With dining costs climbing and parking spaces shrinking, many TCU commuters say grabbing a quick meal between classes has become a frustrating balancing act.
As prices for on-campus dining rise — with Market Square entry now $7.50 and Gutierrez Hall at $15 — students without meal plans are stuck paying premium prices or risking their parking spots.
Gutierrez Hall offers high convenience, proximity and food quality compared with other dining options. Still, many commuters say the higher cost makes eating there often a difficult cost to justify.
Some students have started meal prepping or limiting purchases to save money. Others rely on quick snacks between classes just to make it through the day.
Sophomore commuter and early childhood education major Savannah Cawthron said she attempts to plan ahead to avoid buying expensive meals on campus.
“I’m fortunate to live only two hours from home,” Cawthron said. “Every break, my mom makes me a few meals and freezes them so I can bring them back with me.”
Cawthron brings one of those meals on days when her schedule allows time to eat.
“On the days I don’t have a meal prepped, I end up buying food on campus or nearby,” Cawthron said. “That can range anywhere from $8 to $15 for one meal.”
Cawthron said the prices add up quickly, and the portions or balance of meals sometimes leave her hungry again before the day is over.
First-year commuter and nursing major Katlyn Tran faces similar challenges balancing cost and convenience.
“I have to limit myself to one thing a day, and it has to come from off campus,” Tran said.
According to TCU Dining Services, the university offers flexible meal plans and several dining venues, including the new Gutierrez Hall, with diverse menu stations and longer hours.
For commuters, though, the problem extends beyond pricing. Leaving campus to find cheaper food often means losing a hard-to-find parking space, adding another layer of frustration.
Many students say they feel “price-locked” into campus dining. Rising meal costs, short breaks between classes and limited parking make a simple lunch one of the hardest parts of a commuter’s day.
