Student Dining Plans

Every student living on campus in a traditional residence hall participates in the Maryland community by having one of four Resident Dining Plans. These plans provide you with unlimited access to food, seven days a week for the whole semester, while classes are in session and during finals.

Our focus will be to serve delicious and popular food while ensuring your health and safety. We will continue to offer a wide variety of food at each meal, modifying the overall plan and our service methods in accordance with best practices this fall.

Dining Halls

Enter the dining halls by waving your hand through one of the scanners at the front entrance, which provide convenient and secure identity verification. Three dining halls mean that you always have somewhere to go for food – from 7:00 am until 9:00 pm. Visit Yahentamitsi, South Campus Dining Hall and 251 North (Denton).

Cafes, Convenience Shops and Food Courts

Dining halls provide a wide range of tasty and nutritious food, but we know you’ll want to eat somewhere else now and then. Dining Dollars are set aside funds to use at many locations  on campus, including cafes (when academic buildings open), convenience shops and five brand name franchises in two food courts. Dining Dollars can get you fresh carryout on days when you can’t — or prefer not to — eat in a dining hall and are a great way to buy room snacks and supplies.

We strongly recommend the upgraded Resident dining plans because they include Dining Dollars. You always buy Dining Dollars at a discount, and you pay no sales tax when you use them. Three upgraded Resident dining plans include Dining Dollars. We recommend the Premium plan to get the best discounts on Dining Dollars.

Dining Fees for 2023-2024

New this year
Moving in early? The Fall Early Access Plan provides Anytime Unlimited Dining in three dining halls - before your Resident Dining Plan activates. Early Access starts Thursday, August 24 at 4pm and runs through Saturday, August 26 at 4pm. See dining.umd.edu/locations for hours of operation and dining.umd.edu/services/online-services to purchase an Early Access Plan. 

*Resident Students can purchase additional guest passes from the Dining Plan Office, 1109 South Campus Dining Building. Guest Passes provide one dining experience per Guest Pass.

**Fall price includes Resident Dining for Fall Welcome and the New Student Welcome event. Returning students do not participate in those events.

***Includes Dining Dollars, Additional Guest Passes at door price, and Tax Savings on all purchases. 

Using Your Campus Accounts

To access Anytime Dining, enroll in the biometric entry system. Come to the Dining Plan Office in the South Campus Dining Hall Building, 8:30 a.m. to 4:30 p.m. Monday – Friday. We are one floor below the dining hall – face the entrance to the dining hall but don’t go in. Instead, turn right then come halfway down the exterior stairs and in through the glass doors. The Dining Plan Office is straight ahead.

To access Dining Dollars, use your UMD ID card. The Registrar’s Office will take your photo and issue your card either during new student move-in or at their office in the Mitchell Building. You must be present with your UMD ID card for every Dining Dollars purchase.

Allergies, Intolerances and Special Diets

South Campus Dining Hall and 251 North have specific stations called Purple Zones that serve food free from the eight most common allergens. Electronic menu boards and individual item counter cards display icons identifying what allergens are contained in each specific menu item. Cooks and line staff who have taken special allergen training wear purple chef coats or aprons. If you would like additional support, contact us at nutrition@umd.edu to discuss menu items or to make accommodations.

We have menu items that satisfy requirements for many diets, including vegetarian, vegan and gluten-free diets. If you maintain a kosher diet, contact the Maryland Hillel Center for information on their Platinum Kosher Plan, the only approved substitute for a Seven-Day Resident Dining Plan.

Any other Questions?

Check out our FAQ page, contact us at 301-314-8068, email umfood@umd.edu or visit the Dining Plan Office in the South Campus Dining Hall.

See the Maryland Dining calendar for important dates, like purchase deadlines, when your plan starts and ends and when we have special hours or when we close for breaks.