First-Year Dining Plans

Flexible options to make a smooth and healthy transition to campus living

Making Sure You're Well Fed At Columbia

baloons spelling the word "columbia" hang on the Columbia University gates

Required for First-Year Students

All First-Year students at Columbia College and SEAS are required to enroll in one of three First-Year Dining Plans.

Building Community

Available to First-Year CC/SEAS students only, these plans are specifically designed to encourage community building among new undergraduate students.

First-Year Plan Highlights

Each First-Year Dining Plan includes (specific number of meals, Dining Dollars, and Flex varies depending on the Dining Plan selected):

Flexible Meal Options

15 or 19 meals per week, which can be redeemed at John Jay Dining Hall, Ferris Booth Commons, or JJ's Place. These meals expire each week and reset each Sunday.
10 - 15 floating meals per term that can be used at the three main dining halls. Use floating meals when your exceed your weekly allotment, at any time within the term.
6 guest meals per term for when family and friends come to visit.

Dining Dollars

All plans include 25 - 125 Dining Dollars per term, which can be used just like cash at any of our 10 dining locations.

Flex

Plan 3 Flex is the only First-Year Dining Plan that includes Flex.
Plan 3 Flex includes the lowest number of Dining Dollars but also includes a credit of $50 per term to Flex, which will roll over year-to-year if unused.

First-Year Plan Comparison

Dining Plan: Plan 1
Designed for:: Students who will eat most meals on-campus at one of our dining halls and want the highest number of meals to meet complement their active lifestyle, eating habits, and busy schedule.
# Meals Each Week Per Term: 19 meals per week, 15 floating meals, 6 guest meals
Dining Dollars Per Term: 75
Flex Per Term: No
Cost/Term (Plan sign-up is for the entire year)*: $3,000

Dining Plan: Plan 2
Designed for:: Students who will eat primarily on-campus, but would prefer the added flexibility to eat in a dining hall or at one of our retail locations.
# Meals Each Week Per Term: 15 meals per week, 10 floating meals, 6 guest meals
Dining Dollars Per Term: 125
Flex Per Term: No
Cost/Term (Plan sign-up is for the entire year)*: $3,000

Dining Plan: Plan 3 Flex
Designed for:: Students who want to ensure they have as many meal options as possible, including flexibility to eat on-campus and off-campus.
# Meals Each Week Per Term: 19 meals per week, 15 floating meals, 6 guest meals
Dining Dollars Per Term: 25
Flex Per Term: 50
Cost/Term (Plan sign-up is for the entire year)*: $3,000

Select or Review Your First-Year Dining Plan

Sign-Up Through the Housing Portal

First-Year Dining Plans are selected within the Columbia Undergraduate Housing Portal at the same time that you sign your occupancy agreement before coming to Columbia.

Once your Occupancy Agreement has been signed and your Dining Plan selected, there are no cancellations.

Dining Plan Changes

Students are able to change their Dining Plan in the first two weeks of the semester. The Dining Plan Change period for the 2021 Fall Semester is now closed.

Keep an eye on our website for more important Dining Plan information. You can also review your plan selection on our new Dining Plan Selection site.