Rider University announces measures to reduce tuition ‘sticker shock’ and strengthen educational value
Tuition reduced by 22%, with new support for career preparation and academic success
Today,
Rider University announced a series of new measures intended to
strengthen the overall value of a Rider education, including a 22%
reduction of annual undergraduate tuition, as well as robust support for
career preparation and academic success. Beginning in the fall of 2021
for all new students, Rider will reduce its base undergraduate tuition
from $45,120 to $35,000.
The new initiative, called Lifting Barriers,
is designed to help students break through significant obstacles they
face in obtaining a college education and a successful career, including
understanding the true cost of college and the ability to adapt, both
socially and academically, in a college environment and beyond.
“These new measures continue our bold action to provide an exceptional educational value for our students,” said Rider President Gregory G. Dell’Omo, Ph.D. “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.”
Like
many universities, Rider currently follows a complex pricing model that
provides substantial discounts through scholarships and financial aid.
“While we’re very proud of our ongoing commitment to providing financial aid, which will not change, the current model creates a significant hurdle for students and families who believe the sticker price immediately puts a Rider education financially out of reach," says Vice President of Enrollment Management Drew Aromando. "The new tuition rate also aims to keep more New Jersey students from leaving the state to attend public or private institutions at out-of-state tuition rates that are similar. After careful analysis, we determined that providing more immediate clarity to the actual final cost of a Rider education would serve prospective students, the institution and the state of New Jersey better.”
Along
with changes to tuition, Rider is also announcing today adjustments to
its signature Engaged Learning Program. The changes are designed to
bolster the University's already strong record of preparing students for
successful careers.
Rider
has set a new target that 95% of all students, beginning with the Class
of 2025, will participate in enriched career preparation experiences
such as internships, guided research and fieldwork across all
disciplines, including the arts, sciences, business and more. Although
the current Engaged Learning Program, which launched in 2017, already
requires students to participate in meaningful co-curricular experiences
in order to graduate, the new measures double down on those experiences
most likely to lead to career success.
“More than ever, students want to know that their education will directly lead to a positive outcome upon graduation,” says Kim Barberich, the executive director of Rider’s Office of Career Development and Success. “Launching our Engaged Learning Program confirmed that experiences like internships are directly correlated with career preparedness. 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.”
To
make this possible, Rider is investing heavily in Career Development
and Success with new staff, enhanced technologies and other additional
resources so students have the support they need to develop on-the-job
skills, build their resumes and make valuable connections.
The move continues Rider’s ongoing investment in infrastructure to provide more support so students understand and take advantage of Rider’s outstanding academic, social and career resources. For example, this July, Rider launched the new Student Navigation Office, which is designed to provide students with a proactive approach to success coaching that consists of a robust support system connecting them to their academic, social, career-oriented needs and resources. This September, Rider is scheduled to open the new space for its Center For Diversity and Inclusion, a cornerstone in promoting a safe and welcoming physical environment and campus climate that garners a sense of belonging for the University's diverse community.
Under the new tuition model, Rider will continue to generously award financial aid and scholarships. Ninety-nine percent of all students currently receive Rider-funded scholarships and financial aid — a percentage that is not expected to change under the new model. But for new students who receive the new, lower advertised tuition, the need for financial aid will also be lower. Rider will adjust these awards according to the reduced need, which means that out of pocket costs to students will remain similar.
“This strategy reduces the trajectory of Rider’s high tuition, high discount pricing model, which was ballooning to unrealistic levels, but it does not change our commitment to generously awarding financial aid and scholarships,” Aromando said.
Because
the net price is remaining stable, applying the new tuition rate to
current students would have no effect on their cost of attendance, which
is why Rider chose not to apply the new rates to current students. The
University will continue to honor financial awards promised to current
students at the time of admission, assuming all student requirements
continue to be met.
"We're committed to full transparency in comparing how the two models would affect every individual and will work one-on-one with them until they share our confidence that they are receiving the best and most fair deal,” Aromando said.
Rider University currently ranks on U.S. News and World Report's Best Colleges list and the Wall Street Journal's Top U.S. College list. It was ranked the No. 28 Best Value School in the Northeast region by US News & World Report. Each year, Rider students complete more than 1,400 Internships, co-ops and field placements. Within one year of graduation, 92% of bachelor's degree recipients and 96% of master's degree recipients from Rider's Class of 2019 were employed, pursuing graduate study, volunteering or in the military, according to a survey conducted by Rider’s Office of Career Development and Success.
"Taken as a whole, these changes should send a clear message that Rider stands very competitively alongside our peers, including public colleges and universities," Dell'Omo said. "I'm extremely confident in the unique strengths Rider possesses to support students on their journey of achieving their personal and professional goals.”
