Blue Bucks & Dining Dollars

If you have a meal plan, you already have a pocketful of Blue Bucks and/or Dining Dollars. Both are stored on your Mcard as electronic campus cash. Just swipe your card wherever Blue Bucks or Dining Dollars are accepted and your account balance will adjust automatically.

Dining Dollars

Dining Dollars can be used in the dining halls, cafés and snack bars in our residence halls and are included in some meal plans. Dining Dollars roll over from fall to winter term and expire at the end of the academic year.

Blue Bucks

Blue Bucks are the University of Michigan’s on-campus currency and are valued by students, faculty and staff for their convenience.

Blue Bucks can be used wherever Dining Dollars are accepted, as well as, in residential laundry rooms and at dozens of other on-campus locations. They can also be used in many on-campus vending machines.

Blue Bucks are included as part of every residential meal plan. Students with meal plans can purchase additional Blue Bucks at any time. Students, staff or faculty who do not have a meal plan, but would like the convenience of a debit-type dining account, can also purchase Blue Bucks.

Blue Bucks purchased as part of a meal plan will roll over from spring/summer terms to fall term, and fall term to winter term. Blue Bucks purchased independently of a meal plan do not expire and are refundable at any time.

Blue Bucks account balances greater than $5 are refundable at the end of the winter term. If you are not registered for the Spring/Summer term(s), you may request that your Blue Bucks balance be carried over to the Fall Term by contacting University Housing.  

How to Buy Blue Bucks

No matter how you buy your Blue Bucks, they are automatically credited to your Mcard and are available for immediate use.

Online

Use our online system to purchase Blue Bucks via electronic funds transfer. After logging into the MyPlan website, select “Request Deposit” and follow the instructions. Family or friends who wish to purchase Blue Bucks for a student via electronic funds transfer must first be authorized by the student for guest access and have a MyPlan login.

During the first month of each semester, you may add purchases directly to your U-M Wolverine Access account.

In Person

Purchases can be made in person using cash or a check at a Mcard Center. During the first month of each semester, you may add purchases directly to your University account at either Mcard Center.

If you have a financial hold on your account as indicated by Wolverine Access, you won't be allowed to electronically add Blue Bucks to your account. Instead, you will need to visit an Mcard Center in person for an override to the system.

Questions

If you have questions about how to use or buy these campus currencies, please contact Residential Dining Services at hsg-bluebucks@umich.edu, or at 734.763.8250.