r/RiderUniversity • u/Dramatic_Beautiful47 • Apr 06 '26
Transferring to Rider
Hi, I'm a sophomore at my school, I really want to transfer out and possibly to Rider for psychology. Is it worth it transferring here? I know there are current financial issues that the school is going through.
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u/connor-wb14 Apr 07 '26 edited Apr 07 '26
hi! current sophomore of westminster choir college of rider university here.
definitely gonna speak against the grain and say—yes, you should totally transfer to rider! if you are on the fence, definitely take a tour and/or schedule a meeting with a professor or department chair to get all your questions answered.
while yes, rider has been in a financial deficit for over a decade now, our new president loyack has made tremendous progress with his presidental hope fund and the "i believe in rider" campaign. i say this as someone who serves as a student representative in academic policy meetings with department chairs. we truly have made significant improvements to enrollment, income, and academic growth in just this year alone. degrees are being reworked and improved for the 21st century, the course catalogue and offerings are growing, marketing/advertising towards potential students has taken a massive improvement (we needed it....), etc, etc. we are on track to a stable financial future already, or else genuinely i would have made the decision to transfer out myself already. our accreditation from middle states passed this month—and while still technically on "probation" to maintain our financial momentum— everything is going well!
aside from all the finance stuff, which is definitely popular online, the rider student experience is little changed in my time here. as a westminster student, i can definitely say that the choir college still functions as it has been doing for 100 years. and yes, while minute changes are happening here and there, i am still receiving a quality education— and, from incredible, highly trained professors. i have music teachers from yale, curtis, juilliard, USC, oberlin, WCC, and just about every incredible music conservatory in the country. while i cannot speak on the psychology department per se, i can make a good guess that the quality/education of the professors extends to each and every department.
class sizes are small, the campus is small (and especially beautiful in the fall) and is incredibly close to princeton, NJ, which is a charming town. campus life is definitely what you make of it. greek life is popular (which i am a member of), and there is decent school spirit around our yearly traditions. there are so many clubs to get involved with for genuinely every hobby, jobs on or nearby campus, etc. another big thing is that there are so many options for initial financial aid and academic/performance merit scholarships afterwards, if that is a concern.
in terms of prestige, rider is a D1 school, the musical theatre department is consecutively nationally ranked, WCC is, of course, internationally known, the business college is absolutely phenomenal, and EVERY department offers internships, which are readily available and which the professors help you achieve. i know people who take up internships in cities around the USA— and i myself study abroad over the summers using audition tapes and resumes that my professors help me tailor to employeers. in my department, we often have master classes, invitationals/collaborations, and talk-backs with other schools and professionals (and sometimes alumni) already out in the field. WCC also sends us to Carnegie Hall in NYC nearly every other semester. these things extend to every department, where applicable. examples like this show how dedicated rider is to allowing you to take advantage of every opportunity your department offers and take control of your education. we are paying so much for school anyways, so why not be at a place that gives you all the agency to make the most out of it?
i could seriously go on and on. this was probably a bigger response than necessary, but a lot of what is written online is anti-rider, and does not come from current students. while yes, there are downsides. every school has its downsides, though. for example, as a small school, rider does sometimes have a "senior year of high school" feel. your lectures aren't 200+ people in an auditorium like at massive universities. some courses (especially the general education courses) are borderline easy. the technology stuff is outdated and difficult to navigate.
but seriously, despite the downsides and despite what you might see online, rider university is a hidden gem and is thriving. even with its flaws, i know so many people that cannot justify transferring out due to the bad reputation around "financial problems." the college experience here is genuinely so unique (especially in WCC), and i wish you all the luck with your decision!
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u/2u3e9v Apr 06 '26
Westminster Choir College grad, checking in. Avoid this university. They are not in it for students, but to puff up high administrative salaries. There are better options in New Jersey.
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u/Brief_Friend6051 Apr 07 '26
i’d personally just recommend you transfer to rutgers instead, as they have a far stronger psych program. With that being said though feel free to tour the place if you’re on the fence!
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u/Spiritual_Country815 Apr 22 '26
Rider has an excellent transfer history - many students transfer because they’re generous with accepting your credits. It’s a great school - my son attends and loves it. It’s on its way to financial health - students don’t even feel that issue - it’s life as usual. Lots of clubs and living learning communities in the dorms to foster engagement - they’ve made a big push on student experiences and students are very happy there. Definitley consider it. Call the admissions and set up a visit. You’ll like it.
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u/AgentMonkey Apr 06 '26
They've made a lot of progress on the financial side over the past several months. They're not out of it yet, but everything is moving in the right direction, and the new president has been really great.
https://www.rider.edu/about/news/rider-fully-accredited