An email from the Office of Student and Campus Life was sent out Sept. 2 regarding updates on food pricing. In it, they noted that convenience store items, such as bottled beverages, ice creams and select candies, would increase by $0.39. These changes also extended to Cherry Street Market and the Byte Cafe, both of which provide students with options for snacks and meals on campus.
While these options may be convenient, some students have found prices to be an issue when making purchases on campus.
“In my freshman and sophomore years, I had to be more mindful about what I purchased.” Christian Alina, a third-year mechanical engineering major, said.
“Our prices have gone up a lot from what I remember freshman year,” Third-Year Biology Major Lilah Vicencio said.
Commuter students like Vicencio have the option to choose between two meal plans: the Commuter Meal Plan, priced at $212, and the Convenience Meal Plan, priced at $512.
When asked about the price increases in on-campus dining, Vincenio stated that they have impacted her choice of dining on campus, as they have discouraged her from eating at campus options due to the price increases.
In the 2024-25 school year, the convenience meal plan cost $495, while the residential meal plan, which is recommended for first-year students, was $1,982. For the 2025-26 school year, the convenience meal plan increased to $515 while the residential meal plan rose to $2,060. By comparing the prices, the residential meal plan increased by a significantly higher amount, $78, than the convenience meal plan, which increased by $20.
These two meal plans have increased in comparison to last year, but those who purchase a residential meal plan have the option to eat more frequently on campus, rather than commuters.
“I did notice that drinks were like $6, which, compared to a grocery store, it’d be like half that price,” Alina said.
Resident District Manager of Chartwells Catering, Andrew Gaynor, explained the process by which the dining costs for this year were determined.
“We look at a few key factors — the Consumer Price Index (CPI) for Food Away from Home in Seattle, the Employment Cost Index (ECI), and local market pricing,” Gaynor said in an email to The Spectator. “This year, both the CPI and ECI in Seattle increased more than the national average.”
Gaynor also stated that prices were compared to “33 local dining options” to ensure the university’s pricing remains competitive.
While the rise of prices is a current issue affecting students, there have been some positive updates about on-campus dining, specifically at the Byte Cafe.
The Byte Cafe, located in the Lemieux Library, offers a variety of drinks, pastries and sandwiches that make perfect snacks for before, during or after a study session. Quick options like these are popular with students when they are in a rush or in need of a quick bite.
Dining hall areas like the Byte cafe can help satisfy sweet tooth cravings. This fall, they released a series of drinks called the “Bobachillers,” with five different flavors to choose from.
Gaynor explained that the new additions arose from a short survey called “Voice 2 Vision,” which is conducted each October to gather information on customers’ dining interests.
“Our latest survey showed that a large majority of our students are requesting bubble tea and pho on campus, which is what led to exciting additions like Smoothie Lab in the Student Center, Bubble Tea at The Byte, and coming soon — Pho, all directly inspired by what you told us!” Gaynor said.
While some students have reported drinks like these to be tasty, others have to restrict themselves from purchasing sweet treats in order to budget their money correctly.
“I still eat pretty much regularly, other than not getting as many leisure foods,” Evelyn Allen-Felts, a second-year interdisciplinary liberal studies major with a specialization in elementary education, said.
Students have also suggested the ability to provide input somewhere specifically on the types of food seen and provided across campus. There are three ways this can currently be accomplished: either by scanning the QR code at the entrance of The Cave, texting the number (206) 800-8684 on your phone to send feedback to the management team or by submitting a feedback form which can be found on the Dine On Campus website.
In the coming years, Andrew Gaynor explained what students should expect regarding costs and updates to dining on campus.
“Price adjustments, which occur only once per year in August, will continue to reflect factors like inflation, local market trends, and the rising costs of ingredients and labor,” Gaynor said. “At the same time, we’re committed to introducing new menu items and expanding popular offerings based on student feedback from surveys, suggestions, and campus dining trends.”
