Dining Plan for Commuter Students and Triton Community

$1,500 ($500 Dining Dollars + $1,000 Triton Cash)

NEW! Introducing the optional Triton Community Dining Plan, available to any student enrolled at UC San Diego with or without a Housing Contract. Take advantage of the benefits offered through Triton Cash and residential dining, including promos, discounts, events, loyalty points and more!

This plan is perfect for commuter, graduate and professional students who are ineligible for residential dining plans but want to participate in one. It is separate from the plans that are already part of the incoming and continuing student Housing Contract.

For commuter, graduate and professional students:

TritonPay payment links. *available beginning 10/6/25

If you have a current 2025-26 Housing Contract, review the FAQs below.

FAQs:

Can I select this optional Dining Plan as part of my Housing Contract?

ONLY continuing students living at Pepper Canyon East/Matthews, the Rita Atkinson Residences and Pepper Canyon West Living and Learning Neighborhood can select the Dining Plan for Commuters and Triton Community as an option now until October 1, 2025, via the Housing Portal.

After October 2, 2024, continuing students living at Pepper Canyon East/Matthews, the Rita Atkinson Residences and Pepper Canyon West Living and Learning Neighborhood are encouraged to purchase the plan via TritonPay before the end of fall quarter (December 14, 2024) so they can retain their 2024-25 rollover Dining Dollar funds to the following fall quarter. Students in these housing communities can still opt out of a Dining Plan entirely, too.

I want to keep last year's Dining Dollars past the fall quarter.

Dining Dollars from the previous year are either rolled over or closed out after December 12, 2025.

If you live off campus the Triton Community Dining Plan may be purchased by December 12, 2025, to keep your 2024-25 rollover Dollars.

Students with an on-campus Housing Contract who meet the criteria to select the plan must complete their Dining Plan selection via the Housing Portal by October 1, 2025. If you miss the October 1, 2025, deadline, you can purchase the optional Dining Plan for Commuters and Triton Community via TritonPay by December 12, 2025.

How do I sign up?

The Dining Plan for Commuters and Triton Community can be purchased via Triton Pay. Alternatively, students may purchase the plan in person at the Triton Pay Office (formerly Cashier’s Office) using cash or check. As a reminder, only commuter, graduate, professional or students who opted out of a Dining Plan and did not pick a plan by October 1 should purchase via TritonPay.

1. The Dining Plan for Commuters and Triton Community may be purchased by any registered student during fall and winter quarters of the academic year.
2. The Dining Plan for Commuters and Triton Community must be paid in full at time of purchase.
3. All sales are final and nonrefundable.
4. In the event of an eCheck payment, Dining Dollars and Triton Cash funds will not be available for use until 5 business days following the purchase, allowing time for the check to process. If an eCheck payment is returned, funds will not be deposited and purchaser will be responsible for resubmitting payment.
5. The Dining Plan for Commuters and Triton Community includes $500 Dining Dollars and $1000 Triton Cash. Dining Dollars are accepted at all HDH Dining locations while Triton Cash is accepted at HDH Dining locations plus over 60 on- and off-campus third party locations.
   • Dining Dollars are nonrefundable. Dining Dollars rollover from year to year as long as a student remains enrolled in an active Dining Plan. If a student chooses not to select a Dining Plan for the next year, Dining Dollars will expire at the end of the following fall quarter. For example, Dining Dollars from academic year 2025-26 will expire at the end of Fall Quarter 2026 if a dining plan is not selected for the 2026-27 academic year.
   • Students can close their Triton Cash account when they graduate or withdraw from the University. A refund will be issued via paper check. Please contact Triton Card Accounts Services to close your account.

For detailed information about the optional Dining Plan and Triton Pay, please visit support.ucsd.edu.

Can I use financial aid to pay?

On-campus Undergraduate Housing Students

Yes, IF you meet the criteria and select the plan in the Housing Portal by October 1, 2025, you may utilize your aid to pay your housing bill/balance as long as the aid is authorized to pay those types of charges.

If you choose to purchase the plan after October 1, 2025, via TritonPay, there is not an option to use financial aid unless you utilize a financial aid refund to make the payment.

Non-Campus Housing Students (off campus, commuter, graduate students)

Students cannot use financial aid to pay as the Dining Plan for Commuters and Triton Community is not a “charge” to your account. You can buy the plan with a credit card, etc., and you may then get a refund from Financial Aid to reimburse the cost.

Full Terms and Conditions

By purchasing the Dining Plan for Commuters and Triton Community you agree to the terms and conditions, which can be found on the Dining Dollars FAQ page.