Information for Parents
MIT has one of the most demanding academic environments in the world, but also offers an extremely supportive student life environment.
MIT Campus Dining knows the important role food plays in creating community. We also know that the backgrounds, tastes, values, and nutritional requests of the MIT Community vary. Our commitment is to create welcoming environments that help foster community growth around food, and dining options that accommodate everyone.
The Social Side of Dining
Meals should be a time for your son or daughter to refuel, relax and connect with friends. As academic stresses increase some students neglect their eating habits. We encourage you to talk to your student about the way they manage their daily schedule. Have conversations with your son or daughter about eating habits and remind them that good nutrition is just as important to academics as sleep and exercise.
We work to make sure students can find a meal or snack just about any time of day. Dining locations are open on a schedule that complements each other; some operations open early in the morning, some stay open late into the night. Operating hours (and changes to those hours, should they occur) are communicated through this site.
Campus Dining has operations open 7 days a week, from 7:00 AM to 11:00 PM. Convenience stores are open even later. Not all Campus Dining venues serve all meals, but breakfast, lunch, dinner and late night options are served at various locations throughout campus.
Menus, Nutrition, Special Diets
We work with representatives from MIT Medical’s Center for Health Promotion and Wellness to ensure that healthy options are available for your student. If your son or daughter adheres to a special diet (such as low fat, organic, vegetarian or vegan) he or she will find supportive menus and staff committed to helping meet most dietary needs and restrictions. We are also able to assist students with allergies in finding options that meet their needs.
House Dining
House Dining Rooms are located in Ashdown, Baker House, McCormick Hall, Next House, and Simmons Hall. Dining Rooms are open from 5:00 PM to 8:00 or 9:00 PM depending on location. House Dining locations in McCormick, Simmons and Next house are open for dinner Sunday through Thursday. Baker House Dining is open 7 days a week.
The House Dining Membership is a meal purchasing program that is required for students who reside in Ashdown, Baker, Simmons, McCormick and Next. It is voluntary for students who reside in any other residence. Akin to a shopping club program, students pay an enrollment fee then receive a 50 percent discount on any meals prepared in House Dining. Please visit the Meal Plans section of this site to learn more.
Students “Without Dining Halls”
Students who do not live in a residence with a House Dining Operation are still welcome (and encouraged!) to eat in House Dining rooms; all MIT students are welcome to dine in any House Dining room no matter where they live. These students may voluntarily enroll in House Dining Membership to take advantage of discounts, but membership is NOT required to dine.
Most MIT students purchase meals using Dining Dollars or TechCASH, which are on-campus debit accounts. All dining locations accept cash as well. There is NO separate Campus Dining Card. Dining Dollars and TechCASH accounts are housed on the MIT student ID card. MIT does NOT have the kind of traditional meal plans you’d find at other schools, to learn more about our program please visit the Meal Plans section of this site.
For more information about MIT Student Life, we invite you to visit the Division of Student Life and MIT Residential Life Web sites.
