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2023-24 Meal Plans

Spring Break Hours of Operation

We're pleased to offer flexible dining options during the spring break period running from Friday, March 8 to Monday, March 18, 2024. See what's open and when on the Spring Break hours webpage.

Spring 2024

Meal Plans

2024–25 Meal Plans
Female students dine together in the Harper Dining Center

First-year Student Meal Plans

Dining Service meal plans are flexible by design. All students have access to the Herbie 25 Add-on.

Returning Student Meal Plans

Returning and transfer students can also select any first-year student meal plan. All students have access to the Herbie 25 Add-on.

Herbie 25 Add-on

Herbie 25 Add-on packs can be purchased by any student with a meal plan.

I love having an off-campus meal plan because I don’t have to go to the grocery store all the time, and it's convenient for me going to and from east campus for classes! Also, I never have to worry about cooking.

Kaitlyn Lee, UNL student
Frequently Asked Questions about Meal Plans

What do the numbers mean with the different meal plan options?

The numbers listed with each meal plan represent meal swipes and Dining Dollars. The first number represents meal swipes and the second number represents Dining Dollars. How those numbers break down depends on the type of plan you get.

Premium 18/300, Big Red 14/200, Platinum 12/400, Diamond 10/600 & Sapphire 8/800 meal plans:

The swipes in these plans reset every Sunday, so the first number represents the number of meal swipes per week and the second number represents the amount of Dining Dollars per semester.

For example, the Premium 18/300 meal plan provides you with 18 meal swipes per week and 300 Dining Dollars per semester.

Gold 125/500, Silver 75/500 & Bronze 50/275 meal plans:

The swipes in these plans are provided in a "block" for the whole semester, so the first number represents the number of meal swipes per semester and the second number represents the amount of Dining Dollars per semester.

For example, the Gold 125/500 meal plan provides you with 125 meal swipes per semester and 500 Dining Dollars per semester.

Am I eligible for a meal plan?

Students must be enrolled in at least one (1) credit hour to be eligible for a meal plan.

Important dates for Fall 2023/Spring 2024 meal plans.

August 14, 2023

Fall 2023 meal plans begin with the breakfast meal period.

December 16, 2023 thru January 16, 2024

No meal swipes can be used for the Premium 18/300, Big Red 14/200, Platinum 12/400, Diamond 10/600, and Sapphire 8/800 meal plans. This is because there is limited service during this time and these meal plans are not charged for those dates. Students are still able to use their Dining Dollars during this timeframe.

January 17, 2024

Spring 2024 meal plans begin with the breakfast meal period.

May 18, 2024

All academic year meal plans end at 2 p.m.

Can I purchase a meal plan if I don't live on campus?

Yes, you are able to purchase a meal-only plan via the housing portal on MyRED.

Where can you use meal plan swipes?

Meal swipes can be used in any dining center.

In addition, meal swipes can be used at the Selleck Food Court, Abel Dining Center, and Husker Heroes via the Transact mobile ordering app, or at any Herbie's Market. A meal swipe has a $9 value on the mobile ordering app or at Herbie's Market.

Meal swipes cannot be used at any Nebraska Union food vendor.

What is the value of a meal plan swipe on the app or in Herbie's Market?

Meal swipes have a $9 value if used on the Transact mobile ordering app or at a Herbie's Market location.

What are Dining Dollars and how do they work?

Dining Dollars are an addition to meal plans that give students the flexibility to purchase food items. Students present their NCard at the register of a location that accepts Dining Dollars as a form of payment, and the total of the food items purchased counts toward their Dining Dollars balance.

What’s the difference between Dining Dollars and meal plan swipes?

Visit the Dining Dollars webpage to view a more detailed explanation of what Dining Dollars are and how to use them. More detailed information about meal plan swipes can be found on the meal swipes webpage.

Where can you use Dining Dollars?

Dining Dollars are accepted in any of the Herbie’s Markets on campus (Cather, Abel, Knoll, Village, and East Campus) as well as any dining center or Husker Heroes location.

You can also use your Dining Dollars at any Nebraska Union food vendor via the mobile ordering app. Nebraska Union food vendors include Chick-fil-A, Imperial Palace, Starbucks, Steak 'n Shake, Subway, and Valentino's.

Can I reload my Dining Dollars?

$100 Dining Dollar reload blocks can be purchased by any student, regardless if they already have a meal plan or live with University Housing. Multiple Dining Dollar reload blocks can be purchased. Reload Dining Dollars in the housing portal on MyRED.

Can I change my meal plan?

Students have until the sixth day of class (census day) of each semester to change their semester meal plan. For example, if classes begin on a Monday for the semester, students would have until the following Monday (sixth day of class) to change their meal plan.

After this date, students will be unable to make changes to their current semester meal plan.

First-year students will only be able to view and select options for which they are eligible.

Is there a cost associated with changing my meal plan?

Premium 18/300, Big Red 14/200, Platinum 12/400, Diamond 10/600, and Sapphire 8/800 plans bill swipes by a nightly rate + semester dining dollars. These plans are “pro-rated” meaning you will pay the daily rate + Dining Dollars used for the number of days you have the plan.

Gold 125/500, Silver 75/500 and Bronze 50/275 plans are “block” plans, this means you are paying for a set number (block) of meals and a set number (block) of Dining Dollars. Block plans are not pro-rated, you are charged the whole cost of the plan at the time you purchase the plan.

Occasionally, and depending on prior plan usage, moving from a pro-rated plan to a block plan may cost more than the original plan.

Can I cancel my meal plan?

Meal plans are required unless the student is residing off campus or in an apartment-style unit in Courtyards, Village, or Massengale. All first-year students are required to have a meal plan.

Students not required to have meal plans can cancel their meal plan through the housing portal and click the "Cancel your contract" image on the right side of the screen. Complete all necessary prompts until you finish the form.

If contract cancellation occurs during the last 30 days of the semester, there will be no credit issued for the remaining days left in the semester.

Do meals reset? If yes, when?

Premium 18/300, Big Red 14/200, Platinum 12/400, Diamond 10/600, and Sapphire 8/800 meal plans

Meals reset each Sunday. Meals do not carry over from week to week.

Gold 125/500, Silver 75/500, and Bronze 50/275 meal plans

Meals will carry over to the spring semester but must be used by the end of the contract. No refund will be given in the last 30 days of the contract.

Do Dining Dollars reset? If yes, when?

The Dining Dollars balance is for the semester. Unused Dining Dollars carry over from the fall semester to the spring semester but must be used by the end of the contract. No refund will be given in the last 30 days of the contract.

If I leave school at the end of the fall semester, do I get a refund?

Students leaving at the end of the fall semester will not be refunded for meals or Dining Dollars if within the last 30 days of the fall semester.

What are the meal periods?

Meal periods are as follows:

Breakfast

6:45–10:30 a.m.

Lunch

10:30 a.m.–4:30 p.m.

Dinner

4:30–8:30 p.m.

Late Night

8:30–11 p.m.

Note: Meal periods do not directly correlate to when all dining service locations are open. View hours of service for various dining locations on the Dining Hours & Locations webpage.

Compare Plans

Looking to compare plans at a glance? Take a look at the chart below which highlights some of the major differences between our meal plan options.

Spring 2024 Meal Plan Information
Premium
18/300
Big Red
14/200
Platinum
12/400
Diamond
10/600
Sapphire
8/800
Gold
125/500
Silver
75/500
Bronze
50/275
Herbie 25
Add-on
All first-year students living on campus green check mark green check mark green check mark green check mark green check mark red x red x red x green check mark
All returning students green check mark green check mark green check mark green check mark green check mark green check mark green check mark green check mark green check mark
All students living off campus green check mark green check mark green check mark green check mark green check mark green check mark green check mark green check mark green check mark
Any student living in a sorority or fraternity green check mark green check mark green check mark green check mark green check mark green check mark green check mark green check mark green check mark
Meals break down 18 meals per week 14 meals per week 12 meals per week 10 meals per week 8 meals per week 125 meals for the semester 75 meals for the semester 50 meals for the semester 25 meals per pack
Expire end of spring semester. No refunds.
Dining Dollars 300 for the semester 200 for the semester 400 for the semester 600 for the semester 800 for the semester 500 for the semester 500 for the semester 275 for the semester red x
Expire end of spring semester. No refunds.
Dining Dollars Reload $100 Dining Dollar reload blocks can be added to any meal plan or purchased as a stand-alone option. Multiple Dining Dollar reload blocks can be purchased. red x
Guests, Limits & Lockouts Up to two (2) meal plan swipes per meal period. Up to five (5) meal plan swipes per meal period.
Swipes can be used in any combination at any dining center, Husker Heroes, or Herbie's Market location.
Only two (2) swipes can be used at Herbie's Market per meal period in the form of a meal exchange.
Students who use their allotted weekly meal plan swipes are prevented from eating elsewhere until their swipes reload on Sunday morning. Students who use their five (5) meal plan swipes are prevented from eating elsewhere during the same meal period. Multiple packs can be purchased.
Price for the semester $2,706.00 $2,459.00 $2,459.00 $2,459.00 $2,459.00 $1,875.00 $1,339.50 $809.00 $280.00