You are here: American University Student Affairs One Card & Dining Services Meal Plan Information and Facts

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(202) 885-2273

idcards@american.edu

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Fri: 1 p.m. - 4:30 p.m.;
Sat, Sun: Closed

One Card & Dining Services 4400 Massachusetts Avenue NW Washington, DC 20016 United States

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Meal Plans

American University offers a variety of meal plan options to meet the needs of its community members, from undergraduates and graduates to faculty and staff.

First- and Second-Year Students living on campus are required to have a meal plan.

The meal plan comprises five components: Meal Swipes, Retail Meal Exchanges, Dining Dollars, On-Campus Mobile Ordering Credit, Guest Meals, and Access to Exclusive Events. Depending on the meal plan selected, the value of each component will vary.

Selected
Meal Plans
How to Use Your Meal Plan
Where To Use
2025-2026 Meal Plan Rates
All Inclusive Premium All Inclusive Plus All Inclusive Standard All Inclusive Basic Flex Premium Flex Standard
Price $3,459 $3,165 $2,827 $2,038 $825 $625
Dining Dollars $150 $130 $130 $300 $100 $50
Required for First-year students living on campus
(either Premium or Plus)		 Second-year students living on campus
(either Standard or Basic)		 No required planholders
Available to Open to all students Open to all except first years in campus housing Open to faculty, staff, and all students except first and second year in campus housing
Dining Hall Unlimited access all days of the week Unlimited access all days of the week 15 TDR swipesper week 9 TDR swipesper week 45 TDR swipesor meal exchangesper semester 35 TDR swipesor meal exchangesper semester
Retail Meal Exchange 3 meals per day 7 per week 2 per day None 45 TDR swipesor meal exchangesper semester 35 TDR swipesor meal exchangesper semester
Guest Meals 10 6 6 - - -

Notes:

  • First-Year students living on campus may select from the All-Inclusive Premium or All-Inclusive Plus; you are automatically defaulted to the All-Inclusive Premium.
  • Second-Year students living on campus may select from the All-Inclusive Premium or All-Inclusive Plus, All Inclusive Standard, or All Inclusive Basic; you are automatically defaulted to the All-Inclusive Standard.
  • Class standing is determined by the credits noted by AU’s Registrar.
  • All meal plans are semester based and reset at the beginning of each semester.
  • Unused fall dining dollars rollover over to the spring semester if you maintain an active meal plan for the spring semester.
  • Fall dining dollar rollovers will appear on your account on the first Tuesday following the meal plan drop/add period.
  • Unused Meal Swipes, Retail Meal Exchanges, Mobile Ordering Credits, and Guest Meals are semester based and will not rollover.
  • Dining Dollars are the only meal plan component allowing incremental reloads during the semester with an active meal plan.
  • Guest meals can be used in TDR and select retail locations.
  • All components of the meal plan expire at the end of the spring semester.
  • Meal plans for the fall semester end on Friday, December 12, 2025.
  • To check your balanceand make changes to your meal plan,please visit .

Meal Plan Components

Meal Swipes

Each meal plan consists of unlimited access to the residential dining hallandTerrace Dining Room (TDR). You use a swipe whenever you eat in TDR. Your meal plan selection determines your weekly access. There is a 20-minute “pass-back” time for entry into TDR.

  • The 20-minute “pass back” time means that there needs to be a 20-minute delay before you can reenter the location.

Dining Dollars

All meal plans come with a specific amount of dining dollars. Depending on your plan, you will automatically have dining dollars.

They can be used for snacks, dining (if you’re not using a Retail Meal Exchange), various on-campus locations, and access to Exclusive Dining Events.

Dining Dollars can also be purchased in incremental amounts if you have an active meal plan.

Retail Meal Exchanges

Some days, you may want to grab an entire meal from other on-campus food locations – such as Panera, District Pickle, True Burger, Halal Shack, Baba’s Pizza, Subway, Qdoba, Freshens, or other retail dining locations.

A retail meal exchange is an entrée, a side, and a drink. For your best value, don’t use a retail meal exchange if you’re just getting a quick snack (that’s what dining dollars are for). Each location has a menu that tells you the options for a Retail Meal Exchange.

Guest Meals

Enjoying a meal with a friend or use the extra meals as retail exchange options; select meal plans provide guest meals.

Where can the meal plan be used?
Dining Venue Campus Location Meal Swipe Retail Meal Exchange Dining Dollars Guest Meals
Terrace Dining Room Mary Graydon Student Center (MGSC) X X X
Ace Sushi MGSC - Tavern X X X
Baba's Pizza MGSC - Tavern X X X
Eagle's Express Butler Pavilion- The Tunnel X X X
East Campus Market East Campus X X X
Freshens East Campus X X X
Halal Shack MGSC - Tavern X X X
Panera MGSC - Marketplace X X X
Starbucks Butler Pavilion- The Tunnel X
Subway Butler Pavilion- The Tunnel X X X
True Burger MGSC - Tavern X X X
Qdoba Butler Pavilion- The Tunnel X X X

Other information

Disability-Related Accommodations

Students who have a disability-related dietary need, such as a food allergy that substantially limits their dining experience, are strongly encouraged to make the university aware of their accommodation needs as early as possible. To request disability-related dining accommodations, please visit the Academic Support and Access Center's (ASAC) websiteRegistering for Accommodations, or contact the ASAC at asac@american.eduor 202-885-3360.

Religious Considerations

On occasion, students' religious observance necessitates consideration academic, housing, or food-related purposes. If you have a need for such a religious consideration, you may submit a request through Kay Spiritual Life Center.

Economic Considerations

The office of One Card & Dining Services does not make exceptions to the mandatory meal policy based on economic reasons.

We prioritize protecting our community by having a rigorous program for food safety, physical safety, and hygiene in our campus dining venues.

  • All AU Kitchen managers are trained and ServSafe certified in food service safety, as well ascertified by DC Health as Food Protection Managers.
  • All AU Kitchen culinarians and back of house supervisors are ServSafe trained for proper food safety handling and are required to follow stringent safety protocols.
  • All AU Kitchen team members must undergo regular food safety training.
  • All equipment is regularly cleaned, disinfected, and sanitized at the end of each shift.
  • To view more information about our health inspection reports and our food safety protocols please visit