Paying for college as an adult learner

What adult learners need to know about funding their Rider education.

Investing in your education is one of the smartest decisions you can make. Not only can it improve your career prospects, but it can open the door to a better future and quality of life. 

The latest report from Gitnux shows that college graduates continue to have lower unemployment rates and higher wages than those without a degree. 

Though statistics widely show the benefits of having a bachelor’s degree, we understand that adult learners face significant barriers in starting or returning to college, including time constraints and financial concerns. For many, the big question that comes to mind when thinking about returning to school is, “How am I going to pay for this?” Luckily, when it comes to financing your education as an adult learner, there are more options than you think. 

While borrowing money through a federal or private loan is a popular option to pay for college, Rider offers several flexible options for affording your education, including scholarships, grants and discounted tuition rates to help support adult learners like you to make their dream of earning a college degree a reality. Here’s what you need to know to get started.

Scholarships for continuing education students

Do adult students qualify for scholarships? The short answer is yes. Scholarships are a financial aid award to an individual student to further their education that does not get repaid. At Rider, the two common categories that scholarships fall into are merit-based and need-based. Merit-based scholarships are primarily awarded based on the student’s prior academic performance, while need-based scholarships are awarded based on financial need, both options typically come with specific eligibility requirements. Though adult learners are classified as students aged 25 and over, most scholarships do not make age a requirement for eligibility. 

There are several scholarships out there that you may be eligible for. In fact, 99% of our students receive University-funded scholarships and financial aid. Here are a few scholarship options that Rider offers to help get you started.

• Charlotte W. Newcombe Scholarships: for women, age 25 or older, who have completed at least half of a baccalaureate degree program, are eligible to be considered.
• Maida Scholarship: awarded annually to newly admitted continuing education degree candidates with existing college credits or a minimum cumulative 2.5 GPA. 
• Phyllis K. Snyder Memorial Scholarship: for part-time, adult women students with families pursuing a Bachelor of Science in Business Administration.
• Awards for military and veteran students: for veterans, military service members and their beneficiaries.

Grants and aid

Grants are another aid opportunity for continuing education students to fund their bachelor’s degree without maximizing their debt. Unlike student loans, in most cases, grants do not have to be paid back and can help to cover a portion of your tuition or related educational costs.

One way that Rider is helping to break down the barriers to degree completion for non-traditional students is through work with our partner The State of New Jersey and the Some College, No Degree grant. This initiative, designed specifically for adult learners, provides qualifying new continuing education students (and qualifying previous Rider students) with need-based funds to use toward non-tuition/fee-related expenses such as childcare, transportation, technology and textbooks. Continuing education students will have access to this grant through June 2024.

Tuition discounts and benefits for employees of University partners

Alongside scholarships, grants and other aid resources, Rider offers qualified, continuing education students the opportunity to pursue their undergraduate courses at a low, per-credit rate ($670 for on-campus degree programs and $620 for online degree programs). 

In addition, if you are an eligible employee of one of our University partner organizations, you may qualify for discounted tuition and other educational benefits. Our partners include Bank of America, Capital Health, Church & Dwight, the Princeton Mercer Regional Chamber, Mercer County Community College, local school districts, and more.

Committed to making a college education accessible to all

Rider is dedicated to helping all students with financial-related assistance throughout their time at the University. Even before you enroll, our admissions counselors and financial aid staff are here to work with you to create personalized educational and aid options to ensure that you will get the most out of your educational experience while making it affordable based on your needs.

After applying for admission, the next step to determining what aid you may be eligible for is completing your Free Application for Federal Student Aid (FAFSA). Our financial aid office is available in person and virtually to guide you through the FAFSA application process and answer related questions.

We understand that college requires a major time and financial commitment, but we’re here to ensure that adult learners have the necessary academic, financial and social support resources to help them navigate the potential challenges that stand in the way of a college education.