How to Apply

Common Application 

Available for Spring 2025 and Fall 2025 applicants.

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• First-year domestic applicants pay a $60 application fee that is non-refundable and may be paid online via credit card or by check.
• Students who attend an on campus visit will receive a fee waiver! We also accept the NACAC or College Board Fee Waivers as well as Fee Waiver requests made by your school counselor.

Request from your school counselor to have your official high school transcript submitted to the university.

• If you earned a General Equivalency Diploma (GED), request that an official copy of your diploma and test scores be sent to Rider University’s Office of Admissions. 
• If during your high school career you were enrolled in an educational setting outside of the US, you will need to submit an official copy of the transcript from that school to be evaluated, even if the grades were already added to your US high school transcript.
• International students should follow the special instructions for high school transcripts.

This letter should come from a school counselor or an individual who can describe your academic potential and personal characteristics. In addition to an academic letter of recommendation, the Office of Admission will also accept letters from individuals you have close relationships with such as coaches, employers, religious figures, etc.

Rider University is a Test Optional Institution. Please review our policy to learn more. 

Rider does not require the optional essay/writing sections on the SAT or ACT. If you are not applying as a "Test Optional" applicant, submit* official scores via College Board for all tests taken:  

*Scores uploaded by the student will not be accepted as official. 

• SAT I (Code 2758)
• ACT (Code 2590)

Superscoring: Rider will use only your best scores from each section; for the SAT & ACT, this may be components from different testing dates.

Have you already been accepted through our "Test Optional" program? If so, we strongly recommend that you send us your test scores. Your scores may be used for course placement, but will not affect your admission or scholarship.

Now is your chance to express yourself – let us get to know the real you – we know you're more than a series of facts and figures! 

Rider’s Educational Opportunity Program (EOP) is a state-sponsored program for New Jersey residents that provides financial and academic support for higher education to highly motivated students from educationally and economically challenged backgrounds. Discover program benefits and requirements to determine your eligibility.

The School of Communication, Media and Performing Arts and Westminster Choir College require an audition/interview as part of the application process for many of their majors. Program specific information and dates of campus auditions, scholarship competitions and regional auditions can be found in the auditions section. There is a non-refundable audition/interview fee of $50 to register for your audition/interview. The fee is collected at time of registration and must be paid in order for the registration form to be submitted.  

Early Action is offered to students applying to audition-based programs. Early Action benefits are available to students applying to audition-based programs who are admitted and enroll by May 1. 

NOTE, applicants to the B.F.A. Musical Theatre and B.F.A. Acting for Film, Television, and Theatre will not receive their admission nor merit-based scholarship by December 20.

Learn More about Auditions

You can follow the status of your application and receipt of required credentials on your "Be-A-Bronc Applicant Dashboard".  After we receive your application, we will send you a link and your login credentials.

Below is an example of what you can expect your dashboard to look like:

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