Meal Plan 2024-25
Vanderbilt’s dining halls are a key part of campus life, and our meal plans are designed to enhance students’ residential college experience. All Vanderbilt students living on campus, including residence halls and Greek housing, are required to participate in a meal plan based on their cohort year.
Undergraduate Students
Meal plans are loaded onto your Commodore Card or mobile wallet and consist of a set meal allowance + flexible meal money per semester. Meal plans are based on class year for undergraduate students, and will be automatically loaded prior to your arrival on campus.
Simply tap your card or phone at a dining location, and the meal or Meal Money will automatically deduct from your account. Some dining locations are all-you-care-to-eat, while others offer meals consisting of an entree, side(s) and a drink. These options include residential dining halls, retail markets and cafes, and Munchie Marts, which offer both grab and go options, snacks, and convenience items.
See below for meal plan components and rates for the 2024-25 academic year, starting on August 14, 2024 through December 15th for the fall semester then restarting January 3rd and ending on May 3rd, 2025 for the spring semester. Meal plans for graduating seniors will be extended through Commencement.
| Cohort Year | Plan | Meals | Meal Money | Cost |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| First-Years | First Year Plan | 335 | $225 | $3,965 / semester |
| Sophomores, Juniors, Seniors | Upper Division Plan | 305 | $275 | $3,925 / semester |
All meal plans include 5 guest meals, for use at any time during the semester.
NEW Meal Money Buy-Up :
Add Meal Money to your on-campus meal plan for added flexibility. $250, $500, and $1,000 buy-up options are available. Explore upgrade options at vanderbi.lt/mymealplan
What’s Included? Your meal plan will include an allotment, or ‘block’ of meals, to be used throughout the semester. These meals allow you to ‘swipe’ into a dining location and pay for a full meal. Some locations are all-you-care-to-eat, while others include a combination of entree, sides(s) and a drink. Your meals can be used at any point throughout the semester, so you can decide how and when you dine. Meals reset each semester, and do not roll over.
Your meal plan can be used in a variety of on-campus locations, including residential dining halls, retail locations, cafes or our popular Munchie Marts. Choose from five markets that feature a variety of quick and tasty meal options, including our own Vandy Provisions sandwiches, salads, and entrees, handcrafted right here on campus. (Students can redeem a maximum of two meals per day in Munchie Marts.)
In addition to meal plans, students can use debit spending accounts for food purchases:
- Meal Money — Money in this account is non-taxable (in dining facilities) for students living on campus and can be used at on-campus dining facilities, Munchie Marts, food trucks and Taste of Nashville restaurants. Unused Meal Money from the fall semester can be rolled over to the spring, but must be depleted by the end of the spring semester or the money is forfeited.
- Commodore Cash — Money in this account is taxable and fully refundable. It can be used in dining facilities, Munchie Marts, Sarratt ticket desk, post office, athletic concessions, Printing Services, Vanderbilt Bookstore, Taste of Nashville locations, food trucks and at vending and copy machines.
Off Campus:
Students living off campus have the option to purchase any meal plan, but will not be required to do so. In addition, nonresidential students, faculty, and staff have the option to purchase flex meals which are prepaid blocks of meals, redeemable at any Campus Dining location.
Purchase Undergraduate Student Flex Meals
For students living off-campus (including undergraduate, graduate, and professional students) the following optional meal plans are available:
| Plan | Meals | Meal Money | Cost |
|---|---|---|---|
| Commuter 250 | 80 | $250 | $1,230 / semester |
| Commuter 500 | 80 | $500 | $1,480 / semester |
| Commuter 1000 | 80 | $1000 | $1,980 / semester |
2024-25 Meal Plan Start & Stop Dates
Meal Plans begin Saturday, August 14
Note: Certain pre-arrival students (e.g. Orientation Leaders and Resident Advisors), may be eligible to receive additional meals upon arrival to campus.
Meal plans end at the end of day on May 2, 2025. Meal money expires on May 9, 2025.
Graduating Seniors’ meal plans will remain active until the day of Commencement. Limited service available from May 2, 2025 through May 9, 2025.
Graduate Students
Graduate and professional students are not required to purchase a meal plan but are offered at a bundled discounted rate and are redeemable at open Vanderbilt Campus Dining locations. Any selection will be billed to your student account and may be purchased here.
Faculty-Staff Meal Plan
Faculty and staff who wish to purchase a meal plan, may do so with a credit card here.
Purchase Faculty-Staff Flex Meals
Log in with your VUNetID credentials and follow the instructions. Please note meals are non-refundable, and are not transferable.
Meal Plan FAQ:
To purchase a meal plan, visit: vanderbi.lt/mymealplan All Vanderbilt students living on campus are required to have meal plan. Students are automatically enrolled into a meal plan based on your year at Vanderbilt. Example: Sophomores receive the Upper-Division Plan, with 305 meals per semester. If you are a Vanderbilt Student who lives off campus, you do not need to purchase a meal plan but can purchase any of residential meal plan. They are the same plans that are offered on campus, yet are taxed. For off-campus students who wish to purchase a meal plan or those who want to upgrade your meal plan, you may do that here. All Vanderbilt students living on campus are required to participate in a meal plan. On-campus students will be automatically be enrolled in a meal plan based on a student's cohort year at Vanderbilt. Example: Sophomores receive the Upper-Division Plan, with 305 meals per semester. If you are a Vanderbilt student living off campus, you do not need to purchase a meal plan but can opt-in to any residential meal plan. They are the same plans that are offered on campus, yet are subject to TN state sales tax. Meal plans are a required component of the residential undergraduate cost of attendance and exceptions are not granted. (Students residing at OHARE at the Village at Vanderbilt are considered on-campus for the purposes of meal plan requirements) For the 2024-2025 academic year, there is no daily limit on the number of times you can redeem a meal in most locations. There is a 45 minute cooldown period between swipes in residential dining locations (Commons, EBI, and Rothschild). Students can redeem a maximum of two meals per day in Munchie Marts. Vanderbilt takes great pride being named "Best Overall Food Allergy Program, 2021 and 2023" by MenuTrinfo. Most all of our food in dining halls have allergens clearly marked, and can be viewed on our NetNutrition menu builder at vu.edu/menus. In addition, all residential dining halls are certified peanut and treenut free, with the exception of Rothschild. For further questions, please reach out to our Registered Dietitan, for assistance on navigating your way through Vanderbilt's dining facilities. Emily Svennevik, MPH, RD, LDN at dietitian@vanderbilt.edu. Vanderbilt Campus Dining takes its role seriously in providing healthy and nutritious options for all students - including those with unique dietary preferences or allergies. To help find menu options that fit everyone's unique needs, we encourage students to visit our NetNutrition menu planning tool at vu.edu/menus. For more comprehensive information regarding special dietary requirements and how to navigate any accommodatoins, our Registered Dietitian, Emily Svennevik, is available to meet privately and confidentially with students. Emily can be reached via email at dietitian@vanderbilt.edu. For quick nutrition questions, you can now text Emily directly - simply text "AskEmily" + your question - to 55744 from your mobile device. Faculty staff can buy meals in bundles of 10 using a credit card here. These are two different accounts with separate funds. Vanderbilt Campus Dining offers a culinary program that reflects the rich diversity of our student body, incorporating menus that support a wide range of tastes, preferences, and restrictions, including those based in faith, cultural backgrounds and religious restrictions. As part of our continued work to support students of all faith backgrounds, Campus Dining is proud to offer Halal and Kosher certified items at locations across campus. For more details, visit https://campusdining.vanderbilt.edu/kosher-halal-dining/. Meal plans come with 5 guest meals per semester. Guest meals are the equivalent of a meal sqipe and may be used at any time throughout the semester for guests on Vanderbilt campus.