Rider University, located in Lawrenceville, New Jersey, was founded in 1865. The school was one of a chain of business schools operated by Henry B. Bryant and Henry D. Stratton, and was opened near Trenton to provide educational opportunity after the Civil War. The school's first president, Andrew Jackson Rider, was responsible for the growth and development of the school, including the admission of women in 1896.
RU was renamed Rider Business College in 1897 in recognition of the Mr. Riders efforts. The school began a liberal studies program in 1957 that allowed for the awarding of bachelor of arts degrees, and changed its name to Rider College to better reflect its expanding program offerings. The school merged with partner Westminster Choir College, located in Princeton, in 1992 and received university status in 1994, changing its name to Rider University as a result.
Academics
Today the school offers a large and diverse number of programs through its many colleges, allowing students to choose a major that best suits their career goals and plans. Programs typically take four years to complete and result in a bachelor's degree. Students will take lower and upper division courses specific to their area of study, general education courses that are required of all degree pursuing students, and a number of elective courses that allow students to experience non-major courses. Additionally, students may seek to obtain a minor degree alongside their major, requiring a set number of classes in a given subject in order to broaden one's areas of expertise.
Programs offered include:
Admissions and Financial Aid
Rider University requires any student wishing to enroll to supply a completed application, transcripts, test scores, essays and recommendations from teachers. The supplied material will be reviewed by the college, taking into account the various aspects of one's activities and education when rendering the decision for admission. Students will be notified after the final decision is made, with admitted students being provided additional information to prepare them for college life and education.
Students applying to the School of Arts will also have an additional admissions requirement in the form of an audition prior to a final decision. Graduate programs have separate requirements for admission which include having earned a bachelor's degree, strong graduate test scores and a good academic record. Graduate programs have limited enrollment and each have their own specific requirements.
Financial aid is available in the form of loans, grants, scholarships and work study programs. Students in need of financial assistance must complete the Free Application for Federal Student Aid (FAFSA), the information from which is used by the school's financial aid office to determine a student's needs and aid program eligibility prior to the disbursement of funds.
Financial aid must be reapplied for prior to each academic year and students receiving aid may be asked at ransom to supply additional tax information to be compared to the FAFSA in order to confirm the information is true and accurate.
Admission Requirements & Details
The information regarding admissions below may give you an idea of the applicants Rider University accepts. The details may include application requirements and recommendations, as well as any college credits that may be transferred.
College Credits Accepted
- Dual Credits
- Life Experience Credits
- AP Course Credits
Student Enrollment
Rider University has a total student population of about 5,100, where graduate students make up roughly 17% of the student body.
Estimated Costs & Financial Aid
The items listed below are for informational purposes only and may not represent current tuition, fees, and expenses.
Tuition & Fees Information
- Annual tuition estimates are between $38,000-$45,000 for both state residents and nonresidents
- For part-time students, charges are between $710-$850 per unit
Financial Aid Details
The table listed below helps break down the types of financial aid students receive and the percent receiving aid, as well as the average amount of aid per student per year.
| Percent of Students | Average Amount | |
|---|---|---|
| Any Financial Aid | 100% | - |
| Receiving Grants & Scholarships | 100% | $22,732 |
| Receiving Student Loans | 73% | $10,557 |
Academics & Student Services
Student Services
To help students and alumni, Rider University may offer services including:- Distance learning
- Classes offered on nights and weekends
- Remedial instructional courses
- Academic counseling for students
- Employing students to lower education costs
Graduation Rates
Rider University has an overall graduation rate which is around 66%.
| Number of Year to Graduate | Percent of Entering Class |
|---|---|
| Students Graduating in 4 Years | 55% |
| Graduating in 5 Years | 8% |
| Graduating in 6 Years | 2% |
Specialized Programs & Accreditations
Campus: Westminster Choir College of Rider University
- Music Program
- * Accredited by the National Association of Schools of Music, Commission on Accreditation (since 1941)
Campus: Rider University
- Bachelor's Degree in Nursing (BSN) Program
- * Accredited by the Commission on Collegiate Nursing Education (since 2015)
- Nursing (MSN, DSN) Program
- * Accredited by the Commission on Collegiate Nursing Education (since 2015)
- Elementary and Secondary School Teacher Education Program
- * Accredited by the National Council for Accreditation of Teacher Education (since 1973)
Intercollegiate Athletics
Rider University is a Member of National Collegiate Athletic Association (NCAA), with many of the sports belonging to the NCAA Division I-AAA classification. The most popular sports played are listed below:
- Baseball (Metro Atlantic Athletic Conference)
- Basketball (Metro Atlantic Athletic Conference)
- Track and Field (Metro Atlantic Athletic Conference)
- Field Hockey
- Golf
- Soccer
- Softball
- Swimming and Diving
- Tennis
- Volleyball
- Wrestling
Programs Offered
The program list below is organized by areas of study. The programs that have a link will direct you to the program's profile page where you can learn more about education requirements and career pathways.
Get more information about the programs offered by Rider University by clicking the request information to the right.
(C) Certificate or Award | (A) Associate's | (B) Bachelor's | (M) Master's Degree | (D) Doctorate (PhD,...)
Biological and Biomedical Sciences
- Biology (B)
- Biochemistry (B)
Business and Marketing Studies
- Accounting (B, M)
- Business Administration (A, B, M)
- Finance (B)
- Advertising and Marketing (B)
- Labor and Industrial Relations (B)
- Organizational Behavior Studies (B)
- Entrepreneurship (B)
- Business Economics (B)
- Human Resources Development (C)
- Risk Management and Insurance
- International Business
Communications and Journalism
- Public Relations (B)
- Radio and Television (B)
- Journalism (B)
- Organizational Communication (M)
- Communications (B)
- Advertising (B)
Computer and Information Sciences
- Computer (B)
- Web Design (B)
Education
- Elementary Education (B, C)
- Secondary Education (B, C)
- Teacher Education and Professional Development (M)
- Music Teacher Education (B, C, M)
- Educational Leadership and Administration (M)
- Special Education (M)
- Curriculum and Instruction (C)
- Educational, Instructional and Curriculum Supervision (C)
- Guidance Counselor (C, M)
- Special Education and Teaching (C)
- Reading Teacher and Literacy Specialist (M)
- ESL (C)
- Secondary School Administration (C)
- Early Childhood Education (C)
- Business Teacher Education (B)
- Science Teacher (B)
English Language and Literature
- English (B)
- Rhetoric and Composition (B)
Ethnic Cultural and Gender Studies
- United States Studies (B)
Family and Consumer Sciences
- Family and Consumer Sciences (C)
Foreign Languages and Literature
- French Language and Literature (B)
- German Language and Literature (B)
- Spanish Language and Literature (B)
- Russian Language and Literature
Health and Clinical Professions
History
- History (B)
Interdisciplinary Studies
- Biopsychology (B)
Liberal Arts and Sciences
- Liberal Arts (B)
- General Studies (A)
Mathematics and Statistics
- Math (B)
Natural Resources and Conservation
- Environmental Studies (B)
Philosophy and Religious Studies
Physical Sciences
Psychology
- Psychology (B)
- Applied Psychology (M)
- School Psychology (C)
- Counseling Psychology
Public Administration and Social Services
Security and Protective Services
- Criminal Justice (B)
Social Sciences
- Sociology (B)
- Political Science (B)
- International Relations (B)
- Economics (B)
Theology and Religious Vocations
- Religious and Sacred Music (B, M)
Visual and Performing Arts
- Voice and Opera (B, M)
- Dance (B)
- Piano and Organ (B, M)
- Conducting (M)
- Arts Management (B)
- Art Studies (B)
- Graphic Design (B)
- Music (B)
- Music Theory and Composition (B)
- Music History, Literature, and Theory (B)
- Directing and Theatrical Production (B)
- Music Pedagogy
Other 4-Year Private Colleges
The list of schools below have been selected by researching which schools offer similar programs to Rider University.
- The College of New Jersey in Ewing, NJ (3 miles away)
- Pennsylvania State University - Penn State Abington in Abington, PA (23 miles away)
- Rutgers University - Camden in Camden, NJ (31 miles away)
- CUNY College of Staten Island in Staten Island, NY (38 miles away)
- Kean University in Union, NJ (38 miles away)
Also, you can compare schools by looking through our list of colleges & universities:
- Compare schools and see a list of all colleges in New Jersey
- Find out what other private colleges are located in New Jersey
Data Disclaimer
Information displayed on this page has been obtained from Institution, State, and Federal data sources, including the US Dept. of Education's Integrated Postsecondary Education Data System (IPEDS) Survey 2010-2016. Information should be solely used for informational purposes only and may not be accurate for the current year. Contact Rider University for official up-to-date information.