Frequently Asked Questions

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, you must purchase a meal plan or dining option each semester. First-year students living on campus will be enrolled in Option 1 (Anytime Access meal plan and $75 in Dining Dollars). Other residential students can choose from one of the other options. Sophomores, juniors and seniors will be assigned Option 5 ($700 Dining Dollars) but will have the option to upgrade to another plan in MyHome.

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

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). 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. Students still have the option to cook for themselves for their other meals.

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 (only via the GET App)
• Bostwick Marketplace, 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.

For the Class of 2026 and beyond, Dining Dollars will expire at the end of the spring semester, or upon graduation or separation from the University.

For other classes, Dining Dollars will carry over from year to year, but become invalid 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. You may use cash at any location except for The Commons Café, which exclusively uses mobile ordering and payment via the GET app.

The Anytime Access meal plan (Option 1) and the Combo Plans (Options 2–4) include two guest passes to pay for guest meals. 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 in need of food assistance.

We understand how challenging dining with special dietary needs can be. We encourage students and parents to contact a Dining Services manager to discuss dietary needs or allergy concerns. To learn more about the options we offer, visit our Nutrition & Food Allergies page.

Visit our Eatwell page to find out nutritional information about food options. There you can review the nutrition content of items before you choose what to eat, calculate your meal's total nutrition values and filter menu options by allergens.

You can also visit our Nutrition & Food Allergies page to learn how Dining Services can help with special dietary considerations.

The process for accessing dining accommodations is outlined in the University’s Dining Accommodation policy. Students should initially contact Dining Services at dining@bucknell.edu to arrange a meeting to discuss individual needs. If it is determined that there is a need for a dining accommodation, the student must complete the Disability Accommodation Request Form and upload documentation. Required Documentation can be found on the Registering with the OAR page.