In response to the continuing climb in the cost of higher education, Rider University in New Jersey is launching a new initiative to ease the financial burden for many students.
The university will launch the Rider Tuition Guarantee in the fall semester of 2025, offering eligible New Jersey residents the opportunity to attend tuition-free.
Project details
The program is part of a national effort by colleges and universities to improve access for low-income students.
The program refers to measures that colleges and universities across the country are taking to make higher education more accessible to low-income students. These often include offering financial aid programs, tuition waivers or full scholarships, accelerated graduation programs, etc. The aim of these initiatives is to reduce educational inequities due to financial burden and ensure that all students, regardless of their economic background, have access to higher education.
For example, programs like the Excelsior Scholarship Program in New York State and the Promise Program in California are designed to help low-income students complete their education by reducing tuition and providing more financial aid. These plans reflect efforts by universities and governments to improve access to education and reduce educational inequality.
This tuition-free program is designed to fill the financial aid gap after all other scholarships and grants have been applied for, and enroll academically successful freshmen, first-year students, and transfer undergraduates.
Fill the gap
Founded in 1865, Rider University in Lawrenceville, New Jersey, is a private university with a long history of liberal arts, science and vocational education. Originally a business school to provide vocational education for veterans and young businessmen, the school has grown into a comprehensive university offering more than 60 undergraduate and graduate programs in business, education, arts, sciences and more.
Rider University is known for its strong business school and School of Education, with several professionally accredited programs. For example, the Business School’s programs are accredited by the Association for the Advancement of International Business Schools (AACSB), which is achieved by less than 5% of business schools worldwide. In addition, Rider University is also known for its music and performing arts programs, and Westminster Choir College is a world-renowned music school, attracting many musical talents.
Rider University’s tuition guarantee scheme is aimed at students with both academic ability and financial need. Applicants must be New Jersey residents with a high school GPA of 3.5 or above and a household adjusted gross income of no more than $50,000. In addition, students must receive full Tuition Assistance (TAG) and Pell Grants to cover tuition. The program is designed to fill the funding gap beyond these scholarships and grants, making Rider a realistic option for students who might otherwise forgo higher education due to cost, according to the administration.
Rider University also offers incoming undergraduate students the opportunity to use free textbooks through the Books for Broncs program.
Far-reaching impact
The tuition waivers offered by the program have a profound impact on students and their families. According to a 2023 Sallie Mae/Ipsos National Study, about 78 percent of families cite tuition as a top consideration when choosing a school. At a time when tuition is rising faster than inflation, initiatives like the Ryder Tuition Guarantee Program can help students overcome the financial barriers to higher education without having to abandon their studies.
While such programs are a big step in the right direction, challenges remain. For example, although students’ tuition fees may be covered, additional expenses such as books, room and board often still have to be borne by the students themselves. In Rider’s case, the tuition protection plan also does not cover books and other non-tuition expenses, potentially leaving students to manage these additional costs themselves.
A New Jersey program guarantees free community college to students from families earning less than $65,000. Other universities in the state offer similar “tuition-free” guarantees to students from low – and moderate-income families. These include Rutgers University, Stockton University, New Jersey City University, Saint Peter’s University and others.
There is also the question of the sustainability of such schemes. As more students take advantage of these opportunities, universities could face budget pressures if state funding fails to keep up with student population growth. How these programs will evolve to meet increasing student demand remains to be seen.
Even so, the Ryder Tuition Guarantee Scheme is still a beacon of hope for the higher education sector. By offering tuition-free opportunities to eligible students, Rider University is opening its doors to many students who are unable to attend college due to financial hardship. The successful experience of this beneficial exploration will likely be widely replicated by more universities, thus promoting higher education to be more accessible to all.
