How our meal plans work

Dine to go meal plans

Resident students can choose from specific meal plan options based upon their year and where they live on campus. For staff and commuter students, try a Commuter Meal Plan.

Unlimited Dining Plans

Enjoy unlimited dining in Hilltop Dining and York Dining — our residential dining facilities. Stop in as often as you’d like during operating hours for a full meal, quick snack or cup of coffee. No keeping track of meals. No worrying about cash. Use your MaineCard for access to regular meals, special events and theme dinners at any of these locations!

Flex Dining Plans

Meal plans designated as Flex include Dining Funds for snacks or the occasional convenience dining in our à la carte locations, like the Bear’s Den or our convenience market on campus. Dining Funds operate as a declining balance (debit) account. Your Flex plan includes an initial amount of Dining Funds that are accessed via your MaineCard. Each time you make a purchase, you get a discount off of the regular cash price and the appropriate amount of Dining Funds are deducted from your account.

Dining Funds Specifics

  • Receive a 5 percent discount off from the cash price of meals at Hilltop Dining and York Dining. (Please note that although you can use Dining Funds, your greatest value is with meal swipes.)
  • Receive a 5 percent discount at our convenience market at Hilltop, and our retail locations such as the Bear’s Den.
  • You may load additional Dining Funds into your account in increments of $25 or more by visiting the MaineCard Service Center in Hilltop 103L. Dining Funds can be charged to your Student Account.
  • Dining Funds are non-refundable, but carry over from fall to spring semester.
  • Dining Funds expire the day after commencement.

Black Bear Bucks

This declining debit account on your MaineCard is not a part of any of our UMaine meal plans, but is still a great option to save money at on-campus eateries. Learn the differences between Dining Funds and Black Bear Bucks.

Other Plans

A few additional plans provide for a specific number of visits to resident dining facilities each semester. Learn more about these.