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! With over 30 operations on campus, you'll always be able to find something satisfying to enjoy.
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 cost can be charged to the student's LionPATH account.
Students living off campus can purchase the Commuter Meal Plan through eLiving.
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.
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.
The Housing and Food Service (HFS) Contract defaults to level 2, and 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 deeper Campus Meal Plan discount.
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).
It's easy to purchase a meal plan - log on to eLiving to choose from available options.
Compare Plans
Looking to compare plans at a glance? Take a look at the chart below which highlights some of the main differences between our meal plan options.
| Commuter Meal Plan | LionCash | ||
|---|---|---|---|
| Recommended for |
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 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 |
| 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 |
every Campus Dining location on campus and at multiple Penn State campuses AND at participating off-campus merchants |
| Discounts |
1. Set meal price for purchases at the all-you-care-to-eat dining commons Breakfast $8.75 discounted to $3.05 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
|
1. Set meal prices for purchases at the all-you-care-to-eat dining commons Breakfast $8.75 discounted to $7.90 2. Discount of 10% discount on prepared foods in residential locations 3. No discount is available on packaged or branded items, or in nationally branded operations |
1. Set meal prices for purchases at the all-you-care-to-eat dining commons Breakfast $8.75 discounted to $7.90 2. Discount of 10% discount on prepared foods in residential locations 3. No discount is available on packaged or branded items, or in nationally branded operations |
| Explore University Park Dining Options | |||
| Meal Breakdown |
Average number of meals purchased in the all-you-care-to-eat dining commons: Level 1: 7-9 meals per week |
Level 1: 1-2 meals or snacks per week |
Flexible - you decide what amount to deposit and spend, and is similar to Commuter Meal Plan purchases |
| Total Plan Cost |
2024-2025 Academic Year Includes the base cost of $1,670 |
Level 1: $250 |
Flexible - you decide what amount to deposit and spend |
| Dining Dollars |
Spendable dining dollars vary by plan level |
Spendable funds vary by plan level |
Flexible - you decide what amount to deposit and spend |
| Dining Dollars Balance |
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) |
Dining dollars carry over from fall to spring semester Remaining dining dollars at the end of spring semester expire |
LionCash funds never expire (until you graduate) |
All-You-Care-To-Eat Dining Commons: Meal Prices
University Park offers five all-you-care-to-eat dining commons
|
Plan |
Breakfast |
Lunch |
Brunch/Dinner |
|---|---|---|---|
|
Campus Meal Plan |
$3.05 |
$4.60 |
$5.75 |
|
Campus Meal Plan Guest |
$6.10 |
$9.20 |
$11.50 |
|
LionCash/Commuter Meal Plan |
$7.90 |
$11.85 |
$14.75 |
|
Credit |
$8.75 |
$13.15 |
$16.40 |
|
Children 6-10 years |
$3.50 |
$5.25 |
$6.60 |
|
Children under 6 |
free |
free |
free |