Meal Plans and How They Work

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When living in an undergraduate residence hall, you are required to have a meal plan and can use them at all 10 of our dining locations. You will select a meal plan while filling out your Housing contract. Other students, faculty or staff can buy a meal plan at any time.
 
If you live in the Graduate-Upper Division Halls, Daniels and Sherman, or the University Apartments (Ashton Woods, Orchard Downs, Goodwin-Green), you are not required to purchase a meal plan, but many opt in because of the flexibility, quality and convenience.

Types of Meal Plans and Rates

Meal plans consist of Classic Meals and Dining Dollars.
 
Classic Meals are used for all-you-care-to-eat carry-out or dine-in dining hall meals.
Dining Dollars can be used at any of our retail locations for food items only or to purchase an all-you-care-to-eat meal at a dining hall. Dining Dollars work like cash, except you swipe your i-card to use the dollars (1 Dining Dollar = $1).

Undergraduate Meal Plans

Required for all residents of undergraduate residence halls.

12 Classic Meals and 15 Dining Dollars Meal Plan

Each meal plan week starts on Sunday. You will be issued 12 Classic Meals to be used in any of our four all-you-care-to-eat dining facilities. These classic meals expire after one week and do not roll over to the next meal plan week. 

Additionally, you will receive 15 Dining Dollars. Each Dining Dollar is equivalent in value to one U.S. dollar. You can use Dining Dollars to purchase items a la carte in our six retail locations or to purchase an additional Classic Meal in an all-you-care-to eat location. Unused Dining Dollars will rollover for one week but the total amount of Dining Dollars on your account cannot exceed two weeks' worth. (e.g. if you used no Dining Dollars you would have 30 during week two, but could not exceed that amount for the following week).

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10 Classic Meals and 45 Dining Dollars Meal Plan

Each meal plan week starts on Sunday. You will be issued 10 Classic Meals to be used in any of our four all-you-care-to-eat dining facilities. Any unused classic meals expire after one week and do not roll over to the next meal plan week. 

Additionally, you will receive 45 Dining Dollars. Each Dining Dollar is equivalent in value to one U.S. dollar. You can use Dining Dollars to purchase items a la carte in our six retail dining locations or  purchase an additional Classic Meal in an all-you-care-to eat location. Unused Dining Dollars will rollover for one week but the total amount of dining dollars on your account cannot exceed two weeks' worth. (e.g. if you used no Dining Dollars you would have 90 during week two, but could not exceed that amount for the following week)

All Classic Meals Meal Plan

Each meal plan week starts on Sunday. You will be issued 42 Classic Meals to be used in any of our four all-you-care-to-eat dining facilities across 6 distinct meal periods. These classic meals expire after one week and do not roll over to the next meal plan week. 

All Dining Dollars Meal Plan

Each meal plan week starts on Sunday. You will be issued 275 Dining Dollars. Each Dining Dollar is equivalent in value to one U.S. dollar. You can use Dining Dollars to purchase items a la carte in our six retail dining locations or purchase a Classic Meal in an all-you-care-to eat location. Unused Dining Dollars will rollover for one week but the total amount of dining dollars on your account cannot exceed two weeks' worth of Dining Dollars.

Additional Meal Plans

Available to Graduate Upper-Division Residence Halls (Daniels and Sherman Hall), University Apartment residents, Taft Van Doren Halls and non-resident meal plan holders.

6 Classic Meals with 25 Dining Dollars

Each meal plan week starts on Sunday. You will be issued 6 Classic Meals to be used in any of our four all-you-care-to-eat dining facilities. These classic meals expire after one week and do not roll over to the next meal plan week. 

Additionally, you will receive 25 Dining Dollars. Each Dining dollar is equivalent in value to one U.S. dollar. You can use Dining Dollars to purchase items a la carte in our six retail locations or to purchase an additional Classic Meal in an all-you-care-to eat location. Unused Dining Dollars will rollover for one week but the total amount of dining dollars on your account cannot exceed two weeks' worth. (e.g. if you used no Dining Dollars you would have 50 during week two, but could not exceed that amount for the following week).

6 Classic Meals

Each meal plan week starts on Sunday. You will be issued 6 Classic Meals to be used in any of our four all-you-care-to-eat dining facilities across 6 distinct meal periods. These classic meals expire after one week and do not roll over to the next meal plan week.

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Meal Plan Periods & Rates
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The default payment for a meal in an all-you-can-eat location is for a Classic Meal to be deducted from your weekly allotment. If you would rather use Dining Dollars or Illini Cash for a meal, inform the checker as you enter the dining hall.

If you have a meal plan with Classic Meals, you may enter a dining hall using a meal credit up to 6 times per day, once per meal period (up to the limit of your meal plan: 6 meals, 10 meals or 12 meals).
Students with the All Classic meal plan may enter once per meal period, up to 42 times per week. What time you enter a dining hall determines which meal or Dining Dollars you use. Please note: The hours posted below reflect our standard operating hours.
 

Please note: The hours posted reflect our standard operating hours.
Meal Period  Hours  Dollar Equivalent 
Breakfast 7-10 a.m. $9.68 Dining Dollars
$11.11 Illini Cash (includes tax)
Early Lunch 10:30 a.m. – Noon $12.30 Dining Dollars
$14.12 Illini Cash (includes tax)
Lunch Noon – 1:30 p.m. $12.30 Dining Dollars
$14.12 Illini Cash (includes tax)
Late Lunch 1:30 – 4 p.m. $12.30 Dining Dollars
$14.12 Illini Cash (includes tax)
Dinner 4 – 6 p.m $15.98 Dining Dollars
$18.33 Illini Cash (includes tax)
Late Dinner 6 – 8 p.m. $15.98 Dining Dollars
$18.33 Illini Cash (includes tax)