Our residential meal plans were created with your campus experience in mind. TCU students enjoy flexibility and community, which is why your residential meal plan offers Meal Swipes, Exchange Swipes and Dining Dollars.

Purple Plan

Get the best with the Purple Plan. Our most popular plan lets you enter the dining halls as often as you want and never run out of swipes. This meal plan is the best cost-per-meal value, and provides flexibility to visit retail locations for a quick meal, snack or beverage.

Silver Plan

Created specifically for our residents that have a personal kitchen with their residence hall assignment. This meal plan provides once-daily Dining Hall access, and plenty of Dining Dollars for quick meals, snacks or beverages while around campus.

Meal Plan Requirements

First-year and second-year residential students are required to have a residential meal plan. Second-year, third-year, and fourth-year residential students, assigned to an apartment-style residence hall, may choose between the Purple Plan and the Silver Plan. All students assigned to a typical-style residence hall (includes a microfridge) will be enrolled in the Purple Plan. Resident Assistants (RA’s) will be enrolled in the Purple Plan.

*Residential student years are defined by the number of semesters the student has lived on-campus, regardless of academic credit hours. TCU Housing & Residence Life can confirm your residential year.

Spring Meal Plan Selection

Students with current meal plans will automatically be assigned the same meal plan for Spring 2026.

Eligible students may select/change their Spring Meal Plan from November 3rd to January 23rd. The form in the Housing Portal will close at 5:00pm.

Students living off campus have multiple options to choose from – from our Purple and Silver Plans, to our Block Plans, find the option that works best for your schedule. Commuter meal plans are voluntary. New for Fall 2025- Bottomless Cup and Bonus Dining Dollars – read more below!

Purple Plan

Get the best with the Purple Plan. Our most popular plan lets you enter the dining halls as often as you want and never run out of swipes. This meal plan is the best cost-per-meal value, and provides flexibility to visit retail locations for a quick meal, snack or beverage.

Silver Plan

Created specifically for our residents that have a personal kitchen with their residence hall assignment. This meal plan provides once-daily Dining Hall access, and plenty of Dining Dollars for quick meals, snacks or beverages while around campus.

Block Plans

Customize with a Block Plan. These options let you choose the amount of dining hall swipes you will need for the semester and comes packaged with Dining Dollars to use at retail locations across campus. Block plan swipes may only be used in Gutierrez Hall, exchange swipes are not included on block plans.  Not only will you get meal swipes and Dining Dollars, all 2025-26 Block Plans will come with Bottomless Cup. A bottomless cup means you have unlimited free drip coffee at certain campus retail locations that sell coffee, including The Press, Bistro Burnett, Kinder Cafe, and Bass A La Carte. Additionally, students with a Block Plan can choose to Add-On Additional Dining Dollars. Details below.

Commuter Meal Plans

Commuter Block Meal Plan Details

Dining Dollars Add-On Option:

For every additional $100 Dining Dollars added to your plan, you will receive a 10% Bonus of Dining Dollars. Visit the ID Center, BLUU 2nd Floor, to purchase Add-On Dining Dollars. Limited to max $500 Added-On Dining Dollars per student per semester.

Commuter Meal Plan Purchase

Beginning December 16th, students that do not live in a TCU Residence Hall, including graduate students, can purchase their meal plan at myTCU. Login to your portal, select the Meal Plan tile, and purchase the meal plan that works best for your semester. Once you purchase your meal plan, your TCU ID will be loaded with your meal plan, and your Student Account will be updated within 4 business hours. Commuter meal plans are non-refundable.

TCU employees can enjoy the delicious food in the dining halls by paying at the door or by purchasing a meal plan.  Door rates for the 2025-26 academic year: Breakfast $12, Lunch $14, Dinner $16.

For a discounted price, current employees and retirees may purchase an Employee Meal Plan. Swipe or scan your TCU ID to enter one of our Dining Halls and enjoy breakfast, lunch or dinner. The plan is purchased using payroll deduction and is non-refundable and non-transferable. Employee meal swipes currently do not expire until separation from employment with the university.

Employee Meal Plan Purchase

Login to your myTCU portal, select My Employee Center, then the Employee Meal Plan tile, and purchase your selected meal plan. Once you purchase your meal plan, your TCU ID will be loaded with your meal plan, and your paycheck will be automatically deducted the price of your plan split over the next 3 months.

Departmental Meal Cards

Departmental Meal Cards are available for TCU business purposes centered around students, such as student programming and/or events, training or a staff member treating students to a meal. Departmental Meal Cards are not to be used for personal employee meal swipes. Departments can request a block of Meal Swipes, and/or Dining Dollars to be paid by departmental transfer. Complete the request form linked below and allow 48 business hours for processing.

Managing your meal plan can feel daunting, but it doesn’t have to be! By understanding the ins and outs of your campus dining options and meal swipe policies, you can enjoy delicious meals, stay on budget, and make decisions that match your schedule and appetite.

Meal Plans are bundled options to provide students the opportunity to explore all TCU Dining has to offer. These plans are purchased each semester through the Housing Portal for residential students, through myTCU for commuter students, and are charged to your TCU Student Account. After purchase, meal plans are loaded onto the student’s TCU ID and are ready to use! Download the GET App to track your meal plan.

Here’s an easy-to-follow guide to help you break down your meal plan and maximize its value.