Flex Dining Plan Across Campus
The Flex Dining Plan is available to all UW-Madison students:
- UW-Madison students living outside University Residence Halls (off-campus) can enroll in a Flex Dining Plan that best meets their needs at levels detailed below.
- UW-Madison Housing residents have Flex Dining Dollars included in their Resident Dining Plan - different levels depending on the selected plan option.
Both groups enjoy the opportunity to eat at their favorite dining locations across the UW-Madison campus. It's a great choice for convenience and variety:
- Features dozens of UW-Madison dining locations at Memorial Union, Union South, Housing Dining Markets, cafés across campus and Babcock Dairy.
- Lets you spend your way. Plan dollars roll over to the next term, and remaining balance can be requested and refunded when you are no longer a student.
- Take advantage of billing through your student account.
- Use financial aid funding toward your selected or included plan.
- Is a dedicated plan for dining purchases only -- offering reassurance that your budgeted amounts are available for nutritious food throughout the term.
For UW-Madison students living outside University Residence Halls (off-campus)
Enrollment for the 2026 Fall and Winter terms are now open!
2026 Fall & Winter Important Dates :
- Registration Opens: May 1
- First Funds Dispersed: August 14
- Financial Aid Eligibility Deadline: September 10
- Sign-Up Closes: October 8
Flex500 | Flex1500 | Flex2500 | Flex3500 |
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Flex Dining Plans can be funded at $500, $1,500, $2,500 and $3,500 levels. There is no required spend per day, week, month or semester. You can estimate the number of times you'll visit for meals and snacks and pick the plan level that matches your planned visits.
Plus, the Flex Dining Plan comes with perks like free theater and concert tickets, dining specials and more. Perks will be announced throughout the term to the email on the account.
Additional rewards are available when paired with our mobile app! Download Transact Mobile Ordering on the App Store or Google Play Store and sign in using your NetID. Rewards include exclusive dining deals and additional points earned on all purchases that can be used to enter a variety of prize drawings throughout the semester.
The Union Flex Dining Plan is a declining balance plan; choose the level that matches your expected use through your selected term. The amount for your selected plan will be applied to your student bill at the Bursar's Office and available financial aid will be applied.
Pick A Plan:
Plan selections include $500, $1,500, $2,500 and $3,500 for a semester. For your convenience, any unused balances will simply carry over to the next semester. If you have any questions, contact diningplan@union.wisc.edu.
*If you will be living in a UW-Madison residence hall for the upcoming semester, you already selected a Housing Resident Dining Plan, which includes a set of Flex Dining Dollars, so you are not eligible to enroll in a Flex Dining Plan.
For questions about your primary Residence Hall dining plan, contact UW-Madison Housing: https://housing.wisc.edu/about/contact
Please Note:
We ask that you allow up to 3 business days to see the funds appear in your account and become active on your Wiscard. You can view the balance on the Wiscard website, similarly to your Wiscard balance, once the plan becomes active.
The charge will be visible on student bill via the bursar's office after the first week of the month following your sign up. If you need a new account statement showing the correct amount now, use the instructions below.
Account Statement
- Log onto your MyUW Student Portal
- Click on Student Center
- Click on Financial Account
- Click on Account Inquiry
- Click on Account Statement button
We Are Not an Allergen-Free Kitchen, Customers with Food Allergies, Please Be Aware That Our Food May Contain Or Come Into Contact With Common Allergens
FAQs
The enrollment period for the Fall and Winter 2026 terms is open May 1 through October 8.
After you enroll you can add additional money to your Union Flex Dining account if you use up all of your funds. You can add additional money to your Union Flex Dining Account through logging in on the Wiscard deposit webpage. Funds must be paid via credit card or electronic check and will not be added to the Student Account Bill from the Bursar's office.
Flex Dining Dollars are retail dollars that a student can use at any food location on campus. This would include any Housing Dining venue or Union location. Think of them like cash on a debit card. They add flexibility for quick grab-and-go items, late night snacks with friends, ice cream treats, a hot beverage, extra meals, or groceries. For your convenience, you can add additional funds to supplement your needs so you are well covered in our many dining locations.
This account cannot be used for alcohol purchases.
If you use up your dollars, you can always add more by going to the Make a Deposit page on the Wiscard website. Log in and select the “Union Flex Dining” account when you choose to make your deposit. If you have any money left over at the end of the semester, it will automatically carry over to the next semester. If you have any money left over in your account when you graduate from UW-Madison, you can request the leftover funds to be refunded to you.
Yes. If you sign up for the Go500 plan in the fall semester and want to switch to the Go2500 plan in the spring, you will be able to change your enrollment in the spring enrollment period.
By using your Wiscard with your dining plan, you will automatically save 6% on every food purchase. Plus, you won't pay sales tax, saving you an additional 5.5% on every transaction.
Most students who live off-campus find themselves dining at Memorial Union, Union South, Badger Markets or one of the Wisconsin Union's cafès, so the Wisconsin Union decided to establish and sponsor this program. As an added bonus, this plan can be used at other dining locations like Babcock Dairy or University Housing dining facilities.
We ask that you allow up to 3 business days to see the funds appear in your account and become active on your Wiscard. You can view the balance on the Wiscard website, similarly to your Wiscard balance, once the plan becomes active.
Carson’s Market, Four Lakes Market, Gordon Avenue Market, Liz’s Market, Lowell Market, and Rheta’s Market will all accept the Union Flex Dining Plan.
University Housing’s additional locations will also accept the Union Flex Dining Plan and will receive 6% off on food purchases. These locations are Shake Smart, Electric Eats, The Bean & Creamery, Southeast Café, and Flamingo Run locations. *At Starbucks located in Smith Residence Hall you will only be eligible for a 5% discount.
When you want to eat at one of the Housing Market locations with your Union Flex Dining Plan, you will pay door price, but will receive 6% off if you use your Union Flex Dollars. * Only eligible for a 5% discount at Starbucks located in Smith Residence Hall.
Yes. While the Union Flex Dining Plan is mainly designed for students living off-campus, students in the residence halls can also supplement their primary University Housing dining plan with this new option for additional meals across campus. The Union Flex Dining Plan will be accepted at Wisconsin Union, University Housing, and Babcock Dairy dining locations.
If you have any questions, contact diningplan@union.wisc.edu.
The Union Flex Dining Plan will remain open until the participant graduates or withdraws from the University and any remaining funds will roll over automatically to the next semester/academic year. The renewal enrollment period provides you with the opportunity to add additional funds and charge them to your Student Account. If you need to add additional funds outside of the enrollment period to your Union Flex Dining Account, log onto the Wiscard deposit webpage. Funds must be paid via credit card or electronic check and will not be added to the Student Account Bill from the Bursar's office.