Purdue University - Campus Dining

Quick Stats

College Prowler Take

Depending on whom you ask, food at Purdue can be either excellent or inedible. On the whole, students seem to agree that Ford and Earhart are by far the best dining courts. The Union food, though overpriced, is good and easily accessible. If all else fails, there are numerous mini-marts to purchase microwave dinners, and there are grills for hamburgers, french fries, and other staples. You’ll find that upperclassmen living in apartments will often have nostalgic flashbacks to their residence hall days, and use their underclassmen friends to get into the Dining Courts.

Purdue’s award-winning dining courts serve the best food possible while still keeping nutrition in mind. They are well organized, hygienic, and create a great atmosphere for students to gather. Some students are strictly against preserved foods like tinned pineapples and do not speak well of the dining courts. At times, especially near major holidays such as Easter and Thanksgiving, dining court menus deteriorate and end up disastrous. Overall though, the dining courts do a great job in providing Purdue students with maximum amount of food to choose from.

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Students Speak Out

Anonymous says:

Cary Quad and Hillenbrand have... Cary Quad and Hillenbrand have been the mainstays of quality dining at Purdue. Earhart Hall features a court-style dining hall. My vote for the best would be the Memorial Union. 12345 Campus Dining Report

Anonymous says:

Cary has by far the most variety,... Cary has by far the most variety, plus those enormous cookies—who can argue with that? Windsor is a great place to hit up for some lunch. It’s really close to campus, and you can be back on campus with plenty of time if you only have an hour for break. The Purdue grandmas always make sure you get fed properly, ‘Would you like three cheeseburgers or four?’ Plus, they have soup everyday, as well as lots of other options. You can always find something good to eat there. 12345 Campus Dining Report

Anonymous says:

Dorm food is pretty good at... Dorm food is pretty good at certain dining halls, and it’s pretty bad at others. Some of the residence halls also have little convenience stores in them. There are also a lot of fast food places and restaurants within walking distance on all sides of campus. The Purdue Memorial Union has very good food, but it’s a little expensive. 12345 Campus Dining Report

Anonymous says:

The food is terrible. Hands down,... The food is terrible. Hands down, I have to say that Indiana (after being used to the great food in Chicago) is probably the capital of crappy food, next to England. On the other hand, if you like corn and other ‘down-on-the-farm’ food, you will love it! 12345 Campus Dining Report

Anonymous says:

The meal plans really suck; I wish... The meal plans really suck; I wish there were a five-meal plan, because I never eat breakfast. With the ten-meal plan, I never used all of the meals. There are many residence halls to eat at, and if you get tired of them, you can go get food elsewhere, or order delivery from one of many places. 12345 Campus Dining Report

Did You Know?

If you plan to work with University Dining, they give you meals before the start of your work shift, so you can save money by getting a smaller meal plan and also earn money at the same time.

You can check dining court menus at www.housing.purdue.edu/menus and then go to the place where your favorite food is being served.

During busy weeks you will usually find yourself relying on vending machines. This will result in a surplus of meal swipes on your Purdue ID. The best way to use them before they expire is to get stuff from On-the-Go locations and store it in your fridge. Remember to do this by Friday, as On-the-Go locations are open only on weekdays.

Only 25 dollars out of your Dining Dollars are allowed to be used at the Memorial Union. Save these for special occasions.

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