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With Fall Break right around the corner, now is a good time to check your meal swipe balance and plan how you’ll use your remaining meals through the end of the semester. If you’re wondering whether you’re using swipes too quickly or saving too many, ÌÀÍ·Ìõ Campus Dining has some benchmarks to help you evaluate your pace, plan ahead and make the most of your meal plan. Ìý

ÌÀÍ·Ìõ’s student meal plans are designed to provide flexibility throughout the semester. For the 2026–27 academic year, the First-Year Meal Plan includes 335 meals per semester, while the Upper-Division Meal Plan for sophomores, juniors and seniors includes 305 meals per semester. Off-Campus Meal Plans offer additional options for students with varying dining needs including the Max (240 meals per semester), Plus (160 meals per semester) and Lite (80 meals per semester) tiered plan options. Ìý

All the flexibility is great, but how do you know whether you’re on pace to make your meals last through finals?

Campus Dining meal plan pacing benchmarks

The following checkpoints offer a general guide for how many meals you should have remaining at key points during the fall 2026 semester.Ìý

These are approximate targets based on an even pace of meal usage from the start of the meal plan period through Dec. 19, excluding Fall Break (Oct. 22–23) and Thanksgiving Break (Nov. 21–29). Individual usage will vary, especially for students who remain on campus during breaks or depart before the end of finals.

What’s a good pace for your meal plan?

As a general guideline, the following weekly averages can help you budget your swipes on a weekly basis. Ìý

• First-Year Plan: ~21 meals per weekÌý
• Upper-Division Plan: ~19 meals per week Ìý
• Off-Campus Max: ~15 meals per weekÌý
• Off-Campus Plus: ~10Ìýmeals per weekÌý
• Off-Campus Lite: ~5 meals per weekÌý

What if you’re ahead or behind the benchmarks?

Have more meals remaining than the suggested balance? You have some flexibility to enjoy additional meals, snacks or grab-and-go options around campus.

Running a little low? It’s a good time to take a look at your daily dining habits and routines. Adjusting your swipe usage can help you make the most out of your remaining swipes last through the end of the semester. Ìý

Remember, meal swipes don’t roll over to the next semester, and our benchmarks are simply just reference points to help you monitor your meal swipe usage proactively. Ìý

Plan ahead for finals

Although undergraduate classes end Dec. 10, the fall semester continues through December 19, including reading days and final exams. Be sure to account for those additional days to stay fueled through your last exam.Ìý

Keep tabs on your balance

You can check your remaining meal swipes and Meal Money through the . Checking your balance regularly makes it easier to stay on track and adjust your habits as needed. Ìý

Consider making a quick admin-style check-in part of your routine. A few minutes every month or so to review your balance can help you make the most out of Campus Dining. Ìý

For more information about meal plans and dining options, visit ÌÀÍ·Ìõ Campus Dining. Fall Break hours of operation are outlined on the Special Hours section of the website and can be viewed with corresponding menus .