Food plays an important role in nourishing both students and campus life at Puget Sound. A vibrant dining experience is vital to create an environment where all campus and surrounding community members are eager to gather around the same table. Puget Sound Dining Services fulfills this need with quality food made fresh from the best available local ingredients served by friendly and welcoming staff. Whether you choose to recharge in The Diner, relax over a latte at Diversions, grab a slice in The Cellar, or catch up between classes at the Oppenheimer Café, we offer a dining option to fit your tastes.

Puget Sound offers several meal plans to meet a variety of dining needs. All meal plans offer a combination of meal swipes or credits, as well as Flex Cash, allowing you to navigate campus dining in a variety of ways. With that in mind, here is a breakdown of the residential meal plan choices. 

Understanding Your Meal Plan

Start here:

  • What’s changing: Meal plans move from a declining balance to a set number of meals available each week
  • Why: To ensure consistent access to food and simplify how plans are used
  • What to know: This is a different structure—not a reduction in value

Still have questions? 

Meal Plan Choices

Puget Sound offers several meal plans to meet a variety of dining needs. All meal plans offer a combination of meal swipes or credits, as well as a Flex Cash, allowing you to navigate campus dining in a variety of ways. 

Students living in the residence halls, Union Avenue housing, or Langlow House are required to select Plan A, B, or C. 

Students living off campus are welcome to purchase any of the student meal plans listed below.  

Meal plan pricing reflects the university’s approved 2026–27 housing and dining rates. With that in mind, here is a break down of the residential meal plan choices:

$3,685 per semester
  • 10 meal swipes per week
  • 1 meal exchange per day (one swipe for up to $12 in value)
  • $450 in Flex Cash
  • 4 guest passes per semester
$4,090 per semester
  • 14 meal swipes per week
  • 1 meal exchange per day (one swipe for up to $12 in value)
  • $300 in Flex Cash
  • 6 guest passes per semester
$4,485 per semester
  • 21 meal swipes per week
  • 1 meal exchange per day (one swipe for up to $12 in value)
  • $150 in Flex Cash
  • 8 guest passes per semester

In addition to the residential plans, we also offer two plans for students living off-campus:

Commuter Plan 1
$1,250 per semester
  • 5 meal swipes per week
  • 1 meal exchange per day
  • 2 guest passes per semester
Commuter Plan 2
$1,400 per semester
  • 5 meal swipes per week
  • 1 meal exchange per day
  • $150 in Flex Cash
  • 2 guest passes per semester

We are also excited to introduce a low-cost meal plan opportunity for Puget Sound staff & faculty that regularly dine on campus:

Staff & Faculty Semester Plan
$800 per semester
  • 5 meal swipes per week
  • 1 meal exchange per day

Or staff and faculty can choose to buy a block of meal plan credits to be redeemed at any point throughout the semester.

  • Block of 10 credits - $120
  • Block of 20 credits - $200

Meal Plan Fees

Plan Total Cost Per Semester MEAL SWIPES PER WEEK FLEX CASH BALANCE
A $3,685 10 $450
B $4,090 14 $300
C $4,485 21 $150
Off-Campus 1 $1,250 5 $0
Off-Campus 2 $1,400 5 $150

Note: Rates are current for the 2026 Fall semester.

Definitions

Meal Swipe or Meal Credit = 1 meal* in the Student Union Diner

  • Meal Swipes reset to your full weekly balance every Sunday morning at 12:01 a.m.
  • Unused meals do not roll over from week to week.

Meal Exchange

  • 1 time per day, students may redeem a Meal Swipe (credit) for a $12 exchange value on retail purchases in any of our 3 campus cafes (Diversions, Oppenheimer, Lillis), The Cellar, or The Logger Store. 
  • Can only be used for food & beverage items.

Guest Passes

  • Guest passes can be redeemed for a student's guest to campus at any time during the semester and can be used for a guests Meal* Swipe (credit).
  • Guest passes are only redeemable in The Diner and will not work as a Meal Exchange.
  • Guest passes do not roll over to the next semester.

Flex Cash

  • Your Flex Cash is a declining balance account that can be used for retail food & beverage purchases in any of our dining outlets (The Diner, Diversions, Oppenheimer, Lillis, The Cellar) or the Logger Store. 
  • Flex Cash balances will carry over from Fall to Spring semester. At the end of the spring semester, all Flex Cash remaining on the student’s meal plan are forfeit and non-refundable. 
  • Additional Flex Cash can be added to student accounts at any time through the academic year. Additional Flex Cash purchases will be loaded on to student accounts at 1:1 ratio, meaning that every dollar you add to your account is a dollar you have to spend on food & beverage in any of our retail locations. Additional Flex Cash may be added using your Transact Mobile account, or by contacting Student Financial Services. A 10% discount will be given to Flex Cash purchases of $100 or more (ie - loading $100 in Flex Cash will cost you $90).

*Meal is defined as:

  • Applies to Prepared foods from The Diner (see Meal Exchange for exception)
  • Can reasonably fit on a single meal tray in the dining hall
  • No more than a double portion of any protein (additional portions can be purchased using Flex Cash)
  • Fits in a single to-go container
  • Does not apply to pre-packaged retail items in The Diner (see Meal Exchange for exception)

Meal Plan Selection

Select your new meal plan carefully. Think about:

  • your eating habits
  • class schedule
  • how often you will be on campus to eat

You can change the plan you selected during the first ten days of the semester, and you can add Flex Cash to your plan any time after the first ten days of the semester. Meal plans are purchased by the semester. Flex Cash will roll over from Fall to Spring semester. At the end of the spring semester, all Flex Cash remaining on the student's meal plan are forfeited and non-refundable. Again, changes must take place during the first ten days of the semester. Once that date passes, you are committed to the plan you have chosen for the remainder of the semester.

 

Getting The Most From Your Meal Plan

Dining Services provides a variety of quality menus and services to Puget Sound students. A balanced nutritional diet is emphasized for a healthy lifestyle and is the foundation of all Dining Services’ menus. Dining on our campus is a unique, social, and educational experience. It is part of the campus culture and part of a healthy, overall student experience. We encourage our students to eat on campus because of the healthy, nutritional content of our meals.

Occasionally, students don’t use their pre-purchased plans fully throughout the term as expected. Sometimes students choose to go home on Friday and stay through Sunday evening, attend a dinner sponsored by a student organization, or do an off-campus dining experience. These practices can result in a variance in how their meal plan was used throughout the semester; we offer the opportunity to adjust a meal plan to a lower level during the first 10 days of the semester. 

The best way to use your meal plan is to eat regularly at The Diner. Students are encouraged to monitor their food spending outside of their dining plan since you have already pre-purchased meals through your meal plan. Dining extensively off campus can create unnecessary additional overall food costs. Remember, balances left on your meal plan at the end of the year are non-refundable.

Students who have a high balance of Flex Cash at the end of Spring semester may purchase food & beverage items at the Logger Store, located on the lower level of the Student Union Building. Additionally, bulk items will be available for purchase in The Diner near the end of Spring semester. Purchase of these pre-packaged items can help to reduce an excess Flex Cash balance.

Dining Services’ total cost per semester includes preparing and serving food, cleaning the dining facility, mortgage payments, and utilities. Housing and Board are a prepaid commitment between a student and the university designed in our student community’s best interests. Dining Services needs to pay all expenses throughout each term, including labor and food costs.

 

Changing Meal Plans

You may only change your meal plan once billing has been posted each semester through the 10th day. If your meal plan is not the right one for you, you can change it by visiting myPugetSound. Click on the "Campus Housing and Meal Plans" tile. Choose "Meal Plan Selection" on the top menu bar, and follow directions on how to change your plan. Please contact Student Financial Services if you are interested in adding a meal plan after the 10th day each semester.

 

Discounts

Students receive a 15% discount on all food & beverage retail purchases on campus.

 

Dining Services Meal Plan Adjustment Procedures

Dining Services must maintain good financial health while serving the nutritional needs of students. Students who live in the residence halls (including Thomas Hall), Union Avenue housing, and Langlow House are required to purchase an on-campus plan, either A, B, or C each semester as stated by your Housing Agreement. A variety of meal plans have been developed with student habits in mind. Our dining staff makes every effort to educate students in examining their lifestyle to assist in making a proper meal plan selection. Students are encouraged to examine the available plans thoughtfully and to choose wisely. Should you have questions or need support in using your meal plan to navigate your specific nutritional or dietary needs, please reach out to the Dining Services Managers to discuss.

 

Meal Plan Carry-Overs/Refunds

Meal Plans are purchased by the semester. Meal Swipe credits reset to your full weekly balance every Sunday morning at 12:01 a.m. while any unused meals do not roll over from week to week. Cash balances will carry over from Fall to Spring semester. At the end of the spring semester, all Flex Cash remaining on the student’s meal plan are forfeit and non-refundable. Additionally, meal plan credits or balances are not transferable from one student account to another. Please contact Student Financial Services for more information.

What's Changing & Why

We have consistently heard from students over time that:

  • Some students run out of dining dollars before the end of the semester
  • Budgeting dining dollars across several months can be challenging
  • It is not always clear how day-to-day spending connects to the full meal plan

The updated model is designed to:

  • Ensure more consistent access to meals across the full semester
  • Provide greater clarity and transparency in how the plan works
  • Reduce the need to manage and pace spending over several months

This direction has also been informed by conversations with students, including student employees in dining, ASUPS leadership, and student ambassadors.

The weekly structure is designed to ensure that students have access to meals throughout the entire semester.

In the current model, students who spend dining dollars more quickly than expected can run out before the semester ends. The weekly structure is intended to reduce that risk by spreading access to meals more evenly across the term.

Each week includes a set number of meals, along with Flex Cash for additional flexibility at cafés and other dining locations.

It is a different kind of flexibility.

  • The current model offers flexibility over time (saving or spending across the semester)
  • The new model offers flexibility within each week, with predictable access to meals

In addition:

  • Plans include Flex Cash, which can be used at cafés and retail locations
  • Meal Exchange options provide flexibility in how meals are used

We recognize that this change may feel like a loss of flexibility for students who prefer to manage their dining dollars over time. The goal of the new structure is to balance flexibility with more consistent access to meals.

No. The updated model is not intended to reduce the overall value of the meal plan.

What is changing is how that value is structured:

  • From a pool of dining dollars managed over time
  • To a set number of meals available each week, along with Flex Cash

The new structure is designed to provide more consistent access to meals throughout the semester while making it easier to understand what is available to you week to week. While the structure is different, the goal is to ensure students continue to receive the full benefit of their meal plan.

In the current model, the price of food items reflects only a portion of the total cost of the meal plan. Other costs associated with operating the dining program are included in the overall plan price rather than in the price of individual items.

Because of this, meals can appear less expensive when viewed at the point of purchase.

The new model presents meals in a more bundled format, which can make the per-meal amount appear higher, even though the overall value of the plan is not intended to change.

Student input has been an important part of shaping this change.

Over several years, we have received cumulative feedback from students about challenges with the current model, including concerns about food insecurity and running out of dining dollars before the end of the semester.

We have also engaged with students more directly through:

  • Student employees in dining
  • ASUPS leadership
  • Student ambassadors

We will continue to gather feedback as the new model is implemented to ensure students understand how it works and to support a smooth transition.

How the New Meal Plan Works

The new meal plan provides a set number of meals each week, along with Flex Cash that can be used at cafés and retail locations. This structure is designed to provide consistent access to meals while offering flexibility in how students use their plan.

Yes, the full value meal plans A, B, & C are available to any student whether you live on campus of off campus. 

Absolutely! Take a friend, roommate, parent, or guest anywhere your meal plan is accepted. You need to be present as cards cannot be loaned. Your discounted student price will be applied to each of your guests.

Yes, Additional Flex Cash may be added using your Transact Mobile account, or by contacting Student Financial Services. A 10% discount will be given to Flex Cash purchases of $100 or more (ie - loading $100 in Flex Cash will cost you $90).

The Dining and Event Services offices are located on the second floor of the Wheelock Student Center, office WSC 240.

Yes, you can redeem a Meal Swipe (credit) for a $12 exchange value on retail food & beverage purchases in any of our 3 campus cafes (Diversions, Oppenheimer, Lillis), The Cellar, or The Logger Store. Can only be used for food & beverage items. To get the most out of your meal plan, we recommend that you only use the exchange for a purchase that equals as much of the $12 exchange value as possible. For lower value purchases, you should use your Flex Cash account. For example, it would not be a good exchange value to use one of your meal swipes on a small drop coffee in Diversions, as the value of that item is much lower than the value of your meal swipe.

You can use your Flex Cash for any food or beverage purchase in the Logger Store.

Any unused credits are reset back to your full weekly value at 12:01 Monday morning. Unused credits to not carry over week to week. Guest passes will remain available until used, or the end of the semester, which ever comes first.

Absolutely, retail purchases can still be made at any of our dining outlets.

A meal swipe equals 1 Meal in the Student Union Diner. A meal is defined as:

  • Prepared foods from The Diner unless used in another outlet as a meal exchange
  • Can reasonably fit on a single meal tray in the dining hall
  • No more than a double portion of any protein (additional portions can be purchased using Flex Cash)
  • Fits in a single togo container
  • Does not apply to pre-packaged retail items in The Diner (see meal exchange for exception)

One time per day, students may redeem a meal swipe (credit) for a $12 exchange value on retail purchases in any of our 3 campus cafes (Diversions, Oppenheimer, Lillis), The Cellar, or The Logger Store. Can only be used for food & beverage items.

Students can choose to use flex cash or a swipe at checkout and should select the option that carries the best value. We recommend using swipes for full meals and Flex Cash for snack or beverage purchases.

Meal plan account changes will still be made through your MyPugetSound portal. You can also contact Student Financial Services or the Dining & Events team to help navigate any changes or questions.

Students will redeem their meal swipe as they exit The Diner.

Yes, diners will be able gather items from multiple stations to create their perfect meal.

Yes, students can use the guest passes however they choose.

Yes, students living off campus are welcome to purchase a full meal plan.

Our team will work with students on an individual plan to find the best solution to navigating their concerns. The best place to start is discussing your concerns with our Diner team. Visit us in Wheelock Student Center 240, email dinermanagers@pugetsound.edu, or use the contact form on the DES website.

Meals are available on a weekly basis and do not carry over to the following week.

This structure is designed to provide consistent access to meals throughout the semester. Each week includes a set number of meals, along with Flex Cash for additional flexibility.

Yes. Students can use meals throughout the week based on their schedules and dining location availability. Flex Cash also provides additional flexibility for smaller or more frequent purchases.

Please visit the Logger Card website for policies and procedures relating to your ID card.

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