A Legacy of Purpose and Promise
Rider University began in 1865 as Trenton Business College, created to train professionals for the rapidly changing, industrialized economy emerging after the Civil War. What started as a private business school has grown into a comprehensive university that remains driven by relevance, innovation and opportunity.
Today, Rider is a mid-sized, highly residential institution offering a diverse and inclusive environment where students pursue bold academic goals across a wide range of disciplines. With strong undergraduate and graduate programs in business, the sciences, the arts, education, counseling, and leadership, Rider prepares students not just for careers, but for lives of impact. In 2017, the University launched its first doctoral program: the Ed.D. in Educational Leadership.
Rider's evolution has been shaped by vision and expansion. In 1959, the University began relocating from downtown Trenton to a more expansive 280-acre campus in Lawrence Township, New Jersey. In 1992, Rider merged with Westminster Choir College, adding a campus in Princeton and deepening its commitment to music and the performing arts. Two years later, in 1994, Rider officially achieved university status.
Today, Rider is home to three academic colleges:
At the heart of Rider’s mission is the Rider PROMISE, a commitment shared by students, alumni, faculty, and staff to lead lives of purpose, integrity, and impact. It reflects the University’s belief that education should empower individuals not only to succeed, but to serve and inspire.
Through nearly 160 years of transformation, Rider has stayed true to its mission: to empower students with knowledge, skills, and confidence to shape the world ahead.
