Meal Plans

Looking for information on summer meal plans or summer dining? Check out our Summer Meal Plan webpage.

We know that Blue Jays all dine differently. Some Jays eat meals multiple times a day, some Jays eat larger meals a few times a day, some Jays eat large meals multiple times a day, and some Jays are in a hurry and need to fly out of the dining nest to make a class or study with friends! Whatever your Blue Jay dining preference, we have a plan for you.

Johns Hopkins meal plans are comprised of two parts: meal swipes and dining dollars. Explore the tabs below to learn more about each part.

Meal Swipes

Meal swipes are the primary part the meal plans.

Each entry into a cafe is counted as a meal swipe.
Meal swipes are reset each Sunday morning for the next week.
Unused swipes on the 21/19/14/10 meals per week are forfeited each week.
Swipes on the Block 80/Block 50 plans can be used at anytime during the semester and reset at the beginning of each new semester.
Meal swipes can be used in exchanged for a “meals in a minute” to-go meal at Charles Street Market, for a dinner option at Levering Kitchens or up to three to-go boxes at Hopkins Café a day.

Dining Dollars

Dining Dollars are a dollar-for-dollar tender that can be used in dining retail locations such as Charles Street Market, Levering Hall, Good Part & Co. located in the Rec Center, Daily Grind, located in Mudd Hall and Piccola Allora, located in Gilman Hall. These funds are designed to complement the meal plans by allowing Blue Jays to purchase snacks, a morning or late-night coffee or groceries to prepare a special meal for friends in their residence hall. Additional Dining Dollars can be added at anytime online.

Meal plan eligibility is aligned with class year and housing styles. Choose your class year to learn more about available meal plans:

Enrolling in a meal plan is full academic year commitment (both semesters).

Frequently Asked Questions

Below is a list of the most commonly asked questions related to dining and meal plans. If your questions is not answered below, please do not hesitate to contact using the information on the left.

Can I change my Meal Plan?

Yes, you have an opportunity to change your meal plan May 1-June 30th before billing goes out in July and then one more time for the academic year during the second week of the Fall semester (you are able to change to any plan you are eligible for, based on your residence). You will receive an email through your JHU email account with instructions. The meal plan change period the second week of the fall semester is the last opportunity to change your meal plan for the year once you’ve had a week to try things out on campus. There is no meal plan change period in the spring.

Can I treat a friend using my Meal Plan?

Unfortunately, you are unable to treat a friend to your meal plan, meal swipes are only for your use.

Can I cancel my Meal Plan?

No, once you are enrolled in a meal plan, you are committed for the entire academic year unless your student status changes. You may, however, change your meal plan to another one during the meal plan change period in the fall.

How do I sign up for a Meal Plan?

Why do I only have certain Meal Plans I can choose from?

Based on where you live, on campus, depends on the types of meal plans you can choose from. Blue Jays living in the AMRs, Wolman and Scott-Bates Commons (formerly Charles Commons) can choose from certain plans designed to accommodate the needs their residences. Since these locations do not have access to a full kitchen and are required to be on one of our meal plan options based off these facilities. Blue Jays living in Homewood and Bradford apartments as well as Roger’s House that have access to a full kitchen and have the option to enroll in any of our current meal plans.

What happens if I don’t use all of my meal swipes each week?

For weekly meal swipe plans, unused meals expire on Saturday at Midnight. You will receive a new set of swipes on Sunday. For Block meal plans, your meals expire at the end of the semester. These students will receive a new block set of swipes on the first day of the new meal plan period. All unused meals are forfeited and non-refundable.

Where can I use my meal swipes?

You can use your meal swipes at the Hopkins Café, Nolan’s on 33rd, at Meals-in-a-Minute at the Charles Street Market and for meal exchange during dinner at Levering Kitchens.

Where can I use my Dining Dollars?

Dining Dollars can be used at most JHU Campus Dining locations, these include the Hopkins Café, Nolan’s on 33rd, Charles Street Market, Levering Kitchens, and Levering Café. They can also be used at Good Part & Co. located in the Rec Center, Daily Grind, located in Mudd Hall and Piccola Allora, located in Gilman Hall.

Do Dining Dollars carry over?

Unspent Dining Dollars expire at the end of the academic year in May. Any unspent Dining Dollars at that time are forfeited and non-refundable. However, new for Spring 2023, anyone who enrolls in a 2023-2024 meal plan before June 30, will be able to keep any remaining Dining Dollars left at end of Spring 2023 semester to use the following Fall 2023 as long as they keep enrolled in the plan for the following year.

What do I do when my Dining Dollars run low?

You can reload Dining Dollars by filling out the Dining Dollar Reload form. You will receive a confirmation to your JHU email, please look for that and follow the instructions. Please remember it takes 24-48 business hours to be processed after we receive your confirm response.

Why do I pay more for Dining Dollars?

The Dining Dollars you receive cover the cost of the food and the staff involved in preparing and serving the food. The difference between the Dining Dollars you receive, and the price paid is the facilities fee associated with the University’s cost of building, furnishing, and maintaining the dining facilities and equipment for dining service operations.