Meal Plan Information
Benefits of a Meal Plan
Meal Plans Save You TIME and MONEY
Eating out, buying groceries, cooking and cleaning up can be costly and time consuming. With a meal plan you simply show up and enjoy a nutritional and well-balanced meal. We do the shopping, cooking and the dishes so you have more time to focus on learning, engaging in campus life and other personal pursuits. Plus, with all-you-care-to-eat meals at our residential dining commons, you'll not only get more for your dollar, but your per meal cost will be lower than meals purchased at local eateries.
Meal Plans are FLEXIBLE and CONVENIENT
Meal plans include a set number of meals per week to be used whenever it's convenient. There are multiple meal plans available, so you can easily find the meal plan that works best for you. For extra flexibility, meal plans also include both Flex Dollars & Gator Dollars, which can be used to purchase Starbucks coffee, meals, or snacks to-go.
From our Residents
As an international student, it's been really difficult for me to get settled in and so not worrying about what I have to cook and eat every day has been a huge relief.
Mandatory Meal Plans
If you are a resident at West Grove Commons, Towers Junior Suites, Towers at Centennial Square and the Village at Centennial Square, you will need to select from one of the following meal plans. Unused meals expire at the end of Saturday and meals for the new week load on Sunday. Meals are not transferrable and cannot roll over from week-to-week or to a new semester.
Meal Swipes per Week
Plus $50 Flex Dollars + $100 Gator Dollars (per semester)
Meal Swipes per Week
Plus $50 Flex Dollars + $100 Gator Dollars (per semester)
Meal Swipes per Week
Plus $50 Flex Dollars + $100 Gator Dollars (per semester)
Voluntary Meal Plans
If you are a resident at Manzanita Square, University Park North, and University Park South and would like a meal plan, you can choose to purchase a voluntary meal plan. Flex Dollars and Gator Dollars are not included.
Available Voluntary Meal Plans
50 or 100 Block
Please Note: If you prefer a meal plan with Flex Dollars and Gator Dollars, you may opt into one of the meal plans listed above at the time of application.
How it Works
Blocks load a lump sum of meal swipes onto your SFSU Mobile Credential to be used at any time. One block will be deducted from your balance each time you dine in or grab a meal to go.
Blocks do not expire at the end of the week like with mandatory meal plans, so your balance is available from week-to-week until it is depleted.
Please Note: Meals are not transferrable.
Use Your Meal Plan
Your meal plan is loaded onto your SFSU account when you check-in on Move-in Day. Each time you dine in or grab a to-go meal, just tap your SFSU Mobile Credential at the register and one meal swipe will be deducted from your plan. You may use as many meal swipes as you'd like in a day as long as you have them available on your account.
About Flex Dollars and Gator Dollars
Flex Dollar and Gator Dollar funds are loaded onto your account and are accessible with your SFSU Mobile Credential.
Flex Dollars
Where to Use | Flex Dollars can be used at Monarca Dining Hall or Yerba Buena Dining Hall.
Why You'll Love Them | Flex Dollars are great because you can grab a quick snack, Starbucks beverage, a to-go meal between classes, or whenever you feel like it. Plus there's no need to worry about having cash on hand.
Things to Know | Flex Dollars will be disbursed in two increments. Each after the meal plan change deadline for each semester. You can add more funds any time you'd like.
Gator Dollars
Where to Use | Gator Dollars are the University currency that work like a prepaid debit card. These funds can be used at Monarca Dining Hall and Yerba Buena Dining Hall, as well as any participating on-campus vendor.
Why You'll Love Them | Gator Dollars are great because there's no need to carry cash or additional debit or credit cards.
Things to Know | Additional Gator Dollars can be purchased through the OneCard Office.
Meals To Go
No time to dine in? No problem! Get a meal to go with a reusable container. A reusable container is easy to use, reduces waste and saves you time!
- PAY the one-time $5 fee to purchase a to-go container at the register at Monarca Dining Hall.
- SWIPE your SFSU Student ID for a meal.
- FILL your container with the delicious items of your choice.
- EXIT and eat.
- RETURN your dirty container the next time you want to get a meal to go.
- RECEIVE a new container.
- REPEAT the process.
- Only containers purchased at Yerba Buena Dining Hall or Monarca Dining Hall may be used for to-go meals*.
- Dining Services will wash and sanitize your returned container for you, but please make sure that your container is empty when you bring it back.
*To-go meals consist of an entrée, dessert and a beverage.
Meal Plan Changes
If you would like to change your meal plan, log onto the Student Housing Portal to request a change of meal plan. Meal plan changes may be made once a semester during the following timeframes at a $10 meal plan change fee per request:
Spring Semester | January 22 - February 5, 2027
Summer Semester | May 28 - June 10, 2027
Fall Semester | TBD