Dining at USC seems easy with the USCard, but the service is more complicated than it appears.
The idea behind the service is that students can use their ID cards to dine on or off campus, giving students a wide range of food types and price ranges to choose from. However, the ID card can only be used as a payment method in specific instances.
USC offers three payment methods through students’ ID cards: discretionary funds, meal swipes and dining dollars. Discretionary funds are a way to use the student ID as a debit card at limited locations. Meal swipes can only be used at USC dining halls. Dining dollars are from a prepaid balance you can purchase through USC that you can only use on campus.
With limited dining options available on campus, many students go off campus to the USC Village for a wider variety of choices. While discretionary funds can be used at some places in the Village, the overall lack of affordability compels some students to use their dining dollars and meal swipes.
“I am on the meal plan, so I have more of those swipes, and I really like all of the options here at Campus Center,” said Ben Feldman, a freshman majoring in theatre. “With the meal plan I have, it is definitely more affordable to eat at than the Village.”
The conversation around affordability seemed to shift in 2021 when restaurants at the USC Village started accepting discretionary funds. While this was a welcomed change, only five places in the USC Village currently accept discretionary funds from USCards: Rock & Reilly’s, City Tacos, Pizza Please, Greenleaf and Stout.
While students await further updates and changes to USC’s dining system, some have a clear idea about what businesses they want to see on campus.
“A McDonald’s would be nice,” said sophomore Ivan Ibarra-Moreira.
“Maybe something like a [Raising] Cane’s or something like that in the Village would be nice,” said Khusi Choudhary, a senior majoring in computer science.