Housing Selection Process
Two-Year Residency Requirement
For Incoming First-Year Students (effective Fall 2025)
To promote student success both inside and outside the classroom, Rider University requires first-year students to either commute from their primary residence OR live on campus during their first two years of study , with limited exceptions . Living at other off-campus addresses is not permitted
Whether you plan to live on campus or commute from home, you must notify Rider of your planned living arrangements
For more information, visit:
RIDER.EDU/RESIDENCY-REQUIREMENT
ON CAMPUS . Living
CAMPUS IS MORE THAN JUST A PLACE TO LIVE AND LEARN — it’s your home base for fun, friendship, and personal growth From welcoming spaces to vibrant connections and meals that satisfy, there’s room for you to thrive at every step of your college journey thrive at every step of your college journey
RESIDENCE HALLS AND ROOM TYPES
Rider students are welcomed and encouraged to live on campus all four years . Our residence halls offer a variety of styles and amenities including:
» Traditional halls: Rooms off a shared hallway with communal, gendered bathrooms on each floor .
» Suite-style halls: Includes an entryway, private bathrooms, and separate bedrooms
» Apartment-style halls: Includes common spaces, in-unit bathrooms, and kitchens
CAMPUS RENOVATIONS *
For the 2025-26 academic year, residence hall upgrades are planned to enhance the student living experience Centennial House will feature a new arts-focused space, air conditioning, upgraded bathrooms, new flooring, improved lighting, and study areas Conover Hall, University House, and Ziegler Hall will receive air conditioning, fresh paint, new flooring, lighting upgrades, and potential bathroom renovations
* Plans may be subject to change.
RIDER.EDU/RESIDENCE-HALLS
RIDER.EDU/ROOM-TYPES
Specialty Housing
Rider University offers a range of specialty housing options designed to enhance the campus experience and support student success
» Living Learning Communities (LLCs) : A unique feature of the first-year student experience, Rider’s LLCs offer a dynamic residential environment that fosters academic growth, collaboration, and engagement beyond the classroom By living with students who share your interests or major, you’ll build lasting friendships, work toward common goals, and connect with Rider’s esteemed faculty and residence life staff
Planned Living Learning Communities (LLCs)* for fall 2025 include:
» Fine Arts LLC - Lake House
» Baccalaureate Honors Program (BHP) LLCZiegler Hall, 1st floor
» Media Arts LLC (New for Fall 2025)Newly renovated Centennial House
» Norm Brodsky College of Business LLCZiegler Hall, 2nd and 3rd floors
» Psychology LLC - Switlik Hall, 1st floor
» Westminster Choir College LLCKroner Hall, 1st floor
For more information, visit rider . edu/LLC
* May be subject to change.
24/7 public safety
More than
50 %
of Rider undergraduates live on campus
» Accommodations for Students with Disabilities: Students can request housing accommodations once they have been approved by the Office of Student Accessibility and Support Services (SASS) To be considered for these accommodations, complete the “Housing for Students with Disabilities Request” on the Housing Portal Medical documentation must be submitted to SASS; do not share medical information with Residence Life .
» Gender Inclusive Housing (GIH) : Students may opt to select roommates and housing assignments based on personal comfort and compatibility, rather than gender identity Complete the GIH application on the Housing Portal Approved students will receive email confirmations to proceed with room selection . You can request a specific roommate or be paired randomly with another GIH participant
» Student Athletic Housing: Coordinated through Rider Athletics administration . Student-athletes should ensure their housing preferences are communicated to their respective coaches and administrators Additionally they should apply for housing and submit a housing deposit
New Student Housing Process
Students can apply for housing, engage in roommate matching and select roommates, request specific housing options, consider renters insurance, and select a meal plan using the online portal View detailed information at rider .edu/new-student-housing-process
Stage 1: Submit the Tuition and Housing Deposits
NEW FIRST YEAR AND TRANSFER STUDENTS :
» Deposit Deadline: May 1, 2025
» Deposit Amount: $400 tuiton and housing deposits (non-refundable)
» First-come, first-served assignment: The earlier a student submits their deposit, the better the chances of selecting a preferred room type or location We strongly encourage you to submit your housing deposit before the May 1 deadline You will gain access to begin the housing application three business days after your deposit is paid
» Payment: Log into the myRider portal Navigate to the Payment section and follow the on-screen instructions For more information, visit rider . edu/deposits
» Deposit Deferral: Students with financial aid covering direct expenses may apply for partial deferral through the Office of Financial Aid Deposit refunds are not available
The Bursar’s Office manages the deposit collection process For questions about payment methods, contact the Bursar’s Office directly
For questions about financing housing, tuition, or meal plans, please contact the Office of Financial Aid
M ay 1
Housing deposit deadline
Housing will be assigned on a first-come, first-served basis Make sure to submit your deposit early!
RESOURCES
TO HELP YOU PLAN AND PREPARE FOR SUCCESS:
Bursar’s Office
Cashier’s Office
Bart Luedeke Center, 2nd floor cashiers@rider edu
609-896-5390
RIDER.EDU/BURSAR
Financial Aid
Bart Luedeke Center, 2nd floor finaid@rider edu 609-896-5360
RIDER.EDU/FINANCIAL-AID
Student Accessibility and Support Services (SASS)
Bart Luedeke Center, Suite 201 accessibility@rider edu
609-895-5492
RIDER.EDU/SASS
Stage 2: Complete the Housing Application
MARK YOUR CALENDAR: Starting at 10 a m ET on Monday, February 10, 2025 , all students can begin the housing application process
New students can access the housing application three business days after submitting their enrollment deposit
ALL INCOMING FIRST-YEAR STUDENTS, WHETHER LIVING ON CAMPUS OR COMMUTING FROM HOME , MUST COMPLETE STEPS ONE THROUGH FIVE OF THE HOUSING APPLICATION TO NOTIFY RIDER OF THEIR PLANS.
REQUIRED APPLICATION STEPS:
1 Log into the MyRider portal
2 Navigate to the “Housing and Dining Info” card and click on the Housing Portal link .
3 In the top left menu bar, click on the Application link Then, select Academic Year 2025-26 and click Apply
4 On the welcome screen, click Begin Application
5 Review the Two-Year Residency Requirement policy and select one of the following options:
» Living on campus - Continue with the full housing application . Refer to the additional steps below
» Commuting from home (with a parent/legal guardian) - This completes the commuter confirmation process and will apply for two years
» Approved Residency Requirement exemption - Provide a brief explanation for your exemption request
ADDITIONAL
STEPS FOR STUDENTS LIVING ON CAMPUS :
If you selected “Living on campus,” complete the following:
6 Review and confirm your emergency contact information
7 Create a roommate matching profile (you can form roommate groups and engage in roommate matching later)
8 Review the Alcohol Policy and agree to the “Cali Pledge . ”
9 Review and agree to the Housing License and Agreement .
10 Consider opting into Grad Guard Renters Insurance
11 . Select your meal plan All residential students must participate in a meal plan You can review meal plan options on the Rider Dining website
Students may also apply to live in specialty housing (LLC, GIH)
Students seeking housing accommodations should submit their paperwork on or before May 1 .
Stage 3: Roommate Matching and Room Selection
Finding a compatible roommate and selecting your room are key steps in your housing journey
ROOMMATE MATCHING (FEBRUARY 10 - MAY 28)
» After submitting your housing application, access the Roommate Matching feature in the Housing Portal to explore potential matches
» Confirm your roommate matches by May 28
TIPS FOR MAKING YOUR MATCH:
» Use platforms like Facebook and Instagram to connect with potential roommates
» If possible, meet in person to discuss compatibility and expectations for living together .
» Connect with Residence Life! Our office offers programs to help you find roommates and navigate discussions about shared living
ROOM SELECTION
» In mid-May , Gender-Inclusive Housing (GIH) and LLC Program Room Selection will take place for students who opted into specialty housing
» Early June – Room selection timeslots will be emailed to eligible students (a timeslot is the specific date and time when you can begin selecting a room)
» Standard room selection runs from June 10-13 in the Housing Portal
TIPS FOR FINDING YOUR SPACE:
» Explore the features of specific residence halls and rooms on the Residence Life website and in the room selection portal
» The student with the earliest timeslot in a roommate group will s elect the room and assign bed spaces for all group members The members of the roommate group will need to confirm the space selection
» Your roommate group should match the number of beds in the unit If your first-choice room type is unavailable, you may need to adjust your group based on availability
Virtual Information Sessions
Come learn more about the process with the Residence Life staff Webinar links will be provided via email to all admitted students
HOUSING APPLICATION REVIEW
» Monday, April 21, 2025 at 7 p m
» Wednesday, April 30, 2025 at 7 p m
ROOM SELECTION PROCESS REVIEW
» Monday, May 19, 2025 at 7 p m
» Wednesday, May 21, 2025 at 7 p m
1,700+ students live on campus
Important dates and deadlines:
February 10
» Housing application opens to students with deposits in place
February 10-May 30
» Roommate matching
May 1
» Housing deposit deadline
» Housing accommodations (medical requests) paperwork deadline
Mid-May
» Gender-Inclusive Housing Selection
» LLC Program Room Selection
May 28
» Roommate matching confirmation deadline
June 10-13
» Standard room selection for New and Transfer Students
Housing is available for all students. Applications will be accepted on the housing portal on a rolling basis; however, your options will become limited the longer you wait to deposit and apply
NEED HELP?
For assistance, contact Residence Life by email at reslife@rider edu or phone at 609-896-5057
We’re here to make your transition to campus housing as easy as possible!
CONTRACT
TERMINATION
POLICIES
:
Housing contracts are issued for a full academic year When you sign your agreement to live in Campus Housing, you are committing to the terms of that agreement, including length of agreement and room rate When you move out early, you are breaking the terms of the agreement
If you are considering canceling your housing agreement, please review the following information before making a final decision
CANCELLATION REQUESTS :
Students wishing to cancel housing who have made a housing deposit but have not started the online housing application must complete the Contract Termination form via the Housing Portal
CANCELLATION FEES :
» Students who have received a housing assignment; who request release from housing between the beginning of Room Selection and May 31 will be assessed a $200 Housing Cancellation fee
» Students who have received a housing assignment; who request release from housing on or after June 1st for the Fall semester and November 15th for the Spring semester will be assessed a $700 Housing Cancellation fee
» Students who have received a housing assignment; who request release from housing on or after July 1st for the Fall semester and December 15th for the Spring semester will be assessed a $950 Housing Cancellation fee
RIDER.EDU/HOUSING TAKE THE next step.