Navigating Meal Plan Options at the University of Arizona

Choosing the right meal plan is an essential part of the university experience, impacting not only your budget but also your social life, health, and overall well-being. For students at the University of Arizona, understanding the available meal plan options is crucial for making an informed decision that suits their individual needs and lifestyles.

The Importance of Campus Dining

The dining experience is an integral part of campus life. Meal times provide opportunities for you to connect with friends, stay healthy, boost your energy, and unwind after a long day.

Meal Plan Options for On-Campus Residents

First-year students living on campus have specific meal plan requirements, typically needing to purchase one of the unlimited, weekly, or blended meal plans.

Unlimited Plans

Unlimited plans allow access to dining locations as often as you like, providing maximum flexibility and convenience.

Weekly Plans

Weekly plans provide a set number of meals (19, 14, or 10) each week, resetting every Sunday morning. These plans offer a balance between structure and flexibility.

Blended Plans

The Blended Plan includes weekly and block meals each semester that can be used at both the Hot Spot and DüB Dining District as well as more than 23 retail locations with transfer specials.

Dining Dollars

Each meal plan includes Dining Dollars, which can be used to supplement meals at various campus dining locations. Dining Dollars offer savings on sales tax (almost 11%) and provide additional purchasing power. Dining Dollars purchased in the fall semester carry over to the spring semester and expire on the final day of the spring semester.

Transfer Specials

Weekly and block plan meals may be used as a “transfer special” in more than 23 retail locations across campus as well as in the Hot Spot and the DüB Dining District.

Meal Plan Options for Upperclassmen and Off-Campus Residents

For upperclassmen and those who live off-campus, block meal plans provide a smaller, more flexible alternative.

Block Plans

Block plans differ from weekly meal plans by providing a set number of meals for the entire semester with no weekly restrictions on the number of meals used. This option is suitable for students who may not eat on campus regularly but want the convenience of having pre-paid meals available.

Read also: History of the Block 'M'

How to Select a Meal Plan

If you are living on campus, simply make your meal plan selection on your housing application. If not, log on to your LOUIE account, click “Self Service” and then click “Meal Plan Student Self Service” to select your plan.

Honors Village Meal Plans

The new Honors Village features a new meal swipe plan. Village residents will be automatically enrolled in one of two swipe-based meal plans depending on their dorm layouts at the cost of $1,820 or $5,280.

For students in single or double-bed dorm rooms, the Ocotillo plan will provide 15 meal swipes a week and $400 in CatCash at the cost of $5,280. For students in apartment-style suites, the Prickly Pear plan will provide five meal swipes a week and $200 in CatCash at the cost of $1,820.

The Honors Village will have a large dining room open to the public and buffet-style choices.

Addressing Food Insecurity

The university introduced the policy last year to encourage students to choose more organized payment methods over debit-style options and increase students’ awareness of campus resources.

Read also: Legacy of Fordham University

McGraw said that 36% of students face food insecurity, yet the pantry’s weekly service only caters to around 4% of the UA’s 53,187 students.

Additional Information

When you purchase a meal plan, the current year’s rates are guaranteed for two years. Meal plan charges appear on your LOUIE account.

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