36 best college dining halls in America

NEW YORK — It’s officially spring again. That means, thousands and thousands of high school seniors are deciding where to go to school for the next four years. If you’re anything like us, food is definitely a factor in this all important decision.

From big state universities to smaller liberal arts colleges, these schools can be seen as varied from each other like night and day. What they all have in common, though, is a priority for good eats.

While it’s easy to hit up local spots around campus, you may be more curious about what the university itself has to offer in the food department.

Luckily for you, Spoon University tried to make this choice a little easier by rounding up 36 of the best dining halls in the country. If you’re lookin’ for a campus with decked out meals available just for you, check it out.

1. Boston University (Boston, Massachusetts): The Fresh Food Company at Marciano Commons or "Bay State"

This modern dining hall boasts a double-decker layout. Embrace the freshman fifteen in this all-you-can-eat dining option with BU’s dining points or cash. According to students, this is the best dining hall option at BU. Get your grill cravings satisfied or find your vegan/gluten-free necessities at the Rise Café in the basement.

Sample menu: Seafood Cioppino, Chili Bean Tostada Braised Chicken Taco, Grilled Lemon Brined Pork Chop, Mahi-Mahi Fish Taco, Shrimp Louis Salad, Jack in the Box Burger, California Strawberry Cheesecake, CPK California Club Pizza.

Location: 100 Bay State Road, Boston, MA 02215
Hours of operation: Mon-Fri: 7 am-9 pm; Sat: 8 am-9 pm; Sun: 10 am-9 pm

2. Brandeis University (Waltham, Massachusetts): Lower Usdan

Students at Brandeis absolutely love Lower Usdan. From the Garden Bar with a great amount of ingredients to make your own perfect salad, to the Usdan diner with dishes like hamburgers, cheese quesadillas, and french fries—you can definitely find what you’re looking for here.

Sample menu: Tabouleh salad, Hummus, Jerk Chicken Thighs, Steamed Brown Rice, Vegetable Pakoras, Grilled Balsamic Fresh Eggplant, Zucchini & Yellow Squash, Sundried Tomato & Feta Pizza.

Location: Usdan Student Center, Waltham, Massachusetts 02453
Hours of operation: Mon-Fri: 8 am-7 pm; Sat-Sun: 11 am-7 pm

3. Bucknell University (Lewisburg, Pennsylvania): Bostwick Cafeteria

This buffet-style dining hall is the claim to Freshman 15 for Bucknell students. Stations like Egg Bar, Fresh Stock (soup station), Main Street Grille, Route 15 (comfort food), University Deli, Pizza Pasta, Dessert, Whole Body (vegan and vegetarian station), and Mongo Fresh (Mongolian BBQ/stir fry station) have students lining up for more.

Sample menu: Mushroom Swiss Burger, Baked Potato Bar, Fried Cauliflower, Sweet Potato Fries, Chicken Noodle Soup, Butternut Squash Bisque Soup, Jamaican Jerk Chicken, Beef & Cheesy Mac Casserole, Fresh Mixed Vegetables, Roasted Sweet Potatoes, Adobe Roast Pork.

Location: 701 Moore Ave, Lewisburg, Pennsylvania 17837
Hours of operation: (For all-you-can-eat option) Mon-Fri: 6 am-12 am; Sat-Sun: 8 am-12 am

4. Columbia University (New York, New York): Ferris

Ferris Dining Hall has the classic student necessities like pizza, pasta and salad bar, paninis, cereal, a beligan waffle maker, and a daily hot food station.

Sample menu: French Toast, Homestyle Oatmeal, Scrambled Eggs, Breakfast Potatoes, Breakfast Ham, Turkey Sausage, Ham and Potato Frittata, Vegan Mushroom & Garlic Pizza, Mexican Pizza, Meatball Hero, Chicken Noodle Soup, Cream of Broccoli Soup, Chicken Quesadilla, Roasted Salmon.

Location: 116th Street and Broadway, New York, New York 10027
Hours of operation: Mon-Fri: 7:30 am-8 pm; Sat: 9:30 am-8 pm; Sun: Closed

5. Cornell University (Ithaca, New York): Becker House Dining Room

Located in Becker Hall, this Cornell dining experience boasts freshly baked calzones, sushi, and guacamole. There’s also varied theme nights, including: Asian, Mexican, and Italian. Oh, and there’s Sunday Brunch, too.

Sample menu: Becker Omelet Bar, Becker Fresh Squeezed Orange Juice, French Toast, Home Fried Potatoes, Vegetable Soup, Cornell Chicken & Rice Soup, Miso Vegetable Soup with Udon Noodles, Pork Sausage Link, Black Beans & Rice, Scrambled Eggs, Fresh Zucchini, Chicken Breast Sandwich, Grilled Turkey Burger, Fried Fish Sandwich, Veggie Burger, Assorted Salad Selections, Greek Style Yogurt, Dim Sum, Roasted Pork Loin, Pasta Bake Vegetable, Becker Boneless Jumbo Chicken Wings, Koko’s Sesame Broccoli & Tofu, Baked Potato Bar.

Location: Carl Becker House, Cornell University, Ithaca, New York 14853
Hours of operation: Mon, Tues, Thurs, Fri: 7:30 am-5 pm; Wed: 7:30 am-8 pm; Sat: 8 am-5 pm; Sun: 8 am-2 pm

6. Dartmouth College (Hanover, New Hampshire): Collis Café

Dartmouth students and locals alike flock to Collis Café for many of their meals. A central hub for social meet-ups and club meetings, Collis Café offers breakfast, lunch, and dinner.

For breakfast, there is a made-to-order omelet and egg bar, smoothie bar, and oatmeal bar. The lunch offerings include a made-to-order stir-fry, omelet and egg bar, daily lunch special, soup bar, pre-made sandwiches and sushi, made-to-order sandwich bar, salad bar, and smoothie bar. Collis Café dinner has a stir-fry, made-to-order pasta bar, soups, sandwiches, salad, sushi, smoothies, and drinks.

There is also a baked good section with vegan and gluten-free treats. Collis has “Late Night Collis” seven days a week, offering mozzarella sticks, chicken nuggets, cinnamon rolls, and crêpes (to name a few!).

Sample menu: Thai Chicken Noodle Soup, Split Pea Soup, Vegan Baked Penne, Chicken Florentine Soup, Indian Red Bean & Curry, Singapore Street Noodles, Cheddar Ale Soup, Roasted Chicken Thighs, White Chicken Chili, Eggplant Curry, Seafood Chowder, Shepard’s Pie.

Location: Collis Center, Hanover, New Hampshire 03755
Hours of operation: Mon-Fri: 7 am-8 pm; Sat-Sun: Closed

7. Georgia Institute of Technology (Atlanta, Georgia): North Avenue Dining

This newly renovated all-you-can-eat dining hall has students flocking to it due to a variety of dining choices and late-night hours during the school week. Some student favorites at North Avenue Dining are the Wok station and noodles.

Sample menu: Potato Leek Soup, Sweet Potato and Black Bean Chili, Herb Seasoned Breadsticks, Hamburger, Classic Cheeseburger on a Toasted Bun, Cheese Quesadilla, French Fries, Carrot & Celery Sticks, Grilled Vegetable Reuben Sandwich, Herb Roasted Turkey Breast, Spicy Hummus, Quinoa with Squash.

Location: North Ave NW, Atlanta, Georgia 30332
Hours of operation: Mon-Thurs: 7 am-2 am; Fri: 7 am-10 pm; Sat: 10 am-10 pm; Sun: 10 am-2 am

8. Georgetown University (Washington, D.C., United States): Leo's

Featuring both a formal dining experience on the main floor and casual dining experience downstairs, Leo’s has many options for students. The ground floor offers a salad bar, pasta station, vegetarian/vegan station, “home” station, burrito station, wok station, and sandwich station. The downstairs has a smaller salad and sandwich bar, pizza bar, grill, desserts, and fruit.

Sample menu: Scrambled Eggs, Pancakes, French Toast, Tater Tots, Pasta with Marinara Sauce, Three Cheese Pasta, Steaka, Chicken, Fish, Steamed Vegetables, Grilled Cheese, Hamburger, Chocolate Chip Cookies, Sugar Cookies, Oatmeal Raisin Cookies, Ice Cream.

Location: Washington, D.C. 20057
Hours of operation: Mon-Thurs: 7 am-11 pm; Fri: 7 am-2:30 pm; Sat: 9:30 am-8 pm; Sun 9:30 am-11 pm

9. Johns Hopkins University (Baltimore, Maryland): Fresh Food Cafe "The FFC"

Get ready, foodies. This dining hall is operated by Bon Appètit. We know, we’re jealous too. The FFC has shown a continued commitment to locally sourced foods and environmentally beneficial causes like Meatless Mondays.

The FFC has typical dining hall foods like chicken, burgers, pizza, bagels, salad bar, etc. Another feature of the dining hall is their sandwiches and paninis of the week. They also have a station that changes bi-weekly that offers either Japanese stir fry, Mongolian barbecue, quesadillas, and macaroni and cheese.

Sample menu: Cage Free Scrambled Eggs, Red Bliss Homefries, Grilled Canadian Bacon, Country Biscuits & Sausage Gravy, Whole Grain Pancakes, Indian Harvest Breakfast Cereal, Pastrami Crusted Roasted Turkey Breast, Omelets Made-to-Order, Sauteed Beets, Lemon Caper Chicken, Saffron Risotto, Steamed Broccolini with Lemon, Crepes with Goat Cheese and Grilled Vegetables.

Location: Homewood Campus at Johns Hopkins University, Baltimore, Maryland 21218
Hours of operation: Mon-Fri: 7 am-8 pm; Sat-Sun: 10 am-8 pm; Sun-Thurs late night dinner: 9 pm-12 am

10. Lafayette College (Easton, Pennsylvania): Lower Farinon

Pre-packaged meals or made-to-order: Lower Farinon’s got the goods. Be it breakfast foods, sandwiches, or pasta—you can find it here. Fresh made sushi is “Lower’s” newest addition.

Sample menu: Grilled Beef Burger with Carved Ham, Fried Egg, and Jalapeño Hollandaise, Truffle and Boursin Burger, Grilled Cheese Burger Melt, Grilled Chicken and Cajun Shrimp Burger, Edamame and Quinoa Burger, 6 or 12 Piece Wings, Meatballs and Marinara, Tortellini Carbonara, Chicken and Broccoli Alfredo, Tomato and Asparagus with Garlic-Oil

Location: 730 High Street, Easton, Pennsylvania 18042
Hours of operation: Mon-Fri: 9 am-1 am; Sat-Sun: 11 am-1 am

Click here for the full list.