Students at college campuses may be rapidly swiping their student ID cards in order to spend what’s left of their meal plan purse. At colleges like DePaul University in Chicago, they either use the money before the end of term or they lose it.

DePaul students living on campus are required to purchase one of four meal plans their freshman year. The plans range from $1,030 a quarter to $1,517. According to the school’s student newspaper, The DePaulia, if the pre-deposited meal plan money isn’t spent by quarter’s end, the funds will be forfeited. They can’t be carried over to next term.

Students polled about the current meal plan reported they have no intention of signing up next year. It’s not that they lose the funds it’s that the food on campus is over priced, students said.

“The prices are way too high. I am transferring schools at the end of the quarter, but if I stayed here next year, I definitely wouldn’t continue my meal plan,” said one student. “In fact, most students I know are frustrated and are not doing the meal plan next year,” she added.

“Most students that do eat here are freshmen, but the prices are so outrageously high, if it wasn’t for me having to use my meal plan, I would never choose to eat here,” said another student.

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