Rider University
Lawrenceville, New Jersey · Private Nonprofit · 78.6% acceptance rate
ROI Score: 61/100 · Fair Value
Data: 2024-25 College Scorecard release
Rider University scores 61 (Fair Value) on the CampusROI scale. Average 6-year earnings of $42,200 and a completion rate of 61.3% are the core weaknesses. The 8.8-year payback period and 0.619 debt-to-earnings ratio reflect a school where outcomes are adequate for some programs but mediocre overall. Accounting (39 graduates, $65,849 year-one, $91,950 year-four) and Health Sciences ($79,664 at year four) are the strongest performers. Music (31 graduates, debt-to-earnings 1.303, ROI grade F) and Radio/Television (debt-to-earnings 1.618, ROI grade F) are the worst, with graduates borrowing more than their annual salary in some cases. Median debt of $26,130 is high relative to median earnings. Net price of $24,792 is reasonable at the midpoint but varies substantially by income. The 61.3% completion rate means nearly 4 in 10 students who start at Rider do not graduate - a significant risk for prospective students who need to factor dropout probability into any cost-benefit analysis.
Rider University
Quick Numbers
| In-state tuition + fees | $41,120/yr |
| Out-of-state tuition + fees | $41,120/yr |
| Average net price | $24,792/yr |
| Total 4-year cost (net) | $99,168 |
| Median earnings (10yr post-entry) | $62,208 |
| Average earnings (6yr post-entry) | $42,200 |
| Median debt at graduation | $26,130 |
| Estimated monthly loan payment | $277 |
| Estimated payback period | 8.8 years |
| 6-year graduation rate | 61.3% |
| Undergraduate enrollment | 3,106 |
Data as of 2024-2025. Source: College Scorecard API (U.S. Department of Education).
The Full Financial Picture
The first number you'll see is the sticker price: $41,120/year, which covers tuition and fees only. After grants, scholarships, and aid, the average student here pays a net price of $24,792/year, or roughly $99,168 over four years. That's the number to plan around.
What you actually pay depends a lot on what your family earns. Families making under $30,000/year pay an average of $15,824/year here, while families earning over $110,000 pay $31,574/year.
Among graduates who borrowed, the median federal loan debt from this school is $26,130, which works out to about $277 a month on the standard 10-year repayment plan. Our debt-to-earnings ratio divides that debt by average earnings six years after entry ($42,200) and comes to 0.62, under 1.0, meaning median debt is less than a full year of those earnings.
Net Price by Family Income
What families actually pay after grants and scholarships, by income bracket.
| Family Income | Avg Net Price/Year |
|---|---|
| $0 - $30,000 | $15,824 |
| $30,001 - $48,000 | $18,090 |
| $48,001 - $75,000 | $22,119 |
| $75,001 - $110,000 | $28,445 |
| $110,001+ | $31,574 |
Cost by Income Bracket Explained
Lower-income families (under $30K)
The 0-30000 bracket pays $15,824 per year at Rider - the lowest net price across all income bands and a genuine value for students in that tier who land in accounting or business. Four years at $15,824 equals roughly $63,296 all-in, which compares reasonably against $42,200 average 6-year earnings if the student completes. The 61.3% completion rate is the key risk: low-income students who do not graduate face debt without a credential.
Middle-income families ($30K-$110K)
The 48001-75000 bracket pays $22,119 and the 75001-110000 bracket pays $28,445 at Rider. Middle-income families pay meaningfully more than the lowest bracket. At $22,119-$28,445 annually, the four-year cost runs $88,000-$113,800. Against average 6-year earnings of $42,200, the payback is tight but achievable for program-specific tracks. Business and accounting students have a stronger case than humanities or arts majors.
Higher-income families ($110K+)
Families earning $110,000+ pay $31,574 per year, totaling approximately $126,000 all-in over four years. At an 8.8-year payback and $42,200 average earnings, that is the school-wide picture, and earnings vary by program. Music reaches $43,753 at year four (ROI grade F).
Earnings by Major
Top 10 most popular majors at Rider University with available earnings data.
| Major | Median Earnings | Grade |
|---|---|---|
| Teacher Education | $60,178 | C+ |
| Psychology | $57,202 | D |
| Business Administration, Management, and Operations | $69,423 | C+ |
| Finance and Financial Management | $88,405 | C+ |
| Criminal Justice and Corrections | $50,173 | D |
| Accounting | $91,950 | B |
| Marketing | $67,230 | C |
| Music | $43,753 | F |
| Health Services/Allied Health/Health Sciences, General | $79,664 | B+ |
| Human Resources Management | $70,122 | C |
Earnings reflect median 4-year post-completion (or 1-year where 4-year unavailable). Grades based on debt-to-earnings ratio.
Program Analysis
Why these programs deliver their earnings outcomes.
Accounting
Accounting is Rider's strongest program: 39 graduates, $65,849 year-one, $91,950 year-four, debt-to-earnings ratio of 0.388 (ROI grade B). For a regional private in New Jersey, these are competitive outcomes - the year-one figure puts graduates solidly in the range of entry-level public accounting roles at regional and national firms. Median debt of $25,536 against $65,849 starting salary is manageable. This program justifies Rider's tuition for students committed to an accounting career path.
Finance and Financial Management
Finance (49 graduates) earns $57,881 year-one and $88,405 year-four with a debt-to-earnings ratio of 0.466 (ROI grade C+). The four-year figure of $88k suggests reasonable progression for students entering corporate finance or banking in New Jersey. Median debt of $27,000 at this earnings level is manageable but not comfortable.
Teacher Education
Teacher Education (78 graduates) earns $57,145 year-one and $60,178 year-four with a debt-to-earnings ratio of 0.463 (ROI grade C+). Year-one earnings are relatively high for education. The four-year figure barely moves ($60,178), consistent with flat early-career growth in teaching. Median debt of $26,466 against starting salaries in the $57k range is a manageable but tight debt load.
Psychology
Psychology (74 graduates) earns $38,118 year-one and $57,202 year-four with a debt-to-earnings ratio of 0.708 (ROI grade D). Median debt of $27,000 against $38,118 year-one earnings means graduates are paying roughly $286 per month on debt. Psychology is a large enrollment field at Rider with outcomes that do not justify the cost for students planning to enter the workforce directly. Graduate school planning is essential for this path.
How Graduates Do
Earnings
Loan Repayment
| Metric | This School | Median of schools we score |
|---|---|---|
| 1-year repayment | 73.6% | 68.8% |
| 3-year repayment | 78.9% | 73.6% |
| 5-year repayment | 77.7% | 67.7% |
| 7-year repayment | 77.9% | 72.8% |
Completion Rate
Trends Over Time
How Rider University’s cost and outcomes have moved across College Scorecard releases (2009-2024).
Average Net Price
Completion Rate
Median Earnings, 10 Years After Entry (as reported)
Earnings reflect borrowers measured 10 years after entry and publish on an irregular cadence with a multi-year reporting lag, so this series shows only the years the Department of Education reported - the data is never interpolated.
Source: U.S. Department of Education College Scorecard, release years shown. Net price and completion are reported annually.
Admissions Snapshot
| Acceptance rate | 78.6% |
| SAT Math (25th-75th) | 550-650 |
| SAT Reading (25th-75th) | 550-670 |
| ACT Composite (25th-75th) | 27-31 |
| Enrollment | 3,106 |
| Pell Grant recipients | 34.7% |
| Avg faculty salary (monthly) | $11,615 |
At 78.6% admission, Rider is broadly accessible within its academic profile. SAT 550-650 Math and 550-670 Reading, ACT 27-31, describe a moderately prepared student pool. Selective program-level admissions (business, nursing) may differ from overall institutional rates. The credential carries regional recognition in New Jersey and Pennsylvania but limited national reach.
Compared to Similar Schools
Peer institutions matched by type, size, and selectivity.
Its Accounting program outcomes are $91,950 at year four.
| School | ROI | Net Price | 10yr Earnings |
|---|---|---|---|
| Rider University (this school) | 61 | $24,792 | $62,208 |
| Point Loma Nazarene University | 62 | $38,729 | $63,998 |
| Stevenson University | 60 | $26,505 | $62,079 |
| Hope College | 57 | $27,182 | $58,427 |
| Centenary University | 53 | $20,503 | $53,726 |
| Caldwell University | 40 | $24,691 | $53,843 |
Who Thrives Here
Rider admits 78.6% of applicants with SAT mid-ranges of 550-650 Math and 550-670 Reading; ACT 27-31. Rider draws students interested in business (Accounting, Finance), education, and communications. Students targeting accounting or business careers in the New Jersey-Philadelphia corridor are the best fit; those considering arts, music, or humanities programs should scrutinize the ROI grades closely.
The Verdict: A Reasonable Bet - With Caveats
Rider University is a fair-value bet, but how well it pays off depends a lot on you. At $24,792 a year after aid ($99,168 over four years), with the typical graduate earning $62,208 a decade out, the cost takes about 8.8 years to earn back. For context, the median payback across the schools we score is about 12 years.
Median debt of $26,130 among graduates who borrowed, against average earnings of $42,200 six years after entry, gives a debt-to-earnings ratio of 0.62, under the 1.0 point at which debt would equal a full year of those earnings. Your major matters a lot here: graduates in higher-earning fields will see the better end of this.
Rider University: Common Questions
Is Rider University worth it?
In our view, it's a fair-value bet - whether Rider University is worth it depends a lot on your major and aid package. It scores 61/100 on our ROI scale. At $24,792 a year after aid ($99,168 over four years) against $62,208 in typical earnings a decade out, the cost takes about 8.8 years to earn back. For context, the median payback across the schools we score is about 12 years.
How much does Rider University cost after financial aid?
The average net price - the cost of attendance (tuition, fees, books, supplies and average living costs) minus grants and scholarships, for full-time, first-time students receiving federal aid - is about $24,792 a year, or roughly $99,168 over four years. Because it counts living costs, it can run above tuition alone. That is the number to plan around. Actual cost varies by family income, per the U.S. Department of Education's College Scorecard.
What do Rider University graduates earn?
The typical graduate earns about $62,208 ten years after enrolling, roughly $20,408 a year more than the median high-school graduate ($41,800, per NCES, 2022). That earnings gap is what has to cover the cost of the degree.
How long does it take to pay off Rider University?
We estimate the payback period - the time it takes for the earnings bump over a high-school graduate to cover what you spent - at about 8.8 years for Rider University. The median across the schools we track is about 12 years.
How much debt do Rider University graduates take on?
Among graduates who borrowed, median federal loan debt from this school is about $26,130, against average earnings of $42,200 six years after entry - a debt-to-earnings ratio of 0.62. In our view that is reasonable, though your major matters: higher-earning fields will see the better end of it.
What is the graduation rate at Rider University?
The six-year graduation rate is 61.3%. The national average for four-year schools is 64% (NCES, 2022). Completion is 15% of our ROI score, since a degree you don't finish rarely pays back.
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Data: College Scorecard API (U.S. Department of Education)
Vintage: 2024-2025 · Last updated: 2026-03-25
Earnings reflect median outcomes for all federal financial aid recipients. Individual results vary by major, effort, and career path.