UMass Boston

Person using tongs to grab and serve food.
Meal Plans

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

UMass Boston Dining is about more than just great food. It is a place where students, faculty, and staff can come together to enjoy fresh meals, healthy choices, and a welcoming atmosphere. We are committed to quality food, convenience, and caring for our community and our environment.

We offer several Meal Plan options for the 2026-2027 academic year. Students who live on campus must participate in the Resident Meal Plan. Students who live off campus may choose from our Resident Meal Plans or any combination of our Commuter Meal Plans.

Explore Meal Plan Options

Resident Meal Plans

Students living on campus in a Residence Hall must enroll in a Resident Meal Plan. The cost for the 2026-2027 academic year is $6,915 ($3,457.50/semester).

Students may choose from the Resident Meal Plan 14 Swipe* or the Resident Unlimited Swipe Plans that include a combination of:

  • Meal "Swipes"
    • Used in the all-you-care-to-eat Dining Commons in the Residence Hall. Swipes reset every Saturday and do not carry over from week to week.
  • Guest Meals
    • Bring a friend or family member to eat in the Resident Dining Commons.
  • Dining Points (1 point = $1)
    • 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 Meal Swipes Dining Points Guest Meals Cost
14 Swipe* 14 700 5 $3,457.50 per semester
Unlimited Swipe Unlimited 175 5 $3,457.50 per semester

*Resident Students will automatically be signed up for Resident Meal Plan 14 Swipe. A charge of $3,457.50 will be automatically added to their student bill for each semester they remain in the Residence Halls.

There is no difference in price between the two Resident Meal Plans.

Students may switch to the Resident Unlimited Swipe Meal Plan if they prefer within the first two weeks of the semester by emailing mealplan@umb.edu. Students must include their Student ID number in any requests. Parents or guardians making requests on behalf of their students must CC their student on their official UMB.edu email address. Students must confirm all changes. 

Important Information 

  • Dining Points and Guest Meals carry over from the fall to the spring semester, as long as the student remains enrolled in a Resident Meal Plan.
  • Unused Dining Points or Meal Swipes expire at the end of the 2026-2027 academic year in May 2027.
  • Dining Points and Meal Swipes cannot be refunded or transferred to a Beacon Bucks or housing account, and cannot be converted into cash or other account credits.
  • Dining Points and Meal Swipes are not available during summer breaks.

Refund Policy

Students who withdraw from on-campus housing will receive pro-rated refunds of their meal plans based on usage.

Voluntary withdrawal from the University in accordance with the University’s policies will follow the tuition and fee cancellation policy.

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

Commuter Meal Plans

Students who live off-campus, as well as UMass Boston faculty and staff, may enroll in either Resident Meal Plan or choose from our eight available Commuter Meal Plans.

Commuter Meal Plans include combinations of:

  • Meal "Swipes" for use in the Resident Dining Commons
  • Dining Points for use in any retail dining location (Food Court, Dunkin Donuts, Beacon Cafe, ISC Cafe, and UMarket). 
Apartment Plan:

Dining Points/

Semester

Meal Swipes/

Week

 Cost
Apartment Plan A 1350 7 $355
Apartment Plan B 835 4 $675
Dining Points Plan: Dining Points Bonus Swipes Cost
Points A 400 7 $400
Points B 750 10 $750
Points C 1650 0 $1500
Combo Plan: Dining Points Meal Swipes Cost
Combo A 100 25 $455
Combo B 100 50 $785
Combo C 300 100 $1,585

Important Information 

  • Dining Points and Meal Swipes carry over from the fall to the spring semester.
  • Unused Dining Points or Meal Swipes expire at the end of the 2026-2027 academic year in May 2027.
  • Dining Points and Meal Swipes cannot be refunded, transferred to a Beacon Bucks, or be converted into cash or other account credits.
  • Dining Points and Meal Swipes are not available during summer break.
  • Students can purchase more than one Commuter Meal Plan per semester if they wish.
  • Commuter Meal Plans are non-refundable. Please choose your meal plan carefully.
  • Meal Swipes are only for use in the Resident Dining Commons.

Sign-up for Commuter Meal Plans will be available after June 8.

How to Enroll in a Commuter Meal 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 their student bill until add/drop day. After that time, meal plan purchases must be made using a debit or 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.

HelloFresh box featuring meal ingredients.

Flexibility, Freedom & Flavor

Designed for busy commuter and apartment students!

You can enjoy the flexibility, freedom and flavor living off campus with a HelloFresh meal addition. This new option will give you the perfect balance of on-campus dining options and HelloFresh meals delivered right to your door.

This new meal addition offers you:

  • 12 weeks of meal kits (4 meals per week) delivered to your door
  • $600 for a 12-week package
Order Yours Today

Upon receiving your code, the student is responsible to log into HelloFresh and activate the voucher. A credit or debit card is required at sign-up, but students will not be charged anything to utilize the service unless they choose to pay our of pocket for larger boxes or add-ons in the marketplace. HelloFresh vouchers do not expire.

Questions about HelloFresh? Contact Resident District Manager Andy Allen.

Learn More about Dining at UMass Boston

Dining Commons Definitions & Policies

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.