Being vegan in college doesnt have to mean only eating noodles with pasta sauce. Even if your university isnt the best at accommodating those with plant-based diets, its totally possible to be a vegan college student and still eat a well-balanced diet. Here are some vegan survival tips so you can make the most of your first four vegan years away from home:

First off, if youre still applying to college and a university with exceptional vegan accommodations is important to you, be sure to check the peta2 Vegan Report Card. Schools receive a letter grade based on how well the vegan options are at the dining hall, whether they label their vegan foods and if they participate in Meatless Mondays. Some schools with A grades include Yale, University of North Texas and American University. Schools on the lower end of the grading scale includeYork College and The Julliard School.

Once youre actually at your universitys dining hall, theres a chance that the vegan entree might get a little repetitive. Usually the side dishes of other entrees are vegan, such as green beans or sweet potatoes. Dont be afraid to ask for the just the sides and make a meal of them all.

Figure out other dining hall hacks specific to your university, whether its bringing your own dairy-free ice cream put on top of a favorite vegan dessert or getting to know the employees so they give you a little extra serving.

If you dont have a kitchen most college freshmen start off with a standard bedroom and a roommate its important to strike a balance between having handy tools and not turning a whole closet-sized bedroom into a makeshift kitchen.

The essentials (if you can even fit them) include a mini-fridge, a microwave and a small container for dry/pantry foods. Stock up the fridge with dairy-free products such as soy yogurt and different alternative milks, and snag as many veggies as you can from the dining hall salad bar to keep on hand.

In case theres going to be a late-night study session thatll keep you locked in your room, grocery shop for some easy frozen vegan meals that you can just pop in the microwave. The brand Amys is a lifesaver; they offer a wide variety of foods that most vegans cant traditionally eat, such as wait for it mac and cheese.

A non-traditional kitchen tool to have in your dorm room (if youve got the space)? A rice cooker. Stay with me just make a batch of rice for a few days, add in some veggies from the dining hall, topped with teriyaki or soy sauce and throw it into a Tupperware. Theres minimal cleanup and uncooked rice is super cheap when purchased in bulk.

There are even some ultra-cute and affordable mini rice cookers that make about three cups of rice without taking up too much space. Buy one from Urban Outfitters for $29.99 (its millennial pink!), or one from Crate and Barrel for $19.99.

Dining hall food can definitely get boring after a while. If you havent gone off campus a lot, go out and try new restaurants around your college that offer vegan options. This can be a great way to bond with a new roommate or classmate and change up your surroundings.

If you live near New York City, Boston or Los Angeles. Big cities often have plenty of vegan cafes and restaurants. Check out the vegan chain By Chloe. They also do great mac and cheese topped with shiitake mushroom bacon (*drool*).

But theres usually something for everyone, even if you dont live in a major city.

Last but not least, peep this guide to the Top Accidentally Vegan Foods by peta2. Everyone knows that the best vegan snack is a couple of Oreos (but it might not be for everyone, since it is only sort of vegan because of its risk for cross contamination with milk), but there are a lot of other indulgent, traditional snack foods that you can still enjoy as a vegan.

Some of the most surprising items from the list? Hersheys Chocolate Syrup and Thomass New York Style Bagels.

Now get out there and win the vegan college life!

Kalina Newman is a Boston University student and a USA TODAY digital producer.

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How to survive as a vegan in college - USA TODAY College