EDWARDSVILLE, Ill. – Southern Illinois University Edwardsville (SIUE) Dining Services has earned top honors, ranked as Illinois’ “Best College Food” by scholastic research company Niche.
Niche also ranked SIUE Dining Services as 131st best in the nation. The rankings come via Niche’s “2025 Best College Food in America” list.
Niche evaluates 1,426 colleges and universities nationwide based on real student reviews, meal plan affordability, and overall dining experience. SIUE outperformed 49 institutions in Illinois to secure the top spot.
Dennis Wobbe, Director of Dining Services at SIUE, said that dining services is hoping to offer more variety of food options over the summer and incorporate those into the fall and spring semesters.
Niche’s ranking methodology is based on 85% student surveys on food quality, variety, and overall satisfaction, and 15% affordability of meal plans compared to value.
SIUE Dining Services was recognized for its commitment to quality, variety, and affordability in campus dining, offering fresh, made-to-order meals and accommodating dietary needs. The university has a student committee board where students provide their opinions and critique the food, ensuring continuous improvement in dining services. SIUE Dining Services currently offers mobile ordering for Paavo’s Pizza and plans to expand this service to different areas.
This recognition highlights SIUE’s dedication to providing excellent dining experiences for its students, setting a standard for college food excellence.
All facts from this article were gathered by KTVI journalists. This article was converted into this format with assistance from artificial intelligence. It has been edited and approved by KTVI staff.