2018-2019 MEAL PLANS✚
Residential Students: | Minimum Required Dining Funds | Dining Fee | Total Cost/Semester |
First Year Students | $1,515 | $370 | $1,885 |
Other Students | $1,065 | $320 | $1,385 |
Students 21 or older as of the first day of fall semester classes | $235 | $54 | $289 |
Commuter Students: | |||
First Year Commuter Students | $260 | $54 | $314 |
Other Commuter Students | $235 | $54 | $289 |
✚MEAL PLAN INFORMATION
Dining Funds – these are the funds students use to purchase food in any of the dining locations on campus. Students receive a 20% discount at the cash register and are not subject to sales tax when paying with dining funds. Any student with a meal plan can add dining funds at any time during the semester for an additional cost.
Dining Fee – this fee covers utility costs, facility maintenance costs, equipment purchases and repairs, and administrative costs for our dining program.
Exceptions to Meal Plan Requirements
- If a commuter student has class on campus fewer than 2 days/week, they may apply for an exemption.
- Students with medical dietary restrictions should submit a Medical Dietary Accommodation Form to being the process of determining the appropriate course for accommodation or exemption.
A Residential Student is any student living in University of Northwestern residence halls.
A Commuter Student is any student living off-campus seeking a Traditional Undergraduate degree and taking 12 or more credits, including both traditional undergraduate and undergraduate pathways credits. Commuter Students seeking a traditional undergraduate degree who are taking fewer than 12 credits are not required to have a meal plan, but may choose to have a plan. PSEO students who are commuting are not required to have a meal plan, but may choose a PSEO meal plan.
First Year Students for Fall Semester will continue to be classified as First Year Students for Spring Semester. Students who begin as first year students in the Spring Semester will be considered First Year Students for Spring Semester only. Transfer students are not considered a First Year Student.
Meal Plan Billing and Refund Policies
Initial Meal Plan Assignments and Charges
For each semester, each student will be assigned the Dining Fee and Dining Funds required for their status. Charges for this will appear on the initial billing on their Student Account.
Students may add Dining Funds at any time during the semester. When Dining Funds are added, the additional charge will be added to their Student Account. If the student is making monthly payments, the monthly payment will be adjusted at that time.
If a commuter student applies for an exemption to the meal plan requirement because they will not be on campus at least two days per week, an adjustment to the charges will be made when the request for exemption is approved. The exemption request must be submitted no later than the first day of class each semester. Commuter Student Teachers and Study Abroad students do not need to apply for an exemption.
If a student requests an adjustment to their meal plan requirements due to medical/dietary needs, any adjustment to their charges will be made once the request is approved.
Billing/Refunds for Students who Terminate during a Semester
If a student terminates within 2 weeks of the start date of class 100% of their dining fee will be refunded. If a student terminates after 2 weeks from the start date of class for the semester, no dining fee will be refunded.
If a student terminates, they will be charged a pro-rated amount of dining funds based on the number of weeks the student was enrolled, or the amount of dining funds that have been used, whichever is greater. The number of weeks is based on a 17 week semester.
Billing/Refunds for Students who begin as a Residential Student, but move off campus to become a Commuter during the semester
If a student has signed up as a residential student, but moves off campus to become a commuter within 3 weeks of the start date of class, the dining fee charged for the semester will be the commuter dining fee. If a residential student moves off campus after 3 weeks from the start date of class, the residential dining fee will be charged for the semester.
If a student begins the semester as a residential student, but moves off-campus to become a commuter at any time during the semester, the student will be charged a pro-rated amount of dining funds based on the number of weeks as a resident and the number of weeks as a commuter student, based on a 17-week semester. If a student has used more than the determined required amount, they will be charged for the amount of dining funds used.
Billing/Refunds for Students who begin the semester as a Commuter, but move into Residential Housing during the semester
If a student begins the semester as a commuter student, but moves into residential housing prior to or during Fall/Spring Break, the dining fee charged for the semester will be the residential dining fee. If a student begins the semester as a commuter student, but moves into residential housing after Fall/Spring Break, the dining fee charged for the semester will be the commuter dining fee.
If a student begins the semester as a commuter student, but moves into residential housing at any time during the semester, the student will be charged a pro-rated amount of dining funds based on the number of weeks as a commuter and the number of weeks as a residential student, based on a 17-week semester. If a student has used more than the determined required amount, they will be charged for the amount of dining funds used.
Billing/Refunds for ICS Students
ICS Students will originally be charged for the required amount of dining fee and dining fund for their status. No dining fee will be refunded. They will be eligible for a dining funds refund based on the amount of dining funds that have been used, up to half of the required amount for their status. Students need to request a refund.
How do UNW meal plan costs compare with other colleges and universities?
Below we have provided a Cost Comparison for Highest and Lowest Residential Meal Plans at schools in the area. The costs listed are for the 2017-18 school year
Highest Lowest
Macalester $5,434 $5,434
St. Olaf $5,430 $5,430
Hamline $5,080 $3,756
Augsburg $4,785 $4,040
Bethel $4,510 $4,140
Concordia, St. Paul $4,224 $1,896
Crown $4,110 $2,400
St. Kate’s $3,796 $ 910
Northwestern $3,700 $ 564*
Wheaton $3,678 $3,390
Cedarville $2,946 $2,946
North Central $2,600 $2,600
*UNW’s Residential Plan for student’s who are not first-year students, but are not yet 21 or over is $2,700 per year.
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