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Hours for all dining locations

Meal Plans

With the right meal plan, you can dine anywhere on campus: residential dining halls and cafés, Union eateries, athletic concession stands and many other locations.

Any Student

Plan/Meals Dining
Dollars
Blue
Bucks
Guest
Meals
Term
Price
125 300 75 10 $1,750
150 100 100 10 $1,750
200 75 75 10 $1,875
Unlimited 25 25 10 $2,125
Unlimited + 150 150 15 $2,250

Non-Residential Students*

Plan/Meals Dining
Dollars
Blue
Bucks
Guest
Meals
Term
Price
50 0 500 5 $1,050
75 0 400 5 $1,165
*And residents of Northwood III apartments

After you select a meal plan as part of your housing contract, your Mcard will be automatically loaded with your meal plan account data: number of meals, Dining Dollars and Blue Bucks (Michigan's on-campus currencies).

Whenever you eat in the dining hall, buy a burger at the Michigan Union, or grab a cup of coffee in a residential café, all you have to do is swipe your card. Your account balance will adjust automatically, just like a debit card.

 

Choose Your Meal Plan Wisely

The right meal plan is one that satisfies your appetite, your budget and your lifestyle. Use our meal plan calculator to make an informed decision.

More...

Before you calculate, ask yourself:

  1. Will I eat a full breakfast in the dining hall every day?
    (For a light breakfast, using Dining Dollars at a residential cafe is a better value.)
  2. Do I prefer to eat two or three hearty meals a day or to "graze" throughout the day?
  3. Do I prefer fast food or a home-style meal?
  4. How many times each week will I want to dine off-campus?
  5. How many days or weekends per semester will I spend off campus, visiting family or friends (eliminating the need for dining hall meals)?
  6. Will my class/work/activity schedule limit my access to dining hall meals? (Dining Dollars, Blue Bucks or cash will be important in this case.)

 

Meal Plan Calculator

Points worth noting:

For balanced meals with unlimited refills and healthy choices:
Think dining hall meals.

For convenient snacking options, grab-and-go convenience and additional dining hall meals:
Think Dining Dollars.

For dining at brand name eateries or shopping for essentials at the University Unions PLUS extra dining/ snacking in the res hall cafés:
Think Blue Bucks.

For off-campus dining:
Think cash or credit cards.

There are approximately 16 dining weeks in each semester.

How many dining hall meals will I eat each week?

× 16 dining weeks =       

This is a reasonable approximation of how many dining hall meals you will need in one term.

How many meals or snacks do you expect to eat in the residential cafés each week? (Plan on $3–$7 each.)

× $ × 16 dining weeks =       

This is a guideline for how many Dining Dollars you will use in a term.

How many snacks or meals do you expect to eat at the University Unions each week? (Plan on $3–$7 each.)

× $ × 16 dining weeks =       

Use this number to estimate how many Blue Bucks you will use in one term.

Now add in the number of loads of laundry you’ll do in the residence hall each week. Washing and drying one load costs approximately $1.75 (Blue Bucks or cash).


 

Meal Plan Basics

  • Students living in residence halls are required to have a meal plan for all terms in residence.
  • Go to MyPlan to check meal plan account balances or to add Blue Bucks in no time.
  • During the first 30 days of each term, you can change your meal plan as often as you like.
  • Block Meal Plans include a set number of meals in the residential dining halls and varying amounts of Blue Bucks and Dining Dollars. Meals can be used at any time throughout the term.
  • Unlimited Plans offer unlimited meals, snacks and beverages in the residential dining halls at any time during regular dining hours.
  • Block Meals and Dining Dollars roll over from fall to winter term. Unused meals and Dining Dollars expire at the end of the winter term and are not refundable.
  • Blue Bucks roll over from fall to winter terms. Account balances greater than $5 are refundable at the end of the winter semester.
  • Guest meals are included in the total number of meals per term and may be used by the student or a guest. Students must accompany their guests to the dining hall.
  • Students may give their parents or others access to their meal plan accounts on the MyPlan website. Parents can then check the status of the account and add Blue Bucks electronically at any time.
  • We partner with the Hillel Foundation to provide a Kosher Meal Plan option. Residential students who sign a contract with Hillel for the Kosher Meal Plan will receive a refund for the cost of the University Housing Meal Plan. The Kosher Meal Plan is accepted only at Hillel. To learn more visit www.umhillel.org.

Still have questions? We have answers! Visit our Q & A page to satisfy your need to know.