Dining Services: Best in State

K-State Dining Services is the Best in Kansas

Nov. 1, 2018 — Kansas State University has the best college dining program in Kansas, according to a set of rankings from Niche, a website that ranks schools, companies and neighborhoods.

In its 2019 list of the nation’s best colleges, Niche assigned a separate ranking to several individual aspects of college life, including academics, campus, residence halls, student life and food. The food category caught the attention of Foodservice Director magazine, which noted the rankings were further broken down by state and published the results. In “The Best College Dining Program in Each State,” the magazine added comments about dining at K-State.

"The Manhattan school offers its 5,000-plus students three dining centers as well as a number of c-stores, restaurants and coffee shops. Its Union Station by JP’s is the school’s first gastropub, serving up beer, wine, cocktails and a variety of food options. Students looking for some bar grub to go can order through the concept’s Fast Track counter."

Housing and Dining Services at K-State has recently undertaken several projects to update or add to its facilities. The new Kramer Dining Center, Union Station by JP’s and Fast Track will soon be joined by renovations to Derby Dining Center. What hasn’t changed is the department’s approach to serving students.

“It is an honor to be recognized by a national publication as the best college foodservice in Kansas. The distinction serves to validate our success in meeting student needs through facilities design, but also through concept development, menu planning, and quality food production and service,” said Mary Molt, associate director of housing and dining services. “While we hear accolades daily from students, it is nice to be shown such national regard.”

K-State ranked highly in several other categories of the Niche rankings. Student life and the Manhattan campus were also No. 1 in the state, with national rankings of 37 and 26, respectively.