All meal plan privileges are non-transferable in part or in whole. All meal plans and their usage are subject to change.
Meal plans are valid for purchasing food at Residential Dining Services locations. The purchase of non-food items is not permitted with meal plans. Meal plans are not valid at the Lory Student Center or other non-RDS campus locations.
Meal plan participants are required to verify their identity at the point of purchase by presenting a valid RamCard, CSU-issued conference card, or digital equivalent to verify account and meal plan status. Residential Dining Services reserves the right to deny access if identity credentials are not presented and/or are determined to be invalid. A service charge may be assessed when meal plan holders are unable to provide proper credentials and continue to access the dining location utilizing their meal plan.
Meal plan holders who allow another person to use their RamCard, or other valid credentials, may have their card confiscated at entry and may be required to obtain a replacement card at their own expense.
Disciplinary action may be recommended for students if terms and conditions are violated.
On Campus Residence Hall Student Meal Plans
Meal plans are required as part of the room and board contract for all students living in on-campus residence halls.
Residence hall meal plan holders will select one of these meal plans: Any 21, Any 17, or Any 14. Students who do not select a meal plan will automatically be placed on the Any 14 plan. Residence hall meal plan holders who have obtained thirty (30) post-high school credits are eligible for the Any 10 meal plan.
As part of the residence hall student meal plans, every meal plan holder will receive $200 in RamCash (billed separately) and 10 Bonus Meals at the start of fall and spring semesters. RamCash can be used at any location on campus that accepts RamCash. Bonus Meals are valid at Dining Center locations in RDS and not at Marketplace, Express, and Café locations. Bonus Meals may be used for guests. Guests eating in Dining Center locations must be sponsored as a guest of a residence hall meal plan holder to gain access.
All residence hall meal plans allot a specific number of meals to use per week based on which meal plan is chosen. Weekly meal allotments are valid from 12:00 am on Saturday mornings through 11:59 pm Friday nights. All unused meals are forfeited at 11:59 pm on Fridays and do not transfer to the following week. Five separate meals periods are defined each day. Meal plan holders may use up to two meals per meal period.
Meal plan changes that result in a reduction in cost are permitted on or before September 8, 2026 for fall semester and on or before February 2, 2027 for spring semester. Meal plan changes that increase cost are permitted at any time. Meal plans changes are limited to no more once in a 7 day period.
Residence hall meal plan holders who are ill and incapable to physically go to a dining center may request others to pick up meals for them and authorize the use of their meal plan. To do so, holders must complete the Sick Meal Request form and follow the submission requirements as described in the form. The completed form must be presented at the entrance.
Off-Campus Student Meal Plans
Students who do not live in on-campus residence halls are eligible to purchase off-campus meal plans. Meal plans are sold in a variety of blocks; the more you buy, the more you save are available for purchase at myramcard.colostate.edu. Meal plans purchased are subject to the Colorado Sales Tax rate of 8.3%.
Off-campus student meal plans are valid from July 1 through June 30 of the following year. All unused meals are forfeited after June 30.
Refunds may be requested by contacting the RDS Administration office at 970-491-4754 or rds@colostate.edu . All refunds are subject to a $25.00 administration fee. Refunds must be requested by June 30.
Faculty and Staff Meal Plans
Current faculty and staff at Colorado State University working at the Fort Collins campus are eligible to purchase meals at the dining centers and online at a discounted rate. Faculty and staff are required to present university employee credentials when purchasing meals at the door. Eligibility is verified when purchasing meals online. Meal plans for faculty and staff are available for purchase at myramcard.colostate.edu. Meal plans purchased are subject to the Colorado Sales Tax rate of 8.3%.
Faculty and staff meal plans are valid from July 1 of the current year, through June 30 of the following year. All unused meals are forfeited after June 30.
Refunds of faculty and staff meals may be requested by contacting the RDS Administration office or visiting myramcard.colostate.edu. All refunds are subject to a $25.00 administration fee. Refunds must be requested by June 30 the year the meals were purchased.
Other Plans
Meals coordinated with Rams Against Hunger through the SliCE Office and are not eligible for refunds to the participating students.
Student Organizations and Athletic meals are not refundable to the participating students.
Meal Plan Exemption Procedure
Meal plans are required as part of the room and board contract for all students living in on-campus residence halls. Exemptions to this requirement are limited and granted solely on the basis of medical necessity, as determined by University Housing and Residential Dining Services (RDS).
To be considered for a meal plan exemption, a student must submit documentation demonstrating that all three of the following criteria are met: (1) a confirmed medical diagnosis from a licensed healthcare provider; (2) a prescribed or medically necessary diet directly associated with that diagnosis; and (3) a determination by RDS that the required diet cannot be reasonably accommodated within existing campus dining operations. All three criteria must be met for an exemption to be granted. Incomplete submissions will not be reviewed, and submitting documentation does not guarantee approval.
Residential Dining Services makes every effort to accommodate a wide range of dietary needs across campus dining. Our dining centers offer foods free of the Top 9 most common food allergens, as well as gluten-free, vegan, vegetarian, and other options designed to meet common special dietary requirements. Students with dietary questions or concerns are encouraged to contact the RDS Registered Dietitian before submitting an exemption request to determine whether their needs can be met through existing dining options.
All meal plan exemption and reduction requests must be submitted to the RDS Nutrition Programs Coordinator, who will conduct an initial evaluation of each request using the criteria outlined above. The Director of Residential Dining Services makes the final determination on whether a meal plan exemption will be granted. Students will receive notification of the determination via their CSU email address within five (5) working days of submitting all required documentation. Meal plan exemptions are not granted based on personal preference, lifestyle choice, or financial hardship. Students with financial concerns related to their meal plan obligation should contact the Colorado State University Financial Aid Office for information about available resources and assistance.
Hall students approved through the Meal Plan Exemption process may be placed on the Exemption Plan, as determined by University Residential Dining Services.
Students who have been granted a Housing exemption are also exempt from the required meal plan but may purchase off-campus meal swipes if they choose.