Florida Southern vs. Rider University

Should I go to Florida Southern College or Rider University? Compare 50+ facts and figures about the colleges to help you determine if Florida Southern or Rider University is the better college for you. The CollegeSimply comparison tool allows side-by-side comparison of 50+ statistics and facts for over 2,500 colleges and universities.

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Florida Southern College vs. Rider University comparison
Florida Southern College Rider University College 3 College 4
Florida Southern College Rider University
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Overview

Florida Southern Rider University
Location Lakeland, FL Lawrenceville, NJ
Setting Small City Large Suburban
Enrollment 3,281 4,054
Type Private 4 Year Private 4 Year
National Ranking #425 #263
Religious Affiliation United Methodist - - -
Status Non-profit Non-profit
Website flsouthern.edu rider.edu
Team Colors                    

Costs

Florida Southern Rider University
Tuition (In State) $39,700 $36,000
Tuition (Out of State) $39,700 $36,000
Room & Board $12,400 $16,130
Avg Net Price $27,324 $26,388
Avg Grant Aid $27,730 $26,336
% Receiving Grant Aid 100% 99%

Admission

Florida Southern Rider University
Admission Chances Calculate Calculate
Applied 11,120 9,340
Admitted 6,295 7,858
Acceptance Rate 56.6% 84.1%
Enrolled % 12% 9.9%
Avg High School GPA 3.73 3.41
Typical High School Grades A- B+
Admissions Standards Challenging Challenging
Applicant Competition Low
ACT Range 22/29 21/29
SAT Range 1080/1290 1100/1300
Submit Test Scores Not required for admission, but considered if submitted (Test Optional) Not required for admission, but considered if submitted (Test Optional)
Application Deadline May 1, 2025

Academics

Florida Southern Rider University
Student to Faculty Ratio 14:1 10:1
Popular Majors
  • Business (22%)
  • Health Professions (12%)
  • Education (12%)
  • Social Sciences (10%)
  • Communication (8%)
  • Business (34%)
  • Education (15%)
  • English and Literature (13%)
  • Psychology (8%)
  • Visual and Performing Arts (8%)

Outcomes

Florida Southern Rider University
Graduation Rate 55% 63%
Median Earnings (After 10 years) $42,700 $53,000
Making Student Loan Payments 65% 73%
Median Student Loan Debt $24,000 $25,750
Median Loan Payment $248 $266

Diversity

Florida Southern Rider University
% Men 37% 41%
% Women 63% 59%
Racial Diversity Low Medium
HBCU No No
% White 74% 62%
% Black 6% 12%
% Hispanic 11% 12%
% Native American 1% 0%
% Pacific Islander 0% 0%
% Two or More Races 2% 3%
% International 4% 3%
% Unknown Race 1% 2%

Students

Florida Southern Rider University
% In-State 51% 74%
% Out-of-State 45% 23%

Campus

Florida Southern Rider University
Campus Housing Yes Yes
Freshman Dorm Required No No
Meal Plan Yes Yes
Weekend/Evening Classes Yes Yes
Daycare Facility No No
Learn More Details Details

Comparable Facts

  • Rider University is larger than than Florida Southern based on total student enrollment (4,054 students vs. 3,281 students)

Florida Southern vs. Rider University Cost Comparison

Which college is more expensive, Florida Southern or Rider University?

  • Florida Southern College is 10.3% more expensive to attend than Rider University for in-state tuition ($39,700.00 vs. $36,000.00)
  • Out of state tuition is 10.3% higher at Florida Southern than Rider University ($39,700.00 vs. $36,000.00)
  • The typical actual cost that students pay to attend (average net price) is less at Rider University than Florida Southern ($26,388 vs. $27,324)
  • Living costs (room and board or off-campus housing budget) at Florida Southern College are 30.1% lower than costs at Rider University ($12,400 vs. $16,130)
  • More students receive financial grant aid at Florida Southern College than Rider University (100% vs. 99%)
  • The average total grant financial aid received by Florida Southern College students is 5.3% larger than aid received Rider University ($27,730 vs. $26,336)

Florida Southern vs. Rider University Admissions Difficulty Comparison

Which college is harder to get into, Florida Southern or Rider University? Average SAT and ACT scores plus acceptance rates offer good insight into the difficulty of admission between Rider University or Florida Southern .

  • The average SAT score at Florida Southern College (1172) is 158 points higher than at Rider University (1014)
  • Incoming Florida Southern students have a 5 point higher average ACT score (27) than students at Rider University (22)
  • Accepted freshman Florida Southern students have a 0.32 point higher average high school GPA (3.73) than students at Rider University (3.41)
  • Rider University has a higher acceptance rate (84.1%) than Florida Southern (56.6%)

Florida Southern vs. Rider University Graduation Outcomes Comparison

Which is better, Florida Southern or Rider University? Graduation rate, salary and amount of student loan debt are indicators of a college which offers better outcomes for its graduates. Compare the following outcomes facts between Rider University and Florida Southern.

  • The graduation rate at Rider University is higher than Florida Southern College (63% vs. 55%)
  • Graduates from Rider University earn on average $10,300 more per year than Florida Southern graduates after ten years. ($53,000 vs. $42,700)
  • Florida Southern College students graduate with a $1,750 lower median federal student loan debt than Rider University graduates. ($24,000 vs. $25,750)
  • Florida Southern graduates are paying $18 less per month on federal student loans than Rider University graduates. ($248 vs. $266)
  • More Rider University graduates are actively paying back their federal student loan debt than former Florida Southern students, three years after graduation. (73% vs. 65%)

Sources: U.S. Department of Education https://nces.ed.gov IPEDS and College Scorecard https://collegescorecard.ed.gov/