PurposeThe purpose of this paper is to examine students’ attitudes toward sustainable dining. It aims to identify the level of importance that students place on specific on-campus sustainable dining initiatives and the factors that affect their attitudes and behaviors.Design/methodology/approachA random sample of 197 undergraduate students completed an online survey in the spring semester of 2020. The survey was divided into four sections: demographic and background information; familiarity with on-campus dining, specifically with sustainable on-campus dining initiatives; the level of importance placed on these sustainable practices; and practiced sustainable behaviors.FindingsMany students placed a high level of importance on common sustainable dining behaviors and practices such as recycling, waste reduction techniques and the use of eco-friendly utensils. Sex was found to be a significant factor in determining students’ attitudes and behaviors. While men had a higher level of knowledge of on-campus sustainable practices at the dining facilities, women consistently placed a higher level of importance on almost all sustainable dining practices. Additionally, the study also found that signage was not an effective method of influencing behavior.Originality/valuePrevious studies that have explored this topic have been limited. Additional research is needed to ascertain if better knowledge of on-campus sustainable dining initiatives can influence students’ inclinations to act more sustainably.