations (TCRs). The advantage of the Commuter Meal Plan is that the semester cost can be charged to the student's LionPATH account.
Students living off campus can purchase the Commuter Meal Plan through eLiving during these timeframes:
- Fall Semester: March 1 - September 30
- Spring Semester: October 1 - March 1
- Summer: March 1 - August 1
Explore Dining Options
With over 30 operations on campus, you'll always be able to find something satisfying to enjoy!
All-You-Care-To-Eat Dining Commons: Meal Prices
University Park offers five all-you-care-to-eat dining commons, one in each housing area.
| Meal Plan | Breakfast | Lunch | Dinner/Brunch |
|---|---|---|---|
| Campus Meal Plan | $3.05 | $4.60 | $5.75 |
| Campus Meal Plan guest | $6.10 | $9.20 | $11.50 |
| LionCash | $7.90 | $11.85 | $14.75 |
| Commuter Meal Plan | $7.90 | $11.85 | $14.75 |
| Credit Card | $8.75 | $13.15 | $16.40 |
| Children 6-10 years* | $3.50 | $5.25 | $6.60 |
*children under 6 are free
| Meal Plan | Breakfast | Lunch | Dinner/Brunch |
|---|---|---|---|
| Campus Meal Plan | $3.15 | $4.75 | $5.85 |
| Campus Meal Plan guest | $6.30 | $9.50 | $11.70 |
| LionCash | $8.05 | $12.25 | $15.05 |
| Commuter Meal Plan | $8.05 | $12.25 | $15.05 |
| Credit Card | $8.95 | $13.60 | $16.75 |
Campus Meal Plan Discount Structure
Campus Meal Plan members receive savings in the dining commons and at select locations:
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65 percent off cash price at all-you-care-to-eat dining commons
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65 percent off cash price on prepared items* at residential food service operations (located in housing areas)
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10 percent off cash price on prepared items* at specialty fast-casual locations in residential operations and specific HUB Dining options (Soup & Garden, Grate Chee, and Blue Burrito)
*Packaged and branded items are not eligible for any discount.
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HUB Dining: Burger King, Slim Chickens, McAlister's Deli, Jamba, Starbucks, Hibachi-San, Panda Express, Cow & Cookie, and Sbarro's |
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Cafe Laura |
Freshens |
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Penn State Berkey Creamery |
Panera Bread |
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Saxby's |
Starbucks |
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Beaver Stadium |
Bryce Jordan Center |
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Pegula Ice Arena |
Shake Smart - IM Building |
The Campus Meal Plan can also be used at any Penn State campus with a Campus Dining operation.
Overdraft Protection
The Campus Meal Plan offers an "overdraft protection" service if a student's dining dollar balance hits $0. If they make a purchase and there are not enough dining dollars available to cover the transaction cost, the system will automatically pull funds from their LionCash account to cover the cost of the purchase - and still offer the same discount structure. The register system will only process these transactions if the student has an active Campus Meal Plan and enough funds in LionCash to cover the purchase cost.
This feature is useful towards the end of spring semester. Rather than increase to a higher level, funds can be added to LionCash. Any dining dollars remaining in the Campus Meal Plan account at the end of spring semester will expire, whereas LionCash funds transfer year-to-year and do not expire at the end of spring semester.
Campus Meal Plan Cost
The Campus Meal Plan is comprised of two cost components:
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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.
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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 Campus Meal Plan is required for each semester that a student has an active Housing and Food Service (HFS) Contract, and will be charged to the student's LionPATH account at the beginning of each semester. The exception will be for students who purchase a Campus Meal Plan in the fall semester and use a credit card for payment; those plans are not automatically added to the student's spring account.
| Level | Dining Dollars | Base Cost | TOTAL CHARGE |
|---|---|---|---|
| 1 | $897 | $1670 | $2567 |
| 2 | $1133 | $1670 | $2803 |
| 3 | $1349 | $1670 | $3019 |
| Level | Dining Dollars | Base Cost | TOTAL CHARGE |
|---|---|---|---|
| 1 | $947 | $1710 | $2657 |
| 2 | $1191 | $1710 | $2901 |
| 3 | $1414 | $1710 | $3124 |