Explore Meal Plans

Here for You!

On behalf of a very enthusiastic Yale Hospitality team, welcome to Yale! Our entire team is here to ensure your experiences at Yale are memorable – in more ways than one.

You will have opportunities to tap into various nutritious, delicious, and crave-able food. We believe in food that is good for people and the planet. For those with unique dietary needs, we have resources to help you eat safely, and 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.

To help guide you, please find the latest meal plan information below!

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. 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.

2023 Full Meal Plan Information

Full Meal Plan

Eligible Students: Required for First Years | Undergraduate Students (On & Off Campus)

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

Lunch Transfers Per Week: Five (5) transfers Monday-Friday at Yale Schwarzman Center (Commons and The Bow Wow) and Steep Café

Guest Swipes: Five (5) per semester (Residential dining halls only)

Cost: The 2023-24 Full Meal Plan costs $4,140 per semester

Dietary Accommodations: View helpful information and contact us

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.

2023 Flex Meal Plan Information

Flex Meal Plan

Eligible Students: Upper-level Undergraduate Students (On & Off Campus)

Meals Per Week: Any 14 dining hall meals throughout the week

Lunch Transfers Per Week: Three (3) at Yale Schwarzman Center (Commons and The Bow Wow) and Steep Café

Points: 300 per semester to be used in Residential Dining Halls, The Bow Wow, Commons, Café 25, Café Med, Elm, Health Center Café, Ivy, Ramen at Becton, Slifka Center Dining, Steep Café, and West Campus

Guest Swipes: Ten per semester (Residential dining halls only)

Cost: The 2023-24 Flex Meal Plan costs $4,140 per semester

Dietary Accommodations: View helpful information and contact us

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

Connect (Off-Campus)

If you’ve chosen to live off-campus, you remain part of the Yale community! You will be automatically enrolled in this flexible plan, designed to provide you with opportunities to connect on-campus with your friends and classmates. While not a full meal plan, Bonus Meals and Points provide you with plenty of meal and location options to stay connected (and bring guests too)!

2023 Connect Meal Plan Information

Connect Meal Plan

Eligible Students: Yale College Students (Off Campus Only)

Meals Per Week: Any 5 meals in residential dining halls

Bonus Meals: 30 per semester throughout Residential Dining Halls, Commons, The Bow Wow, Slifka Center Dining, Steep Café

Points: 100 per semester to be used in Residential Dining Halls, The Bow Wow, Commons, Café 25, Café Med, Elm, Health Center Café, Ivy, Ramen at Becton, Slifka Center Dining, Steep Café, and West Campus

Cost: The 2023-24 Connect Meal Plan costs $1,575 per semester

Dietary Accommodations: View helpful information and contact us

Important Information

Enrollment: To make it more convenient to participate, you will be automatically enrolled in this 2023 Connect Meal Plan with the charge appearing on your term bill.

Adjustments

You may easily make any changes by contacting us at yale.hospitality@yale.edu. Please do so by July 30, 2023 to make sure your adjustments are reflected on your term bill before it’s due.

If you wish to upgrade to a Full meal plan, please include ‘Off-Campus Upgrade’ in the subject line and include your SID in the body of your email. Should you wish to opt out, simply put ‘Off-Campus Opt Out’ as the subject.

If you plan to participate in the Connect Meal Plan, you don’t need to do anything.

Grad 30 (Graduate & Professional Students)

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 and professional 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.

2023 Grad 30 Meal Plan Information

Grad 30 Meal Plan

Eligible Students: Graduate & Professional Students

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

Cost: The 2023-24 Grad 30 Meal Plan costs $330 per semester

Not the best fit? Explore Eli Bucks, convenient and cashless access to dining all over campus

Yale Hospitality Retail & Café Locations

Retail & Cafe Location

Commons*
Elm
Ivy
The Bow Wow*

 Yale Schwarzman Center
Grove Street & College Street
New Haven, CT
Ramen at Becton 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
Slifka Center Dining
Yale Science Park

*Lunch meal swipes/transfers accepted

Service Standards

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

  • Dine In at your choice of residential college dining hall and enjoy your meal on china with flatware
  • To Go Containers are available upon request, however, we highly encourage you to support our sustainability initiatives plus enjoy your college community by dining in
  • Pre-Order your choice of SmartMeals for lunch and/or dinner via mobile app
  • Dietary accommodations continue to be managed through Yale Hospitality’s registered dietician
  • Kosher meals will be available via lunch transfer through the Joseph Slifka Center for Jewish Life

The Fine Print

  • Meal Plan credits are not transferable to others — they can only be used by the meal plan holder
  • All Meal Plan swipes indicate one (1) swipe per meal period (Full, Flex, Connect Meal Plans)
  • Unused swipes do not transfer to future weeks
  • Unused bonus meals and dining points will carry over from the Fall to Spring semester
  • All points expire at the end of the academic year
  • Lunch meal period swipes/transfers must be between 11:00am and 3:00pm (until 4:00pm at The Bow Wow)
  • You may not swipe again at residential dining halls until the dinner period, which starts at 5:00pm
  • Meal plans are only valid during the specified academic year term and cannot be redeemed
  • Meal transfer swipes are not available on weekends (Saturday and Sunday)
  • Guest swipes are complimentary meals provided to students by Yale Hospitality
  • 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