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Rider University

Lawrenceville, NJ·Private nonprofit·3,106 students
Last updated: March 22, 2026

A good fit for students who want accessible admissions and students who prefer a mid-size campus. no major red flags in the data. financial aid brings net price below sticker.

79%
Accept
3,106
Students
$24,792
Net Price
61%
Grad Rate
$54,100
Earnings
10 yr
$26,130
Debt

About This School

Rider University is a private nonprofit institution located in Lawrenceville, New Jersey with approximately 3,106 undergraduate students enrolled. Rider University has an open or accessible admissions process, with an acceptance rate of 79%. The average net price after financial aid is $24,792 per year. The graduation rate is 61%, and the typical graduate earns $54,100 within 10 years of enrollment.

Rider University is a private university in Lawrence Township, New Jersey, United States. It consists of three academic units: the Norm Brodsky College of Business, the College of Liberal Arts and Sciences, which includes Westminster Choir College, and the College of Education and Human Services.

The numbers tell a mixed story here: the 63% graduation rate is below average for a private university, meaning roughly 1 in 3 students who start don't finish — worth asking admissions why. On the financial side, things look more reasonable, with a median debt of $20,500 and median earnings of $54,100 a decade out, suggesting graduates do manage to get ahead of their loans. Worth considering if you're drawn to a small, personal campus experience in central New Jersey and have a clear academic plan to stay on track to graduation.

Founded
1865
Setting
Large suburb
Avg Faculty Salary
$11,615

Popular Programs

Business & Marketing29%
Visual & Performing Arts15%
Education10%
Psychology9%
Computer Science7%
Communications5%
Health Professions5%
Social Sciences3%

Percentage of degrees awarded. Source: College Scorecard.

Notable Alumni

Jason ThompsonYannick Nézet-SéguinSoon-Yi PrevinElly GriffithsMark S. Schweiker

Source: Wikidata. Used for context only.

Admissions

Test Policy: Considered but not required

SAT Scores

Average Composite1227
Reading 75th %ile670
Math 75th %ile650

ACT Scores

Midpoint Composite30

Cost & Financial Aid

In-State Tuition
$41,120
Out-of-State Tuition
$41,120
Avg Net Price
$24,792
after aid

Net Price by Family Income

Under $30k$15,824
$30–48k$18,090
$48–75k$22,119
$75–110k$28,445
$110k+$31,574

Average annual cost after grants/scholarships, by household income. Source: U.S. Department of Education College Scorecard.

Financial Aid

Students receiving Pell Grants35%
Median debt at graduation$26,130

Full Cost

After Graduation

Graduation Rate
61%
within 6 years
Retention Rate
78%
freshmen returning
Earnings (10 yr)
$54,100
after enrollment
Median Debt
$26,130
at graduation

Earnings 6 Years After Enrollment, by Gender

Male graduates$43,700
Female graduates$41,000

Gap: 6% less for female graduates. National avg ~16%.

What Each Major Actually Earns

Median earnings four years after graduation, by major, next to the national median for that same major at every college. The school-wide average hides this: at most schools the spread between the best- and worst-paying majors is far wider than the gap between schools.

Rider University graduates earn most above the national rate in Health Services/Allied Health/Health Sciences, General ($79,664 vs $61,296 nationally), and most below it in Criminal Justice and Corrections ($50,173 vs $55,378).

MajorGradsHereNationalDiff
Teacher Education and Professional Development, Specific Levels and Methods78$60,178$47,382+$12,796
Psychology, General74$57,202$50,706+$6,496
Business Administration, Management and Operations66$69,423$68,257+$1,166
Finance and Financial Management Services49$88,405$83,343+$5,062
Criminal Justice and Corrections40$50,173$55,378−$5,205
Accounting and Related Services39$91,950$76,194+$15,756
Marketing34$67,230$69,303−$2,073
Music31$43,753$42,892+$861
Health Services/Allied Health/Health Sciences, General21$79,664$61,296+$18,368
Human Resources Management and Services21$70,122$68,069+$2,053
Design and Applied Arts20$51,406$51,490−$84
Biology, General18$58,008$57,214+$794

U.S. Department of Education, College Scorecard field-of-study data. Median earnings of graduates working and not enrolled four years after completing a bachelor's degreehere. Majors with too few graduates to report are omitted for privacy, so this is not the school's full program list.

Will This School Pay Off?

Median Debt
$26,130
at graduation
Earnings (6 yr)
$42,200
after enrollment
Earnings (10 yr)
$54,100
after enrollment
Earnings-to-Debt Ratio: 2.1x

Solid return. Earnings outpace debt, though major choice matters.

Earnings data from the U.S. Department of Education College Scorecard. These are means across all graduates, not specific to any major.

Student Body

White52%
Black7%
Hispanic/Latino20%
Asian12%
Two or more races3%
International4%

Source: U.S. Department of Education College Scorecard (3,106 undergraduates).

Contact & Location

Address

Rider University

2083 Lawrenceville Road

Lawrenceville, NJ 08648-3099

View on Google Maps →

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See How Colleges Compare

Rider University is one of thousands of colleges in our data studies, each built from the same U.S. Department of Education data shown on this page. Compare schools head to head:

Frequently Asked Questions

What is the acceptance rate at Rider University?

Rider University has an acceptance rate of 79%, based on the most recent data from the U.S. Department of Education.

Is Rider University hard to get into?

Not especially. Rider University has an acceptance rate of 79%, so admissions are relatively accessible for applicants who meet the requirements.

How much does Rider University cost?

The average net price at Rider University is about $24,792 per year after grants and scholarships, based on federal data. Your actual cost depends on your family's finances and aid package.

What is the graduation rate at Rider University?

Rider University has a graduation rate of 61%, according to U.S. Department of Education data.

Sources & Methodology

Data

Primary data source: U.S. Department of Education College Scorecard. Accessed via automated sync. Latest values may come from different reporting years depending on the metric.

Contextual Enrichment

School overview from Wikipedia. Used for context only, not as a primary data source for admissions, cost, or outcomes claims.

Important Caveats
  • Earnings figures are institution-level averages, not major-specific.
  • Some metrics are based on Title IV financial aid recipients only.
  • Some values may be privacy-suppressed or rolled up by the Department of Education.
  • Contact the school directly for current admissions requirements and costs.
Trademarks

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