Meal Plans

As an on-campus student, you’ll choose a meal plan that provides 10, 14, 18, or 21 meals per week. You’ll also receive a debit-style Dining Plus account to supplement those meals. Dining Plus funds can be used without restriction on amount or time of day to provide added flexibility.

200 Meal Plan Block: You receive a balance of 200 meals per semester. You can use these for any meals you would like throughout the semester, however a limit of three meals max per day. Once you run out of these meals, you must use Dining Plus, Dining Cash, cash/debit card, or Cardinal Cash to pay for any additional. You may not buy another 200 meal block.

For even greater flexibility, you can purchase Dining Cash funds, described in its menu below.

All students who live in a residence hall on campus during the academic year must hold a meal plan. You will select your meal plan when completing your online housing/dining contract. Visit Housing and Residence Life to learn more about rates and how the shared Housing + Dining contract works.

• If you’re someone who likes to eat three full meals a day, an athlete, or a person who just doesn't want to worry about finding regular meal options, 21+ plan may be a good choice.
• If you generally skip one meal a day or eat a few meals off campus each week, the Any 18+ or Any 14+ plans may be better options.
• Are you gone a lot on weekends? The Any 10+ might be for you.

The 21+ plan is the default setting if you do not specify a meal plan on your contract.

Have you decided the meal plan you signed up for isn't the right one for you? Each semester you have the opportunity to change your meal plan.

Fall semester changes to your on-campus meal plan

• Adjustments can take place after you have submitted your Housing + Dining contract
• Instructions for making changes to fall semester on-campus meal plans:
  • Visit the Housing + Dining portal & pull up your application
  • Select the Your Contract link, followed by the Change Your Meal Plan tab
  • Make your choices & submit

Spring semester changes to your on-campus meal plan

• You can request changes to your Spring semester on-campus meal plan later in the fall semester
• To request a change to your meal plan, contact University Dining during the open period, & include the following
  • Name
  • Student identification number
  • Current plan
  • Intended plan

Note: If you have a newly discovered dietary need or an unexpected change in financial situation that you would like the director of Ball State Dining to consider as an exception for a meal plan change, please email us.

Your Ball State ID card serves as your meal card.

There are two assigned meal time frames, one for breakfast and another for lunch and dinner combined. These are called meal time periods (whether you choose to have a salad or pancakes at that meal) and have an assigned dollar allowance called a meal equivalency. You may use one meal swipe for the breakfast meal period and any two swipes during the lunch and dinner period.

Any time you swipe your card, your cashier will use a meal from your meal plan unless you request another form of payment (such as Dining Plus or Cardinal Cash).

At a meal, you may purchase items that together total less than or equal to the meal equivalency.

Some important things to note:

• Any unused dollar value at a meal does not roll over to future meals.
• The academic year Dining week begins with breakfast on Sunday and ends with dinner on Saturday. Any unused meals at the end of the week do not roll over into future weeks.
• If you’re going on a day-long field trip or will be student teaching off campus and need lunch, you can pre-order a sack meal to take with you.
• If you encounter a temporary physical challenge that prevents you from visiting Dining, such as an illness or injury, please use this form (PDF) to designate a pick-up proxy.
• If you will be away from campus for seven or more consecutive days on a field trip, you may be eligible for a partial refund of funds (PDF).
• Meal plans are not available in the summer, however, Dining Cash and standard payment options are still accepted.

Dining Plus is a debit account of funds that comes with your meal plan to provide flexibility in how you purchase meals and snacks.

How to Use Dining Plus

Dining Plus may be used at any dining location, in any amount, at any time*, and as often as you like, regardless of the meal time period or whether or not you've used (or plan to use) a meal during that period. You can use as much or as little Dining Plus in one transaction as you like.

To make a purchase entirely with Dining Plus, ask the cashier to use Dining Plus before the cashier swipes your meal card (your BSU ID).

Many students will also use their Dining Plus to cover the extra amount if their purchase exceeds the amount of money allotted for a given meal (for allotments, see “How Do I Use My Plan” section). 

*Any Dining Plus amount remaining at the end of the fall semester will transfer to the spring semester, but unused Dining Plus expires at the end of spring semester.

If You Run Out of Dining Plus

If you spend all your Dining Plus, you can purchase Dining Cash at a 10 percent discount. Dining Cash functions in the same way as Dining Plus, but it does not expire until you are no longer a student at Ball State.

Are you worried about running out of the Dining Plus debit funds that come with your meal plan? You can load yourself back up by purchasing Dining Cash in any amount you choose. Dining Cash functions like Dining Plus, but it remains valid until you are no longer a BSU student.

10% Discount

If you currently hold a meal plan, you will receive a 10 percent discount on your purchase of a Dining Cash account when you purchase in even hundred-dollar increments. (For example, purchase an account of $100 in Dining Cash for $90, saving $10.)

Any student may purchase Dining Cash, but you must hold or have signed up for a meal plan—either a residential or an off-campus plan—at the time the Dining Cash account is purchased to receive the discounted rate.

Purchase Online

You may purchase Dining Cash through our online portal, depending on whether you are on a meal plan. 

You Have a Meal Plan        You Do Not Have a Meal Plan

 Funds purchased before 5 p.m. will be available the morning of the next business day; if purchased after 5 p.m., they will be available the morning of the second following business day. (For example, a purchase made at 7 p.m. on Friday will be available Tuesday morning.)

If you are not on or signed up for a meal plan and use the link above, a discount will be applied in error; the discounted amount will then be taken out of the value of your Dining Cash.
To purchase Dining Cash without a meal plan, please see the “Off-campus Students” section.

*Financial Aid Note  

Whether you commute to campus or stay in a residence hall during summer sessions, you have the same option available—Dining Cash. Dining Services accepts cash, credit, and Dining Cash during the summer break, as meal plans are inactive during those months. 

Your Funds

Dining Cash is a debit-style account you can use to spend in any way you like for meals and snacks at Ball State Dining locations. Purchases can be made in any amount and with no limits on frequency. It can even be used alongside meal plans during the academic year. Dining Cash rolls over each semester and stays active until you graduate or are no longer a Ball State student.

Discount Note

If you are a student purchasing during the academic year, you may be eligible for a 10% discount. Please select the respective Dining Cash option under the "On-Campus Students" or "Off-Campus Students" section above. 

Purchasing

Orders are placed online. Access through the portal below.

Purchase Dining Cash