Rider ranked as a ‘best college,’ ‘best value,’ by U.S. News & World Report

Rider University rose in all of its rankings on this year’s U.S. News & World Report list of best regional universities in the north. The University came in at No. 22 overall, rising five spots. Among all 15 institutions in New Jersey that were ranked, Rider was No. 3 on the list. 

Rider is now ranked No. 25 for ‘Best Value Schools,’ up from last year’s ranking of No. 28. Rider came in at No. 3 among the seven New Jersey schools ranked in the category.  

Rider’s ranking in 'Top Performers on Social Mobility' also rose to No. 82 this year, from No. 107 previously. The ranking as a top performer on social mobility reflects the University's strength at helping economically disadvantaged students finish college. The University was also recognized in the category of ​​’Best Undergraduate Business’ programs.

“We are thrilled to see Rider’s rankings continue to climb,” says Dr. DonnaJean A. Fredeen, provost and vice president of Academic Affairs. “These rankings exemplify Rider’s reputation as an outstanding, affordable educational institution. Rider provides an environment of continual support that enables students to achieve more than they could have imagined.” 

In the past two years, Rider has instituted a number of new initiatives intended to strengthen the overall value of a Rider education, including Lifting Barriers, the Cranberry Investment and a new First-Year Experience program. Lifting Barriers aims to break through the obstacles that stand in the way of students obtaining their degrees. It includes a 22% reduction of annual undergraduate tuition, as well as robust support for career preparation and academic success. The Cranberry Investment guarantees that Rider’s undergraduate students who fulfill their responsibilities will obtain an entry-level job related to their field of study or be accepted into graduate or professional school within six months of graduation. A new First-Year Experience program was implemented this fall. It provides students with a personalized team of faculty, staff and student leaders, programs, events and activities to showcase the litany of ways they can make the most of their collegiate experience.

Rider is regularly ranked highly by the most prestigious publications for academic excellence. Earlier this month, Rider was named one of the 388 best colleges and a best northeastern college by The Princeton Review. 

Now in its 38th year, the U.S. News & World Report Best Colleges rankings assessed an all-time high of 1,500 U.S. bachelor's degree-granting institutions on 17 measures of academic quality to create its rankings.