Spring Rice Student Meal Plan & Tetra Purchases

**Spring 2026 Meal Plan Sign-up begins December 1

***Fall 2026 Meal Plan Sign-up begins August 1
  • Must use an @rice.edu email
  • Plan A is best for students who visit the dining hall frequently throughout the day and value maximum flexibility and convenience ($100 Tetra & 15 Guest Swipes included)
    Plan B is best for students dining once a day ($100 Tetra & 15 Guest Swipes included)
    Plan C is best for students dining twice a day ($100 Tetra & 15 Guest Swipes included)
    Plan E is best for students dining not as frequently on campus. (15 Guest Swipes / No tetra included)

    Off-Campus Meal plans do not roll over and must be purchased each semester
  • Tetra points do not expire until the student graduates. No refunds are given for unused tetra points
  • Housing Agreement Language

    Undergraduate Students may dine in any of the residential dining commons except when the Colleges have a private function. Your Rice Student ID card is required to access the service areas each time you enter. Some of your meals may be donated via SSI each semester. Details will be available at the beginning of each semester. Regular meals are non-transferable and may not be shared with others. Meals and food are for Rice students only. All students living in campus housing have the on-campus meal plan. There is no requirement to live on campus at Rice and living on campus always requires the full meal plan. No Exceptions.

        i. All unused meals will expire at the end of the semester. No Refunds for
    Unused Meals.
        ii. Charges for the selected plan will be billed to the student’s ESTHER account as a one-time charge. The student is allowed to opt out of the their meal plan during the fall semester by August 31 and the spring semester by January 31. The student may not opt out after the specified dates. If the student decides to opt out by the date indicated, the student will be refunded the pro-rated amount based on the number of meals that the student has used. However, a student who has opted out cannot rejoin during the same semester even if spots are available.

    Here is a     link to the policy from the DOU on ID use.

    Graduate Student Use of Undergraduate College Commons

    Undergraduate College Commons are large, shared spaces located next to the college serveries. These areas serve as the primary dining locations for undergraduate students. The Commons are designated specifically for the undergraduate residential community and are reserved for undergraduate programs and events exclusive to the college members. Graduate Meal Plan participants are not permitted to use the Commons at any time.

    To support Graduate Meal Plan users, we communicate designated neutral dining spaces. Areas such as the PCF Tent 1 (The Graduate Bubble) near South Servery is reserved for graduate students. Additionally, outside the West and North Serveries, there are neutral tables available, marked with signage stating ‘Tables Prioritized for Graduate Students” as undergraduates have their own dedicated dining areas. Graduate students are also encouraged to use to-go containers and enjoy meals with their departments when preferred.

    Graduate Meal Plan (GMP) Terms & Conditions

    Your Meal Plan – Unlimited Access

    Starting Fall 2025, all undergraduates living on campus are enrolled in Meal Plan A, giving you unlimited access to the residential dining commons (“serveries”). Here’s what you need to know:

    •Unlimited Dining
    You can swipe into the serveries as often as you like, during normal operating hours, all semester long. Just bring your Rice ID each time you enter.You can reenter for drinks, cutlery, & dessert after your initial swipe.
    •Your Rice ID
    Your Rice ID is your dining pass and may only be used by you. IDs can’t be shared, borrowed, or used by anyone else.
    •Guest Swipes
    You’ll have 15 guest swipes per semester to bring friends, or other guests into the serveries. You must be present to swipe them in.
    •Family Swipes
    You’ll have family meal swipes for immediate family members that are not deducted from guest swipes. You must be present to swipe them in.
    •Swipe Support
    If you face food insecurity, the Swipe Support Program through Student Success Initiatives (SSI) is here to help. This program provides extra dining access when you need it most through donated meal swipes from Housing & Dining. Students can also contribute tetra to the program to support peers in need.
    •Living on Campus
    All students living in campus housing are automatically on the unlimited meal plan. There’s no requirement to live on campus, but if you do, the full plan is part of the experience.

    Tetra Points
    In addition to your unlimited meals, you’ll get Tetra Points on your Rice ID. These work like a debit balance and can be spent at campus cafés, coffee shops, and other retail. Tetra points are non-refundable and non-transferable. Tetra points roll over each semester and expire upon graduation.

    Off-Campus Meal Plans
    Students may dine in any of the residential dining commons except when the Colleges have a private function. Your Rice Student ID card is required to access the service areas each time you enter. Regular meal swipes, guest swipes, or tetra may be used for guests and will be deducted from available funds.

    Students living off campus may choose from the following optional meal plans:

    Meal Plan B – Moderate
    Access

    •Your Rice ID
    Your Rice ID is your dining pass and may only be used by you. IDs can’t be shared, borrowed, or used by anyone else. You can reenter for drinks, cutlery, & dessert after your initial swipe.
    •Guest Swipes
    You’ll have 15 guest swipes per semester to bring friends, or other guests into the serveries. You must be present to swipe them in.
    •Family swipes are not available on this plan, but meal swipes, guest swipes, & tetra may be used for family and friends.
    •85 meal swipes per semester.
    •Tetra Points included.
    Swipe Support
    If you face food insecurity, the Swipe Support Program through Student Success Initiatives (SSI) is here to help. This program provides extra dining access when you need it most through donated meal swipes from Housing & Dining. Students can also contribute tetra to the program to support peers in need.

    Meal Plan C – Frequent Access

    •Your Rice ID
    Your Rice ID is your dining pass and may only be used by you. IDs can’t be shared, borrowed, or used by anyone else. You can reenter for drinks, cutlery, & dessert after your initial swipe.
    •Guest Swipes
    You’ll have 15 guest swipes per semester to bring friends, or other guests into the serveries. You must be present to swipe them in.
    •Family swipes are not available on this plan, but meal swipes, guest swipes, & tetra may be used for family and friends.
    •170 meal swipes per semester.
    •Tetra Points included.
    •Swipe Support
    If you face food insecurity, the Swipe Support Program through Student Success Initiatives (SSI) is here to help. This program provides extra dining access when you need it most through donated meal swipes from Housing & Dining. Students can also contribute tetra to the program to support peers in need.

    Meal Plan E – Minimal Access

    •Your Rice ID
    Your Rice ID is your dining pass and may only be used by you. IDs can’t be shared, borrowed, or used by anyone else. You can reenter for drinks, cutlery, & dessert after your initial swipe.
    •Guest Swipes
    You’ll have 15 guest swipes per semester to bring friends, or other guests into the serveries. You must be present to swipe them in.
    •Family swipes are not available on this plan, but meal swipes & guest swipes may be used for family and friends.
    •65 meal swipes per semester.
    •No Tetra Points.
    •Swipe Support
    If you face food insecurity, the Swipe Support Program through Student Success Initiatives (SSI) is here to help. This program provides extra dining access when you need it most through donated meal swipes from Housing & Dining. Students can also contribute tetra to the program to support peers in need.