St. Mary's vs. Rider University

Comparable Facts

Compare St. Mary's College of Maryland in St. Mary's City, MD with Rider University in Lawrenceville, NJ on tuition, admissions, graduation, earnings, and student body data using the table above.

Rider University is larger than St. Mary's based on total student enrollment (4,003 students vs. 1,630 students)

Location, institution type, and student-faculty ratio

• St. Mary's College of Maryland is located in St. Mary's City, MD (Distant Rural setting); Rider University is in Lawrenceville, NJ (Large Suburban setting).
• St. Mary's College of Maryland is a public, non-profit 4-year institution. Rider University is a private, non-profit 4-year institution.
• Student-to-faculty ratio: St. Mary's College of Maryland 10:1; Rider University 14:1.

St. Mary's vs. Rider University Cost Comparison

Which college is more expensive, St. Mary's or Rider University? Published tuition is the sticker price; many students pay less after aid (see average net price below).

• The typical actual cost that students pay to attend (average net price) is less at St. Mary's College of Maryland than Rider University ($21,071 vs. $26,506).
• Living costs (room and board or off-campus housing budget) at St. Mary's College of Maryland are 6.7% lower than at Rider University ($16,079 vs. $17,230).
• Rider University is 168.8% more expensive for in-state tuition than St. Mary's (about $25,822 more per year; $41,120.00 vs. $15,298.00).
• Out-of-state tuition is 31.1% higher at Rider University than at St. Mary's College of Maryland (about $9,746 more per year; $41,120.00 vs. $31,374.00).
• A larger share of students receive grant aid at Rider University than at St. Mary's College of Maryland (100% vs. 98%).
• The average total grant financial aid received by Rider University students is 157% larger than aid received by St. Mary's College of Maryland students ($29,294 vs. $11,398).

St. Mary's vs. Rider University Admissions comparison

Which college is harder to get into, St. Mary's or Rider University? Typical SAT and ACT scores (same estimates as in the table above), middle 50% test ranges where reported, test score submission policy, deadlines, and acceptance rates summarize admission difficulty between Rider University and St. Mary's.

• The typical SAT score (median estimate) at St. Mary's College of Maryland (1240) is 30 points higher than at Rider University (1210).
• Incoming Rider University students have a 1 point higher typical ACT composite (median estimate) (29 vs. 28 at St. Mary's).
• Reported middle 50% SAT composite range (25th-75th percentile) for admitted students: St. Mary's College of Maryland 1143/1340; Rider University 1100/1320.
• Reported middle 50% ACT composite range (25th-75th percentile) for admitted students: St. Mary's College of Maryland 26/31; Rider University 27/31.
• Submitting SAT or ACT scores: St. Mary's - Test optional; Rider University - Test optional.
• Typical fall application deadline: St. Mary's Jan 15, 2027.
• Accepted freshman St. Mary's students have a 0.04 point higher average high school GPA (3.45) than students at Rider University (3.41).
• Rider University has a higher acceptance rate (78.6%) than St. Mary's (68.6%).
• The share of admitted students who enrolled (yield) is 17.3% at St. Mary's vs. 9.1% at Rider University.

St. Mary's vs. Rider University Graduation Outcomes Comparison

How do outcomes compare for St. Mary's and Rider University? Graduation rate, earnings, and student loan debt are common indicators. The bullets below summarize the same federal outcomes fields as the comparison table (College Scorecard / IPEDS where applicable).

• St. Mary's College of Maryland's six-year graduation rate (79%) is higher than Rider University's (63%).
• Graduates from Rider University earn a median of about $1,500 more per year than St. Mary's graduates about ten years after starting college ($53,000 vs. $51,500), per the same Scorecard earnings definition.
• Among federal student loan borrowers, St. Mary's College of Maryland graduates have a $5,380 lower median loan debt than Rider University graduates ($20,370 vs. $25,750).
• Among borrowers, St. Mary's graduates have an estimated $56 lower median monthly federal student loan payment than Rider University graduates ($210 vs. $266).
• More St. Mary's graduates are actively paying back their federal student loan debt than former Rider University students, three years after graduation. (82% vs. 73%)

Sources: U.S. Department of Education https://nces.ed.gov IPEDS and College Scorecard https://collegescorecard.ed.gov/. Values reflect the most recent year available in our dataset.