Meal Plans & Dining Options
University dining options ensure every Bucknell student has access to quality, nutritious food. Every student living on campus must purchase one of the meal plans or dining options below each semester. Students who do not make a dining option selection will be automatically assigned a default option based on their class year. Plans range from an Anytime Access plan to prepaid accounts that work like debit cards.
Fall 2025 Meal Plan Selection
Meal plan selection for fall 2025 is open through Aug. 21. Log in to myHOME to select your meal plan.
Fall 2025 Meal Plan Information
All meal plan selections are made in myHOME.
| Meal plan selection process ends at midnight | Thursday, Aug. 21 |
| Dining Dollars and Plus Dollars are available. Meal plan changes open in myHOME | Friday, Aug. 22 |
| Meal plans begin with dinner | Sunday, Aug. 24 |
| Meal plan changes end at midnight | Sunday, Aug. 31 |
| Meal plan changes are processed and new meal plans are in place | Monday, Sept. 1 |
| Select your meal plan in myHOME |
Meal plans that are selected or defaulted on Friday, Aug. 22, will be in place through Sunday, Aug. 31. All changes will be processed on Monday, Sept. 1. New meal plans selected will be in effect beginning on Monday, Sept. 1.
2025–26 Meal Plans
Listed rates are per semester.
Available to First-year Students
First-year students must select one of the following options.
| Meal Plan | Cost | Access | Dining Dollars | Plus Dollars | Add'l Benefits |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Bison Blue | $3,507 | Anytime access | $150 | $150 | 3 meal trades/week 2 guest meals |
| *Bison Orange | $3,357 | Anytime access | $150 | –– | 3 meal trades/week 2 guest meals |
*The Bison Orange option will be assigned by default to first-year students who do not select a different option by July 1. You can select your plan in myHome through Aug. 21.
In addition to the $150 in Plus Dollars included in the Bison Blue plan, students will be able to add up to $500 in Plus Dollars to their plan during selection. The meal plan selection window is the only time in which Plus Dollars can be purchased. See below for more information about Dining, Campus and Plus Dollars.
Available to Sophomores, Juniors and Seniors
| Meal Plan | Cost | Meals a Week | Dining Dollars | Plus Dollars | Add'l Benefits |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Bison Blue | $3,507 | Anytime access | $150 | $150 | 3 meal trades/week 2 guest meals |
| Bison Orange | $3,357 | Anytime access | $150 | –– | 3 meal trades/week 2 guest meals |
| Bison Flex 12+ | $2,850 | 12 | $200 | $250 | 2 meal trades/week 2 guest meals |
| *Bison Flex 12 | $2,700 | 12 | $300 | –– | 2 meal trades/week 2 guest meals |
| Bison Flex 5+ | $1,750 | 5 | $300 | $300 | 1 meal trade/week |
| Bison Flex 5 | $1,600 | 5 | $450 | –– | 1 meal trade/week |
| Bison Flex 3+ | $1,350 | 3 | $300 | $300 | –– |
| Bison Flex 3 | $1,200 | 3 | $450 | –– | –– |
| Bison 1100 | $1,100 | –– | $900 | $200 | –– |
*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 select your plan in myHome through Aug. 21.
Meal Trades
Available in the Bison and Commons Café, Meal Trades allow students with designated meal plans to trade one dining hall meal swipe for a retail meal combo during specified hours. Meal combos include an entrée, side dish, dessert and fountain beverage. Meal combos are predetermined but rotate regularly. Daily Meal Trade options can be found online, in ordering kiosks or at the counter.
- Bison will have a rotating menu and the hours of operation are 8 to 10:30 a.m. and 2 to 10:30 p.m.
- The MacDonald Commons, Library Cafe and the 7th St. Cafe will offer meal trades the entire time they are open. The Meal Trades menu at these locations will be the same items for the fall semester and will change for the spring semester
- Meal Trades must be redeemed at the cashier to ensure they are being redeemed correctly
- Meal Trades do not roll over and are not redeemable for cash
- A week is defined as Sunday–Saturday
Dining Dollars, Campus Dollars and Plus Dollars
In addition to meal swipes and trades, you have several options for purchasing meals (and other needs) on campus and off.
Plus Dollars are an add-on purchase to dining plan purchases, and can only be selected when you choose your meal plan.
Campus Dollars and Dining Dollars may be purchased or refilled at any time.
See where you can spend Dining, Campus and Plus Dollars
Plus Dollars Selection
Optional — Does not fulfill meal-plan requirement
After selecting a dining option, Plus Dollars can be added as an enhancement; however, some plans already include Plus Dollars. Plus Dollars are available to all students who have a meal plan who are making a dining option selection. Plus Dollars will carry over from the fall to spring semester but will expire at the end of the academic year. Meal plan selection is the only time when Plus Dollars are available for purchase.
Purchasing Additional Dining Dollars & Campus Dollars
Additional Dining Dollars and Campus Dollars can be purchased anytime online.
| Where can I spend my … | Swipes/Guest Swipes | Dining Dollars | Plus Dollars | Campus Dollars |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Bostwick Social House* | x | x | x | x |
| All other on-campus dining locations* | x | x | x | |
| Participating off-campus dining locations** | x | x | ||
| Participating off-campus merchants** | x | x | ||
| On-campus copiers | x |
*Cash and credit cards also are accepted at all on-campus dining locations
**See where Campus and Plus Dollars are accepted off campus
| How to add ... | Swipes/Guest Swipes | Dining Dollars | Plus Dollars | Campus Dollars |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| GET app | x | |||
| Online | x | |||
| Bursar's office | x | |||
| During meal plan selection | x |
B-Swipes
The B-Swipes program allows students in need of food assistance to request additional meal swipes for entry into Bostwick Social House. Students with demonstrated need may receive up to three meals per week during the fall and spring semesters.
In order to qualify to receive swipes, a student must meet all of the following criteria:
- The student is an undergraduate
- The student has a meal plan with no more than five swipes per week
- The student has demonstrated financial need (the student's financial aid award plus their expected family contribution equal less than the comprehensive cost of Bucknell), and
- The student's total financial aid eligibility is less than the comprehensive cost of Bucknell.
Unused guest passes, Dining Dollars and Plus Dollars that would otherwise expire at the end of the semester or academic year will automatically be transferred to B-Swipes. Other swipes are not transferable.