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!

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% discount on qualifying purchases, and the cost can be charged to the student's LionPATH account.

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.

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.

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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 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.

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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.

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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.

View Campus Meal Plan 2024-25 cost breakdown | View Campus Meal Plan 2025-26 cost breakdown

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).

Explore Dining Options

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

Explore Dining Options

Compare Meal Plans

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

	Commuter Meal Plan	LionCash	Campus Meal Plan
Recommended for	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	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)
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 AND at participating off-campus merchants	every Campus Dining location on campus and at multiple Penn State campuses
Meal Breakdown	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	Flexible - you decide what amount to deposit and spend, and is similar to Commuter Meal Plan purchases	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	1. Set meal prices for purchases at the all-you-care-to-eat dining commons	1. Set meal prices for purchases at the all-you-care-to-eat dining commons	1. Set meal price for purchases at the all-you-care-to-eat dining commons
	View 2024-25 meal prices \| View 2025-26 meal prices
	2. Discount of 10% discount on prepared foods in residential locations	2. Discount of 10% discount on prepared foods in residential locations	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	3. No discount is available on packaged or branded items, or in nationally branded operations	3. No discount is available on packaged or branded items, or in nationally branded operations
Total Plan Cost	Flexible - you decide what amount to deposit and spend	Level 1: $250 Level 2: $500 Level 3: $1,000	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
Total Plan Cost	Flexible - you decide what amount to deposit and spend	Level 1: $250 Level 2: $500 Level 3: $1,000	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	Dining dollars carry over from fall to spring semester Remaining dining dollars at the end of spring semester expire	LionCash funds never expire and available until you graduate	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)

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	$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

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**Dining Commons Meal Prices: 2025-26 Academic Year**
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

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.

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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	$897	$1670	$2567
2	$1133	$1670	$2803
3	$1349	$1670	$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	$947	$1710	$2657
2	$1191	$1710	$2901
3	$1414	$1710	$3124