2025-2026 Dining Plans

Choose the Meal Plan That Fits Your Lifestyle

An assortment of meal plans are designed to fit your lifestyle. Whether you’re a campus resident who eats the majority of your meals at any of our dining locations, or a commuter who catches a few lunches per week at one of our campus cafés or coffee and snack stops, the University offers the right plan for you.

First Things First

Let’s Explore

Questions? We have answers.

Use this AI-powered search to easily and quickly find any information that’s available on this website.

Dining at Valpo

Find Your Plan

Not sure which plan is best for you? Use the Valpo Meal Plan Navigator!

As a matter of policy, meal plans are non-transferable and the card holder must be present. To use a plan or declining balance, meals can be used by the card holder only, and Dining Dollars may be used for any guest meals

Access the Navigator

Dining at Valpo

Understanding Your Plan

Meal Plans are set to begin on Thursday, August 14, 2025. The self-service portal will be open from early February until October 10th, 2025 (end of fall break) for changes to the Fall 2025 semester meal plans.

Students can make additions to their meal plans until October 10th, 2025 (end of fall break) for the Fall 2025 semester. After that date, students will need to contact reslife@valpo.edu to make any additions to the meal plan. To reduce unspent declining balance, the ability to add Dining Dollars and Commuter Plans will be deactivated as the term nears its end (December 8th, 2025).

Step-by-step instructions on adding/upgrading your meal plan can be found here. Beacon Bucks (which can be added through the DataVU portal) can be added anytime and do not expire at the end of the term.

Unused Block Meals and Dining Dollars will expire at the end of the semester.

Residential Meal Plans

Rates posted on November 7, 2024.

First & Second Year Residential Meal Plans

Open Access + $250

$2,833 per semester

An “All you care to eat” plan that allows unlimited access to Founders in addition to $250 in Dining Dollars to be used at any of the other 3 locations.

Who best fits into this plan?
Full-time students, living in University owned housing. This plan, or the Open Access +$500 Plan below, are designed and required for first and second year students with a full course load and helps with time and meal management. This plan is also available for purchase by any member of the University community.

Open Access + $500

$3,069 per semester

An “All you care to eat” plan that allows unlimited access to Founders in addition to $500 in Dining Dollars to be used at any of the other 3 locations.

Who best fits into this plan?
Full-time students, living in University owned housing. This plan, or the Open Access +$250 Plan above, are designed and required for first and second year students with a full course load and helps with time and meal management. This plan is also available for purchase by any member of the University community.

Third Year Residential Meal Plans

225 Block + $250

$2,564 per semester

Includes access to Founders 225 times during a semester, in addition to $250 in Dining Dollars to be used at any of the other 3 locations.

Who best fits into this plan?
This plan, or the 14 Meals Weekly Plan below, are required for any third year student residing in University-owned housing. Additionally, any student not on a required plan may purchase this plan.

14 Meals Weekly

Fourth Year Residential Meal Plans

160 Block + $500

$2,434 per semester

Includes access to Founders 160 times during a semester, in addition to $500 in Dining Dollars to be used at any of the other 3 locations.

Who best fits into this plan?
This plan, or the 14 Meals Weekly Plan below, are required for any fourth year student residing in University-owned housing. Additionally, any student not on a required plan may purchase this plan.

Special Housing and Non-Residential Plans

Rates posted on November 7, 2024.

Special Interest Housing

50 Block + $50

$515 per semester

Includes access to Founders 50 times during a semester, in addition to $50 in Dining Dollars to be used at any of the other 3 locations.

Who best fits into this plan?
This Block Plan is required to be purchased by students living in Special Interest University Sponsored Housing such as sorority housing, fraternity housing, among others. This is designed for students for these groups, but may be purchased by any member of the University community.

Non-Residential

100 Block + $100

$300 in Declining Balance

$500 in Declining Balance

Faculty/Staff Only Plan

To encourage Valparaiso University faculty and staff a chance to visit with students in a non-classroom environment, and to save money from the posted door price, please visit the dining office to purchase blocks of meals in increments of ten (10) blocks at a time that can be added to your OneCard. These blocks for faculty and staff members cannot be refunded, but they will not expire unless they go unused for a twelve-month period. If you would like to order your Faculty & Staff Meal Plan online, please visit this link: Faculty & Staff Meal Plans

You Belong Here.

Apply

Request Info

Visit