2024-25 Meal Plans | Dining Services

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.

Students enjoy steak dinner night at 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 and Dining Dollar Reload options.

The Premium 18/300 meal plan has 18 weekly meal swipes that can be used at any dining center; any Herbie's Market location; or at the Abel Dining Center, Selleck Food Court, and Husker Heroes via the Transact mobile ordering app. Students can use their NCard, or the mobile app if applicable, to scan up to a total of two (2) times per meal period. Meal swipes used on the mobile ordering app or at Herbie's Market have a $10 value.

This meal plan also has 300 Dining Dollars per semester which can be used at any dining center, Husker Heroes, Herbie's Market, or the Selleck Food Court; as well as Nebraska Union food vendors via the Transact mobile ordering app.

Select Your Meal Plan

Eligibility	Meals Included	Guests, Limits & Lockouts	Dining Dollars & Unused Meal Swipes	Plan Price
First-year students living on campus. Returning students. Students living off campus. Students living in a sorority or fraternity.	18 meal swipes per week 300 Dining Dollars per semester	Up to two (2) meal swipes allowed per meal period. Students who use their 18 weekly meal swipes are prevented from eating elsewhere until their swipes reload on Sunday morning.	Dining Dollars from the fall semester do not carry over to the spring semester and expire at the end of each semester. No refunds. Unused weekly meal swipes do not carry over from week to week. No refunds.	$6,000.00* per academic year

*Pending Board of Regents approval.

The Big Red 14/200 meal plan has 14 weekly meal swipes that can be used at any dining center; any Herbie's Market location; or at the Abel Dining Center, Selleck Food Court, and Husker Heroes via the Transact mobile ordering app. Students can use their NCard, or the mobile app if applicable, to scan up to a total of two (2) times per meal period. Meal swipes used on the mobile ordering app or at Herbie's Market have a $10 value.

This meal plan also has 200 Dining Dollars per semester which can be used at any dining center, Husker Heroes, Herbie's Market, or the Selleck Food Court; as well as Nebraska Union food vendors via the Transact mobile ordering app.

Select Your Meal Plan

Eligibility	Meals Included	Guests, Limits & Lockouts	Dining Dollars & Unused Meal Swipes	Plan Price
First-year students living on campus. Returning students. Students living off campus. Students living in a sorority or fraternity.	14 meal swipes per week 200 Dining Dollars per semester	Up to two (2) meal swipes allowed per meal period. Students who use their 14 weekly meal swipes are prevented from eating elsewhere until their swipes reload on Sunday morning.	Dining Dollars from the fall semester do not carry over to the spring semester and expire at the end of each semester. No refunds. Unused weekly meal swipes do not carry over from week to week. No refunds.	$5,100.00* per academic year

*Pending Board of Regents approval.

The Platinum 12/400 meal plan has 12 weekly meal swipes that can be used at any dining center; any Herbie's Market location; or at the Abel Dining Center, Selleck Food Court, and Husker Heroes via the Transact mobile ordering app. Students can use their NCard, or the mobile app if applicable, to scan up to a total of two (2) times per meal period. Meal swipes used on the mobile ordering app or at Herbie's Market have a $10 value.

This meal plan also has 400 Dining Dollars per semester which can be used at any dining center, Husker Heroes, Herbie's Market, or the Selleck Food Court; as well as Nebraska Union food vendors via the Transact mobile ordering app.

Select Your Meal Plan

Eligibility	Meals Included	Guests, Limits & Lockouts	Dining Dollars & Unused Meal Swipes	Plan Price
First-year students living on campus. Returning students. Students living off campus. Students living in a sorority or fraternity.	12 meal swipes per week 400 Dining Dollars per semester	Up to two (2) meal swipes allowed per meal period. Students who use their 12 weekly meal swipes are prevented from eating elsewhere until their swipes reload on Sunday morning.	Dining Dollars from the fall semester do not carry over to the spring semester and expire at the end of each semester. No refunds. Unused weekly meal swipes do not carry over from week to week. No refunds.	$5,100.00* per academic year

*Pending Board of Regents approval.

The Diamond 10/600 meal plan has 10 weekly meal swipes that can be used at any dining center; any Herbie's Market location; or at the Abel Dining Center, Selleck Food Court, and Husker Heroes via the Transact mobile ordering app. Students can use their NCard, or the mobile app if applicable, to scan up to a total of two (2) times per meal period. Meal swipes used on the mobile ordering app or at Herbie's Market have a $10 value.

This meal plan also has 600 Dining Dollars per semester which can be used at any dining center, Husker Heroes, Herbie's Market, or the Selleck Food Court; as well as Nebraska Union food vendors via the Transact mobile ordering app.

Select Your Meal Plan

Eligibility	Meals Included	Guests, Limits & Lockouts	Dining Dollars & Unused Meal Swipes	Plan Price
First-year students living on campus. Returning students. Students living off campus. Students living in a sorority or fraternity.	10 meal swipes per week 600 Dining Dollars per semester	Up to two (2) meal swipes allowed per meal period. Students who use their 10 weekly meal swipes are prevented from eating elsewhere until their swipes reload on Sunday morning.	Dining Dollars from the fall semester do not carry over to the spring semester and expire at the end of each semester. No refunds. Unused weekly meal swipes do not carry over from week to week. No refunds.	$5,100.00* per academic year

*Pending Board of Regents approval.

The Sapphire 8/800 meal plan has 8 weekly meal swipes that can be used at any dining center; any Herbie's Market location; or at the Abel Dining Center, Selleck Food Court, and Husker Heroes via the Transact mobile ordering app. Students can use their NCard, or the mobile app if applicable, to scan up to a total of two (2) times per meal period. Meal swipes used on the mobile ordering app or at Herbie's Market have a $10 value.

This meal plan also has 800 Dining Dollars per semester which can be used at any dining center, Husker Heroes, Herbie's Market, or the Selleck Food Court; as well as Nebraska Union food vendors via the Transact mobile ordering app.

Select Your Meal Plan

Eligibility	Meals Included	Guests, Limits & Lockouts	Dining Dollars & Unused Meal Swipes	Plan Price
First-year students living on campus. Returning students. Students living off campus. Students living in a sorority or fraternity.	8 meal swipes per week 800 Dining Dollars per semester	Up to two (2) meal swipes allowed per meal period. Students who use their 8 weekly meal swipes are prevented from eating elsewhere until their swipes reload on Sunday morning.	Dining Dollars from the fall semester do not carry over to the spring semester and expire at the end of each semester. No refunds. Unused weekly meal swipes do not carry over from week to week. No refunds.	$5,100.00* per academic year

*Pending Board of Regents approval.

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 and Dining Dollar Reload options.

The Gold 125/500 meal plan features 125 meal swipes per semester which can be used at any dining center; any Herbie's Market location; or at the Abel Dining Center, Selleck Food Court, and Husker Heroes via the Transact mobile ordering app. Students can use their NCard, or the mobile app if applicable, to scan up to a total of five (5) times per meal period. Meal swipes used on the mobile ordering app or at Herbie's Market have a $10 value.

This meal plan also has 500 Dining Dollars per semester which can be used at any dining center, Husker Heroes, Herbie's Market, or the Selleck Food Court; as well as Nebraska Union food vendors via the Transact mobile ordering app.

Select Your Meal Plan

Eligibility	Meals Included	Guests, Limits & Lockouts	Dining Dollars & Unused Meal Swipes	Plan Price
Returning students. Students living off campus. Students living in a sorority or fraternity.	125 meal swipes per semester 500 Dining Dollars per semester	Up to five (5) meal swipes allowed per meal period. Students who use their five (5) meal swipes are prevented from eating elsewhere during the same meal period.	Dining Dollars from the fall semester do not carry over to the spring semester and expire at the end of each semester. No refunds.	$4,050.00* per academic year

*Pending Board of Regents approval.

The Silver 75/500 meal plan features 75 meal swipes per semester which can be used at any dining center; any Herbie's Market location; or at the Abel Dining Center, Selleck Food Court, and Husker Heroes via the Transact mobile ordering app. Students can use their NCard, or the mobile app if applicable, to scan up to a total of five (5) times per meal period. Meal swipes used on the mobile ordering app or at Herbie's Market have a $10 value.

Select Your Meal Plan

Eligibility	Meals Included	Guests, Limits & Lockouts	Dining Dollars & Unused Meal Swipes	Plan Price
Returning students. Students living off campus. Students living in a sorority or fraternity.	75 meal swipes per semester 500 Dining Dollars per semester	Up to five (5) meal swipes allowed per meal period. Students who use their five (5) meal swipes are prevented from eating elsewhere during the same meal period.	Dining Dollars from the fall semester do not carry over to the spring semester and expire at the end of each semester. No refunds.	$2,890.00* per academic year

*Pending Board of Regents approval.

The Bronze 50/250 meal plan features 50 meal swipes per semester which can be used at any dining center; any Herbie's Market location; or at the Abel Dining Center, Selleck Food Court, and Husker Heroes via the Transact mobile ordering app. Students can use their NCard, or the mobile app if applicable, to scan up to a total of five (5) times per meal period. Meal swipes used on the mobile ordering app or at Herbie's Market have a $10 value.

This meal plan also has 250 Dining Dollars per semester which can be used at any dining center, Husker Heroes, Herbie's Market, or the Selleck Food Court; as well as Nebraska Union food vendors via the Transact mobile ordering app.

Select Your Meal Plan

Eligibility	Meals Included	Guests, Limits & Lockouts	Dining Dollars & Unused Meal Swipes	Plan Price
Returning students. Students living off campus. Students living in a sorority or fraternity.	50 meal swipes per semester 250 Dining Dollars per semester	Up to five (5) meal swipes allowed per meal period. Students who use their five (5) meal swipes are prevented from eating elsewhere during the same meal period.	Dining Dollars from the fall semester do not carry over to the spring semester and expire at the end of each semester. No refunds.	$1,750.00* per academic year

*Pending Board of Regents approval.

Herbie 25 Add-on

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

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

Eligibility	Meals Included	Guests, Limits & Lockouts	Dining Dollars & Unused Meal Swipes	Plan Price
Any student with a meal plan. Any student living with University Housing.	25 meal swipes	Multiple packs can be purchased. Students who use their five (5) meal swipes are prevented from eating elsewhere during the same meal period.	Unused meal swipes carry over from fall to spring semester and expire at the end of the spring semester. No refunds.	$300.00*

*Pending Board of Regents approval.

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, and 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, and Bronze 50/250 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 2024/Spring 2025 meal plans. August 18, 2024 Fall 2024 meal plans begin with the breakfast meal period. December 21, 2024 thru January 14, 2025 No meal swipes can be used after the breakfast meal period for the Premium 18/200, 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 15, 2025 Spring 2025 meal plans begin with the breakfast meal period. May 17, 2025 All academic year meal plans end after the breakfast meal period.
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.
Can I purchase a meal plan if I don't live on campus? Yes, you can 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 $10 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 $10 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 (the 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 50/250 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 50/250 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 do not carry over from the fall semester to the spring semester and 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.

Fall 2024/Spring 2025 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 50/250	Herbie 25 Add-on
All first-year students living on campus
All returning students
All students living off campus
Any student living in a sorority or fraternity
Meals break down	18 meal swipes per week	14 meal swipes per week	12 meal swipes per week	10 meal swipes per week	8 meal swipes per week	125 meal swipes per semester	75 meal swipes per semester	50 meal swipes per semester	25 meal swipes per pack
Meals break down	18 meal swipes per week	14 meal swipes per week	12 meal swipes per week	10 meal swipes per week	8 meal swipes per week	Carry over from fall to spring semester. Expire end of spring semester. No refunds.
Dining Dollars	300 per semester	200 per semester	400 per semester	600 per semester	800 per semester	500 per semester	500 per semester	250 per semester
Dining Dollars	Do not carry over from fall semester to spring semester. Expire end of each 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.
Guests, Limits & Lockouts	Up to two (2) meal swipes per meal period. Swipes can be used in any combination at any dining center, Husker Heroes, or Herbie's Market location.
Guests, Limits & Lockouts	Students who use their allotted weekly meal swipes are prevented from eating elsewhere until their swipes reload on Sunday morning.					Students who use their two (2) meal swipes are prevented from eating elsewhere using meal swipes during the same meal period.			Multiple packs can be purchased.
Price per academic year	$6,000.00	$5,100.00	$5,100.00	$5,100.00	$5,100.00	$4,050.00	$2,890.00	$1,750.00	$300.00

Dining News

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Spring Break Hours of Operation

Meal Plans

First-year Student Meal Plans

Returning Student Meal Plans

Herbie 25 Add-on

Compare Plans

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