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First-Year Dining 2025

The Ivy Unlimited Dining Plan

All first-year students are committed to the Ivy Unlimited dining plan for their first year (fall, winter, and spring terms).

Also, all matriculating transfer students and new exchange students (without a previous D-Plan) will be committed to the Ivy Unlimited dining plan for the fall term as they will be taking part in orientation meals. Then, exchange students would be eligible to change beginning with the following winter term dining plan selection period.

With the Ivy Unlimited dining plan, you have the freedom to come and go from the Class of 1953 Commons, Dartmouth's premier all-you-care-to-eat dining venue, as often as you like during operating hours.  

The Ivy Unlimited plan also allows you to use a meal equivalency at our participating cafés during operating hours and includes $325 Dining Dollars per semester to use at ramekin, The Fern, Café at Baker, Back of the Napkin Café, Collis Café, Courtyard Café, Novack Café, and our three residential snack bars. Dining Dollars can also be used for take-out meals at '53 Commons during operating hours. 

The cost of the plan is $2,577.

Orientation Meal Plan

All those attending orientation/trips must be on the orientation meal plan, which grants early access to fall term dining. In addition, the plan will cover entry to themed and celebratory events only open to first year students. The required dining fee for the fall orientation period is an additional $250.

Meal Swipes and Value of a Meal Equivalency

The Ivy Unlimited dining plan is designed to give you unlimited dine-in access to '53 Commons for breakfast, lunch, and dinner. You can trade unlimited access for a meal period for a take-out meal from '53 Commons using our Green2Go program. You can also use it to cover a portion of a single purchase at Collis Café, Novack Café, or Courtyard Café. The equivalency amounts vary by meal period: $6.25 for breakfast, $8.50 for lunch, $10 for dinner, and $6.25 for late night.

  • Breakfast: 7:00 a.m. - 10:59 a.m.
  • Lunch: 11:00 a.m. - 3:59 p.m.
  • Dinner: 4:00 p.m. - 8:59 p.m.
  • Late Night: 9:00 p.m. - close

If you have chosen to utilize your meal plan to cover a portion of your purchase at one of our cafés or taken advantage of our to-go program at '53 Commons you will need to wait for the next meal period to utilize your meal plan again. As always, by dining in at '53 Commons you have unlimited access to our dining hall throughout each meal period.

Dining Dollars

The Ivy Unlimited plan features $325 Dining Dollars per semester to use at ramekin, The Fern, Café @ Baker, Collis Café, Novack Café, Courtyard Café, or our Fresh Zone locations. Dining Dollars can also be used for a meal at '53 Commons if you have already used a meal equivalency during that meal period.

Dining Dollar balances at the end of each term will carry over to the next term with an expiration of Commencement Sunday 2025. Rolled-over dining dollars are available anytime dining plans are active, including during off-term visits to campus.

Dining Charging

Dining Charging is an additional account designed for dining purchases not covered by the undergraduate dining plans. If the plan's alloted Dining Dollar amount is exceeded, Dining Charging can be used for any additional dining purchases. This account also covers purchases at the Collis Market, an on-campus convenience store.

Any spending on the Dining Charging accounts is applied to the student's College billing account each month.

Frequently Asked Questions

What does it mean to have an UNLIMITED plan?
The Ivy Unlimited plan is like having a ski season pass or a gym membership. With it, you can dine in and eat at '53 Commons from morning until night and you don't need to worry about counting swipes, number of visits, or going hungry. Dine in as many times per meal period as you would like! As with any membership, you get additional benefits, which only add to its great value; to-go meals from '53 Commons and the ability to use the plan at our other Dartmouth Dining facilities when you like.

If I use a meal equivalency at 8:30 a.m. at a Dartmouth Café, can I then use a meal swipe at 10:30 a.m. at '53 Commons with the Ivy Unlimited plan?
You would not be able to do that with the Ivy Unlimited plan, as you had already made a choice for that breakfast meal period by using the meal equivalency at any café. At the beginning of each meal period, you essentially must choose between three options: unlimited dining in at '53 Commons as many times as you like, getting one to-go meal from '53 Commons, or using one meal equivalency at one of our cafés. You can always use Dining Dollars and other forms of payment to supplement your meals at our other facilities.

What is a meal period and how do they work with an unlimited meal plan?
Our day is made up of four meal periods: nreakfast (7:00 a.m. - 10:59 a.m.), lunch (11:00 a.m. - 3:59 p.m.), dinner (4:00 p.m. - 8:59 p.m.), and late night (9:00 p.m. - close). Once you choose between the three options of either unlimited dining in at '53 Commons, a meal to-go, or a meal equivalency at our retail cafés, you will have to wait until the next meal period to choose a different option.

Where are Dining Dollars accepted this fall?
Dining Dollars are accepted at these participating locations: Novack Café, ramekin, Collis Café, Courtyard Café, The Fern, Café @ Baker, Back of the Napkin Café, '53 Commons, and our residential snack bars located in House Center B, the McLaughlin Cluster, and the East Wheelock cluster.

What happens if I run out of Dining Dollars?
You can continue to use your ID card to make purchases in our cafés and snack bars using Dining Charging. Any balance on that account is posted to your overall student billing account with the College at the close of each month.

What if I have a food allergy?
We are here to help and make your meals as safe as possible. Our Dietitian and trained culinary team are here for you. You can reach them by email at dartmouth.dining@dartmouth.edu or by phone at 603-646-9701. Please see our Food Allergies & Restrictions page for additional information.