Explore Meal Plans

Message from Bob Sullivan

On behalf of a very enthusiastic Yale Hospitality team, welcome to Yale! My name is Bob Sullivan, Senior Director of Residential Dining. We are here to make sure your experiences at Yale are memorable – in more ways than one.

You will have opportunities to tap into a variety of nutritious, delicious, and craveable food. This is how we do it: we believe food should be good for people, and good for the planet, allowing for conversation and learning. For those with unique dietary needs, we have resources to help you eat safely, with peace of mind. Ask for what you need – we’ve got you covered!

At Yale, dining halls are at the heart of the residential college experience. They are the place where you meet with your friends and community. This fosters a true sense of community, belonging, and home-away-from-home in every college – and at Yale.

Please find the latest meal plan information below.

Anytime

Looking for lots of options and flexibility? This is the right choice! This plan features versatile meal options across our different locations – from Residential Colleges, Yale Schwarzman Center, Cafés and more. You’ll also have plenty of opportunities to invite your parents, family and friends to enjoy the dining hall experience when they visit as well. Don’t be shy, bring them by – we can’t wait to meet them!

Visiting the Yale Schwarzman Center? On a weekly basis, you can enjoy lunch in Commons on weekdays, or use a lunch transfer at The Bow Wow. You also have the added flexibility of dining points to use in Cafés and other Yale Hospitality retail locations. Living off-campus? No worries! This plan is available to you too.

2021 Anytime Meal Plan Information

Anytime Meal Plan

Eligible Students: Undergraduate Students (On & Off Campus)

Meals Per Week: 21 (three meals per day, seven days per week)

Transfers Per Week: Five (Monday-Friday) at Yale Schwarzman Center (Commons and The Bow Wow) and Steep Café

Guest Swipes: Five per semester

Points: 100 per semester to be used in Residential Dining, Yale Schwarzman Center, Steep Café, Café Med, West Campus, and Health Center Café

Dietary Accommodations: View helpful information and contact us

Cost: The 2021 Anytime Meal Plan costs $3,950 per semester

Requirements: All students living in residential colleges and on Old Campus will be required to purchase a meal plan.

Full (21)

We want you to get the most out of your Yale experience – especially as a First-Year! For this reason, this plan is required for all first-year students (unless the the Anytime Meal Plan is selected). This plan provides you with the setting to engage and create memories with your residential college community, while familiarizing yourself with the dining experience at Yale.

In case you are looking for a change in scenery, you can enjoy meals at any of our 14 residential colleges where your classmates live – in addition to Commons at Yale Schwarzman Center There will be opportunities for your friends and family to share a meal in the dining halls when they come to visit! If you’re looking to grab and go delicious meals, feel free to use your lunch transfers at The Bow Wow and Steep Café. Living off-campus? No worries! This plan is available to you too.

2021 Full Meal Plan Information

Full Meal Plan

Eligible Students: Undergraduate Students (On & Off Campus)

Meals Per Week: 21 (three meals per day, seven days per week)

Transfers Per Week: Five (Monday-Friday) at Yale Schwarzman Center (Commons and The Bow Wow) and Steep Café

Guest Swipes: Five per semester

Dietary Accommodations: View helpful information and contact us

Cost: The 2021 Full Meal Plan costs $3,850 per semester

Requirements: All students living in residential colleges and on Old Campus will be required to purchase a meal plan.

Flex (14)

Calling all upper-level students! By now, you likely have your course schedules, activities down to a science, and know locations on and off campus like the back of your hand. Just for you, this plan offers added flexibility sure to fit with your busy schedules. Choose from breakfast, brunch, lunch and dinner to enjoy on a weekly basis. What’s more – this plan gives you even more opportunities to grab a meal in dining halls with your family, friends and guests when they visit on campus. Undergrads living off-campus? No worries! This plan is available to you too.

2021 Flex Meal Plan Information

Flex Meal Plan

Eligible Students: Upper-level Undergraduate Students (On & Off Campus): Second-Years, Third-Years, and Fourth-Years

Meals Per Week: Any 14 meals throughout the week

Transfers Per Week: Any combination of five at Steep Café, and maximum of three at Yale Schwarzman Center: Commons and The Bow Wow (Monday-Friday)

Points: 300 per semester to be used in Residential Dining, Yale Schwarzman Center, Steep Café, Café Med, West Campus, and Health Center Café

Guest Swipes: 10 per semester

Dietary Accommodations: View helpful information and contact us

Cost: The 2021 Flex Meal Plan costs $3,850 per semester

Requirements: All students living in residential colleges and on Old Campus will be required to purchase a meal plan.

Connect (Off-Campus)

So you’ve chosen to live off campus? With us, you always remain part of the Yale community! This meal plan is designed to provide you with opportunities to connect with your friends and classmates during meal periods. The choice is yours with bonus meals and points, which give you plenty of variety – both in meals and location.

2021 Connect Meal Plan Information

Connect Meal Plan

Eligible Students: Undergraduate Students (Off Campus)

Meals Per Week: Any 5 meals throughout the week

Bonus Meals: 30 per semester throughout Residential Dining, Retail Cafés; Commons and The Bow Wow at Yale Schwarzman Center

Points: 100 per semester to be used in Residential Dining, Yale Schwarzman Center, Steep Café, Café Med, West Campus, and Health Center Café

Dietary Accommodations: View helpful information and contact us

Cost: The 2021 Connect meal mlan costs $1,400 per semester

Grad 30 (30 Meals)

You’ve got enough to focus on with continuing your education. Let’s check eating nutritious (and delicious) meals off your list! This plan gives graduate students a bank of 30 meals to use throughout the semester. Choose from exciting meal options at Commons and The Bow Wow, at the centrally-located Yale Schwarzman Center, to fit your unique schedule.

2021 Grad 30 Meal Plan Information

Grad 30 Meal Plan

Eligible Students: Graduate Students

Meals Per Semester: Any 30 meals at Yale Schwarzman Center (Commons and The Bow Wow)

Cost: The 2021 Grad 30 meal plan costs $330 per semester

Yale Hospitality Retail & Café Locations

Retail & Cafe Location
Commons
The Bow Wow		 Yale Schwarzman Center
Grove Street & College Street
New Haven, CT
Ground Café Becton Hall
15 Prospect Street
New Haven, CT
Steep Café Yale Science Building
260 Whitney Avenue
New Haven, CT
Café Med Yale School of Medicine
333 Cedar Street
New Haven, CT
Health Center Café Yale Health
55 Lock Street
New Haven, CT
West Campus Yale West Campus
100 W Campus Drive
Orange, CT

Service Standards

Our current service standards provide portable food options throughout residential colleges and designated dining locations. Opportunities and important information for Meal Plan holders are as follows:

  • Dine In: Choice of picking up meals from dining halls and dining-in (limited seating)
  • To Go: Choice of taking-out meals from dining halls, or alternative locations (lunch transfers only)
  • Pre-Order: Choice of pre-ordering SmartMeals for lunch and/or dinner via mobile app
  • Dietary accommodations will continue to be managed through Yale Hospitality’s registered dietician
  • Kosher meals will be available via meal transfer through the Joseph Slifka Center for Jewish Life. Please view hours of operation and service information.

The Fine Print

  • Meal Plan credits are not transferable to others — they can only be used by the meal plan holder
  • Unused swipes do not transfer to future weeks
  • Meal Plan holders are offered the flexibility of transferring a lunch swipe to: Steep Café or Yale Schwarzman Center (Commons and The Bow Wow)
  • The first swipe of the lunch meal period must be between 10:30am and 3:00pm. Double swipes are available between residential colleges only.
  • You may not swipe again at residential dining halls until the dinner period, which starts at 5:00pm
  • Refunds of meal plan payments are not permitted unless a student is leaving the University early in a semester or under other very extenuating circumstances.
  • This policy is governed by the University. View Yale College Undergraduate Regulations for more information.
  • Additional meal plan questions? Please contact us at yale.hospitality@yale.edu