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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!

student dining employee presents dinner options

Campus Meal Plan

The Campus Meal Plan offers the best discount structure for a student who eats more than 10 meals per week on campus and is accepted at every Campus Dining location on campus. Students living on campus enjoy the convenience and cost savings with the Campus Meal Plan. 

LionCash letters

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.

students sitting at tables in dining hall eating a meal

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, and the cost can be charged to the student's LionPATH account.

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Nittany Lion Dining on Campus

Explore Dining Options

With over 30 operations on campus, you'll always be able to find something satisfying to enjoy!

Compare Meal Plans

This chart highlights some of the main differences between meal plan options.

  Commuter Meal Plan LionCash Campus Meal Plan

Recommended for

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

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 in the all-you-care-to-eat dining commons

Accepted at

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

Campus Meal Plan

every Campus Dining location on campus and at multiple Penn State campuses

Meal Breakdown

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

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

Discounts

Commuter Meal Plan

1. Set meal prices for purchases at the all-you-care-to-eat dining commons

LionCash

1. Set meal prices for purchases at the all-you-care-to-eat dining commons

Campus Meal Plan

1. Set meal price for purchases at the all-you-care-to-eat dining commons

Commuter Meal Plan, LionCash, Campus Meal Plan

View 2024-25 meal prices   |   View 2025-26 meal prices

Commuter Meal Plan

2. Discount of 10% discount on prepared foods in residential locations

LionCash

2. Discount of 10% discount on prepared foods in residential locations

Campus Meal Plan

2. Discount of 65% on prepared foods in residential locations

Commuter Meal Plan

3. No discount is available on packaged or branded items, or in nationally branded operations

LionCash

3. No discount is available on packaged or branded items, or in nationally branded operations

Campus Meal Plan

3. No discount is available on packaged or branded items, or in nationally branded operations

Total Plan Cost

Commuter Meal Plan, Commuter Meal Plan

Level 1: $250
Level 2: $500
Level 3: $1,000

LionCash, LionCash

Flexible - you decide what amount to deposit and spend

Campus Meal Plan

2024-2025 Academic Year
Level 1: $2,567/semester
Level 2: $2,803/semester
Level 3: $3,019/semester 

View Campus Meal Plan cost breakdown

Campus Meal Plan

2025-2026 Academic Year
Level 1: $2,657/semester
Level 2: $2,901/semester
Level 3: $3,124/semester 

View Campus Meal Plan cost breakdown

Balance

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 and available until you graduate

Campus Meal Plan

Dining dollars carry over from summer to fall semester, and fall to spring semester with purchase of additional meal plan. If an additional meal plan is not purchased, any remaining balance at the end of fall semester expire.

Dining dollars remaining at the end of spring semester expire. 

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. 

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Dining Commons Meal Prices: 2024-25 Academic Year
 
Meal Plan Breakfast Lunch Dinner/Brunch
Campus Meal Plan Breakfast $3.05 Lunch $4.60 Dinner/Brunch $5.75
Campus Meal Plan guest Breakfast $6.10 Lunch $9.20 Dinner/Brunch $11.50
LionCash Breakfast $7.90 Lunch $11.85 Dinner/Brunch $14.75
Commuter Meal Plan Breakfast $7.90 Lunch $11.85 Dinner/Brunch $14.75
Credit Card Breakfast $8.75 Lunch $13.15 Dinner/Brunch $16.40
Children 6-10 years* Breakfast $3.50 Lunch $5.25 Dinner/Brunch $6.60

*children under 6 are free

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Dining Commons Meal Prices: 2025-26 Academic Year
 
Meal Plan Breakfast Lunch Dinner/Brunch
Campus Meal Plan Breakfast $3.15 Lunch $4.75 Dinner/Brunch $5.85
Campus Meal Plan guest Breakfast $6.30 Lunch $9.50 Dinner/Brunch $11.70
LionCash Breakfast $8.05 Lunch $12.25 Dinner/Brunch $15.05
Commuter Meal Plan Breakfast $8.05 Lunch $12.25 Dinner/Brunch $15.05
Credit Card Breakfast $8.95 Lunch $13.60 Dinner/Brunch $16.75

Campus Meal Plan Discount Structure

Campus Meal Plan members receive savings in the dining commons and at select locations:

  • 65 percent off cash price at all-you-care-to-eat dining commons

  • 65 percent off cash price on prepared items* at residential food service operations (located in housing areas)

  • 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.

 

 

Additional Dining Locations that accept Campus Meal Plan (no additional discounts offered)

HUB Dining: Burger King, Slim Chickens, McAlister's Deli, Jamba, Starbucks, Hibachi-San, Panda Express, Cow & Cookie, and Sbarro's

Cafe Laura

Freshens

Penn State Berkey Creamery

Panera Bread

Saxby's

Starbucks

Beaver Stadium

Bryce Jordan Center

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.

 

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LionCash letters

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.

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Campus Meal Plan Cost

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 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.

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Campus Meal Plan Cost 2024-25 Academic Year
amount charged is per semester
Level Dining Dollars Base Cost TOTAL CHARGE
1 Dining Dollars $897 Base Cost $1670 TOTAL CHARGE $2567
2 Dining Dollars $1133 Base Cost $1670 TOTAL CHARGE $2803
3 Dining Dollars $1349 Base Cost $1670 TOTAL CHARGE $3019
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Campus Meal Plan Cost 2025-26 Academic Year
amount charged is per semester
Level Dining Dollars Base Cost TOTAL CHARGE
1 Dining Dollars $947 Base Cost $1710 TOTAL CHARGE $2657
2 Dining Dollars $1191 Base Cost $1710 TOTAL CHARGE $2901
3 Dining Dollars $1414 Base Cost $1710 TOTAL CHARGE $3124