Campus Dining
Residential Meal Plans
Students living on campus are required to have a residential meal plan, per their Room and Board Contract. On-campus residential meal plans are only available to students living in residence halls and in on-campus apartments. Dining Dollars can be used at all dining locations on campus. (Dining Dollars can only be used at dining locations and cannot be used at the Wildcat Shop.) Meal Plans are billed to your student account, just like tuition - and just like tuition, they can be paid for with scholarships or financial aid.
Meal Plan Options 2025-2026
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Meal Plan A
Fall
- Dining Dollars: $1024
- Overhead Cost: $1903
- Quarterly: $2927
Winter
- Dining Dollars: $1024
- Overhead Cost: $1903
- Quarterly: $2927
Spring
- Dining Dollars: $1024
- Overhead Cost: $1903
- Quarterly: $2927
Annual Total - $8,780
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Meal Plan B
Fall
- Dining Dollars: $881
- Overhead Cost: $1,636
- Quarterly: $2,517
Winter
- Dining Dollars: $881
- Overhead Cost: $1,636
- Quarterly: $2,517
Spring
- Dining Dollars: $881
- Overhead Cost: $1,636
- Quarterly: $2,517
Annual Total - $7,550
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Meal Plan C
Fall
- Dining Dollars: $751
- Overhead Cost: $1,393
- Quarterly: $2,144
Winter
- Dining Dollars: $751
- Overhead Cost: $1,393
- Quarterly: $2,144
Spring
- Dining Dollars: $751
- Overhead Cost: $1,393
- Quarterly: $2,144
Annual Total - $6,433
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Meal Plan D
Fall
- Dining Dollars: $647
- Overhead Cost: $1,203
- Quarterly: $1,850
Winter
- Dining Dollars: $647
- Overhead Cost: $1,203
- Quarterly: $1,850
Spring
- Dining Dollars: $647
- Overhead Cost: $1,203
- Quarterly: $1,850
Annual Total - $5,549
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Returning Resident Meal Plan (Meal Plan E)
New for Fall Quarter 2025, we’re introducing the Returning Resident Meal Plan designed exclusively for returning resident hall students. This plan is only available for students who lived in the residence halls and held a meal plan for the prior academic year.
Tailored for those who are familiar with Ellensburg’s local dining scene and eager to explore more, this lighter plan offers the perfect balance of campus dining convenience and the freedom to prepare your own meals or enjoy local favorites. Stay connected to campus while savoring more of what our community has to offer!
Fall
- Dining Dollars: $554
- Overhead Cost: $1,029
- Quarterly: $1,583
Winter
- Dining Dollars: $554
- Overhead Cost: $1,029
- Quarterly: $1,583
Spring
- Dining Dollars: $554
- Overhead Cost: $1,029
- Quarterly: $1,583
Annual Total - $4,750
How do Meal Plans Work?
CWU's Residential Meal Plans are a high value, highly flexible option for students to self-manage their diet and nutrition on campus. Dining Services provides a huge variety of fresh, delicious options available year round. On a meal plan, students are empowered to take care of themselves, to design the university experience most suited to them.
The meal plans operate in two phases. First, at the start of every quarter, Dining Services collects the Overhead Costs portion of your Meal Plan. Think of this money as an investment - by collecting it upfront Dining Services is able to ensure that all students are supported and provided with everything they need to succeed for the duration of the quarter. This investment opens access to economies of scale, allowing Dining Services to provide:
- Extended hours at dining locations
- Higher quality ingredients
- Lower food costs to students
Second, the remaining balance of your meal plan is added to your Connection Card account as Dining Dollars. Dining Dollars are spent at dining locations, and as the Overhead Costs have already been accounted for, students on a meal plan paying with Dining Dollars only pay for the cost of the ingredients. This means a 65% reduction in the list price at dining locations, and a 25% reduction at the campus café and market locations.
Important Meal Plan Information
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Meal Plan Changes
Meal plans can only be changed at the beginning of each quarter during the add/drop period. Modifications to meal plans can be made online through myCWU or in person at the Connection Card Office. (Changes cannot be made over the phone.)
- Visit the Connection Card Office website
- Complete and submit the webform with required information and meal plan selection
- After your submission has been processed, the meal plan will be added to your account and ready for use
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Apartment Meal Plans
Students living in a CWU-owned apartment may also elect to participate in a meal plan. You can elect to use Meal Plans A, B, C, D, or explore our Apartment Flex Plans.
Apartment Flex Plans -
Running Out of Dining Dollars
Students on plans C or D who run out of Dining Dollars before the end of a quarter can add Wildcat Bucks to their Connection Card. Use Wildcat Bucks at any Dining Services location on campus by swiping your Connection Card, and receive 10% off of your purchase. Download the GET Mobile app to add Wildcat Bucks directly to your card. Simply log in with your CWU credentials, and add a credit card to your account.
If meal plan funds run out before the end of a quarter, only students on plans A or B may add Dining Dollars to their account without incurring additional overhead costs. Students on plans C or D cannot add additional Dining Dollars to their plan, but can add Wildcat Bucks.
Dining Dollars will be used before Wildcat Bucks wherever applicable.
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