Rider University vs. TCNJ

Should I go to Rider University or The College of New Jersey? Compare 50+ facts and figures about the colleges to help you determine if Rider University or TCNJ 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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Rider University vs. The College of New Jersey comparison
Rider University The College of New Jersey College 3 College 4
Rider University The College of New Jersey
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Overview

Rider University TCNJ
Location Lawrenceville, NJ Ewing, NJ
Setting Large Suburban Large Suburban
Enrollment 4,083 7,652
Type Private 4 Year Public 4 Year
National Ranking #309 #164
Religious Affiliation - - - -
Status Non-profit Non-profit
Website rider.edu tcnj.edu
Team Colors                    

Costs

Rider University TCNJ
Tuition (In State) $37,700 $14,706
Tuition (Out of State) $37,700 $20,589
Room & Board $16,730 $15,569
Avg Net Price $26,618 $22,379
Avg Grant Aid $27,411 $13,824
% Receiving Grant Aid 100% 62%

Admission

Rider University TCNJ
Admission Chances Calculate Calculate
Applied 9,069 11,668
Admitted 7,201 7,251
Acceptance Rate 79.4% 62.1%
Enrolled % 11.2% 21.3%
Avg High School GPA 3.41 3.29
Typical High School Grades B+ B
Admissions Standards Challenging Difficult
Applicant Competition Low
ACT Range 22/29 25/31
SAT Range 1100/1310 1140/1340
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 Feb 1, 2026

Academics

Rider University TCNJ
Student to Faculty Ratio 12:1 13:1
Popular Majors
  • Business (34%)
  • Education (15%)
  • English and Literature (13%)
  • Psychology (8%)
  • Visual and Performing Arts (8%)
  • Education (22%)
  • Business (17%)
  • Psychology (9%)
  • English and Literature (8%)
  • Social Sciences (7%)

Outcomes

Rider University TCNJ
Graduation Rate 63% 87%
Median Earnings (After 10 years) $53,000 $62,100
Making Student Loan Payments 73% 85%
Median Student Loan Debt $25,750 $23,250
Median Loan Payment $266 $240

Diversity

Rider University TCNJ
% Men 7% 2%
% Women 14% 6%
Racial Diversity Medium Medium
HBCU No No
% White 62% 66%
% Black 12% 6%
% Hispanic 12% 12%
% Native American 0% 0%
% Pacific Islander 0% 0%
% Two or More Races 3% 0%
% International 3% 0%
% Unknown Race 2% 5%

Students

Rider University TCNJ
% In-State 73% 95%
% Out-of-State 25% 5%

Campus

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

Comparable Facts

  • The College of New Jersey is larger than than Rider University based on total student enrollment (7,652 students vs. 4,083 students)

Rider University vs. TCNJ Cost Comparison

Which college is more expensive, Rider University or TCNJ?

  • Rider University is 156.4% more expensive to attend than TCNJ for in-state tuition ($37,700.00 vs. $14,706.00)
  • Out of state tuition is 83.1% higher at Rider University than The College of New Jersey ($37,700.00 vs. $20,589.00)
  • The typical actual cost that students pay to attend (average net price) is less at The College of New Jersey than Rider University ($22,379 vs. $26,618)
  • Living costs (room and board or off-campus housing budget) at The College of New Jersey are 7.5% lower than costs at Rider University ($15,569 vs. $16,730)
  • More students receive financial grant aid at Rider University than The College of New Jersey (100% vs. 62%)
  • The average total grant financial aid received by Rider University students is 98.3% larger than aid received The College of New Jersey ($27,411 vs. $13,824)

Rider University vs. TCNJ Admissions Difficulty Comparison

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

  • The average SAT score at The College of New Jersey (1227) is 213 points higher than at Rider University (1014)
  • Incoming TCNJ students have a 6 point higher average ACT score (28) than students at Rider University (22)
  • Accepted freshman Rider University students have a 0.12 point higher average high school GPA (3.41) than students at TCNJ (3.29)
  • Rider University has a higher acceptance rate (79.4%) than TCNJ (62.1%)

Rider University vs. TCNJ Graduation Outcomes Comparison

Which is better, Rider University or TCNJ? 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 TCNJ and Rider University.

  • The graduation rate at TCNJ is higher than Rider University (87% vs. 63%)
  • Graduates from The College of New Jersey earn on average $9,100 more per year than Rider University graduates after ten years. ($62,100 vs. $53,000)
  • The College of New Jersey students graduate with a $2,500 lower median federal student loan debt than Rider University graduates. ($23,250 vs. $25,750)
  • TCNJ graduates are paying $26 less per month on federal student loans than Rider University graduates. ($240 vs. $266)
  • More TCNJ graduates are actively paying back their federal student loan debt than former Rider University students, three years after graduation. (85% vs. 73%)

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