Rider University vs. Penn State

Deciding between Rider University and Penn State Main Campus? The table below shows tuition, aid, admissions, and outcomes side by side. Data comes from public sources across more than 3,000 U.S. colleges and universities. No account is required.

Rider University
Penn State Main Campus

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  • Overview

  • Location
  • Rider University Lawrenceville, NJ
  • Penn State University Park, PA
  • Setting
  • Rider University Large Suburban
  • Penn State Small City
  • Total enrollment
  • Rider University 4,003
  • Penn State 50,737
  • Type
  • Rider University Private 4 Year
  • Penn State Public 4 Year
  • National Ranking
  • Rider University #307
  • Penn State #185
  • Religious Affiliation
  • Rider University -
  • Penn State -
  • Status
  • Rider University Non-profit
  • Penn State Non-profit
  • Team Colors
  • Rider University
  • Penn State

  • Cost

  • Tuition (In State)
  • Rider University $41,120
  • Penn State $20,644
  • Tuition (Out of State)
  • Rider University $41,120
  • Penn State $41,790
  • Room & Board
  • Rider University $17,230
  • Penn State $14,474
  • Average Net Price
  • Rider University $26,506
  • Penn State $27,889
  • Average Grant Aid
  • Rider University $29,294
  • Penn State $11,336
  • % Receiving Grant Aid
  • Rider University 100%
  • Penn State 37%

  • Admissions

  • Applied
  • Rider University 10,071
  • Penn State 88,478
  • Admitted
  • Rider University 7,920
  • Penn State 53,579
  • Acceptance Rate
  • Rider University 78.6%
  • Penn State 60.6%
  • Enrolled
  • Rider University 9.1%
  • Penn State 17.1%
  • Typical SAT score
  • Rider University 1210
  • Penn State 1330
  • Typical ACT score
  • Rider University 29
  • Penn State 29
  • Average High School GPA
  • Rider University 3.41
  • Penn State -
  • Typical High School Grades
  • Rider University B+
  • Penn State -
  • Admissions Standards
  • Rider University Difficult
  • Penn State Very High
  • Applicant Competition
  • Rider University
  • Penn State Low
  • ACT Range
  • Rider University 27/31
  • Penn State 27/32
  • SAT Range
  • Rider University 1100/1320
  • Penn State 1240/1420
  • Submit Test Scores
  • Rider University Test optional
  • Penn State Test optional
  • Application Deadline
  • Rider University
  • Penn State

  • Academics

  • Student to Faculty Ratio
  • Rider University 14:1
  • Penn State 16:1
  • Popular Majors
  • Rider University
    • Business (34%)
    • Education (15%)
    • English and Literature (13%)
    • Psychology (8%)
    • Visual and Performing Arts (8%)
  • Penn State
    • Business (16%)
    • Engineering (12%)
    • Communication (9%)
    • Computer and Information Sciences (7%)
    • Social Sciences (7%)

  • Outcomes

  • Graduation Rate
  • Rider University 63%
  • Penn State 87%
  • Median Earnings (After 10 years)
  • Rider University $53,000
  • Penn State $55,300
  • Making Student Loan Payments
  • Rider University 73%
  • Penn State 69%
  • Median Student Loan Debt
  • Rider University $25,750
  • Penn State $26,818
  • Median Loan Payment
  • Rider University $266
  • Penn State $277

  • Diversity

  • % Men
  • Rider University 41%
  • Penn State 52%
  • % Women
  • Rider University 59%
  • Penn State 48%
  • Racial Diversity
  • Rider University Medium
  • Penn State Medium
  • HBCU
  • Rider University No
  • Penn State No
  • % White
  • Rider University 62%
  • Penn State 69%
  • % Asian
  • Rider University 5%
  • Penn State 6%
  • % Black
  • Rider University 12%
  • Penn State 4%
  • % Hispanic
  • Rider University 12%
  • Penn State 6%
  • % Native American
  • Rider University 0%
  • Penn State 0%
  • % Pacific Islander
  • Rider University 0%
  • Penn State 0%
  • % Two or More Races
  • Rider University 3%
  • Penn State 3%
  • % International
  • Rider University 3%
  • Penn State 11%
  • % Unknown Race
  • Rider University 2%
  • Penn State 2%

  • Students

  • % In-State
  • Rider University 73%
  • Penn State 53%
  • % Out-of-State
  • Rider University 23%
  • Penn State 40%

  • Campus

  • Campus Housing
  • Rider University Yes
  • Penn State Yes
  • Freshman Dorm Required
  • Rider University No
  • Penn State Yes
  • Meal Plan
  • Rider University Yes
  • Penn State Yes
  • Weekend/Evening Classes
  • Rider University Yes
  • Penn State Yes
  • Daycare Facility
  • Rider University No
  • Penn State Yes

Comparable Facts

Compare Rider University in Lawrenceville, NJ with Penn State Main Campus in University Park, PA on tuition, admissions, graduation, earnings, and student body data using the table above.

Penn State Main Campus is larger than Rider University based on total student enrollment (50,737 students vs. 4,003 students)

Location, institution type, and student-faculty ratio

  • Rider University is located in Lawrenceville, NJ (Large Suburban setting); Penn State Main Campus is in University Park, PA (Small City setting).
  • Rider University is a private, non-profit 4-year institution. Penn State Main Campus is a public, non-profit 4-year institution.
  • Student-to-faculty ratio: Rider University 14:1; Penn State Main Campus 16:1.

Rider University vs. Penn State Cost Comparison

Which college is more expensive, Rider University or Penn State? 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 Rider University than Penn State ($26,506 vs. $27,889).
  • Living costs (room and board or off-campus housing budget) at Penn State Main Campus are 16% lower than at Rider University ($14,474 vs. $17,230).
  • Rider University is 99.2% more expensive for in-state tuition than Penn State (about $20,476 more per year; $41,120.00 vs. $20,644.00).
  • Out-of-state tuition is 1.6% higher at Penn State than at Rider University (about $670 more per year; $41,790.00 vs. $41,120.00).
  • A larger share of students receive grant aid at Rider University than at Penn State Main Campus (100% vs. 37%).
  • The average total grant financial aid received by Rider University students is 158.4% larger than aid received by Penn State Main Campus students ($29,294 vs. $11,336).

Rider University vs. Penn State Admissions comparison

Which college is harder to get into, Rider University or Penn State? 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 Penn State and Rider University.

  • The typical SAT score (median estimate) at Penn State Main Campus (1330) is 120 points higher than at Rider University (1210).
  • Incoming Rider University students have the same typical ACT composite (median estimate; 29) as students at Penn State (29).
  • Reported middle 50% SAT composite range (25th-75th percentile) for admitted students: Rider University 1100/1320; Penn State Main Campus 1240/1420.
  • Reported middle 50% ACT composite range (25th-75th percentile) for admitted students: Rider University 27/31; Penn State Main Campus 27/32.
  • Submitting SAT or ACT scores: Rider University - Test optional; Penn State - Test optional.
  • Rider University has a higher acceptance rate (78.6%) than Penn State (60.6%).
  • The share of admitted students who enrolled (yield) is 9.1% at Rider University vs. 17.1% at Penn State.

Rider University vs. Penn State Graduation Outcomes Comparison

How do outcomes compare for Rider University and Penn State? 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).

  • Penn State Main Campus's six-year graduation rate (87%) is higher than Rider University's (63%).
  • Graduates from Penn State Main Campus earn a median of about $2,300 more per year than Rider University graduates about ten years after starting college ($55,300 vs. $53,000), per the same Scorecard earnings definition.
  • Among federal student loan borrowers, Rider University graduates have a $1,068 lower median loan debt than Penn State graduates ($25,750 vs. $26,818).
  • Among borrowers, Rider University graduates have an estimated $11 lower median monthly federal student loan payment than Penn State graduates ($266 vs. $277).
  • More Rider University graduates are actively paying back their federal student loan debt than former Penn State students, three years after graduation. (73% vs. 69%)

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.