Dining Plans
Student Dining Plans
All matriculated University of Utah students with an active student ID number are eligible to purchase dining plans through the Housing U Portal via CIS, regardless of whether they live on campus or not.
How to Purchase a Dining Plan
Residents select their dining plan as part of the room selection process in the Housing U Portal.
For students living off campus follow these steps:
- Log into the University of Utah CIS with your uNID and password
- Under the “Student” section, select “Student Homepage”
- Click on “Student Housing”
- Select “Housing and Dining Programs” from the left-hand menu
- Click on “Housing U Portal”
- Click on the “Campus Dining Plan” tab from the top menu
- Select the term and dining plan you want to purchase!
Residents
Students living in residence halls, Lassonde singles & doubles, Epicenter singles & doubles, and Officers Circle are required to purchase a dining plan.
Residence halls include:
Meal plans are optional for students in apartments, Lassonde lofts & pods, Epicenter apartments and end-cap units.
Using Your Dining Plan
Dining plans provide convenient and accessible dining options throughout campus. Users can utilize their dining plans at two “all-you-care-to-eat" facilities: United Table, located on the upper campus in the Peterson Heritage Center (PHC), and Urban Bytes, situated in Kahlert Village on the lower campus. As well as several transfer locations across campus, including Café Epicenter and Miller Café in Lassonde.
The dining week starts on Friday and ends the following Thursday. Unused taps do not carry over from week to week. Failure to use the dining plan does not cancel your financial responsibility for paying for the dining plan.
All-you-care-to-eat meal experiences in dining halls.
Declining balance payment method that is sales tax exempt.
Users can use a tap equivalent to purchase items at various retail locations across campus.
Dining dollars are extra funds that can be added to your ucard at any time.*
Student Dining Plans
Users can choose between four plans containing shared features:
$2,510 Fall Semester
$2,408 Spring Semester
$750 Flex Dollars per semester
$3,952 Fall Semester
$3,790 Spring Semester
$600 Flex Dollars per semester
$3,717 Fall Semester
$3,565 Spring Semester
$350 Flex Dollars per semester
$3,646 Fall Semester
$3,496 Spring Semester
$200 Flex Dollars per semester
*Swoop 3 is a dining incentive initiative tailored for commuters or individuals with access to kitchen facilities, enabling them to select one dining option for each class day throughout the week. As a result, students residing in housing options that require mandatory dining plans are not eligible to participate in this program
Each Dining Plan allows up to 4 “Swoop Swaps” per day.
FAQs
What are Taps?
Taps, also commonly known as "meal swipes", provide entry to our all-you-care-to-eat dining facilities (United Table at Peterson Heritage Center and Urban Bytes at Kahlert Village). Taps act as the entry fee, which is regularly $17 for breakfast and $19.50 for lunch/dinner if paid with debit, credit or flex dollars.
What are Flex Dollars?
Flex dollars are funds included with the Dining Plans and work just like a debit card with a declining balance, offering a dollar-to-dollar value. Flex dollars can be used in all dining locations on campus and roll over from the fall semester to spring semester. Unused dollars expire at the end of each academic year.
What is a Swoop Swap?
Swoop Swaps provide the ability to use a Tap at retail locations outside of our all-you-care-to-eat dining for a preset meal at select retail location.
How do I purchase Dining Dollars?
*Purchase Dining Dollars here.
By purchasing dining dollars, you agree to the conditions specified below:
- Dining dollars are valid at any on-campus dining facility operated by University Dining Services during normal operating hours.
- Dining dollars can be used to pay for guests.
- Dining dollars accounts will be cancelled, and any remaining balance will be lost after six consecutive months of inactivity.
- Your valid university ID card must be presented at the time of dining.
- Dining dollars are nonrefundable.
Best for students who rarely use the all-you-care-to-eat dining halls and prefer retail or a-la-carte options. This dining plan offers the highest amount of Flex Dollars to use throughout the semester at all eateries on campus with light dining-hall usage.
Best for “Split Eaters” who balance dining hall meals with retail. This plan supports roughly 1-2 dining hall meal per weekday (depending on eating habits and class schedules) plus retail flexibility across campus.
Best for students who want an average of 2 dining-hall meals each day of the week, with some retail variety. A good choice for students who are on campus for the majority of the day and want a mix of structure and flexibility.
Best Value! Designed for students to frequent the all-you-care-to-eat dining facility for every meal. The plan offers the highest meal coverage (3 meals/day Monday-Friday + brunch/dinner on Saturday-Sunday) and the lowest cost per dining-hall entry, making weekly planning simple.
Changing Your Dining Plan
Users can upgrade their dining plan at any point in the semester. However, they cannot remove or downgrade after the dining plan change date of August 24 for the fall semester and January 11 for the spring semester of the Academic Year '25-'26.
Failure to use the dining plan does not cancel the financial responsibility of paying for the dining plan.
Residents
Dining plans are required for all students living in HDP residence halls (Chapel Glen, Gateway Heights, Officers Circle, Kahlert Village, Sage Point, Impact & Prosperity Epicenter, and Lassonde Studios residents in singles and doubles). Dining plans for residents of these residence halls CANNOT BE CANCELED.
For students in apartments, Lassonde lofts and pods, and Epicenter apartments and end-cap units, meal plans are optional and can be canceled.
- Log into the University of Utah CIS with your uNID and password
- Under the "Student" section, select "Student Homepage"
- Click on "Student Housing"
- Select "Housing and Dining Programs" from the left-hand menu
- Click on "Housing U Portal"
- Click on the "Housing Forms" tab from the top menu
- Click on the "25-26 Academic Year" option
- Select "Meal Plan Upgrade Request"
Navigating Dietary Restrictions
We collaborate with all users to ensure special dietary needs are met. Whether you have food allergies, celiac disease, or other dietary restrictions, we are here to support you. The U dining experience features “Delicious Without” stations, which avoid using the nine most common allergens—milk, eggs, nuts, fish, crustaceans, shellfish, wheat, soy, and sesame, providing a safe eating option for those with food allergies and dietary restrictions.
While our kitchens are not certified gluten-free, we take extensive precautions to minimize cross-contact. Many of our menu items can be modified to avoid gluten. Look for “gluten-avoiding” labels and speak with our staff for assistance.
-
We offer individualized dining plans tailored to your specific needs. Before the semester begins, please fill out our Allergy & Dietary Needs form, and we will schedule a meeting with you and one of our Campus Chefs to:
- Discuss your allergies or dietary restrictions
- Review menu items and ingredients
- Identify specialty products you may need
- Address cross-contamination concerns
- Develop a personalized dining plan
Faculty & Staff Dining Plans
Faculty & Staff Dining Plans
All University of Utah employees with an active uID number have access to purchase dining plans. Faculty and staff can choose between two options via payroll deduction, with up to 14 payments made throughout the academic year.
Interested employees must fill in a form in CIS, under the “Faculty” or “Staff” section, by selecting the “Dining Plans Payroll Deduction” tile.
Where to Eat
Dining options range from grill items at the award-winning Game Concept in Urban Bytes at Kahlert Village, to packaged items from third-party local brands such as Saffron Valley or Tonkatsu Ramen. Vegan, vegetarian, and gluten-free options are available.
Failure to use dining plans does not cancel your financial responsibility for paying for the dining plan.
Dining Plan Options
Our standard door rate is $19.50. Below we explain how both dining plans will give you a lower rate and save you money.
A dining tap can be "exchangeable" for $8.75 credit toward any food purchase at U of U Dining locations (meal combos available at all locations). These are called Meal Transfers.
Dining Dollars are funds that can be used just like a debit card at any U of U dining location.
Unlike students dining plans, faculty & staff dining dollars never expire, unless left unused for six months
How do I purchase Dining Dollars?
*Purchase Dining Dollars here.
By purchasing dining dollars, you agree to the conditions specified below:
- Dining dollars are valid at any on-campus dining facility operated by University Dining Services during normal operating hours.
- Dining dollars can be used to pay for guests.
- Dining dollars accounts will be cancelled, and any remaining balance will be lost after six consecutive months of inactivity.
- Your valid university ID card must be presented at the time of dining.
- Dining dollars are nonrefundable.
Steps to Purchase a Dining Plan
Navigating Dietary Restrictions
We collaborate with all users to ensure special dietary needs are met. Whether you have food allergies, celiac disease, or other dietary restrictions, we are here to support you. The U dining experience features “Delicious Without” stations, which avoid using the nine most common allergens—milk, eggs, nuts, fish, crustaceans, shellfish, wheat, soy, and sesame, providing a safe eating option for those with food allergies and dietary restrictions.
While our kitchens are not certified gluten-free, we take extensive precautions to minimize cross-contact. Many of our menu items can be modified to avoid gluten. Look for “gluten-avoiding” labels and speak with our staff for assistance.
-
We offer individualized dining plans tailored to your specific needs. Before the semester begins, please fill out our Allergy & Dietary Needs form, and we will schedule a meeting with you and one of our Campus Chefs to:
- Discuss your allergies or dietary restrictions
- Review menu items and ingredients
- Identify specialty products you may need
- Address cross-contamination concerns
- Develop a personalized dining plan
Let's Find the Right Dining Plan for You.