Meal Plans

Female students dine together in the Harper Dining Center

Weekly Meal Plans

We have five weekly plans to select from. The first number represents the number of meal swipes per week and the second number represents the amount of Dining Dollars per semester. First-year students living on campus must select one of the Weekly Meal Plans.

Block Meal Plans

There are three block plans to select from. These plans are provided in a "block" for the whole semester. The first number represents the number of meal swipes per semester and the second number represents the amount of Dining Dollars per semester. First year students living on campus are not eligible for Block Meal Plans.

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, 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 2025/Spring 2026 meal plans. August 17, 2025 Fall 2025 meal plans begin with the breakfast meal period. December 20, 2025 thru January 6, 2026 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 fall semester Dining Dollars during this timeframe. January 7, 2026 Spring 2026 meal plans begin with the breakfast meal period. May 9, 2026 All academic year meal plans end after the breakfast meal period.

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, Nebraska Union, 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 students with a meal plan. Multiple Dining Dollar reload blocks can be purchased. Reload Dining Dollars in the housing portal on MyRED.
Can I change my meal plan? Yes, there is a meal plan change period at the start of each semester. Learn more about changing your meal plan.
Is there a cost associated with changing my meal plan? There is no fee to change your meal plan; however, there may be a difference in price associated with changing your meal plan, depending on your selection. Compare meal plan pricing on our rates table.
Can I cancel my meal plan? Meal plans are required for students living on campus, unless the student is residing 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 or email housing@unl.edu for assistance. Learn more about the cancellation policy.
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 Unused meals will carry over to the spring semester so long as you continue to have a meal plan, but must be used by the end of the academic year.
Do Dining Dollars reset? If yes, when? Premium 18/300, Big Red 14/200, Platinum 12/400, Diamond 10/600, and Sapphire 8/800 meal plans The Dining Dollars balance is for the semester. Unused Dining Dollars do not carry over from the fall semester to the spring semester. Gold 125/500, Silver 75/500, and Bronze 50/250 meal plans Unused Dining Dollars will carry over to the spring semester so long as you continue to have a meal plan, but must be used by the end of the academic year.
If I leave school at the end of the fall semester, do I get a refund? Learn more about the cancellation policy.
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 2025/Spring 2026 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	Unused meal swipes from Fall semester will carry over to the Spring semester with a valid meal plan for the duration. All meal swipes then expire at the 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	Unused Dining Dollars from the Fall semester will expire the day before the Spring meal plan begins. Dining Dollars from the Spring semester will expire at the end of the semester. No refunds.					Unused Dining Dollars from Fall semester will carry over to the Spring semester with a valid meal plan for the duration. All Dining Dollars then expire at the 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 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	$6,420.00	$5,450.00	$5,450.00	$5,450.00	$5,450.00	$4,330.00	$3,090.00	$1,870.00	$325.00