New students at Rider University will pay 22 percent less in tuition next fall, school officials said Sept. 4, and offered an array of resources designed to prepare them for the world of work.
The university will cut undergraduate tuition from $45,100 to $35,000 for the autumn 2021 semester, the school said, pointing out that its costs are set using a pricing model that provides discounts through scholarships and financial aid. According to the university, 99 percent of students on its Lawrenceville campus receive such school-funded assistance and the percentage is not likely to change.
“Because a college education remains one of the most important investments individuals can make in their lifetimes, our goal is to help lift any barrier that prevents a student from thriving at Rider University, including those who assume a private education is out of reach based solely on the sticker price,” Rider President Gregory Dell’Omo said in a statement.
Rider University President Gregory G. Dell’Omo. – RIDER UNIVERSITY
Rider was one of many four-year institutions that switched to remote instruction in the spring as the COVID-19 pandemic swept through the state. The university will offer a mix of in-person and virtual classes this fall.
In addition to the tuition reduction, Rider said it will bolster its Engaged Learning Program to provide students with more career development help. The university said the moves include hiring new staff and improving technology, with the goal of ensuring that 95 percent of students, beginning with the class of 2025, will participate in programs such as internships, guided research and field work in the arts, business, science and other areas.
“Launching our Engaged Learning Program confirmed that experiences like internships are directly correlated with career preparedness,” said Kim Barberich, the executive director of Rider’s Office of Career Development and Success. “Our priority is to build on this knowledge so that we are doing everything within our power to help ensure Rider students are prepared to succeed professionally immediately following graduation.”
Rider was one of the New Jersey schools awarded relief funds under the federal Coronavirus Aid, Relief and Economic Security (CARES) Act. A total of $150 million was distributed to New Jersey institutions, most of it to public universities and community colleges. Rider, an independent university, received less than $82,000; by comparison, Rutgers University in New Brunswick was the top recipient, with more than $29 million.
