2023-24 Meal Plans | Dining Services

Summer Hours of Operation

See what's open and when locations close for the summer on our summer hours webpage.

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.

The Premium 18/300 has 18 weekly meal plan swipes that can be used at any dining center; at any Herbie's Market as a meal exchange; or at the Selleck Food Court and Husker Heroes as a meal exchange 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.

This meal plan also has 300 Dining Dollars per semester which can be used at any dining center, Husker Heroes, or Herbie's Market, as well as specified 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 meals per week 300 Dining Dollars per semester	Up to two (2) meal plan swipes allowed per meal period. Students who use their 18 weekly meal plan swipes are prevented from eating elsewhere until their swipes reload on Sunday morning.	Dining Dollars carry over from fall to spring semester and expire at the end of the spring semester. No refunds. Unused weekly scans do not carry over from week to week. No refunds.	$5,436.00 per academic year

The Big Red 14/200 has 14 weekly meal plan swipes that can be used at any dining center; at any Herbie's Market as a meal exchange; or at the Selleck Food Court and Husker Heroes as a meal exchange 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.

This meal plan also has 200 Dining Dollars per semester which can be used at any dining center, Husker Heroes, or Herbie's Market, as well as specified 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 meals per week 200 Dining Dollars per semester	Up to two (2) meal plan swipes allowed per meal period. Students who use their 14 weekly meal plan swipes are prevented from eating elsewhere until their swipes reload on Sunday morning.	Dining Dollars carry over from fall to spring semester and expire at the end of the spring semester. No refunds. Unused weekly scans do not carry over from week to week. No refunds.	$4,937.00 per academic year

The Platinum 12/400 has 12 weekly meal plan swipes that can be used at any dining center; at any Herbie's Market as a meal exchange; or at the Selleck Food Court and Husker Heroes as a meal exchange 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.

This meal plan also has 400 Dining Dollars per semester which can be used at any dining center, Husker Heroes, or Herbie's Market, as well as specified 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 meals per week 400 Dining Dollars per semester	Up to two (2) meal plan swipes allowed per meal period. Students who use their 12 weekly meal plan swipes are prevented from eating elsewhere until their swipes reload on Sunday morning.	Dining Dollars carry over from fall to spring semester and expire at the end of the spring semester. No refunds. Unused weekly scans do not carry over from week to week. No refunds.	$4,937.00 per academic year

The Diamond 10/600 has 10 weekly meal plan that can be used at any dining center; at any Herbie's Market as a meal exchange; or at the Selleck Food Court and Husker Heroes as a meal exchange 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.

This meal plan also has 600 Dining Dollars per semester which can be used at any dining center, Husker Heroes, or Herbie's Market, as well as specified 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 meals per week 600 Dining Dollars per semester	Up to two (2) meal plan swipes allowed per meal period. Students who use their 10 weekly meal plan swipes are prevented from eating elsewhere until their swipes reload on Sunday morning.	Dining Dollars carry over from fall to spring semester and expire at the end of the spring semester. No refunds. Unused weekly scans do not carry over from week to week. No refunds.	$4,937.00 per academic year

The Sapphire 8/800 has 8 weekly meal plan swipes that can be used at any dining center; at any Herbie's Market as a meal exchange; or at the Selleck Food Court and Husker Heroes as a meal exchange 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.

This meal plan also has 800 Dining Dollars per semester which can be used at any dining center, Husker Heroes, or Herbie's Market, as well as specified 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 meals per week 800 Dining Dollars per semester	Up to two (2) meal plan swipes allowed per meal period. Students who use their 8 weekly meal plan swipes are prevented from eating elsewhere until their swipes reload on Sunday morning.	Dining Dollars carry over from fall to spring semester and expire at the end of the spring semester. No refunds. Unused weekly scans do not carry over from week to week. No refunds.	$4,937.00 per academic year

Returning Student Meal Plans

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

The Gold 125/500 plan features 125 meals per semester which can be used at any dining center; at any Herbie's Market as a meal exchange; or at the Selleck Food Court and Husker Heroes as a meal exchange 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 and can use their meal plan swipes in any combination at any dining center, Husker Heroes, or Herbie's Market location.

This meal plan also has 500 Dining Dollars per semester which can be used at any dining center, Husker Heroes, or Herbie's Market, as well as specified 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 meals per semester 500 Dining Dollars per semester	Up to five (5) meal plan swipes allowed per meal period. Students who use their five (5) meal plan swipes are prevented from eating elsewhere during the same meal period.	Dining Dollars and unused meal swipes carry over from fall to spring semester and expire at the end of the spring semester. No refunds.	$3,750.00 per academic year

The Silver 75/500 plan features 75 meals per semester which can be used at any dining center; at any Herbie's Market as a meal exchange; or at the Selleck Food Court and Husker Heroes as a meal exchange 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 and can use their meal plan swipes in any combination at any dining center, Husker Heroes, or Herbie's Market location.

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 meals per semester 500 Dining Dollars per semester	Up to five (5) meal plan swipes allowed per meal period. Students who use their five (5) meal plan swipes are prevented from eating elsewhere during the same meal period.	Dining Dollars and unused meal swipes carry over from fall to spring semester and expire at the end of the spring semester. No refunds.	$2,679.00 per academic year

The Bronze 50/275 plan features 50 meals per semester which can be used at any dining center; at any Herbie's Market as a meal exchange; or at the Selleck Food Court and Husker Heroes as a meal exchange 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 and can use their meal plan swipes in any combination at any dining center, Husker Heroes, or Herbie's Market location.

This meal plan also has 275 Dining Dollars per semester which can be used at any dining center, Husker Heroes, or Herbie's Market, as well as specified 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 meals per semester 275 Dining Dollars per semester	Up to five (5) meal plan swipes allowed per meal period. Students who use their five (5) meal plan swipes are prevented from eating elsewhere during the same meal period.	Dining Dollars and unused meal swipes carry over from fall to spring semester and expire at the end of the spring semester. No refunds.	$1,618.00 per academic year

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 plan swipes	Multiple packs can be purchased. Students who use their five (5) meal plan 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.	$280.00

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

Important dates for Fall 2023/Spring 2024 meal plans.
August 14, 2023 Fall 2023 meal plans begin. December 16, 2023 thru January 17, 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 due to the fact that 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. May 18, 2024 All academic year meal plans end at 2 p.m.
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 are able to purchase a meal-only plan via the Housing portal on MyRED.
Where can you use meal plan swipes?
Meal plan swipes can be used in any dining center. In addition, you can use a meal plan swipe in Husker Heroes or Herbie's Market in the form of a meal exchange. Meal plan swipes cannot be used at any Nebraska Union food vendor.
What is a meal exchange and what is its value?
A meal exchange is a meal plan swipe used somewhere other than the dining center. Meal exchanges have a $9 value and are accepted at Husker Heroes and Herbie's Markets.
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 Market register, and the total of the food items purchased counts toward your Dining Dollars.
What’s the difference between Dining Dollars and meal plan swipes?
Dining Dollars can be used in any Herbie’s Market on campus. Swipes are used in the dining centers and count toward your meals per week balance.
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 (excluding Imperial Palace) via the mobile ordering app. Nebraska Union food vendors include Chick-fil-A, Starbucks, Steak 'n Shake, Subway and Valentino's.
Can I reload my Dining Dollars?
$100 Dining Dollar reload blocks can be added to any meal plan and can be purchased be any student living with University Housing. Multiple Dining Dollars reload blocks can be purchased. Reload Dining Dollars in the Housing Portal in 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 whose meal plans are not required can cancel their meal plan at any time by emailing housing.contracts@unl.edu. The email should include the student's name and NUID. 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.

Fall 2023/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
All returning students
All students living off campus
Any student living in a sorority or fraternity
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 per semester	75 meals per semester	50 meals per semester	25 meals per pack
Meals break down	18 meals per week	14 meals per week	12 meals per week	10 meals per week	8 meals 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	275 per semester
Dining Dollars	Carry over from fall to spring semester. Expire end of spring semester. No refunds.
Dining Dollars Reload	$100 Dining Dollar reload blocks can be added to any meal plan. Multiple Dining Dollar reload blocks can be purchased.
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 per academic year	$5,436.00	$4,937.00	$4,937.00	$4,937.00	$4,937.00	$3,750.00	$2,679.00	$1,618.00	$280.00