Frequently Asked Questions

Meal plans for 2025–26 have been adjusted to provide more options and flexibility. Key changes include:

• First-year students can now choose between two Anytime Access plans.
• The Bison Flex 12 option will be assigned by default to sophomores, juniors and seniors residing on campus who do not select a different option by July 1. You can change your plan in MyHome through Aug. 21.
• Some meal plans now include Plus Dollars as well as Dining Dollars.
• Beginning in fall 2025, all retail locations except the Library Café will offer daily specials to grab and go. These can be purchased with Dining Dollars, Plus Dollars, Campus Dollars, credit card, cash, or in some cases, meal swipes. Details about specials will be shared this summer.

Please note: Beginning in fall 2026 with the Class of 2029, sophomores will be required to purchase a dining plan with a minimum of 12 swipes per week. This will help ensure that they transition smoothly from a first-year Anytime Access plan to one with fewer swipes and Dining and Plus Dollars. 

This change was made to help address food insecurity on our campus. Data indicates that sophomores, juniors and seniors often chose the $775 dining plan because it was the least expensive option. However, this plan was not intended to be a full meal plan, but rather a supplementary option for students who ate most meals off-campus or prepared meals in their on-campus apartment kitchens. We found that many students with the lowest-price plan purchased about $450 in additional Dining Dollars each semester. When students can’t afford to add more Dining Dollars to the minimum-priced plan, it contributes to food insecurity.

Our new minimum plan, the Bison 1100, is designed to ensure that all students can get the equivalent of one meal per day from Bostwick Marketplace and reduce the need to buy additional Dining Dollars. While the cost of the lowest-price plan has risen by $325, it is offset by an additional $125 in Dining Dollars as well as $200 in Plus Dollars. 

All plans include Dining Dollars, which can be used at any Bucknell dining location. Several plans include Plus Dollars, which can be used on campus as well as at participating off-campus locations, including Giant and Weis Markets.

• Students may add more Dining Dollars to their account at any time. A meal plan is not required to purchase Dining Dollars.
• Plus Dollars require a meal plan and can only be purchased during the meal plan selection process. They can be added to any plan.
• Remaining balances for Dining Dollars and Plus Dollars carry over from fall semester to spring, but will expire at the end of the academic year and become invalid upon separation from the University. 

All students who will live in campus housing in the fall semester should sign up for a University dining option in myHOME (login required). Instructions and due dates can be found here.

First-year students may choose one of the two anytime access options. Sophomores, juniors and seniors may choose any dining plan.

Please note that additional Plus Dollars can be purchased only during the meal plan selection and change periods. Dining Dollars may be added at any time during the semester.

Students may make changes to their meal plans during the meal plan change period that begins Aug. 22. Details will be shared soon.

Please note this is also the only period when additional Plus Dollars may be purchased. Dining Dollars may be purchased at any time of the year.

Your fall meal plan charge will appear on your initial fall semester bill, which will be available in mid-July. All students who have not selected a meal plan by July 1 will automatically be enrolled in the minimum required dining plan for their class year. This means first-year students who have not chosen a plan by July 1 will be charged for the Bison Orange plan. Other students who have not submitted a selection by July 1 will be charged for the Bison 12 Flex plan.

If you want to change your plan, you may do so until the sign-up period ends at midnight on the Thursday before fall classes start. Your account will be automatically updated on the next day.

After that date, you may choose a different plan during the meal plan change period. Your meal plan and account will be updated by the following week.

All students living on campus or in University-owned property are required to purchase a meal plan or dining option each semester. While not required, students who live in non-University housing may choose to purchase any of the options.

If you live on campus or in University-owned housing, including University-owned fraternity houses, you must purchase a meal plan or dining option each semester. Information about meal plans for students living in University-owned fraternity houses can be found in myHOME.

First-year students who do not choose a meal plan by midnight on the Thursday before the start of classes will be automatically enrolled in the Bison Orange Anytime Access plan. Sophomores, juniors and seniors who miss the signup deadline will be automatically enrolled in the Bison Flex 12 plan.

All students may select a different plan during the open period for changes.

If you do not live on campus, you do not need to purchase any of the dining options.

The University uses the Bison Orange meal plan cost of $3,357 per semester when it calculates the total cost of attendance. Sophomores, juniors and seniors who receive financial aid and choose a lower-priced plan should be aware that no additional financial aid will be available if they run out of swipes or Dining or Plus Dollars. Please plan carefully when budgeting to account for the cost of food throughout the academic year.

If you live off campus and aren't considered a resident of the University, you are not required to buy one of the dining options. If you are interested in purchasing one, all are available to you. You can select your plan online in myHOME.

Students are billed for the meal plan on their B-bill. Bursar Services can answer questions about this process.

Each week, meal swipes are reset Sunday morning before breakfast. Unused swipes will "roll over" to the next week, but swipes will expire at the end of the semester if unused (Dining and Campus Dollars will carry over from fall to spring). Students who run out of meal swipes can purchase meals using Dining Dollars, Campus Dollars, Plus Dollars or debit or credit cards at the door rates.

As a residential campus, Bucknell prioritizes the community living experience, including dining. The minimum dining option ensures that all students take part in this important aspect of residential life and provides students with Dining Dollars, which can be used on campus, and Plus Dollars, which can be used off-campus at participating retailers, including Giant and Weis markets.

Yes, you can take your food wherever you want to go by using one of the reusable to-go containers.

Dining Dollars are funds held in a debit card-like account — a convenient cashless way of buying meals and snacks at all on-campus dining locations. Dining Dollars can be used at any location, including for entry to Bostwick Marketplace and to purchase food through Bucknell Catering. Dining Dollars are not transferable or refundable. They may not be used as a means of payment for a University-sponsored catered event with or without expectation of reimbursement.

Dining Dollars can be used at the following venues: 

• 7th Street Café
• The Bison
• Library Café
• The Flying Bison
• The Commons Café
• Bostwick Social House, where students can pay with Dining Dollars at the per-meal door rate (Campus Dollars, Plus Dollars, credit and debit cards, and cash are also accepted)
• Concessions stands at athletics events

Yes, you can. Dining Dollars can be added instantly via the GET App. 

Dining Dollars always carry over from the fall semester to spring, but will expire at the end of the spring semester, or upon graduation or separation from the University.

Dining Dollars are not refundable or transferable. When unused Dining Dollars expire, the full value is applied to the B-Swipes program to support students in need of food assistance.

Your remaining Dining Dollars balance can be found by logging in to myBucknell or the GET app. You can also visit the Dining Services office or Bursar Services.

Yes; however, catering options will be limited. Contact our catering department by calling 570-577-2270 or emailing catering@bucknell.edu to schedule an order. 

If you have both Campus Dollars and Dining Dollars on your BUID, your Dining Dollars balance will be used first at all on-campus dining venues.

No, Dining Dollars can only be used at on-campus dining locations and cannot be used for purchases off campus.

Yes, you can use Campus Dollars off campus at participating local merchants. For additional information, visit the Card Services page.

Yes, Campus Dollars can be used at all dining locations. But Campus Dollars do not replace the requirement for students living on campus or in University-owned housing to purchase a meal plan or dining option. If you have both Dining Dollars and Campus Dollars on your BUID, your Dining Dollars balance will be used first. Read more about Campus Dollars on the Card Services page.

Plus Dollars can be used at both on-campus and participating off-campus merchants.

Plus Dollars can be added as an enhancement to any dining option. Plus Dollars are only available to sophomores, juniors and seniors who are making a dining option selection.

Plus Dollars are nonrefundable. They carry over from semester to semester but expire at the end of the academic year. When unused Plus Dollars expire, the full value is applied to the B-Swipes program to support students in need of food assistance. Plus Dollars do not replace the requirement for students on campus or in University-owned buildings to purchase a meal plan or dining option.

You cannot purchase additional Plus Dollars. They may only be purchased in combination with meal plans.

Students swipe their BUID to enter Bostwick. The number of entries your BUID allows is determined by your meal plan. Students who do not have any remaining swipes can pay the meal period door rate by using Dining Dollars, Campus Dollars, Plus Dollars, debit card, credit card or cash.

All cafés and retail locations accept Dining Dollars, Campus Dollars, Plus Dollars, debit cards and credit cards to pay for purchases. 

The Bison Orange, Bison Blue, and Bison Flex 12 meal plans all include two guest passes for guest meals per semester. In addition, you can use Dining Dollars, Campus Dollars, Plus Dollars, debit card, credit card, or cash to pay for guests at swipe-in dining venues. You cannot swipe your card additional times to pay for multiple guest meals or let anyone else use your card to swipe into a venue.

Guest passes expire at the end of the semester for which they are issued. When unused guest passes expire, the full value is applied to the B-Swipes program to support students who need food assistance.