The All-You-Can-Eat Guide to College Food

Last week, I had the most delightful chat with my 91-year-old grandpa about his food choices at his retirement home. He spilled the beans on the dining experience, and I learned he's a true devotee of soup and strawberry ice cream for dinner. Minestrone, clam chowder, corn soup, mushroom soup—you name it, he's had it.

It got me thinking. Just like an elderly person has a ton of dining options in their retirement home, college freshmen get to feast on anything they want in the dining hall. But here's the kicker: not all dining halls are created equal. You might be surprised to find out that college search websites like Niche.com actually grade colleges on their campus food.

• Berkeley: A+ for academics, but only a C+ for food. Oof.

• Barnard: A+ for academics, B- for food. A little better.

• University of Michigan: A for academics, A- for food. Now we're talking!

• UCLA: The real winner! A+ for academics, and a perfect A+ for campus food. A true unicorn!

How College Dining Works

College dining halls are basically all-you-can-eat buffets. Most use a "swipe" system, where students use their meal plan to get in. Once inside, they can eat as much as they want. Dining halls usually have a mix of rotating specialty dishes and everyday staples like a salad bar or sandwich station. Just be aware that some schools have rules about taking food out of the dining hall, since a swipe is usually for one meal only.

Are Meal Plans Worth It?

For students living in on-campus dorms without kitchens, meal plans are a no-brainer. They offer a ton of fresh food options and are a great place to hang out and socialize. Schools offer different meal plans to fit various needs—some give you a set number of meals per week, while others offer a total number per semester. Many also include "flex dollars" you can use at campus stores and cafés.

The expert’s choice: colleges with great food:

(from Steven Antonoff’s The College Finder, p. 433)

One Last Thing...

With colleges competing to attract and keep students, a great dining hall is a major selling point. Many schools have a signature food scene. For example, Bowdoin College offers a farm-to-table experience with ingredients from its own organic garden. Princeton University has 11 on-campus eating clubs, which are social hubs designed for students to eat, relax, and hang out. UC Davis has a sports-themed restaurant and bar called The Gunrock, building a community through a love of sports and good food. This restaurant even won silver at the 2025 NACUFS (National Association of College & University Food Services) Awards.

While I wouldn't recommend choosing a college only for the food, if you're a foodie, it's definitely worth looking at the campus food ratings and the local restaurant scene.

Helping you soar sooner,

Carrie