Meal Plans and Dining Accounts

Fall Dining Hours

Food for Flu Service

49er Account and Meal Plans Explained

Member Dining Eligibility

  • Freshmen in Required HousingA, B, C, D, H
  • Upperclassmen in Required HousingA, B, C, D, E, F, G, H
  • Freshmen and Upperclassmen in Non-Required HousingA, B, C, D, E, F, G, H, K
  • Commuters and Greek VillagersA, B, C, D, E, F, G, H, K

Not sure which meal plan to choose?

Member Dining

A meal plan purchase makes you a Member and provides these advantages:

  • Convenience of dining on campus and convenient hours
  • Assurance that a student may eat throughout the semester and will have a variety of nutritious choices and in portions of their choosing
  • Meal Plans are state sales tax exempt — save up to 8.25% on every purchase
  • Never worry about carrying cash
  • No groceries to buy nor dishes to wash
  • Locations evenly spread across campus
  • Good, nutritious food with lots of variety
  • 19 dining locations featuring breakfast, lunch, dinner and snacks, home-style fare, vegetarian and vegan choices and several popular, national brands

Block Meal Plans

Block Meal Plans are constructed just like Traditional Meal Plans, in that they consist of two parts: a set number of meals and a specific amount of Declining Balance, “DB” funds. Advantages are also the same. The difference is that Block Plan meals are set by the semester, not by the week. So if your student chooses Block Plan D, they have 150 meals for the semester and $100 in DB. They can eat those meals at RDH or Crown Commons. Unused meals do not roll over from one semester to the next and any unspent Declining Balance also does NOT roll over.

Block Meal Plans Selection And Price
  • D 150 Meals per semester$1,415
    $100 DB/semester
  • E 125 Meals per semester$1,345
    $175 DB/semester

49 / $125 Block Plan (NEW)

This block plan offers 49 meals for the semester with $125 in Declining Balance for only $499. Use the 49 meals as you choose anytime during the semester at either Crown Commons or RDH. It is ideal for those commuters seeking well balanced, nutritious meals while on campus.

All Declining Balance Meal Plans

An All Declining Balance Meal Plan is a debit account that may be used at any campus dining location, on-campus convenience stores and concessions. Any unused balance will carry over through the last summer session in the academic year of your purchase. Please refer to the Member Dining Eligibility chart as these plans are limited primarily to commuters and students in non-required housing.

  • F$1,580 DB
  • G$1,120 DB
  • K$600 DB

Traditional Plans

Students assigned to the high-rise residence halls – Moore, Sanford, Scott and Holshouser — and the suite-style halls, — Hawthorn, Lynch, Oak, Witherspoon, Cedar, Hickory and Sycamore — are required to purchase a Meal Plan.

Traditional Meal plans H, A, B and C have two parts:
The first part is the number of meals provided per week taken in either the Residence Dining Hall or Crown Commons Union Dining, our two all-you-care-to-eat dining facilities. The number of meals allotted resets weekly.

The second part is called Declining Balance, or DB. It is a specific allotment of funds that can be used at any campus dining venue, including retail locations such as Einstein Bagels in the Student Union or Chick-fil-A in the Prospector building. DB funds can also be used for concessions and for goods from the three Outtakes convenience stores on campus. We offer Traditional Meal Plans with varying amounts of set meals and Declining Balance so that students can choose what best suits their college lifestyle.

If, for example, Traditional Meal Plan C is chosen (the most popular choice), a student may eat 10 meals a week at RDH or Crown Commons. There will also be $400 in DB funds available to spend on other meals, snacks or Outtakes convenience items over the course of the semester.

  • H 19 meals/week$1,665 DB
    $100 DB/semester
  • A 14 meals/week$1,665 DB
    $200 DB/semester
  • B 12 meals/week$1,770 DB
    $300 DB/semester
  • C 10 meals/week$1,770 DB
    $400 DB/semester

Optional Dining Account

An Optional Dining Account (ODA), while not a meal plan, is another type of dining debit account that can be used at all campus dining locations, including Outtakes convenience stores. ODA is available to all students; deposits can be made anytime during the year. Unused remaining balance rolls over from semester to semester, year to year, as long as the student is enrolled. This account can save up to 8.25% in sales tax with every dining purchase.

For any resident student, ODA can supplement a meal plan and may be used when declining balance (DB) funds have been spent. ODA is also a convenient choice for students who live in Laurel Hall, Greek Village or on-campus apartments.

Best Value Optional Dining Account

Charlotte 500/300 Membership Packages

Charlotte 500: With $500 deposit, receive 5 FREE meals (up to a $42.50 value) at RDH and/or Crown Commons

Charlotte 300: With $300 deposit, receive 3 FREE meals (up to a $25.50 value) at RDH and/or Crown Commons.