Meal Plan Dollars VS. Cardinal Dollars VS. Stanford Card Plan

Stanford Card Plan


The Stanford Card Plan (SCP) allows students to charge up to $1,000 per quarter at the Stanford Bookstore and other locations on campus. You must opt-in to the SCP in order for it to be activated. It is not refreshed in the Summer, but unused Spring funds can be used in Summer. The charges are added directly to the university bill. Like other tuition and housing fees charges associated with the SCP are subject to holds and late fees. The SCP is supposed to help students purchase books and other necessities before their financial aid is available. This is money that must be paid back and should be treated like a credit card. For more information on the Stanford Card Plan, visit the student financial services site.


Cardinal Dollars


Cardinal dollars refers to money that you have purchased online that allows you to use that money from your student ID. This allows you to use your student ID to make purchases at any R&DE retail location (including all Stanford-owned cafes and athletic concession stands listed below for your convenience). Cardinal Dollars can be purchased via the Stanford Dining website. Think of Cardinal Dollars as a way of turning your student id into a debit card at locations on campus. You won’t be able to spend more than you have, but that doesn’t mean you should spend recklessly.


Places where Cardinal Dollars are accepted:

  • Heirlooms
  • Decadence
  • Barbecue 101
  • Kikka Sushi
  • Panda Express
  • Subway
  • Starbucks
  • Forbes Family Cafe
  • The Axe & Palm
  • Alumni Cafe
  • Olives (building 160)
  • Russo Cafe
  • The Market at Munger
  • Law School Cafe
  • Med Cafe
  • SLACafe

Meal Plan Dollars


Meal Plan Dollars are included as part of several R&DE Stanford Dining plans. The dollars are built into your ID card. Use these meal plan dollars to buy food for yourself or friends and family when they visit. Only $50 dollars in meal plan dollars transfer quarter-to-quarter. A good end of the quarter solution to use up meal plan dollars you would otherwise lose is to buy food items at the Market at Munger that will last into the next quarter (peanut butter, nuts, granola, etc).


Places where meal plan dollars are accepted:

  • Heirlooms
  • BBQ 101
  • Decadence
  • Forbes Family Cafe
  • The Axe and Palm at Old Union
  • Alumni Cafe
  • Olives @ Building. 160
  • Russo Cafe
  • The Market at Munger


Stanford Guest Meals


Meal plans also come with 5 guest meals per quarter to be used in dining halls. You can use these meals on friends that are other students that don’t have a swipe for a particular meal or for a friend/family member that comes to visit. Guest meals replenish every quarter. Please keep in mind that you can’t use your guest meals on yourself.


If you any encounter any issues or broken links email stanfordfliguide@gmail.com