About Dining Dollars
Dining Dollars come with every residential meal plan and can be used at any on-campus M Food Co. location, including Starbucks, Panda Express, Subway, Erbert & Gerbert’s, Caribou Coffee, King’s Hawaiian Grill, and more. Funds are loaded directly onto your U Card for easy use across campus.
Dining Dollars can also be purchased on their own. If you choose this option, you may request access to residential dining halls and pay per meal. To request access, visit the Residential Building Access form. (Access must be requested each semester.)
Dining Dollars work like a declining balance account. Simply present your U Card at checkout and let the cashier know you would like to use Dining Dollars. Your purchase will be deducted from your available balance. Gopher GOLD M is also accepted at M Food Co. locations.
Dining Dollars are non-transferable and must be available in your account at the time of purchase. Accounts cannot be overdrawn or carry a negative balance. Individual transactions are limited to $1,000, and account balances may not exceed $1,200.
Duluth students: Dining Dollars for Twin Cities and Duluth campuses are maintained separately and do not transfer between campuses.
Purchasing Dining Dollars
Dining Dollar plans are offered à la carte and can be added at any time through the Dine on Campus website
Expiration
Dining Dollars expire annually at the end of the spring semester. All Dining Dollars for the 2026 to 2027 academic year will expire on May 12, 2027.
Dining Dollars issued as part of a conference or campus event expire at the end of the event for which they were issued.
Check Your Balance
You can check your Dining Dollar balance at any time by visiting the U Card website.
Dining Dollar Plans
| Plan Level | You Pay | Bonus Dollars* | Total Dining Dollars | Bonus % |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Minimum Deposit | $25 | $0 | $25 | 0% |
| Basic | $50 | $0 | $50 | 0% |
| DD 160 | $150 | $10 | $160 | 5% |
| DD 320 | $300 | $20 | $320 | 7% |
| DD 650 | $600 | $50 | $650 | 8% |
| DD 1100 | $1,000 | $100 | $1,100 | 10% |
*Bonus Dining Dollars are unavailable for mobile order transactions. Deposits made in person at the U Card Office are not eligible for bonus dollars.
Questions About Charges
If you have questions about a Dining Dollars charge or need help reviewing a transaction, please contact [email protected].
Financial Details
Spending Value
One (1) Dining Dollar can be used to purchase one (1) U.S. dollar worth of food and beverage at participating M Food Co. locations. Dining Dollars have no cash value and cannot be redeemed for cash.