Meal Plans Frequently Asked Questions
Find the answers you are looking for here. With a new meal plan, you’re bound to have questions. Fortunately, we’ve made it easy to find the information you need. Here are the most frequently asked questions (and answers) related to your meal plan at the University of Arizona. If you’ve searched this page and still have questions, please contact our office.
You can use your Meal Plan at any of the Arizona Dining eateries on campus including all-you-care-to-eat restaurants, à la carte options, cafes, and markets. Check out our Dining Guide for detailed information about all 30+ locations.
First-time first-year students who will be living in the residence halls are required to purchase a Swipe Meal Plan. All residents of Honors Village, regardless of class standing are required to purchase a Swipe Meal Plan. Students living off-campus and upper-classmen may select from any of the plans we offer, many off-campus students choose one of our debit-style Meal Plans
Our Swipe Plans are designed to meet the needs of students with different eating styles and preferences. Students who lead an active lifestyle or have big appetites should choose the 16-Swipe plan to ensure they have access to 3 meals at our all you care to eat restaurants most days of the week (we know you’ll want to eat at your dorm or off campus a few times per week!) Students who eat fewer full meals or would prefer to prepare more meals in the dorm kitchen do better with the flexible 12-Swipe plan which has more Dining Dollars. Keep in mind that Swipes can be used for more than just meals. Swipes can be used to buy groceries and at our cafes for that all important coffee run!
You can check out our Meal Plan Quiz here.
Meal Plans will be billed in two installments through the student’s Bursar account. All plans are purchased for the full academic year.
2025-2026 Selection and Billing Timeline
| TIMELINE | DATES | DETAILS |
|---|---|---|
| Spring Swipes Active | January 12 | Spring allocation begins at 3 am. |
| Spring Break NO SWIPES | March 19 | Swipes are not allocated for Spring Break and do not roll over from the previous week. Dining Dollars Plus, Debit Plans, and Block 10 plans are available for use during the break. |
| Final Swipes Allocation | May 4 | Last complete week of Swipes for Spring. Swipes will not expire at the end of the week. |
| Swipes Rollover for Finals Week | May 11 | Any Swipes remaining from the previous week may be used during Finals Week. |
| Last Day for Meal Plans | May 14 | Any remaining Swipes, Dining Dollar Plus, CatCa$h and Debit Dollars expire at 11:59 pm. |
2026-2027 Selection and Billing Timeline
| TIMELINE | DATES | DETAILS |
|---|---|---|
| Meal Plan Purchases Begin | June 1 | Students living off-campus may purchase a Meal Plan. Students living on campus will be prompted to select their Meal Plan through their My UAHome housing portal. |
| Bursar Billing Begins | July 22 | Meal Plan charges will be applied to Bursar account. Further changes must be made through the Meal Plans office. |
| Swipes Active | August 17 | August monthly Swipes and Dining Dollars Plus will be available for use. No Swipes are allocated for Move In Week. Students on campus during this time can purchase a Block 10 plan to supplement their August Swipes allocation. |
| Last Day for Downgrades | September 6 | Final downgrades can be made to plan up until 11:59pm. |
| Greek Plan Changes | September 20 | Final downgrades can be made to plan up until 11:59pm. |
| Finals Week (NO SWIPES) | December 11-17 | No Swipes are allocated for Finals Week. Students on campus during this time can purchase a Block 10 plan to supplement their December Swipe allocation. Dining Dollars Plus will be available for use during this time. |
| Last Day for Meal Plans | December 17 | Any remaining Swipes expire at 11:59 pm. |
| Spring Swipes Active | January 11 | January monthly Swipes are available for use. |
| Spring Break (NO SWIPES) | March 6-14 | No Swipes are allocated for Spring Break. Students on campus during this time can purchase a Block 10 plan to supplement their March Swipe allocation. Dining Dollars Plus will be available for use during this time. |
| Finals Week (NO SWIPES) | May 7-13 | No Swipes are allocated for Finals Week. Students on campus during this time can purchase a Block 10 plan to supplement their May Swipe allocation. Dining Dollars Plus will be available for use during this time. |
| Last Day for Meal Plans | May 13 | Any remaining Swipes, Dining Dollar Plus, CatCa$h and Debit Dollars expire at 11:59 pm. |
Swipes can be used for entry into any of our all-you-care-to-eat restaurants, or for a $11.50 retail value (2026-2027 Academic Year) at any of our à la carte dining options. Pair Swipes with Dining Dollars or CatCash to get the most out of your Meal Plan. Students can use up to Five Swipes per day. Check out our How To videos for usage scenarios.
You can use your Meal Plan at any of the Arizona Dining eateries on campus including all-you-care-to-eat restaurants, à la carte options, cafes, and markets. Check out our Dining Guide for detailed information about all 30+ locations.
Arizona Dining is committed to offering healthier choices, including vegetarian and vegan options across campus. Student favorites include NRich Urban Market which offers fresh pressed juices, ready to eat options, and nutritious snacks, Radicchio – our plant forward all-you-care-to-eat kitchen, and Core+ featuring build your own bowls and salads with lean protein and veggie options. Visit our Dining Guide for information about all 30+ Arizona Dining locations and use our Nutrition App to find the healthy choices you’re looking for.
Meal Swipes do not roll over from month to month, students should plan to use all their Swipes in the month that they were issued.
You can keep track of your Meal Plan balance by logging into the Meal Plans website or by setting up a Quick Tile on your CatCloud dashboard. You can also see the balance of your Dining Dollars and CatCa$h accounts on any register or Grubhub kiosk.
Yes! Log into the Meal Plans Portal to add funds to any of your accounts. Students can grant Guest Access to parents and guardians, allowing them to add funds and see selected account details. Additionally, contributions can be made to a Meal Plan using the student’s University of Arizona ID number without the need to login. Meal Plan and CatCash funds roll over from Fall to Spring, but unused funds expire at the end of the academic year.
Meal Plans can be upgraded at any time during the school year, but can only be downgraded during the first two weeks of the fall semester. Students accepted to a fraternity/sorority on campus may submit a request to downgrade their Meal Plan within two-weeks of their bid offer. Cancellations are permitted under limited circumstances such as withdrawal from the University or change of housing status. Documentation will be required for all Cancellation Requests.
Arizona Dining offers meal options that meet the needs of most students on campus. Our Nutrition App allows students to search for meals that meet their dietary requirements by restaurant, time of day, and by top 9 allergens. Information and suggestions for specific allergen concerns can be reviewed in our Dining Guide or the Nutrition website. Students who have medical or religious concerns about their ability to eat on campus should consult with our Nutrition Coordinator about options that meet their needs. Please contact SU-Nutrition@arizona.edu for an individual consultation.
Students accepted to a fraternity/sorority on campus may submit a request to downgrade their Meal Plan within two weeks of the time they were offered their bid. Supporting documentation may be required for Downgrade Requests. More Details.
Acceptance of a Meal Plan constitutes a binding contract between the student, faculty, or staff member (Account Owner) and the University of Arizona Student Unions as stipulated in the Meal Plan Terms & Conditions here.