The food scene at Farmingdale State College

September 25, 2025

By Shain Hanover 

FARMINGDALE, N.Y.  - Food is a daily priority for most college students, it is no different at Farmingdale State College. Many students look for something quick to grab between classes, as they can choose snacks from vending machines located throughout campus. If they have more time, they can choose options such as the Campus Center Food Court, an all-you-can-eat dining hall called POPs, Starbucks, and Books ‘n Beans, the library cafe. While some students feel that dining options are convenient and reasonably priced, others feel that quality and variety need improvement. 

The Yik Yak app, which is a forum for anonymous student posts, recently had a post that there was going to be Chick-Fil-A coming to the Campus Center. On the first day of class, one post mentioned a Halal truck giving away free food. Students use the platform to keep others informed about food options popping up on campus. 

The Campus Center Food Court is the main dining hall. It can be busy during lunchtime offering foods such as pizza, salads, hot meals, sandwiches, and snacks. Students in search of a lighter meal have options at the Aramark-run coffee stands or the library cafe which offers grab and go foods such as bagels, wraps, and drinks. 

Food Cost is a major concern. Based on Farmingdale’s On Campus Food & Dining Services page on their website, dining plans can cost $9.70 per meal for commuters, depending on selections. Many students are commuters and feel the strain of pricing, staying healthy and eating well is another challenge. Although salad bars offer vegetables and lean proteins, vegetarian and vegan students feel variety is limited. A student review on Niche said: “Myself and many other students have our complaints about our experience on campus. To start, the campus dining hall closes at 7:30PM and has no available food options past 8PM. Sure, the dorms do have vending machines, but we have nowhere on campus to get real food at a later time. Speaking of the food, the selections we are given on campus are repetitive and frankly not very good.”

Campus dining services have made small adjustments over the past few years based on student feedback which include more pre-made salads and drink options. The campus is also exploring ways to improve sustainability and reduce food waste. The campus takes students' input very seriously. 

Students continue to weigh the options, taking convenience, cost, and quality into consideration when deciding on where and what to eat. Some students dine out of necessity, while others bring meals from home or take advantage of off campus eateries. Dining is a lively subject at Farmingdale, not only due to hunger but also related to student satisfaction and how it affects campus life.