Student Meal Plan

Students living in traditional housing (dorm residence) are required to purchase the Dining Dollars Meal Plan. Students who commute, live in apartments or satellite housing will have the option to purchase the Dining Dollars meal plan or the ala Carte plan via The Nest on the Messiah University Portal. If they choose to not purchase a meal plan, they have the option to put Falcon Dollars on their ID card or pay with cash or credit card.

The Dining Dollars meal plan has two components associated with it: the Dining Services Operations Charge and a declining balance account named Dining Dollars. The Operations Charge covers the primary operational costs for Dining Services and the college. The Dining Dollars portion is used to make actual meal purchases each day in our restaurants. With the meal plan, you receive a 52% discount on purchases in the Lottie Nelson Dining Hall, and a 30% discount in the Union Café, The Falcon, Café Diem, Café @ Winding Hill and the Falcon Hut. (The discount does not include vending machine purchases. There is a $75 Dining Dollars spend limit per semester for use in the vending machines.)

Dining Dollars account balances of up to $100 will carry over from fall semester to the spring semester. At the end of the academic year, a maximum of $200 remaining Dining Dollars ($100 per semester) will be transferred and credited to the student's billing account. In the case where a housing adjustment is made at the end of the fall semester that would no longer require a student to have the meal plan for the spring semester, up to $100 (fall semester only) Dining Dollars will be transferred and credited to the student's billing account after the fall semester.

2026-2027 Meal Plan FAQ Sheet

Ala Carte:

No

Dining Dollars:

Yes

$1,862.50/semester
(2026-2027 operations charge rate)

Ala Carte:

$150/semester
$250/semester
$500/semester
$750/semester
$1000/semester

Dining Dollars:

$3,077.50/semester 2026-2027
(Amount includes operations charge)

Ala Carte:

$150/semester
$250/semester
$500/semester
$750/semester
$1000/semester

Dining Dollars:

$1,215 Dining Dollars/semester 2026-2027

Ala Carte:

Any Messiah University student who is living in a Campus Apartment, Satellite Housing or is a Commuter

Dining Dollars:

All students are eligible. Those in Traditional Housing are required to purchase the Dining Dollars meal plan.

Ala Carte:

Yes:

• 10% discount

Dining Dollars:

Yes:

• 52% discount in Lottie Nelson Dining Hall
• 30% discount in all other campus restaurants

NOTE: Discount not available on vending

Ala Carte:

• Lottie Nelson Dining Hall
• Union Café
• The Falcon
• Café Diem
• Falcon Hut
• Cole Concessions
• Café @ Winding Hill
• Vending - discount does not apply

Dining Dollars:

• Lottie Nelson Dining Hall
• Union Café
• The Falcon
• Café Diem
• Falcon Hut
• Cole Concessions
• Café @ Winding Hill
• Vending - discount does not apply

Ala Carte:

No; a new meal plan may be purchased. There may be a processing fee incurred if more than two meal plans are purchased per semester.

Dining Dollars:

Yes; Dining Dollars may be added at the Falcon Exchange Office or through the Transact eAccounts app.
If you desire to have every available meal (including holiday breaks that Lottie is open!), you will need approximately $370 additional DD. While, historically, 82% of our students do not require additional DD, zero have eaten every single meal that Lottie offers. Questions?? Contact dining@messiah.edu for more information.

Ala Carte:

No

Dining Dollars:

Dining Dollars account balances of up to $100 will carry over from fall semester to the spring semester for the 2026-2027 academic year. At the end of the academic year, a maximum of $200 remaining Dining Dollars ($100 per semester) will be transferred and credited to the student's billing account.

Ala Carte:

Balances can be found on receipts, the Falcon Link or at the Falcon Exchange

Dining Dollars:

Balances can be found on receipts, the Falcon Link or at the Falcon Exchange

Ala Carte:

Yes; funds are not activated for use until the student is in registered status

Dining Dollars:

Yes; funds are not activated for use until the student is in registered status

Yes; you may purchase a Dining Dollars Meal Plan or an ala Carte meal plan. With the ala Carte Meal Plan, you will receive a 10% discount on all dining purchases.
Select from various levels:

• $150 ala Carte Meal Plan
• $250 ala Carte Meal Plan
• $500 ala Carte Meal Plan
• $750 ala Carte Meal Plan
• $1000 ala Carte Meal Plan

Make your selection on The Nest prior to the semester. After the semester has started, please contact the dining office at dining@messiah.edu. Running low on your first meal plan? Contact Dining to add another one for the semester! Please note, a processing fee may be applied if more than two meal plans are purchased per semester.