Columbia Dining Dollars

Dining Dollars and Flex Most plans include Dining Dollars, which can be used at any of our on campus locations, and some include Flex, an account that you can add dollars to and access with your Columbia ID to purchase items from merchants on and off. Dining Dollars are tax-free, roll over year-to-year until graduation, and operate as a declining balance account, much like a debit card. Flex can be used at all Columbia Dining locations, as well as the Columbia Bookstore, vending and copy machines, select off.

Flex is a dollar-for-dollar declining balance account that Columbia students, faculty and staff can add funds to as they wish. Flex allows you to use your Columbia University ID to pay for goods at all Dining locations as well as a number of other on and off. Flex Some plans include Flex in addition to or instead of Dining Dollars: Flex allows you put money into an account that you can spend using your University ID card at all Columbia Dining locations, as well a number of other merchants on.

These locations accept all Dining Plans, Dining Dollars, Flex, and credit card. Meal swipes can also be used at select Barnard locations (Hewitt, Liz's Place and The Diana) through the Columbia. Columbia University Dining Services understands the diversity of student life one day you need to grab a quick bite on the way to class, the next day you want to enjoy a leisurely dinner with your friends.

In trying to meet everyone's needs, we've created a wide variety of options that allow students to dine according to their lifestyle and schedule. The common thread, of course, is that you. Dining Dollars can be used for any/all food purchases in any of the on-campus dining locations and is tax-free.

Flex can be used to make dining purchases too, but also at places like the bookstore, vending and copy machines, laundry facilities, at the Hospitality Desk, and at a variety of off. First-Year Columbia Columbia and Engineering students are required to have a dining plan. Plans are optional for upperclass Columbia College or Engineering students, as well as General Studies, or Columbia University or Teachers College graduate students.

Dining Plan enrollment is a contract for one academic year. Once a student enrolls in a plan, they may elect to change their plan option. DO IT! Dining Dollars are accepted at ALL on-campus dining facilities (except Uris Deli in the business school), and can even be used at John Jay Dining Hall if you feel like an overpriced all-you-can-eat meal.

Your Columbia ID card contains the balance of your Dining Dollar account, and can be swiped at the cash register to pay for your food. The best way for First-Year and New Transfer students to explore our program is with the Columbia Dining Passport Program. Check in all nine locations between September 2 and 14 for a chance to win $200 Flex!