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College meal plans are a way to prepay for your on-campus meals. This can be a convenient way to get food since most college dorms don't have kitchens.
Depending on the college, they may offer a variety of different meal plans, ranging from pay-as-you-go to an all-inclusive meal plan that covers all of your meals.
However, meal plans come with additional costs. Therefore, it is important to understand how college meal plans work and whether or not your student will take advantage of them.
How do college meal plans work?
A meal plan is a system for prepaying for on-campus meals. It can be determined by an amount of money, credits or swipes allocated over a set period of time and is usually tied to your ID. This can be convenient since many dorms don't have kitchens, so a meal plan is an easy and convenient way to get food. In fact, some colleges require first-year students living on campus to purchase a meal plan.
Meal plans vary from school to school, but typically there are a few different plans that provide different levels of meal access.
Often you can only change your meal plan between semesters, although some colleges allow you to change your meal plan more frequently.
What different types of college meal plans are there?
A meal plan can work in different ways. Here are a few different options for college meal plans:
Flexible meal plan — For commuters or part-time students, a flexible meal plan can be a good option. Flexible meal plans may only provide a few meals per week or may give out a set amount of meal money per week instead of a set number of meals.
Light meal plan — This eating plan may include one or two meals per day and may be a good option for light eaters or people who have other food sources.
Standard meal plan — The definition of a standard meal plan may vary slightly from school to school, but typically includes three meals per day. Some standard meal plans may also include extra money for snacks and other grocery purchases.
Unlimited meal plan — An unlimited dining plan, as the name suggests, usually offers unlimited meals. While this may be an attractive option for overeaters, it is also typically quite expensive. It may not be particularly healthy either.
It is often the case that meals do not carry over from week to week, and additional meal funds incurred for incidental expenses may or may not be carried over from semester to semester.
Related: How to stick to your budget as a student [Sample Student Budgets]
Is a College Meal Plan Right for You?
First, you may not have a choice. Depending on your situation, your university may require this. But even if this is the case, you need to choose the plan that fits your lifestyle. If you plan to eat three meals a day on campus, you should at least choose the Standard plan.
However, if you're comfortable grabbing a granola bar from your bedside table for breakfast, and you often eat dinner out (perhaps you work at a restaurant in the evenings or have family nearby), then a light meal plan might work for you meet needs.
If you commute to class, a meal plan may still be a good option, but you'll probably want one that's cheaper and offers fewer meals. Also consider whether a fixed number of meals or a more flexible meal plan makes the most sense for you.
If it's your first time at college, it may be a good idea to create a meal plan for your first semester, even if it's not necessary. It's probably better to eat meals that you don't use than to have to worry about where your next meal is while trying to manage the other stresses of your first year of college.
Related: What Are Qualified Expenses for a 529 Plan (And What Counts and What Doesn't)
Are unlimited college meal plans worth it?
While an unlimited college meal plan sounds like a great option, it may not always be the best choice. Unlimited college meal plans (if your school even offers them) are typically significantly more expensive than other meal options.
If the standard plan isn't quite enough, you can always purchase snacks from the supermarket to keep in your room. This can be a great way to supplement your diet without spending more than necessary on an expensive diet plan.
Refund of unused meal plan dollars
It is important to remember that most colleges are currently keeping unused lunch funds. It says, “Use it or lose it.”
But the Department of Education is working to change that with a new proposal that would require colleges to refund unused meal funds within 14 days of the end of the semester. If passed, this rule likely will not take effect until the 2025-2026 school year.
So until then, keep in mind that if you buy too much of a meal plan, you might miss out on the unused portion.
The conclusion
College meal plans are prepaid accounts that students can use to pay for meals and other groceries while on campus. A college meal plan may include a certain number of daily or weekly meals in an on-campus cafeteria, prepaid dollars that can be used to purchase snacks, groceries, or other necessities, or a combination of both.
Choosing the right college meal plan can take a bit of trial and error before you find the right meal plan for your specific situation.
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