Academics
New Jersey’s Rider University focuses on enriching its students not only through academics, but through encouraging students to participate in a variety of engaged learning opportunities. The university’s location between Philadelphia and New York City offers “fantastic internship opportunities” as well as co-ops, and this experiential learning is an integral part of the Rider curriculum. The business, education, and performing arts schools are notable highlights of the school’s seventy majors, and the financial aid packages are “fantastic and extremely generous, especially for the merit-based scholarship awards.” The Career Development & Success department is at the ready to help students start their careers upon graduation (for those not already hired by their internship organizations, which is common): “It’s actually really incredible to see students within the business school getting very good jobs straight out of college,” says a student.
One of the school’s greatest strengths is “the support each student has from the faculty and staff,” who are here “to support and uplift students” and encourage self-motivation. “If you need help in any way people will go to great lengths to help you in any way they can,” says a student. Almost all professors hold discussionbased classes and are “extremely accessible outside of the classroom,” though students admit that there are a few “that don’t really have any interest in teaching,” “I have had some professors who are inspirational, and so passionate about a topic that it furthers my interest,” says one student. Even the adjuncts that typically teach classes at night bring their personal experience from being full-time in the field to the classroom, which allows students to see real-world experiences. “My school is all about experience, making Rider the experience you want to have in college,” says a student.