Salisbury University Dining Services

Commons Building (CB)

(410) 543-6105
Dining@salisbury.edu
www.salisbury.edu/dining

THE HIGH COSTS OF MEAL PLANS

AND HOW SALISBURY COMPARES

How much is too much? Universities in America are a 1,350-billion-dollar industry, yet prices are

at a steady incline. Salisbury University Dining Services feels that meal plans have become too expensive

for students and end up not being used by the end of the year. Dining Services has decided to roll out new

meal plans that will be more cost-effective for students and provide more ways to get the most for your

money. Dining Services wants to combat the idea that universities are only in it for profit and are seeking

ways to benefit the students at the lowest prices possible.

Some universities don’t consider the different housing situations of students but instead provide

one meal plan meant for everyone. Salisbury is rolling out specialized meal plans that consider

commuters and students with kitchens. They are offering four different plans, one of which is specially

designed for those who commute to campus. By focusing on the needs of those students, they were able

to develop a plan that best suited their needs instead of using the “one size fits all” method.

Dining services looked at all universities public and private in Maryland, Delaware, and Virginia

and compared their meal plans to our previous plans. Many had fewer choices for students and the ones

they did have were significantly more expensive for the same plan. More specifically, the private

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sector schools have meal plans that reach all the way up to $6,000 a semester. With our newest plans,

even our most expensive doesn’t even reach $4,000 for the whole year.

It can be said that some universities may be in an area with a higher cost of living and

therefore, must charge more to cover the cost. However, Maryland has a median cost of living that is

significantly higher than both Delaware and Virginia, yet Salisbury can keep the cost of meal plans

lower than many others. The median cost of living in Maryland is $294,100. Compare this to the median

cost of living in Virginia ($258,400), Delaware ($231,900) and the United States ($231,200).

Salisbury University Dining Services has tried to lower the costs of meal plans for students

without diminishing their quality. They are against universities charging outrageous prices for simple

necessities like food and are actively seeking ways to fix this idea. They have rolled out all-new meal

plans that consider the needs of students and keep the prices low despite the high cost of living in

Maryland.

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