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2019 Best College Food in AmericaAbout this List

The 2019 Best College Food ranking is based on meal plan costs and student reviews. Top-ranked colleges offer outstanding on-campus dining—students can easily access healthy, quality food across a wide range of cuisines and dietary preferences. Read more on how this ranking was calculated.

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  1. Virginia Tech

    • 4 Year
    • Blacksburg, VA
    • 3,610
    1 Best College Food in America

    Niche User: Virginia Tech is an ideal institution for new opportunities and growth. There is such a huge amount of school spirit and pride for being a Hokie with the students, which I have never genuinely heard or seen from other institutions! Campus/student life is notably wonderful, and the majority of the students are incredibly lively and welcoming. There are so many different people on campus, and they all have their own amazing passions. The institution provides exposure to many experiences to explore like clubs, GobblerFest, athletics and football games, dorm activities, parties, hiking trails, and even checking out scenic spots on campus and throughout the town. From what I've already experienced through campus visits as a prospective Freshman for Fall 2018, I'm so stoked to fully experience and indulge in everything about my new second home!
    Read 3,610 Reviews

    • A+
      Overall Niche Grade
    • A+
      Campus Food
    • 70% Acceptance Rate
    • $18,700 Net Price
    • 1180-1360 SAT Range
    Will You Get In?

  2. University of California - Los Angeles

    • 4 Year
    • Los Angeles, CA
    • 4,754
    2 Best College Food in America

    Junior: Overall, I've had a great experience here at UCLA. The academics are incredible with very supportive professors and the campus food is top tier. My general consensus is that while most people are campus keep to themselves and are very shy, once that barrier is broken the potential to make lifelong friends is staggering. The campus is a little hilly though, so a good pair of walking shoes is an absolute necessity for happy feet. Your calves will be sculpted in no time! All in all, I am absolutely enjoying my experience here and I want to prolong it as long as possible. No regrets in deciding to get my degree here. Go Bruins!
    Read 4,754 Reviews

    • A+
      Overall Niche Grade
    • A+
      Campus Food
    • 16% Acceptance Rate
    • $14,760 Net Price
    • 1220-1450 SAT Range
    Will You Get In?

  3. Bates College

    • 4 Year
    • Lewiston, ME
    • 339
    3 Best College Food in America

    Alum: I had the best experience at Bates. The student body is intellectually curious yet super down to earth, professors are always accessible (many of whom I am still close with over a decade later), coursework/the pre-med committee is challenging but prepared me well for medical school, Maine is beautiful with great skiing and hiking nearby, and there are a bunch of really good restaurants in Lewiston with Portland only a 1/2 hour away. I met some of my best friends at Bates and had an absolute blast!
    Read 339 Reviews

    • A+
      Overall Niche Grade
    • A+
      Campus Food
    • 22% Acceptance Rate
    • $23,312 Net Price
    • 1385-1460 SAT Range
    Will You Get In?

  5. University of Massachusetts - Amherst

    • 4 Year
    • Amherst, MA
    • 3,318
    4 Best College Food in America

    Niche User: Awesome place! Very diverse, safe, and accepting. Highly recommend attending or evening visiting! I love coming to Amherst and visiting the surrounding areas. Never stepped foot on more of an intelligent, close, and loving community.
    Read 3,318 Reviews

    • A
      Overall Niche Grade
    • A+
      Campus Food
    • 58% Acceptance Rate
    • $21,281 Net Price
    • 1180-1360 SAT Range
    Will You Get In?

  6. Washington University in St. Louis

    • 4 Year
    • Saint Louis, MO
    • 1,388
    5 Best College Food in America

    Senior: WashU has opened up a lot of doors for me in terms of career exploration and pursuit. They have fantastic opportunities for research, community engagement, and intellectual pursuit. I think that they prepare their students well for life post-graduation, but I do think that the school needs to work on its accessibility to students from more diverse socioeconomic backgrounds!
    Read 1,388 Reviews

    • A+
      Overall Niche Grade
    • A+
      Campus Food
    • 16% Acceptance Rate
    • $27,777 Net Price
    • 1470-1570 SAT Range
    Will You Get In?

  7. Bowdoin College

    • 4 Year
    • Brunswick, ME
    • 661
    6 Best College Food in America

    Niche User: I love the fact that Bowdoin is a small, liberal arts college. I am someone who thrives in close teacher-student relationships, and Bowdoin provides me with such an opportunity. Further, the College's emphasizes on career development is really important. For instance, Bowdoin displays fashion shows among students and faculty to learn "what to wear and what not to wear for an interview." Further, even though Bowdoin does not have a Journalism program, they do have an English major, and also the opportunity to create one's own program/major.
    Read 661 Reviews

    • A+
      Overall Niche Grade
    • A+
      Campus Food
    • 14% Acceptance Rate
    • $24,447 Net Price
    • 1360-1510 SAT Range
    Will You Get In?
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  9. California Baptist University

    • 4 Year
    • Riverside, CA
    • 2,399
    7 Best College Food in America

    Junior: There's not a day that I regret choosing to attend CBU to pursue my BSN. The academic regimen here is top-notch, and you can't beat the homeliness and beauty of our campus. For the most part, professors are extremely kind and invested in students' success, but of course you will get those few who aren't so nice. Our food is highly rated and recommended - and for good reason. It's good quality for average prices; sometimes, I just wish we had a little more diversity with cultural choices. Safety isn't normally an issue on campus, but older cars seem to be a common target for thievery on the outer edges of the lots. I'm a commuter, so I can't say much about the dorms, but they're pretty enough from the outside! All in all, CBU is an awesome university that puts clear effort into its students and the opportunities it offers, and its a place where students find community and grow into prepared adults ready for the world.
    Read 2,399 Reviews

    • B+
      Overall Niche Grade
    • A+
      Campus Food
    • 77% Acceptance Rate
    • $25,714 Net Price
    • 980-1190 SAT Range
    Will You Get In?

  10. James Madison University

    • 4 Year
    • Harrisonburg, VA
    • 2,776
    8 Best College Food in America

    Junior: James Madison University is an outstandingly fantastic campus, which includes nice students and helpful staff. Harrisonburg may not be the biggest college town, but there’s things always going on off campus, as well as on campus grounds as well. Furthermore, studies are taken seriously, as well as any extracurriculars, especially music, which is something JMU excels at, and football, with our team going to the National Championship two times in recent years. It’s not like a big name college, such as Alabama or Notre Dame, but it has that feel of one. It has the heart of one. It has the people of one. If you’re considering applying or coming to a decision, this is definitely a great place to call home, even if it’s just for a little while. And if you aren’t considering, please do! Come take a tour of the town of Harrisonburg and the campus JMU has. It has everything a college kid needs to succeed and have a little fun as well!
    Read 2,776 Reviews

    • A
      Overall Niche Grade
    • A+
      Campus Food
    • 75% Acceptance Rate
    • $16,154 Net Price
    • 1100-1260 SAT Range
    Will You Get In?

  11. University of San Diego

    • 4 Year
    • San Diego, CA
    • 1,779
    9 Best College Food in America

    Freshman: Going to the University of San Diego is like going to summer camp year round. By that I mean, half of the time I forget I'm just here for school! The campus is so gorgeous it doesn't feel like a traditional college environment at all, and I love that about it. The class sizes are small, enough so that your professor knows you by name. Being able to develop relationships with my professors has significantly helped my academic success in the classroom. I love everything that this school stands for. They are openly accepting of persons from all races and ethnicities, economic backgrounds, and religions. There are on campus resources for minority groups such as women, women and persons of color, and LGBTQ+. The only thing I think this school lacks is the numbers of students with diversity in race and ethnicity as well as economic backgrounds. This school does much to support diverse communities on campus, but lacks in the actual numbers and representation of these minority communities.
    Read 1,779 Reviews

    • A
      Overall Niche Grade
    • A+
      Campus Food
    • 50% Acceptance Rate
    • $38,592 Net Price
    • 1180-1350 SAT Range
    Will You Get In?

  14. St. John Fisher College

    • 4 Year
    • Rochester, NY
    • 516
    10 Best College Food in America

    Senior: Fisher is an excellent choice for teacher preparation! The faculty and staff are exceptional. There are several opportunities to get involved on and off campus through athletics, clubs, community service, and field experiences. Tuition is costly, but the education you receive here is so worth every penny.
    Read 516 Reviews

    • A-
      Overall Niche Grade
    • A+
      Campus Food
    • 65% Acceptance Rate
    • $27,628 Net Price
    • 1060-1230 SAT Range
    Will You Get In?

  15. St. Norbert College

    • 4 Year
    • De Pere, WI
    • 648
    11 Best College Food in America

    Junior: The attitude and feel of community at Saint Norbert College is unlike any other. All faculty and staff live and breathe communio and truly go above and beyond for the students from the professors, the cafeteria workers, to the garbage men! Unfortunately this college is lacking when it comes to costs. SNC is incomparably over-priced. Not only that, as tuition continues to increase for students, their scholarship awards do not reflect the increase leaving students, especially those who pay their own way, suffering heavily.
    Read 648 Reviews

    • A-
      Overall Niche Grade
    • A+
      Campus Food
    • 79% Acceptance Rate
    • $25,980 Net Price
    • 1110-1230 SAT Range
    Will You Get In?

  16. University of Georgia

    • 4 Year
    • Athens, GA
    • 5,066
    12 Best College Food in America

    Junior: Living on campus as a freshman or beyond, it is very easy to become involved. There are many campus organizations that are seeking student involvement and that host events. From my experience, professors are interested in you doing your best, so they work well with their students to help them succeed. Living in the area is nice- there is a nice scene downtown. There are good restaurants, concerts are always going on in the theater, there are good places to shop, and you're not too far from Atlanta or north Georgia!
    Read 5,066 Reviews

    • A+
      Overall Niche Grade
    • A+
      Campus Food
    • 54% Acceptance Rate
    • $15,934 Net Price
    • 1200-1370 SAT Range
    Will You Get In?

  18. Kendall College

    • 4 Year
    • Chicago, IL
    • 305
    13 Best College Food in America

    Junior: I love being able to get my degree on-line while working full time. I wouldn't change anything. From Financial Aid to the professors, everything is great!
    Read 305 Reviews

    • B
      Overall Niche Grade
    • A+
      Campus Food
    • 71% Acceptance Rate
    • $30,324 Net Price
    • — SAT Range
    Will You Get In?

  19. Gustavus Adolphus College

    • 4 Year
    • Saint Peter, MN
    • 784
    14 Best College Food in America

    Freshman: Gustavus is a fantastic place for an undergraduate degree. What attracted me most to the school was the strong community and support for all students. The professors really care your success, and they care about you as a person. Anyone on campus will refer you to the best place of help for what you need. The food is really good, as far as college cafeterias go. The campus is in a nice small town, 15 minutes from Mankato and one hour from the twin cities. There are lots of parks and nature to explore nearby, like Seven Mile Creek County Park (I went there on a class field trip!). My favorite place on campus is definitely the arboretum!
    Read 784 Reviews

    • A
      Overall Niche Grade
    • A+
      Campus Food
    • 68% Acceptance Rate
    • $29,894 Net Price
    • 1080-1340 SAT Range
    Will You Get In?

  20. St. Olaf College

    • 4 Year
    • Northfield, MN
    • 685
    15 Best College Food in America

    Freshman: Great school with great people. Can be challenging, but that's college! The professors really care about their students and most of them have amazing educations themselves so they're well versed on many topics. Small class sizes make it so it's easier to connect with teachers and peers.
    Read 685 Reviews

    • A
      Overall Niche Grade
    • A+
      Campus Food
    • 43% Acceptance Rate
    • $27,587 Net Price
    • 1150-1400 SAT Range
    Will You Get In?

  21. Hendrix College

    • 4 Year
    • Conway, AR
    • 445
    16 Best College Food in America

    Junior: Hendrix College has incredible academics, passionate professors, excellent extracurricular opportunities, a strong alumni network, and a friendly, yet competitive, atmosphere. There is a clear "Work Hard, Play Hard" mentality among the students here. Professors take personal interests in their students, and the rigorous course loads pay off in spades. Hendrix College can be way too stressful at times, but at the end of the day, there are plenty of resources to help those in need of stress relief. The student housing for underclassmen, however, is abysmal. The dorms are not in the best shape, but there are plans to renovate in the next 5 years. The student Quad is better, yet the walls are so thin you can hear the student above you sneezing. The apartments are better, but they are sometimes a crap-shoot. Overal, the summer opportunities, Odyssey Program, academics, decent level of financial help, and extremely liberal atmosphere makes the high price tag worth it.
    Read 445 Reviews

    • A-
      Overall Niche Grade
    • A+
      Campus Food
    • 80% Acceptance Rate
    • $22,089 Net Price
    • 1100-1410 SAT Range
    Will You Get In?

  22. Wheaton College - Illinois

    • 4 Year
    • Wheaton, IL
    • 581
    17 Best College Food in America

    Alum: I'm thrilled to have recently obtained my master’s degree from Wheaton College. The challenges that were put before us have definitely strengthened my perseverance and faith. The enthusiasm of the professors and their personal love of God have been a major highlight. Being exposed to that encouraged more enthusiasm and deeper, more analytical thinking. I also appreciate how approachable and reachable the professors have been. They have certainly been our professors, but in many cases we also have come to feel a sense of kindred spirits and friendship with them.
    Read 581 Reviews

    • A
      Overall Niche Grade
    • A+
      Campus Food
    • 85% Acceptance Rate
    • $30,021 Net Price
    • 1230-1410 SAT Range
    Will You Get In?

  25. Cornell University

    • 4 Year
    • Ithaca, NY
    • 1,804
    18 Best College Food in America

    Junior: I transferred to Cornell University as a sophomore for the academic opportunities. I decided that I wanted to pursue a veterinary career, and Cornell offered the chance to work alongside animals (from dissections to live animals-sometimes even waking up at 6:30AM to help at the farm), other pre-vets, and the chance to shadow and volunteer at the graduate veterinary school (I was so lucky to work in a coagulation lab with a few experienced lab researchers). Making the decision to transfer was one of the best choices I've ever made; I feel that the Cornell education cannot be replicated elsewhere and I'm even more passionate about becoming a veterinarian after studying here!
    Read 1,804 Reviews

    • A+
      Overall Niche Grade
    • A+
      Campus Food
    • 13% Acceptance Rate
    • $31,449 Net Price
    • 1390-1550 SAT Range
    Will You Get In?

  26. University of Oregon

    • 4 Year
    • Eugene, OR
    • 3,283
    19 Best College Food in America

    Sophomore: I am an Oregon resident that chose the University of Oregon for my undergraduate education. Looking back at my freshman year, I made so many new friends that have become my closest buddies. My on campus living experience was undeniably one of my best years! After my freshman year, just two months ago, I was in a terrible accident and am now paralyzed. My friends have been by my side throughout this experience and U of O strives to be one of most progressive disability accessible universities around. So, regardless of my paralysis, I am definitely looking forward to returning this fall for my sophomore year and would recommend this school to all!
    Read 3,283 Reviews

    • A-
      Overall Niche Grade
    • A+
      Campus Food
    • 83% Acceptance Rate
    • $15,100 Net Price
    • 1080-1270 SAT Range
    Will You Get In?

  27. Liberty University

    • 4 Year
    • Lynchburg, VA
    • 6,618
    20 Best College Food in America

    Alum: I am a graduate of Liberty University's business school. I received my MBA while working full-time and taking a full-time class load. After looking around at various graduate schools, I chose Liberty due to its affordability, reputation, and its accreditation.

    Due to discounts through work, my MBA had a total cost of approximately $16,000 for the entire program! Otherwise, the degree is still an extremely affordable option with a price of around $24,000 for the entire program. In comparison, I considered some schools in my state of North Carolina - one of which was the University of North Carolina at Chapel Hill. Even in the online track, UNC's website stated that the MBA program would cost a minimum of $99,000 total!

    I found Liberty to be very challenging and thorough. Please note: if you are not good at writing, you may not do very well in this graduate school. Our assignments were comprised of writing 90% of the time.
    Read 6,618 Reviews

    • A-
      Overall Niche Grade
    • A+
      Campus Food
    • 30% Acceptance Rate
    • $26,954 Net Price
    • 1040-1240 SAT Range
    Will You Get In?

  28. Rice University

    • 4 Year
    • Houston, TX
    • 1,002
    21 Best College Food in America

    Niche User: I love the community atmosphere. Everyone works together to expand on similar desires. Rice as a whole is a college that fuels specific passions! As a person living with a low-income, Rice is determined to help give me FULL FREE tuition to attend their campus because they see my potential. Rice is very specific in it's majors, and the one thing that may be open for improvement is the expansion of their courses to incorporate and be strong in all degree fields.
    Read 1,002 Reviews

    • A+
      Overall Niche Grade
    • A+
      Campus Food
    • 16% Acceptance Rate
    • $24,131 Net Price
    • 1490-1580 SAT Range
    Will You Get In?

  29. Wesleyan University

    • 4 Year
    • Middletown, CT
    • 684
    22 Best College Food in America

    Alum: Wesleyan University is known for being a weird place, but in the best way possible. It is full of original people who are able to be fully themselves and still find their niche. The campus is beautiful and the students are deeply engaged in extracurriculars. There is not night life around campus, so our campus is the night life -- filled with house parties! Also the food is actually really good.
    Read 684 Reviews

    • A+
      Overall Niche Grade
    • A+
      Campus Food
    • 16% Acceptance Rate
    • $24,251 Net Price
    • 1300-1480 SAT Range
    Will You Get In?

  32. University of New Hampshire

    • 4 Year
    • Durham, NH
    • 2,524
    23 Best College Food in America

    Freshman: I love the University of New Hampshire. I personally prefer a bigger campus rather than a smaller one, if you agree then this is the right college for you! There are a lot of students attending UNH, which for some may be overwhelming, but for me it means there is more diversity than most schools. With high numbers of undergraduate students, it is not hard to make friends here. There is always something to do and always opportunities to meet new people. From intramural sports, to clubs, to even simply watching a movie in the Memorial Union Building, it is impossible to be bored while at UNH! Not only is there so much to do, but the campus itself is beautiful and massive, so if you are not into watching movies or sitting around, then taking a stroll around this campus is great.
    Read 2,524 Reviews

    • A-
      Overall Niche Grade
    • A+
      Campus Food
    • 77% Acceptance Rate
    • $22,888 Net Price
    • 1070-1260 SAT Range
    Will You Get In?

  33. Kennesaw State University

    • 4 Year
    • Kennesaw, GA
    • 3,682
    24 Best College Food in America

    Senior: Let's start with the campus. KSU's campus is genuinely pretty. The buildings seem new, are well maintained and the landscaping is beautiful. Parking is ridiculously cheap too! There are plenty of dining and coffee options, including Starbucks, and the gym has everything you need, whether you're into cardio or weights. I only have experience with nursing teachers. The classes have been easy so far but I wish the material was a bit more rigorous, to be honest. Some of the professors seem incredibly knowledgable and some...not so much. The one thing that attracted me to KSU was the availability of help. If you have questions for admissions, counseling, financial aid, or program specific information, they always answer within 24 hours and they treat you like a person, not a number. Both faculty and staff are helpful and just seem nice. I have had nothing but pleasant interactions with faculty, staff and students. It's just a welcoming environment.
    Read 3,682 Reviews

    • B
      Overall Niche Grade
    • A+
      Campus Food
    • 61% Acceptance Rate
    • $17,929 Net Price
    • 1080-1240 SAT Range
    Will You Get In?

  34. Ashland University

    • 4 Year
    • Ashland, OH
    • 679
    25 Best College Food in America

    Sophomore: Ashland University has many enrichment opportunities both within academics and in student life. There are a lot of student organizations, study abroad trips, and campus events. A very good experience overall!
    Read 679 Reviews

    • B
      Overall Niche Grade
    • A+
      Campus Food
    • 74% Acceptance Rate
    • $20,201 Net Price
    • 960-1180 SAT Range
    Will You Get In?
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