Match #1
Fairleigh Dickinson University-Florham Campus
Madison, NJ
Profile closeness84/100
Admit rate95%
- 1,990 students
- Private nonprofit
- Suburb: Large
- Average net price $24,803, close to $24,780
- Same Carnegie classification
The colleges most similar to Rider University are Fairleigh Dickinson University-Florham Campus, Georgian Court University, and Monmouth University. Rider University admits 79% of applicants and has an average net price of $24,780 a year; 6 of its 10 alternatives cost less and 7 admit a larger share of applicants, in the CollegesRef 2026–27 edition.
Profile closeness (0–100) compares graduation rate, size, admit rate, net price, Carnegie class, and control with Rider University. The order also uses CollegesRef matching tiers, so a later match can score higher. Admit-rate bars use a 0–100% scale.
Top 10 alternatives to Rider University
Row-wise results ranked by similarity. No curated AI list exists for this school.
Match #2
Georgian Court University
Lakewood, NJ
Profile closeness82/100
Admit rate79%
- 1,195 students
- Private nonprofit
- City: Small
- Graduation rate 63%, close to 62%
- Acceptance rate 79%, close to 79%
Match #3
Monmouth University
West Long Branch, NJ
Profile closeness81/100
Admit rate89%
- 3,684 students
- Private nonprofit
- Suburb: Large
- Enrollment 3,684 students, close to 3,106
- Same Carnegie classification
Match #4
Fairleigh Dickinson University-Metropolitan Campus
Teaneck, NJ
Profile closeness81/100
Admit rate91%
- 2,627 students
- Private nonprofit
- Suburb: Large
- Enrollment 2,627 students, close to 3,106
- Same Carnegie classification
Match #5
Centenary University
Hackettstown, NJ
Profile closeness75/100
Admit rate83%
- 910 students
- Private nonprofit
- Suburb: Large
- Graduation rate 67%, close to 62%
- Acceptance rate 83%, close to 79%
Match #6
Drew University
Madison, NJ
Profile closeness74/100
Admit rate68%
- 1,533 students
- Private nonprofit
- Suburb: Large
- Average net price $25,614, close to $24,780
- Same control type (private nonprofit)
Match #7
Caldwell University
Caldwell, NJ
Profile closeness73/100
Admit rate71%
- 1,575 students
- Private nonprofit
- Suburb: Large
- Graduation rate 57%, close to 62%
- Acceptance rate 71%, close to 79%
Match #8
Saint Peter's University
Jersey City, NJ
Profile closeness71/100
Admit rate90%
- 2,135 students
- Private nonprofit
- City: Large
- Graduation rate 55%, close to 62%
- Enrollment 2,135 students, close to 3,106
Match #9
Seton Hall University-New Jersey
South Orange, NJ
Profile closeness69/100
Admit rate77%
- 6,063 students
- Private nonprofit
- Suburb: Large
- Acceptance rate 77%, close to 79%
- Same control type (private nonprofit)
Match #10
Felician University
Lodi, NJ
Profile closeness61/100
Admit rate92%
- 1,774 students
- Private nonprofit
- Suburb: Large
- Same control type (private nonprofit)
Questions about Rider University alternatives
What colleges are similar to Rider University?
The closest matches to Rider University are Fairleigh Dickinson University-Florham Campus, Georgian Court University, Monmouth University, Fairleigh Dickinson University-Metropolitan Campus, and Centenary University. CollegesRef ranks them on admissions, cost, graduation rate, size, and campus profile using IPEDS and College Scorecard data.
Is Rider University hard to get into?
Rider University admitted 79% of its 8,791 applicants in the CollegesRef 2026–27 edition, so it is not very selective: it admits most applicants. 7 of its 10 closest alternatives admit a larger share of applicants.
Which Rider University alternatives cost less?
6 of the 10 closest alternatives have a lower average net price than Rider University ($24,780 a year), including Saint Peter's University ($8,127), Felician University ($10,378), and Caldwell University ($15,180). Net price is what first-time, full-time students paid after grants; your own price depends on family income.
