Residence Hall Dining Plan
All students living in residence halls are required to have a dining plan unless you live in Mercer Court, Nordheim Court, Stevens Court or a studio apartment. This part of the housing contract cannot be waived. Students who do not wish to participate in a meal plan are encouraged to apply for a UW apartment or seek off-campus housing, neither of which require meal plan participation.
For those students choosing to live in an apartment, we offer an apartment dining plan tailored for students who have a kitchen and live life on-the-go.
2026-27 Academic Year
How to select your dining plan
You will choose your dining plan level, the amount you want to spend each month, when you apply for housing.
Select the level that's right for you
The residence hall dining plan has several levels so you can choose the one that meets your needs. At the beginning of each quarter the amount you chose is loaded into your dining plan for you to spend.
Dining Plan Level | Quarterly Payment | Average Daily Budget* | Intended Usage* |
1 | $1,303 | $17 | Combination of on and off-campus meals |
2 | $1,479 | $19 | Combination of on and off-campus meals |
3 | $1,656 | $22 | Combination of on and off-campus meals |
4 | $1,833 | $24 | Two meals per day on campus |
5 | $2,189 | $29 | Two-three meals per day on campus |
6 | $2,915 | $38 | Three meals per day on campus |
*Each dining plan’s average daily budget is dependent on specific meal costs and how each resident spends their dining plan funds.
Residential dining hall - sample meal choices
MEAL TYPE | BREAKFAST | LUNCH | DINNER |
Lighter fare | Fruit and yogurt bar and juice $7.50 | Two slices of pizza, and beverage $10.50 | Grain bowl and beverage $11.50 |
Full entrée | Husky Breakfast Combo: eggs, bacon, hashbrowns and juice $9.50 | Two Item Combo: Asian entrée, fried rice and beverage $14.50 | Plate Combo: Grilled salmon, two vegetables, starch and beverage $17 |
Note: At Center Table and Local Point, a free fountain drink is included for everyone living in our resident hall communities and have selected Residential dining plans level 1-6.
Your Dining Plan is on Your Husky Card
Your Husky Card actually has two separate accounts: your Dining Plan and your Husky Card Account.
How to Use Your Dining Plan
You can use your dining plan at any on-campus dining location or vending machine at any time. If the location is open, you can eat there using your dining plan.
Simply swipe your Husky Card to pay for your meal. Each time you purchase food, that amount is automatically deducted from your dining plan—just like a debit card. Food purchases will always be deducted from your dining plan as long as there are funds available in the dining plan account.
How to Track Your Balance
It’s easy to keep track of your balance—look for it displayed on the cash register when you make a purchase. You can also track your dining plan balance on MyUW, the Online Card Office or Student Housing Portal.
How to Make Changes to Your Dining Plan Level
Selecting the right dining level to match your lifestyle isn’t an exact science. If you want to change your dining plan level, you can.
How to Lower Your Level
You may change to a lower dining level for an upcoming quarter by making your request before these deadlines:
Quarter | Change due date |
Autumn | by August 31, 2026 |
Winter | by November 30, 2026 |
Spring | by February 28, 2026 |
How to Add Funds to Your Dining Plan
If funds in your dining plan have been depleted, you can increase your dining plan level in the Student Housing Portal as long as it is not within the dining level increase freeze period. Please refer to your Housing Agreement to determine the dates for the dining level increase freeze.
Your Unused Account Balance
Your unused account balance rolls over from quarter to quarter until the end of your agreement period. Dining funds are nonrefundable and nontransferable. We recommend you monitor and adjust your dining plan level each quarter to avoid having a balance left over at the end of the year.
How to Add Funds to Your Husky Card Account
Alternatively, you can add money to your Husky Card Account. Your Husky Card Account is different from your dining plan account. In addition to food purchase, the Husky Card Account works at the University Bookstore, library printing services and more. Food purchases will only draw from your Husky Card Account once the dining plan funds have been depleted. You or a guest can add funds to your Husky Card Account at any time in the Online Card Office.
Using your Husky Card has the added perk of no tax on your purchase when you dine at Center Table and Local Point during the academic year!
If you have any questions about your dining plan, please contact us. We are happy to help!
Summer Quarter
If you are living on campus during summer quarter, you can find dining plan information in the Summer Housing Application Guide.