Community dining plans are open to all students, faculty and staff and allow for easy access to delicious and healthful food and snacks during busy days on campus. These plans offer flexibility, convenience and value as well as a wide variety of dining options from grab-and-go to a sit-down feast. Campus Dining features 35 dining venues including the Vista Grande Dining Complex, four markets and over 800 menu options.
Choose from Six Plans
You know what you like, and you know you’re not always going to eat on campus. With that in mind, Campus Dining created six community dining plan options that make eating on campus convenient and utilizes a simple Dining Dollars system. Five plans include Bonus Dollars, which are extra Dining Dollars to spend at Campus Dining venues, and all plans offer the ability to rollover funds from year to year. Unlike first-year dining plans, community dining plans receive their full balance at the start of the plan and can be used until the funds are spent or the end of the academic year (whichever is first).
Poly 2250
Designed to support the students, faculty and staff who spend a lot of time on campus, Poly 2250 offers enough Dining Dollars to eat on campus multiple times a day, every day of the week with a little left over for snacks. This plan costs $2,250 and includes an additional $350 in Bonus Dollars for a total of $2,600 to spend on food over the course of the year.
Poly 1500
Designed to offer enough to eat a meal on campus every day with enough left over for some extra Starbucks®, Poly 1500 is good for those who regularly eat on campus. This plan costs $1,500 and includes an additional $150 in Bonus Dollars for a total of $1,650 to spend on food over the course of the year.
Poly 1000
For those who simply need a supplementary dining plan for when time gets short and the work hours long, there is Poly 1000. Calculated to offer enough Dining Dollars to cover a meal most days, this plan costs $1,000 and includes an additional $100 in Bonus Dollars for a total of $1,100 to spend on food over the course of the year.
Poly 500
Not everyone needs, or has the time, to savor a sit-down meal, and for those there is Poly 500. This is for those who only plan on quick meals on campus. This plan costs $500 and includes an additional $50 in Bonus Dollars for a total of $550 to spend on food over the course of the year.
Poly 250
This one is for the snackers amongst us. Those who just need some protein when the chance arises, a shot of caffeine for the study/cramming session, or the comfort bag of Cheez-Its (better get two). This plan costs $250 and includes an additional $25 in Bonus Dollars for a total of $275 to spend on food over the course of the year.
Poly Grub
Hybrids are so hot right now. Campus Dining created this hybrid plan for those Grubhub aficionados out there. This plan costs $250 and comes with $150 in Dining Dollars, and $100 that can be spent off campus via Grubhub over the course of the year.
Plan Benefits
| Benefit | Poly 2250 | Poly 1500 | Poly 1000 | Poly 500 | Poly 250 | Poly Grub |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Bonus Dining Dollars | $350 | $150 | $100 | $50 | $25 | ✖ |
| Use Grubhub off campus | ✖ | ✖ | ✖ | ✖ | ✖ | $100 |
| Balance rolls over quarter to quarter | ✅ | ✅ | ✅ | ✅ | ✅ | ✅ |
| Available Dining Dollars | $2,600 | $1,650 | $1,100 | $550 | $275 | $150 |
| Total Cost | $2,250 | $1,500 | $1,000 | $500 | $250 | $250 |
How to Purchase
Students living on campus have two ways to purchase. They can purchase a plan through the University Housing link in the Portal and have the option of making payments through Student Accounts. Or they can purchase through the Money Matters tab in the Portal and make one simple payment.
Faculty, staff and students who live off campus can purchase their plan through the Money Matters tab in the Portal.
How to purchase an additional plan
If you’re low on Dining Dollars, you can purchase an additional plan.
Students living on campus
Students living on campus have two ways to purchase additional Community Dining Plans.
1. Purchase directly through Money Matters (must pay full amount online up front)
In your Money Matters account, simply select a Community Dining Plan from the list and pay directly, in-full with a debit/credit card online. Funds are available within a minute or two of your successful transaction.
2. Purchase through the Housing Portal (allows for payment installments through Student Accounts)
Complete a cancellation form for your original plan.
Important Note: Even though you must “cancel” your current plan to add a new one, you will still be responsible for any remaining payment installments from your original plan.
As part of the cancellation process, our analyst will clear out your original selection in the Housing portal, which will allow you to add another plan.
Once you are notified via email of the successful cancellation (within one business day), go back into the Housing portal to select a new plan.
Funds are available within about one business day of your new plan selection.
How to Cancel a Plan
Complete a cancellation form* to cancel your Community Dining Plan at any time. Please note Poly Grub and Poly 250 plans are not eligible for cancellation. As part of the cancellation process, our analyst will send a confirmation email. Processing may take 7-10 business days.
*You must be logged into the Cal Poly Portal to complete the form.
Students, Faculty and Staff Living Off-Campus
Faculty, staff and students who live off campus can purchase their plan through the Money Matters tab in the Portal.
What You Need to Know
- Dining Dollars can be used at any Campus Dining venue.
- Five plans include Bonus Dollars to spend at Campus Dining venues. This includes 15.5% percent for Poly 2250, or 10 percent for Poly 1500, Poly 1000, Poly 500 and Poly 250 in additional Dining Dollars for each plan.
- A Community Dining Plan does not reload each quarter. Funds should last you through the academic year. If you run out of funds, you can purchase an additional plan.
- Dining Dollars roll over to the next quarter, however, funds remaining at the end of the spring quarter are forfeited, unless a 2023-24 plan is purchased and maintained for the 2023-24 academic year by June 20, 2023.
- Faculty, staff and students with dietary restrictions should review the food options at calpolydining.com to determine if their dietary needs can be met prior to submitting their initial payment registration for the Dining License.
- The Poly 500, 1000, 1500 and 2250 can be cancelled at any time with no cancellation fee. The Poly 250 and Poly Grub plans are nonrefundable.
- Dining Dollars can be used at any Campus Dining venue.
- Five plans include Bonus Dollars to spend at Campus Dining venues. This includes 15.5% percent for Poly 2250, or 10 percent for Poly 1500, Poly 1000, Poly 500 and Poly 250 in additional Dining Dollars for each plan.
- A Community Dining Plan does not reload each quarter. Funds should last you through the academic year. If you run out of funds, you can purchase an additional plan.
- Dining Dollars roll over to the next quarter, however, funds remaining at the end of the spring quarter are forfeited, unless a 2023-24 plan is purchased and maintained for the 2023-24 academic year by June 20, 2023.
- Faculty, staff and students with dietary restrictions should review the food options at calpolydining.com to determine if their dietary needs can be met prior to submitting their initial payment registration for the Dining License.
- The Poly 500, 1000, 1500 and 2250 can be canceled at any time with no cancelation fee. The Poly 250 and Poly Grub plans are nonrefundable.
View Community Dining Plans terms and conditions.