What Is a Prepaid College Meal Plan? Everything You Need to Know

With a prepaid college meal plan, students pay in advance for the meals they’ll eat on campus during the semester. There are usually different types of meal plans to choose from that offer a specific number of meals per day or week.

Prepaid meal plans are convenient, but they can also be costly. Here’s what college students need to know about prepaid college meal plans, including the different types, the costs, and how to choose the best plan.

How Do College Meal Plans Work?

A college meal plan is a prepaid account students use to get meals. There are different plans to choose from, and each plan provides a certain number of meals daily or weekly. Meal plans may cover one to three meals per day, for example.

Besides traditional dining halls, a meal plan might allow students to eat at on-campus cafes and restaurants or to purchase to-go foods. Every time a student eats at one of these establishments, they swipe their college ID card and the meal is deducted from their meal plan account.

Before the academic year begins, students receive information about the types of meal plans available at their college and choose the plan they prefer. At some schools, first-year students may be required to sign up for the standard or default meal plan, which is typically the most comprehensive option.

How Much Is a Meal Plan in College?

According to the Education Data Initiative, the average college meal plan costs $570 a month. The specific cost of meal plans depends on the college or university, and prices can vary widely.

For instance, at Pennsylvania State University, the standard or default meal plan, which is called a level 2, costs $2,803 for the 2024-2025 academic year.

At the University of Chicago, the default meal plan every first year student is required to sign up for is $2,660 per quarter for 2024-2025, adding up to almost $8,000 for the fall, winter, and spring quarters.

These expenses are typically included in a school’s cost of attendance (COA), which is what the amount of financial aid a student receives is based on after they submit their Free Application for Federal Student Aid (FAFSA).

If your financial aid doesn’t cover all the costs of college, you may decide to take out private student loans to cover the gap.

A student loan payment calculator can help you determine what your payments may be for these and other types of student loans.

Types of College Meal Plans

Colleges and universities offer a variety of meal plan options. These are two of the common meal plan types.

Bulk Meal Plan Options

A bulk meal plan allows students to get a large quantity of meals from campus dining halls, restaurants, and cafes. You might be allotted 170 meals or more for the semester, and you can use them whenever you wish. This can be advantageous if you don’t plan to eat on campus for every meal. You might not need traditional breakfasts, for example, if you typically eat an energy bar on your way to class in the morning. Or perhaps you tend to eat off campus on the weekends.

Flexible Meal Plan Options

Some colleges and universities offer flexible meal plans that lets students buy hundreds of dollars of meals that can be redeemed at various places on campus. Other flexible plans may charge less for fewer meals. A flexible plan might also give students the option to make changes to the plan by adding more money for additional meals.

What Is a Block Meal Plan in College?

Block meal plans allow you to choose a set number of meals for a semester, rather than a certain number of meals per week. You can eat your meals whenever you choose, though these plans may limit you to certain dining halls. Meals on block plans may not carry over to the next semester, so if you don’t use them during the current semester, you lose them. Check with your school for the specifics of their block plan.

Some colleges and universities also offer “dining dollars” as part of a block plan that you can use to purchase meals or snacks. These dollars may or may not carry over to the next semester, so again, check with your school about the details.

Recommended: How to Get Out of Student Loan Debt

Are College Meal Plans Tax Deductible?

As of 2020, certain college expenses, including meal plans, are no longer tax deductible. But there are other tax breaks you may be able to take advantage of, such as the American Opportunity Credit or the Lifetime Learning Credit.

•   American Opportunity Tax Credit: This credit is for qualified expenses for dependent students, such as tuition and required fees, books, supplies, and equipment. The amount you may qualify for is 100% of the first $2,000 of qualified expenses plus 25% of the expenses in excess of $2,000, up to a maximum annual credit of $2,500.

However, the credit isn’t available to everyone. If your parents’ adjusted gross income exceeds the threshold of $80,000 for single tax filers, or $160,000 for married joint tax filers, you cannot take advantage of the credit.

•   Lifetime Learning Credit: To qualify for this, you must pay qualifying tuition and fee payments to a postsecondary institution; this includes course-related books, supplies, and required equipment. You can claim a maximum credit of 20% of up to $10,000 in eligible costs for a maximum $2,000 credit. The income limits for this credit are $90,000 for single filers and $180,000 for married joint filers

Check with a tax professional for more information about your eligibility for the American Opportunity Tax Credit and the Lifetime Learning Credit.

Another tax credit you may be eligible for once you start repaying your student loans is the student loan interest deduction. This deduction allows you to reduce your taxable income by up to $2,500. There are income phaseouts, however, based on your modified adjusted gross income (MAGI).

And know this: When the time comes to repay your student loans, it’s possible to refinance student loans for lower interest rates and different terms, if you qualify. When you refinance, you replace your old loans with a new loan with a private lender. The new loan will have new terms.

If you have federal loans, refinancing them means you will lose access to federal programs, such as income-driven repayment plans and federal student loan forgiveness, so consider that carefully if you think you might need these programs.

You can also look at your federal student loan interest rates to see if replacing those loans with a new loan makes sense financially.

If you believe you might be eligible for student loan forgiveness and you’d like to learn more, check out our student loan forgiveness guide.

Are College Meal Plans Worth It?

Whether college meal plans are worth it depends on how you use them. They are convenient and can save you time and effort. You don’t have to worry about shopping and cooking every day. Also, you may not have a choice about using a meal plan — some colleges require students to be on a meal plan, particularly if they live on campus.

However, meal plans are expensive. Be sure to weigh the cost when choosing a plan, and select one that makes sense for you so that you don’t have meals that you’ve prepaid for left over at the semester’s end.

Recommended: Student Debt by Major

What Happens if You Don’t Use All Your Meals?

If you don’t use all your meals, you may or may not be able to roll them over to the next semester. The rules vary from school to school. Some institutions have a use-it-or-lose policy for meal plans, meaning you can lose money if you have unused meals at the end of the semester. Other schools may allow you to roll over your extra meals to the next semester.

Check with your school to find out their policy.

Can You Get a Bigger Meal Plan?

Typically, you can upgrade to a bigger meal plan if you decide the plan you chose is not substantial enough for you. Some colleges may even allow you to start with a larger meal plan and then switch to a lower-cost one later, if you find you aren’t eating as many meals on campus as you thought you would. But again, the policies vary by school.

College Meal Plans Pros and Cons

Meal plans have benefits, including convenience, but they have disadvantages as well. Here are some of the perks and drawbacks to consider about college meal plans.

Alternative Options for a College Meal Plan

At some colleges you may be required to select a meal plan if you live on campus. However, if a meal plan is not mandatory at your school, you could choose one of the following options instead.

•   Make your own meals. If you have a microwave and small refrigerator in your dorm room, you may be able to prepare many of your own meals. Just remember that you’ll need to grocery shop, cook, and then wash all the dishes afterward.

•   Live off campus: If your college or university allows, you might choose to live in an apartment off campus. In that case, you’ll likely have a full kitchen, which will make it much easier to prepare your own meals. And if you have a roommate, you can split the cost of food and the prep work and cleanup, too.

The Takeaway

Prepaid college meal plans are convenient and schools may offer flexible options that let you tailor a meal plan to your eating habits. However, these plans can be expensive. And if you have meals left over at the end of the semester, you may not be able to roll them over, which means you’d be losing money.

The cost of meal plans is something to keep in mind as you’re figuring out your college financing options. And if you’re taking out student loans to help pay for college, remember that you have the option to refinance them later, potentially for better rates and terms if you qualify.

Looking to lower your monthly student loan payment? Refinancing may be one way to do it — by extending your loan term, getting a lower interest rate than what you currently have, or both. (Please note that refinancing federal loans makes them ineligible for federal forgiveness and protections. Also, lengthening your loan term may mean paying more in interest over the life of the loan.) SoFi student loan refinancing offers flexible terms that fit your budget.

SoFi Student Loan Refinance
SoFi Student Loans are originated by SoFi Bank, N.A. Member FDIC. NMLS #696891. (www.nmlsconsumeraccess.org). SoFi Student Loan Refinance Loans are private loans and do not have the same repayment options that the federal loan program offers, or may become available, such as Public Service Loan Forgiveness, Income-Based Repayment, Income-Contingent Repayment, PAYE or SAVE. Additional terms and conditions apply. Lowest rates reserved for the most creditworthy borrowers. For additional product-specific legal and licensing information, see SoFi.com/legal.

photocredit: iStock/RossHelen
SOSLR-Q324-036

Editor's Note: For the latest developments regarding federal student loan debt repayment, check out our student debt guide.

When Jennifer S. clocked in on her first day of work as a nurse at a major hospital, she remembers thinking, “I’ve got this.” And she did. Nursing school had prepared her well for working in the emergency room.

She felt less confident about navigating her finances, however. Jennifer had to balance her living expenses and long-term goals with $40,000 in student loans while earning $25 an hour.

She cooked meals at home and kept her expenses low. Jennifer also created a monthly nursing budget to help organize her finances. “I saw that I should start saving a little more during the second half of the month, when I usually had leftover money, in case I needed it for the next month’s bills,” she says.

In addition, Jennifer discovered ways she could make extra money. Consider this nursing budget example: She switched to overnight shifts making an additional $7,000 a year. When a hurricane hit her state, she worked around the clock at the hospital for a week — and earned roughly $6,000, which she put toward a down payment on a home. And she routinely picked up per diem and travel assignments.

Why You Need a Nursing Budget

It’s an interesting time to be a nurse. On one hand, staffing shortages and burnout worsened during the pandemic, and the nursing shortage is expected to continue to grow until 2035. The rising cost of higher education, including how to pay for nursing school, has resulted in a growing number of students graduating with debt.

According to the latest figures from the American Association of Colleges of Nursing (AACN), roughly 70% of nurses take out nursing student loans to pay for school, and the median student loan debt is between $40,000 and $55,000.

On the plus side, nurses have some leverage. The profession is in such high demand right now that some hospitals are offering incentives like sign-on bonuses, shorter hours, and student loan repayment help.

And in general, nurses can earn a good salary. According to the latest data from the U.S. Bureau of Labor Statistics, the median income for a registered nurse in 2023 was $86,070. The median income for a licensed practical nurse or licensed vocational nurse was $59,730. The median income for a nurse anesthetist, nurse midwife, or nurse practitioner — fields that typically require a master’s degree — was $129,480 per year. Nurses who are willing and able to take on additional shifts, work overnight, or accept lucrative travel assignments stand to make even more.

If you’re a new nurse who is figuring out your finances, a nursing budget is a good place to start.

How to Budget as a Nurse

With tens of thousands of dollars’ worth of student loans to repay, it’s helpful for nurses to create a budget to manage their money, cover their living expenses, pay down the debt they owe, and plan for their financial future. Here’s how to do it.

•   Set financial goals. Think about your short-term and long-term aspirations. These might be things like saving $2,000 in your bank account, paying off your student loans, or investing for retirement. Knowing what you’re working toward will help give you the motivation to get there.

•   Calculate your income. Look at your pay stubs to see how much you’re bringing home each month. That’s the amount you have to work with.

•   Determine your expenses. Pull out all your bills and add up how much you’re spending each month for rent, food, utilities, loan and credit card payments, and so on. Be sure to include “fun” expenses such as dining out, entertainment, and self-care costs.

•   Find a budgeting method that works for you. There are different types of techniques, such as the 50/30/20 rule that divides your budget into different categories: 50% for essential expenses like rent, utilities, food, car payments, and debt payments; 30% for discretionary expenditures such as eating out, travel, and shopping; and 20% for goals like saving for a home, your child’s education, and retirement. There’s also the envelope budgeting system, which has you put cash monthly into envelopes for each spending category like housing and food. Once the money in an envelope is gone, you’ll need to wait until the next month to spend in that category again or take money from another envelope. Explore the different methods and choose the one that works best for your lifestyle.

•   Review your nurse budget regularly and update it as needed. Make adjustments as your situation changes. For instance, maybe your car breaks down and you need extra money for emergency repairs. Or perhaps you get a raise that increases your income. Tweak your budget accordingly.

Common Financial Challenges for Nurses

As a nurse, you’ll face some unique money-related challenges. For example, you may have work expenses, such as purchasing a uniform, comfortable shoes, and certain tools to do your job. Many hospitals and clinics require you to buy your own stethoscope, for instance. And working long shifts or irregular hours may leave you with less time for cooking so that you end up spending more money on takeout.

In addition, as a nurse, you may decide to pursue an advanced degree like a master’s to move up the ladder and earn more money. That could mean taking out new student loans to cover the cost of your continuing education, in addition to the loans you already have.

These financial challenges are all things to factor into your nurse budget so that you have a plan for paying them off.

Watch Your Spending

Even when you’re on a budget, it can be easy to fall into the habit of overspending because there are different ways to supplement your income as a nurse. “When I was doing travel assignments, I just kept working,” Jennifer says. “At the time, I didn’t realize it would stop, so I didn’t think to save as much as I could have.”

In fact, lifestyle creep can be a common pitfall, especially when you start earning more money, says Brian Walsh, CFP, senior manager, financial planning for SoFi. Spending more on nonessentials as your income rises can potentially wreak havoc on your savings goals and financial health. That’s why budgeting for nurses is so important.

While you’re starting to establish your spending habits, Walsh recommends using cash or a debit card for purchases. Automate your finances whenever possible by doing things like pre-scheduling bill payments.

Develop Your Savings Strategy

A sound savings plan can help you make progress toward your short- and long-term goals and provide a sense of security. Walsh suggests nurses set aside 20% of their income for retirement and other savings, like building an emergency fund that can cover three to six months’ worth of your total living expenses. He recommends placing it in an easy-to-access vehicle, like money market funds, short-term bonds, CDs, or a high-yield savings account.

The remaining 80% of your income can go toward current living expenses, including monthly student loan payments.

Jennifer found success by adopting a set-it-and-forget-it approach to saving. “Whenever I worked a per diem shift, I got in the habit of putting $100 or $200 of every check into a savings account,” she says. Before long, she had a decent-sized nest egg and peace of mind.

Explore Different Investments

One simple way to build up savings is to contribute to your 401(k) or 403(b) retirement plan, if one is available to you, and tap into a matching funds program. There’s a limit to how much you can contribute annually to one of these plans. In 2024, the amount is $23,000; if you’re 50 or older, you can contribute up to an additional $7,500, for a total of $30,500. In 2025, you can contribute up to $23,500 to a 401(k), and if you’re 50 or older, you can contribute an extra $7,500, for a total contribution of $31,000.

If you don’t have access to an employer-sponsored retirement plan, there are other ways to save for the future. “Start by figuring out what your targeted savings goal is,” Walsh says. If you’re going to save a few thousand dollars, you can consider a traditional IRA or Roth IRA. Both can offer tax advantages.

Contributions made to a traditional IRA are tax-deductible, and no taxes are due until you withdraw the money. Contributions to a Roth IRA are made with after-tax dollars; your money grows tax-free and you don’t pay taxes when you withdraw the funds in retirement. However, there are limits on how much you can contribute each year and on your income. In 2024 and 2025, you can contribute up to $7,000 to an IRA annually with an additional $1,000 for individuals 50 and up.

Ideally, Walsh says, you’re saving more than a few thousand dollars for retirement. If that’s the case, then a Simplified Employee Pension IRA (SEP IRA) may be worth considering. “Depending on how your employment status is set up, a SEP IRA could be a very good vehicle because the total contributions can be just like they are with an employer-sponsored plan, but you control how much to contribute, up to a limit,” he says. What’s more, contributions are tax-deductible, and you won’t pay taxes on growth until you withdraw the money when you retire.

Another option is a health savings account (HSA), which may be available if you have a high deductible health plan. HSAs provide a triple tax benefit: Contributions reduce taxable income, earnings are tax-free, and money used for qualified medical expenses is also tax-free.

Depending on your financial goals, you may also want to consider after-tax brokerage accounts. They offer no tax benefits but give you the flexibility to withdraw money at any time without being taxed or penalized.

Take Control of Your Student Loans

You have different priorities competing for a piece of your paycheck, and nursing school loans are one of them. You may need to start repaying loans six months after graduation, and options vary based on the type of loan you have.

If you have federal loans and need extra help making payments, for example, you can look into a loan forgiveness program or an income-driven repayment (IDR) plan, which can lower monthly payments for eligible borrowers based on their income and household size.

If you’re struggling to make payments, you may qualify for a student loan deferment or forbearance. Both options temporarily suspend your payments, but interest will continue to accrue and add to your total balance.

You can also explore the option of student loan forgiveness. There are a number of student loan forgiveness programs for nurses, such as the NURSE Corps Loan Repayment Program. If you work for a government or nonprofit organization, you can look into the Public Service Loan Forgiveness Program to see if you qualify.

Chipping away at a student loan debt can feel overwhelming. And while there’s no one-size-fits-all solution, there are a couple of different debt pay-off approaches you may want to consider. With the avalanche approach, you prioritize debt repayment based on interest rate, from highest to lowest. With the snowball approach, you pay off the smallest balance first and then work your way up to the highest balance.

While both have their benefits, Walsh says he often sees greater success with the snowball approach. “Most people should start with paying off the smallest balance first because then they’ll see progress, and progress leads to persistence,” he explains. But, he adds, the right approach is the one you can stick with.

Consider Whether Student Loan Refinancing Is Right For You

When you choose refinancing, including medical professional refinancing, a private lender pays off your existing loans and issues you a new loan. This combines all of your loans into a single monthly bill, potentially reduces your monthly payments, and may give you a chance to lock in a lower interest rate than you’re currently paying. A quarter of a percentage point difference in an interest rate could translate into meaningful savings if you have a big loan balance, Walsh points out.

A student loan refinancing calculator can help you determine how much refinancing might save you.

Still, refinancing your student loans may not be right for everyone. By choosing to refinance federal student loans, you could lose access to benefits and protections, like the current pause on payment and interest or federal loan forgiveness plans. Be sure to weigh all the options and decide what makes sense for you.

Recommended: Student Loan Refinancing Guide

The Takeaway

Nursing can be a rewarding career, with flexibility and opportunities to add to your income. However, as a new nurse, you are likely trying to stretch your paycheck to cover student loan debt and everyday expenses. Fortunately, by using a few smart strategies, such as budgeting and saving, and exploring options like refinancing, you can start to pay down your loans—and reach your financial goals.

Looking to lower your monthly student loan payment? Refinancing may be one way to do it — by extending your loan term, getting a lower interest rate than what you currently have, or both. (Please note that refinancing federal loans makes them ineligible for federal forgiveness and protections. Also, lengthening your loan term may mean paying more in interest over the life of the loan.) SoFi student loan refinancing offers flexible terms that fit your budget.

Photo credit: iStock/FatCamera

SoFi Student Loan Refinance
SoFi Student Loans are originated by SoFi Bank, N.A. Member FDIC. NMLS #696891. (www.nmlsconsumeraccess.org). SoFi Student Loan Refinance Loans are private loans and do not have the same repayment options that the federal loan program offers, or may become available, such as Public Service Loan Forgiveness, Income-Based Repayment, Income-Contingent Repayment, PAYE or SAVE. Additional terms and conditions apply. Lowest rates reserved for the most creditworthy borrowers. For additional product-specific legal and licensing information, see SoFi.com/legal.

SOSLR-Q324-024