Meal Plans

American University offers a variety of meal plan options to meet the needs of its community members, from undergraduates and graduates to faculty and staff.

First- and Second-Year Students living on campus are required to have a meal plan.

The meal plan comprises five components: Meal Swipes, Retail Meal Exchanges, Dining Dollars, On-Campus Mobile Ordering Credit, Guest Meals, and Access to Exclusive Events. Depending on the meal plan selected, the value of each component will vary.

Full Plans Flex Plans Faculty/Staff Plans Components Where To Use 2024-2025 Meal Plan Rates

All Inclusive Premium	All Inclusive Plus	All Inclusive Standard	All Inclusive Basic
Price	$3,310	$3,029	$2,705	$1,950
Dining Dollars	$100	$100	$100	$300
Required for	First-year students living on campus (either Premium or Plus)		Second-year students living on campus (either Standard or Basic)
Available to	Open to all students	Open to all students	Open to third and fourth year students	Open to third and fourth year students
Dining Hall	Unlimited access all days of the week	Unlimited access all days of the week	Unlimited access any five days per week	Unlimited access any four days per week
Retail Meal Exchanges	3 meals per day	7 per week	5 per week	None
On-Campus Mobile Ordering Credit	$50	$30	$30	$0
Guest Meals	10	6	6	0
Exclusive Event Access	Yes	Can buy tickets	Yes	Can buy tickets

Notes:

First-Year students living on campus may select from the All-Inclusive Premium or All-Inclusive Plus; you are automatically defaulted to the All-Inclusive Premium.
Second-Year students living on campus may select from the All-Inclusive Premium or All-Inclusive Plus, All Inclusive Standard, or All Inclusive Basic; you are automatically defaulted to the All-Inclusive Standard.
Class standing is determined by the credits noted by AU’s Registrar.
All meal plans are semester based and reset at the beginning of each semester.

Unused fall dining dollars rollover over to the spring semester if you maintain an active meal plan for the spring semester.
Fall dining dollar rollovers will appear on your account on the first Tuesday following the meal plan drop/add period.
Unused Meal Swipes, Retail Meal Exchanges, Mobile Ordering Credits, and Guest Meals are semester based and will not rollover.
Dining Dollars are the only meal plan component allowing incremental reloads during the semester with an active meal plan.

Guest meals can be used in TDR and select retail locations.
All components of the meal plan expire at the end of the spring semester.
Meal plans for the fall semester end on Friday, December 13, 2024.
To check your balance and make changes to your meal plan, please visit onecard.american.edu.

Build Your Own Meal Plan

The Build Your Own Meal Plan is convenient for juniors, seniors, graduates, commuters, faculty, and staff looking to enjoy the many on-campus dining options.

Do you prefer an all-you-can-eat option? Then select the plan with more access to TDR (Terrace Dining Room) and fewer dining dollars.
If you are looking for more meals from the Retail Dining locations, then select a plan with more dining dollars and less access to TDR.

$595 Build Your Own Plan

TDR Meals per Semester	Dining Dollars	Semester Price
Option 1	10	$445	$595
Option 2	20	$295	$595
Option 3	30	$145	$595

$800 Build Your Own Plan

TDR Meals per Semester	Dining Dollars	Semester Price
Option 1	20	$500	$800
Option 2	30	$350	$800
Option 3	40	$210	$800

Faculty and Staff: Build Your Own Meal Plan

The Faculty and Staff Build Your Own Meal Plans are convenient for faculty and staff looking to enjoy the many on-campus dining options.

Do you prefer an all-you-can-eat option? Then select the plan with more access to TDR (Terrace Dining Room) and fewer dining dollars.
If you are looking for more meals from the Retail Dining locations, then select a plan with more dining dollars and less access to TDR.

$595 Build Your Own Plan for Faculty and Staff

TDR Meals per Semester	Dining Dollars	Semester Price
Option 1	10	$445	$595
Option 2	20	$295	$595
Option 3	30	$145	$595

$800 Build Your Own Plan for Faculty and Staff

TDR Meals per Semester	Dining Dollars	Semester Price
Option 1	20	$500	$800
Option 2	30	$350	$800
Option 3	40	$210	$800

2024 Monthly Meal Plans

Blue Premium	Red Plus	White Standard
Price	$230	$155	$100
TDR Meals	10	8	5
Dining Dollar	$45	$30	$20

Sign up online or at the One Card Office in Mary Graydon Center 123.

Meal Plan Components

Meal Swipes

Each meal plan consists of unlimited access to the residential dining hall and Terrace Dining Room (TDR). You use a swipe whenever you eat in TDR. Your meal plan selection determines your weekly access. There is a 20-minute “pass-back” time for entry into TDR.

The 20-minute “pass back” time means that there needs to be a 20-minute delay before you can reenter the location.

Dining Dollars

All meal plans come with a specific amount of dining dollars. Depending on your plan, you will automatically have dining dollars.

They can be used for snacks, dining (if you’re not using a Retail Meal Exchange), various on-campus locations, and access to Exclusive Dining Events.

Dining Dollars can also be purchased in incremental amounts if you have an active meal plan.

Retail Meal Exchanges

Some days, you may want to grab an entire meal from other on-campus food locations – such as Panera, District Pickle, True Burger, Halal Shack, Baba’s Pizza, Subway, Qdoba, Freshens, or other retail dining locations.

A retail meal exchange is an entrée, a side, and a drink. For your best value, don’t use a retail meal exchange if you’re just getting a quick snack (that’s what dining dollars are for). Each location has a menu that tells you the options for a Retail Meal Exchange.

On-Campus Mobile Order Credit

In a hurry, order ahead! Select meal plans offer an on-campus mobile order credit that can be used at our on-campus retail location.

Guest Meals

Enjoying a meal with a friend or use the extra meals as retail exchange options; select meal plans provide guest meals.

Exclusive Events

Camera, Action, Fun! During the semester, there will be exclusive events, such as guest chefs, teaching kitchens, and local restaurant takeovers, just to name a few.