USF meal plans mandatory?

I plan to enroll in the University of South Florida and I’ve been to the tour and the campus looks great but Are meal plans mandatory for freshman? I don’t eat fast food. I usually cook all my meals. Is it possible to somehow get a fee-waiver type thing for meal plans because it would be a complete waste of money and It will be a struggle for me to afford a meal plan.

There is a minimum meal plan that all freshmen that live in the dorm have to purchase, I believe that it’s about 18 meals. I hope that helps. Check with Dining Services which is run by Aramark btw.