MEAL PLANS
Rice students may use this form to purchase meal plans, both on and off campus. Additionally, this site may be used to purchase Tetra points.
Students may also dine at all of the Community Dining options available to the campus community.
Note: Must be on the Rice Owl network to access Tetra Balance. Meal plans do not roll over and must be purchased each semester. Tetra points do rollover for all plans until you graduate from the university.
FALL 25 / SPRING 26 Semester
| Meal Plan A | Cost: $3,200 (Unlimited meals/semester) | Best for Students who visit the dining hall frequently throughout the day and value maximum flexibility and convenience($100 Tetra & 15 Guest Swipes included). | This plan is required for all undergraduate students living on campus, but both graduate and undergraduate students living off campus may purchase this plan as well. |
| Meal Plan B | Cost: $975 (85 meals/semester) | Best for Students dining once a daily ($100 Tetra included). | Off-campus plan |
| Meal Plan C | Cost: $1,775 (170 meals/semester) | Best for Students dining twice a daily ($100 Tetra included). | Off-campus plan |
| Meal Plan E | Cost: $800 (65 meals/semester) | Best for Students dining less frequently | Off-campus plan |
Meal Plan Changes FAQ – Meal Plan A (Unlimited Swipe Access)
Rice Housing, Dining & Hospitality | Fall 2025
| Q: Is Meal Plan A still an unlimited plan? | A: Yes. Meal Plan A continues to offer unlimited access to all serveries for enrolled students. There is no limit to the number of times a student can swipe in during the day. |
| Q: Can students swipe in a guest, like a parent, right after swiping for themselves? | A: Yes. There is no cooldown period between swipes. A student may swipes in a guest immediately after entering the servery themselves. |
| Q: Is there a limit to how many times a student can bring in family members as guests? | A: No. Family members are always welcome, and their access is not deducted from the student's guest swipe allocation. We want families to feel part o the Rice community and encourage students to dine with visiting loved ones. |
| Q: What about non-family guests-do those swipes come from a limited pool? | A: Yes. Students receive a separate allocation of guest swipes, coded differently in the system, specifically for non-family guests (such as friends or outside visitors). These swipes are not restricted by time and may be used at the student's discretion. |
| Q: Why is a student ID required to enter the servery? | A: To maintain safety and accountability, students must physically swipe the Rice ID at the entrance each time they enter. This ensures an accurate record of entries and supports operational planning. |
| Q: How does Rice's approach compare to other universities with unlimited plans? | A: While some peer institutions restrict back-to-back swipes or limited gues access, Rice emphasizes flexibility and trust. Our model supports student autonomy, while maintaining a secure and equitable dining experience for all. |
| Q: Can parents dine with their student during Family Weekend or casual visits? | A: ABSOLUTELY! Students may use their unlimited plan to wipe parents in at any time, including special campus events, lunches, or everyday meals. |
| Q: Why did Rice move to an unlimited meal plan? | A: Student feedback has consistently highlighted concerns with the previous plate-per-swipe model, limited dining hours and confusion around plan use. The new unlimited plan removes those barriers and ensures students have unrestricted access to meals and can dine without having to track portions or swipes. This change also enables operational shifts to expand meal periods in the serveries, supporting greater flexibility for students throughout the day and into the evening. It’s a model rooted in equity and a better overall dining experience. |
| Q: What if I can't afford the meal plan? | A: Rice is committed to meeting 100% of demonstrated financial need for eligible students. Additional financial aid options may be available to you if need-based aid is not meeting the meal plan cost. If you have questions about support options, contact the Office of Financial Aid or Student Success Initiatives for personalized assistance. |
| Q: What happened to the meal swipe donation program? | A: To continue addressing food insecurity, Housing & Dining is streamlining donations and directing support through Student Success Initiatives, ensuring students in need can access help in a more sustainable and private way. Please visit success.rice.edu The swipe donation program was discontinued with the launch of the new unlimited meal plan. While well-intentioned, the program created confusion and concerns for some students. With the new model, all students on the plan have equitable, consistent access to meals, which eliminates the need for peer-to-peer support. |
| Q: What if I have dietary restrictions or wellness concerns? | A: Rice Dining offers vegetarian, vegan, halal, kosher-style, allergen-friendly and culturally inclusive meals. Students can also meet one-on-one with a campus dietitian or request accommodations through the Disability Resource Center. |
| Q: Will dining hours or options improve with this change? | A: Yes. This transition supports expanded access and longer meal periods, particularly in the serveries. We're also working to improve menu variety, late-night options and the overall hospitality experience. |
| Q: How can I share feedback or concerns? | A: We welcome ongoing input. Students can connect with our team directly, speak with food ambassadors or contact the student government. Your voice continues to shape how we improve dining at Rice. |