Dining on Campus
Meal plans
Princeton University is a residential campus, a tight-knit community where students live and dine together. Your choices for campus dining include the residential dining halls (with a meal plan, described in the next section) where meal-sharing is an important part of the undergraduate experience.
Retail and kosher dining
You may also take a meal at cafe-style self-service eateries throughout campus, the kosher dining hall at the Center for Jewish Life, or the eclectic mix of food stands at the Frist Campus Center Food Gallery.
No matter where you eat, the quality and variety of food at Princeton is outstanding. Access menus, hours of operation, and information specific to each venue on the Princeton Dining Services website.
Center for Jewish Life Dining Hall
Student Meal Plan Options
Upperclass students may opt from an unlimited plan and four block plans.
With a meal plan, you are entitled to eat in any residential dining hall and at the Center for Jewish Life.
Unlimited Plan
The Unlimited Plan allows unlimited access to residential dining halls plus 10 additional guest meals for the semester. The Unlimited Plan allows for more than one entry during any meal period in the residential dining halls plus a single meal for each late meal period. Unlimited meal plans also include complimentary break meal plans for fall, intersession and spring break periods.
This is the only plan available to first-year and second-year students. Second-year students who join eating clubs or one of the four ODUS-sponsored co-ops will receive a $200 rebate in the spring semester.
Block 235
Juniors and Seniors
Block 235 allows 235 meal swipes per semester plus an additional 30 meals from the University for a total of 265, or approximately 17 meals per week, 10 of which may be used for guests. A meal swipe in the Block 235 Plan may be used for any late meal period. Block 235 meals reset at the beginning of the semester. No credit is given for unused meals.
Graduate Students
Block 235 allows 235 meal swipes per semester, or approximately 15 meals per week, 10 of which may be used for guests. A meal swipe in the Block 235 Plan may be used for any late meal period. Block 235 meals reset at the beginning of the semester. No credit is given for unused meals.
Block 190
Juniors and Seniors
Block 190 allows 190 meal swipes per semester plus an additional 30 meals from the University for a total of 220, or approximately 15 meals per week, 10 of which may be used for guests. A meal swipe in the Block 190 Plan may be used for any late meal period at the Frist Campus Center Gallery. Block 190 meals reset at the beginning of the semester. No credit is given for unused meals.
Graduate Students
Block 190 allows 190 meal swipes per semester, or approximately 13 meals per week, 10 of which may be used for guests. A meal swipe in the Block 190 Plan may be used for any late meal period. Block 190 meals reset at the beginning of the semester. No credit is given for unused meals.
Block 95
Juniors and Seniors
This plan will allow 95 meals per semester plus an additional 30 meals from the University for a total of 125, or approximately 8 meals per week, ten of which may be used for guests. A meal swipe in the Block 95 Plan may be used for any late meal period. Block 95 meals reset at the beginning of the semester. This plan also includes 125 Dining Points, per fall semester and spring semester for a total of 250 points over the academic year. No credit is given for unused meals or unused Dining Points. Students who sign up for the spring semester will receive 125 Dining Points.
Graduate Students
This plan will allow 95 meals per semester, ten of which may be used for guests. A meal swipe in the Block 95 Plan may be used for any late meal period at the Frist Campus Center Gallery. Block 95 meals reset at the beginning of the semester. This plan also includes 125 Dining Points, per fall semester and spring semester for a total of 250 points over the academic year. No credit is given for unused meals or unused Dining Points. Students who sign up for the spring semester will receive 125 Dining Points.
Shared Block 95 (eating club members only)
This block plan will allow 95 meals per semester plus an additional 30 meals from the University for a total of 125, or approximately 8 meals per week in a campus dining hall, 10 of which may be used for guests. A meal swipe in the Shared Block 95 Plan may be used for any late meal period. Shared Block 95 meals reset at the beginning of the semester. No credit is given for unused meals. This plan is for registered club members who choose a room in one of the four-year residential colleges. The annual cost is determined by each eating club and is limited to a particular number of students determined by the club. Club members are encouraged to ask their club leadership for specific information regarding shared meal plans at their club. Additional information providing detail about the selection of this plan during room draw may be found on the Undergraduate Housing website.
If you have questions about selecting a shared meal plan, contact Angie Hodgeman, Manager of Undergraduate Student Housing, at hodgeman@princeton.edu.
Summer Block 40
Available to Princeton students and individuals granted summer housing through the Housing Office in the New South building, this plan allows contract holders 40 meals in select residential dining halls. During summer, residential dining halls are shared with Princeton summer campers and conference attendees. In addition, residential dining halls are open on a rotating basis. Breakfast, lunch and dinner are served in at least one dining hall each day.
Flexible Block 30
Designed for juniors and seniors who plan to use only the Two Extra Meals program, the Flexible Block 30 Plan converts the two extra meals into a more flexible plan. Unlike in Two Extra Meals, with the Flexible Block 30, you can choose to use more than two meals per week and use it for other special meals.
Flexible Block 30 meals can be used as part of the Eating Club Meal Exchange, but may not be used for Late Meal, Lunch to Go or Guest Meals.
Student Meal Plan Requirements and Contracts
Student Meal Plan Requirements and Contracts
All students living in a Residential College are required to purchase a meal plan. Upperclass students not living in a Residential College may also purchase a meal plan. With a meal plan you are entitled to eat in any Residential College dining hall and at the Center for Jewish Life.
Meal plan contracts
First year and sophomore students choose a meal plan and electronically sign their dining contract in the summer prior to their arrival to Princeton. Juniors and seniors who live in a Residential College choose and accept a meal plan contract for the following year during room draw. Juniors and seniors not living in a Residential College may select a meal plan at room draw or any time throughout the year at the Undergraduate Student Housing Office.
Mailboxes and Mail Service
Student Mailboxes
Each undergraduate student is assigned a mailbox for their four years at Princeton. Use your Princeton NetID to look up your mailbox number. You may collect your mail by going to the Mail Service Window (formerly the Package Room, 118 Frist) and showing your University ID and signing for it. An email will be sent to you when you receive first class mail only. Mail Service Window Hours: 10 am - 6pm, Monday - Friday and 10 am - 1pm, Saturday
Mailing address
Use the address format below to receive United States Postal Service first class mail, standard mail and packages and parcels.
Example:
Jane Doe
[Mailbox number] Frist Center
Princeton University
Princeton, NJ 08544-XXXX
Each mailbox number at Frist is assigned a ZIP+4 Code.
Mail services
Find answers to your questions about other mail services at Student Mail on the Print & Mail Services website.
Mailing packages for arrival prior to move in
Mail packages no sooner than one week prior to the start of classes; packages that arrive too early may be returned. Please do not ship items such as furniture until you have a chance to see your room.
Package pickup during move in
Check your email notifications to determine whether your package is in a locker, the tent location, or behind the counter at Frist. A. Locker: Go to the specified locker bank and use the app or self-service kiosk to open your locker. B. Counter or Tent Location: Proceed to the counter or tent for pick up. Tent location is only for UPS packages.
Parking on Campus
Transportation & Parking Services is your contact for parking permit registration, regulations, enforcement policies, fees, fines and appeals, and parking lot maps.
Because of limited parking, students are not permitted to have a vehicle on campus.
Visitor parking
To avoid towing, you should make arrangements with Transportation & Parking Services for visitors to park on campus ahead of their arrival.
Transportation & Parking Services
Princeton Student Agencies
For more than 100 years, the Princeton Student Agencies have provided products and services to students, faculty and staff. Take a look at their offerings—you're sure to find something you need.
Dorm Furnishing Agency
- Sells extra-long linens and dorm room accessories.
- Rents refrigerators, micro-fridges, and loft beds.
Water and Beverage Agency
- Sells water jugs, Keurig Coffee Makers and K Cups.
- Rents water coolers.
Laundry Agency
- Offers professional laundering and dry cleaning.
- Provides pickup and drop-off service.
Moving and Storage Agency
- Picks up and stores your belongings at the end of the academic year.
- Moves them back in the fall.
Computer accessories, shipping and packing services, and newspaper delivery are also available from the Princeton Student Agencies. Contact the Princeton Student Agencies before you arrive on campus or after you have settled in. For information, visit the Princeton Student Agencies’ website.
Services During Breaks
Most students do not stay on campus during academic year breaks, but if you do, know that campus services are limited during the recess period.
Your Dorm Room
You may reside in your regularly assigned room during breaks.
Dining Halls
Campus Dining provides a meal plan to students during breaks. The conditions of the plan, fees, and registration details are outlined on the Campus Dining website and in an e-mail sent to all students.
Campus Dining
Campus Eateries
Retail dining hours of operation are shortened during breaks. See the Dining Services website for scheduled hours.
Dining Services Hours of Operation
Department of Public Safety
You may contact the Department of Public Safety at any time during breaks at (609) 258-1000.
Other Services
These campus service departments follow an abbreviated schedule of operating hours during breaks. Visit their websites for details.
Facilities Customer Service Center
Dillon Gym, Dillon Pool, Jadwin Indoor Tennis, the Stevens Fitness Center and Baker Rink