UMass Boston

Meal Plans

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UMass Boston Dining is about more than great food. It is a community experience centered on culinary expertise, fresh ingredients, healthy options, and a shared sense of environmental and social responsibility. Join us for a welcoming dining experience that includes outstanding food served in an inviting atmosphere that is both comfortable and convenient.

We are pleased to offer UMass Boston students a variety of Meal Plan options for the 2025-2026 academic year. The plans include a mandatory option for all residential students in addition to commuter meal plans for those living off campus.

Residential Meal Plan

Students living on campus in a Residence Hall are required to participate in a Resident Meal Plan. The cost for the 2025-2026 academic year is $6,650 ($3,325/semester) based on 218.5 board days. This price is applicable to both the Resident Meal Plan 14 and the Resident Unlimited Meal Plan. There is no difference in price between plans. Students may choose from the Resident Meal Plan 14 Swipe* or the Resident Unlimited Swipe Plan that includes a combination of:

  • Meal "Swipes"
    • Used in the all-you-care-to-eat Dining Commons in the Residence Hall. Meal swipes do not carry over from week to week and they reset every Saturday.
  • Guest Meals
    • Each Resident Meal Plan provides for 5 Guest Meals per semester for use in the Resident Dining Commons.
  • Dining Points (one dining point = one dollar)
    • Can be used at any on-campus retail dining facility and are deducted based on the dollar amount spent. Retail dining locations include Food Court, Dunkin Donuts, Beacon Cafe, ISC Cafe, and UMarket (convenience store in the Residence Hall).

Resident Meal Plan 14 Swipe*

  • 14 Meal "swipes" per week at the all-you-care-to-eat Resident Dining Commons
  • 700 Dining Points per semester for use at any retail location on campus
  • 5 Guest Meals per semester in the Resident Dining Commons

Resident Unlimited Swipe Plan

  • Unlimited Meal "swipes" per week at the all-you-care-to-eat Resident Dining Commons
  • 175 Dining Points per semester for use at any retail location on campus
  • 5 Guest Meals per semester in the Resident Dining Commons

*Resident Students will automatically be signed up for Resident Meal Plan 14 Swipe and a charge of $6,650 will be automatically added to their student bill. This $6,650 charge applies to both the Resident Meal Plan 14 Swipe and the Resident Unlimited Swipe Meal Plan and is added to the student bill at $3,325 per semester. There is no difference in price between plans. Students will have an opportunity to switch to the Resident Unlimited Swipe Meal Plan if they prefer within the first two weeks of the semester by emailing mealplan@umb.edu, making sure to include your Student ID number. 

Commuter students who choose to sign up for the Resident Meal Plans are signing up for both fall and spring semesters and the charges will appear on their student bills automatically.

Please Note: Dining Points and Guest Meals carry over from the fall to spring semester provided that you continue on the Resident Meal Plan for the spring semester. Any unused dining points or meal swipes expire at the end of the 2025-2026 academic year in May 2026. Unused dining points and meal swipes cannot be refunded or transferred to a Beacon Bucks account. Dining points and meal swipes are not available during winter and summer breaks. 

Refund Policy: Voluntary withdrawal from the University in accordance with the University’s policies, prior to checking into the residence halls, will result in a full refund of the meal plan. Complete withdrawal from the University in accordance with the University's policies will follow the tuition and fee cancellation policy.

Commuter Meal Plan Options

Students who live off-campus and UMass Boston faculty and staff are welcome to participate in either of the two resident dining meal plans or choose from nine commuter meal plans with various combinations of Meal "swipes" which may be used in the Resident Dining Commons and Dining Points for use across campus in any retail dining location (Food Court, Dunkin Donuts, Beacon Cafe, ISC Cafe, and UMarket). 

Block Plan:

  • Neighborhood A ($355) | 25 Meal "swipes" in the Resident Dining Commons only
  • Neighborhood B ($675) | 50 Meal "swipes" in the Resident Dining Commons only
  • Neighborhood C ($1,250) | 100 Meal "swipes" in the Resident Dining Commons only

Dining Points Plan:

  • Points Plan A "Harbor Plan" ($200) | 200 Dining Points and (3) Bonus "swipes" in the Resident Dining Commons
  • Points Plan B " Beacons Plan" ($400) | 400 Dining Points and (7) Bonus "swipes" in the Resident Dining Commons
  • Points Plan C "Commonwealth Plan" ($750) | 750 Dining Points and (10) Bonus "swipes" in the Resident Dining Commons

Combo Plan:

  • Combo A ($435) | 25 Meal "swipes" per year at the Resident Dining Commons and 100 Dining Points for use at any retail dining location on campus
  • Combo B ($755) | 50 Meal "swipes" per year at the Resident Dining Commons and 100 Dining Points for use at any retail dining location on campus
  • Combo C ($1,525) | 100 Meal "swipes" per year at the Resident Dining Commons and 300 Dining Points for use at any retail dining location on campus

Please Note: Unused Dining Points or meal "swipes" purchased as part of a Commuter Meal Plan will roll over from the fall to spring semester and expire in May 2026 at the end of the 2025-2026 academic year. You can purchase multiple plans in an academic year; mix and match to meet your needs. All commuter meal plans are non-refundable.

Meal swipes cannot be converted to dining points. Please choose your meal plan carefully. Meal swipes are only for use in the Resident Dining Commons

Dining points cannot be transferred to a Beacon Bucks account. Dining points are not available during summer and winter breaks.

Sign-up for commuter meal plans will be available in early July. Please check back for updates!

How to Enroll in a Commuter Plan:

  1. Go to https://beaconcard.umb.edu/ and log in using your UMass Boston login information;
  2. Choose your Meal Plan option and carefully review the applicable contract;
  3. Choose your payment option. Students have the option of adding a meal plan to the student bill until add/drop day. After this time, meal plan purchases can be made using a credit card. 
  4. Click the CONFIRM button at the bottom to agree to the terms and conditions of the contract;

You are done! Your meal plan will be added to your BeaconCard for use beginning the first day of the semester.

See Also

Meal plan sign-up and administrative questions can be directed to: mealplan@umb.edu. Please be sure to include your Student ID number in your message.

General dining questions can be directed to:
UMass Boston Dining Services
Campus Center, Lower Level617.287.5217Andy.Allen@sodexo.com

One Swipe, One Meal: All You Care to Eat!

Definition of "All you care to eat”

"All you care to eat" means you can return for more food during your visit, but you must use a clean plate each time you go to the serving area.

  • If you choose to take a meal to go using a green container, that is your meal—you may not dine in and then take food with you. You may only fill one green container per swipe.
  • Sitting in the Dining Commons and eating from a green container is prohibited. To-go meals are intended to be eaten outside the Dining Commons.
  • Wasting food is strongly discouraged—please take only what you intend to eat.

 

 Definition of a Swipe:

A swipe is a single use of your meal plan that grants entry to the Dining Commons. Each swipe provides access to one “all-you-care-to-eat” meal, either by dining inside or by taking a meal to go using a green container.

  • A swipe cannot be used for multiple entries within the same meal period.
  • A swipe does not allow for taking extra food to go after dining in. You must choose between eating in the Dining Commons or taking your meal to go.
  • A swipe is non-transferable—you cannot use your swipe for someone else or allow someone to use your ID for entry.

 

Definition of Unlimited:

"Unlimited" refers to the ability to swipe into the Dining Commons as many times as you want throughout the day, with the following conditions:

  • There must be at least a 20-minute gap between each swipe.
  • Unlimited swipes do not mean unlimited takeout—each swipe provides one meal, which can be eaten inside the Dining Commons or taken to-go in a green container, but not both.
  • Unlimited swipes do not allow for taking unlimited dishware, food, or beverages out of the Dining Commons.
  • Each swipe is for the meal plan holder only—sharing or transferring swipes is not allowed.

 

Bathroom Policy:

If you need to use the restroom while dining, you may leave your ID with the cashier for a reasonable amount of time and retrieve it upon your return. This policy ensures that guests stepping out briefly can re-enter without using an additional swipe.

Leaving your ID at the register does not reserve your spot indefinitely—IDs left for an extended period may be removed, and re-entry may be denied.

 

Sick Policy:

If you are sick and unable to visit the Dining Commons, you may assign a designee to pick up a green to-go meal on your behalf.

  • Your designee must use your ID to swipe for the meal.
  • They must follow all dining policies, including the one swipe, one meal rule.
  • To authorize a designee, email mealplan@umb.edu with your name, student ID, and the name of the person picking up your meal.

 

Behavior & Conduct Policy:

All students and guests are expected to conduct themselves respectfully while in the Dining Commons. Disruptive behavior, failure to follow dining policies, or inappropriate treatment of staff or other guests may result in removal from the Dining Commons and potential further action under the Student Code of Conduct.

Management reserves the right to deny entry or revoke dining privileges for violations of meal plan policies, including but not limited to:

  • Taking dishware, utensils, or food beyond allowed limits.
  • Allowing another person to use your ID.
  • Disruptive, disrespectful, or inappropriate behavior.
  • Repeated failure to follow posted dining policies.

Students are responsible for knowing and adhering to all meal plan rules and university policies while dining.

 

Removal & Outside Container Policy:

Outside to-go containers are strictly prohibited in the Dining Commons. Guests may take one piece of hand fruit, a small dessert, or an ice cream item with them upon leaving.

Dishware, utensils, and any other items not designated for the Green To-Go program may not be removed from the Dining Commons. Any excessive amounts of food found in personal containers, as well as unauthorized items such as bananas hidden in backpacks, may be confiscated.

Violations of this policy may result in disciplinary action, up to and including the forfeiture of your meal plan.