Test-Optional Admission

First-year applicants are eligible to apply test optional, with the following exceptions:

• Home-schooled students

When you complete either the Rider application or the Common Application, you will be asked if you are applying test optional.

• If you select "Yes", we will review your application for admission and scholarship awards based on your high school transcript, essay, recommendation, and other supporting documents without consideration of your standardized test scores.
• Students accepted through test-optional admission are strongly encouraged to send their SAT or ACT scores after they have decided to enroll and deposited. These scores will not have an effect on your admission nor scholarship.
• Rider will continue to review SAT or ACT scores from students who believe that their scores are a good measure of their academic ability. Simply answer "No" to the test-optional question on the application, and we will wait for your test scores before making a decision.

Whether you apply test optional or not, Rider makes admission and scholarship decisions based on a comprehensive review of all credentials submitted in support of the application, with the greatest emphasis placed upon the high school academic record.

No!

Yes. All first-year applicants are considered for scholarships, regardless of test scores. Deciding to apply test optional will not hurt you in the scholarship consideration process. However, if you do submit test scores, they will be considered as a part of our comprehensive evaluation of your credentials for scholarships.

Division I athletes may apply for test-optional admission but must submit their SAT or ACT scores to the NCAA Clearinghouse to satisfy freshman athletic eligibility requirements.

International students may apply test optional but may be required to take tests that measure English proficiency, such as TOEFL or IELTS. For details, see How to Apply - For International Students

Students who are admitted via test-optional admission are not required to submit their test scores but are strongly encouraged to do so after they have decided to enroll and deposited. These test scores may be used for course placements, but will not have a negative effect on admission or previously-awarded scholarships.