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Meal Plans


Fuel Your Success With a Meal Plan

The best way to access convenient, wholesome, and top-tier dining choices that cater to your individual preferences and dietary requirements is with one of our Meal Plans. Selecting the right plan is key to ensuring your satisfaction while on campus, and enjoying meals that align with your lifestyle. Arizona Dining offers two types of Meal Plans: Swipe Meal Plans and Debit Meal Plans No matter the plan you choose, your Catcard serves as your gateway to access your plan.

Our Meal Plans are designed to feed your appetite by being:


Flexible: Choose the plan to best feed your appetite.
Predictable: Payments are worry-free through your Bursar account.
Convenient: Plans are loaded onto your CatCard. No cash required.
Diverse: Choose from over 30 dining options around campus.


You can upgrade your Meal Plan at any time, but you can only downgrade or cancel your Meal Plan during the first two weeks of the Fall semester. Students who purchase their Meal Plans through the website can select to pay with a Credit or Debit card if they prefer. At the end of the second week of classes in the Fall semester, your current Meal Plan selection is finalized for the remainder of the academic year.


What’s in a Meal Plan?

The University of Arizona offers robust Meal Plan options that are designed with your convenience and flexibility in mind. These plans are structured to accommodate your diverse requirements, dividing them into different allocations, or "buckets": Swipes, Dining Dollars, CatCa$h, and Guest Meals. The Swipe Meal Plans includes all four components: Swipes, Dining Dollars, CatCa$h, Guest Meals.

Your Meal Plan annual cost can be split into 2 payments and billed to your Bursar account - one in the fall and another in the spring. Students who purchase their Meal Plans through the website can select to pay with a credit or debit card if they prefer. Note that all Meal Plan funds expire at the end of the academic year.

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Swipes

Swipe Meal Plans are allocated monthly. Recommended swipes per week will help you choose the plan that’s right for you.

Swipes have the best value at all-you-care-to-eat locations and can be used at all other dining locations at a value of $11 per Swipe.

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Dining Dollars

Dining Dollars help students make smaller purchases that cost less than one full swipe, and supplement larger purchases. This account works like a debit card.

A portion of your Dining Dollars will be available for use through the Grubhub app to purchase meals from off-campus retailers.

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CatCa$h

CatCa$h allows you to make non-food purchases on campus.

This account is taxable and works like a debit card.

Select retailers off campus also accept CatCa$h as a form of payment. Visit the Catca$h page for a list of campus retailers.

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Guest Meals

Guest Meals are a set number of Swipes per year included for family and friends to dine with their student.

These swipes can only be used alongside the Swipe Plan holder in on-campus dining locations.

Where Can I Eat With My Meal Plan?

Your Meal Plan works at over 30 on-campus dining locations (see map below)! From all-you-care-to-eat (cafeteria) restaurants like '85 North and Cactus Grill to markets and vending machines, your Meal Plan gives you convenient and flexible access to dine on campus.

View and download the Arizona Dining & Nutrition Guide or visit Arizona Dining for more information on all things dining.

Highland District Map

Historic District

The Student Union Memorial Center (SUMC) offers a variety of options from all-you-care-to-eat restaurants, cafes, markets, healthier fare, and national brands. Located off of Mountain Ave. and 2nd Street next to the BookStores main location.
  • Arizona Market
  • Cactus Grill
  • Chick-Fil-A
  • Core
  • Cork & Craft
  • Einstein Bros. Bagels
  • IQ Fresh
  • Nrich Urban Market
  • On Deck Deli
  • Panda Express
  • Papa Johns
  • Radicchio
  • Sabor
  • Saffron Bites
  • Starbucks
  • Sushi with Gusto

Nearby Dorms

  1. Pueblo De La Cienega
  2. Posada San Pedro
  3. Villa Del Puente
  4. Graham-Greenlee
  5. Hopi
  1. Colonia De La Paz
  2. Apache-Santa Cruz
  3. Likins
  4. Navajo-Pinal

Park District Map

Global (Park) District

Newly remodeled and full of variety, the Global Center offers options including international restaurants, a market, healthier fare, and national brands. Located between Park Ave. and Tyndall Ave. just across from the Tyndall Garage. Enjoy the new patio and outdoor seating; everything you need in one convenient location.
  • Core+
  • Global Market
  • Más Tacos
  • Nrich Urban Market Express
  • Sichuan Kitchen
  • Starbucks
  • The Den

Nearby Dorms

  1. La Aldea
  2. Coronado
  3. Árbol De La Vida
  1. Kaibab-Huachuca
  2. Arizona-Sonora

Highland District Map

Highland District

The Highland District offers a brand new grocery store with a hot and cold bar nestled among the dorms and open late for convenience. Within this district, there are café, smoothie, and bowl options to keep you fueled.
  • Highland Grocery
  • Red & Blue Market
  • Shake Smart @ South Rec
  • Slot Canyon Café @ ENR2
  • Starbucks @ Main Library

Nearby Dorms

  1. Pueblo De La Cienega
  2. Posada San Pedro
  3. Villa Del Puente
  4. Graham-Greenlee
  5. Hopi
  1. Colonia De La Paz
  2. Apache-Santa Cruz
  3. Likins
  4. Navajo-Pinal

North District Map

North District

The North District features our ‘85 North all-you-care-to-eat restaurant along with cafes, grab-and-go markets, and popular coffee shops. You’ll never go hungry while working, studying, or hanging out on the North side of campus.
  • ‘85 North @ Honors Village
  • Catalyst Café @ BIO5
  • Ike’s Coffee & Marketplace @ Eller
  • Shake Smart @ North Rec

More Dining Nearby

  • Honors Village

Who Needs a Meal Plan?

Students living in University Housing and Honors Village are required to have a Swipe Meal Plan. Swipe Meal Plans are the only options available to first-year students living on campus and Honors Village students.

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First-time First-Year Res Students

All first-time first-year students living on campus are required to choose one of our Swipe Meal Plans.

Honors Village Students

All Honors Village students are required to choose one of our Swipe Meal Plans. If you live in an apartment-style room you will automatically be assigned the 5-Swipe plan.

Non-Required Students

Students living off-campus and upper-classmen are not required to select a meal plan, but are highly encouraged to explore your choices. You may select from any of the Swipe Plans we offer, including our Debit Meal Plans.

Need Special Accommodations?

Arizona Dining takes great pride in meeting the needs of our students. If you need special accommodations, please follow the below instructions:

  • Discuss your concerns with our Nutrition Educator - Arizona Dining is able to accommodate most common dietary restrictions. Our Nutrition team can help you to eat safely on campus.
  • Exemptions - If, after speaking with our Nutrition Educator, it is determined that we are not able to accommodate your restrictions, you will need to fill out our Meal Plans Exemptions Form to request an exemption to the Meal Plans requirement. Please contact the Meal Plan office to request an Exemption Form after speaking with the Nutrition Educator.

Important Billing Timeline 2024

TIMELINE DATES DETAILS
Meal Plan Purchases Begin June 3 Students living off-campus and upperclassmen may purchase a Meal Plan. Students living on-campus will be prompted to select their Meal Plan through their MyUAHome portal.
Bursar Billing Begins July 22 Meal Plan charges will be applied to your Bursar account. Further changes must be made through the Meal Plans office.
Swipes Active August 19 Swipes are activated the first day of move-in week.
Last day for downgrades September 8 You can make any final downgrades to your plan up until this date.
Greek Plan Changes September 22 You can make any final downgrades to your plan up until this date.