Returning Student Housing Process

All returning undergraduate students, including commuters, who pay their $200 housing deposit by February 1.

Students who have paid the $200 housing deposit by the deadline of February 1 will be given access to the housing portal. Through this portal, students can complete their application, form groups for apartment and suite housing, search for roommates or create roommate pairings for standard housing, and select their housing and meal plans. 

It is expected that all students conduct themselves with integrity and respect throughout the room selection process. Any attempts to manipulate the process will result in fewer housing options for all students, and a more stressful experience overall.

All room selections are made through the online housing portal. Students can access the portal by logging into their myRider accounts and clicking on the Housing Portal link under the Housing & Dining Info card.

Students who take part in standard room selection are not obligated to choose a roommate in advance. However, they must complete a roommate-matching questionnaire as part of the housing process. This questionnaire is designed to help students find potential roommates based on their online profiles.

Please note that this option applies only to standard room selections. Students who participate in Apartment and Suite Room Selection must have a complete group that can fill the unit type they are requesting.

If you do not want to choose a roommate prior to room selection, you can select a room of your choice. Then, the next person who is looking for a room will have the option to select the open bed in that space. 

On the other hand, students who participate in the General Room Selection Process must have a complete group that is able to fill the unit type they are requesting, such as a 4-person suite, on the first day of selection. If there are any remaining spaces available on the second day of selection, groups will be allowed to select from whatever spaces remain, regardless of their size.

No. Every student must go through the process and choose from the rooms that are available at their time slot.

You must notify the Office of Financial Aid whenever your housing status changes. Students who reside off campus, but not at home, are also required to provide a signed copy of their lease for review by a financial aid counselor. Current freshman entering their sophomore years are required to live on campus or commute from home.

To apply for housing as a returning student, you must follow the steps and requirements below. 

Steps to Apply for Housing

All returning undergraduate students, including commuters, who pay their housing deposit by March 1 and participate in one of the room selection processes will be able to reside on campus.

1. The $200 non-refundable housing deposit must be RECEIVED by the Cashier’s Office by February 1.
2. Complete appropriate steps through online housing portal.
3. Participate in Greek Room Selection, Athletic Housing Day or the General Room Selection via the online housing portal.

Housing Requirements

To qualify for housing, you must:

• Have paid your $200 housing deposit by the deadline.
• Completed the appropriate steps through the online housing portal.
• All applicants applying for premium housing must be in good judicial and financial standing.
• Must have course selection for the 2026-27 academic year.

If you are a readmitted student, you are returning to Rider after having taken a leave of absence. To apply for housing as a readmitted student you must follow the steps and requirements below.

Steps to Apply for Housing

1. All returning undergraduate students, including commuters, who pay their $200 housing deposit, will be able to reside on campus, if space is still available.
2. Students readmitted to the University will be sent a letter containing the online housing portal information.
3. Pay the $200 housing by the deadline stated in the letter.
4. Students will be notified once they are able to go on and select a space or an assignment has been made.

Housing Requirements

To qualify for housing, you must:

• Have paid all your deposits by the deadline.
• Be a full time student.
• Be registered for classes.

• Online: MyRider/Student Information/Ipay
  • Select the Deposits tab
  • Select Fall 2025
  • Select Fall 2025 – Housing Only $200
• Mail
  • Rider University
    Attn: Cashier's Office
    2083 Lawrenceville Road
    Lawrenceville, NJ 08648-3099
• In-Person
  • At the Cashier's Office, top floor of the BLC
• Phone
  • Call Cashier's office at 609-896-5390

Although deposits and housing applications will still be accepted, limited residence hall choices will be available and participation in the General Room Selection Process may be unavailable.

Housing deposits are applied to fall semester charges. Once you have selected a room assignment, the deposit is not refundable. Students may request a refund before they have selected a standard room assignment.

Housing contracts are issued for a full academic year. When you sign your agreement to live on campus, 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 cancellation policy before making a final decision.

Please view our full Cancellation Policy here

After students complete an application Room Selection Appointment Times will be emailed to their Rider email account. Students that have formed a group for Apartment and suite selection will receive their group Room Selection Appointment Times via email to the Group Leader.  Students may also find the information on the housing portal. For specific dates please refer to the timeline in General Room Selection information.

Numbers will be assigned according to class year and housing deposit date.

• Freshmen: 0 – 23 credits completed
• Sophomore: 24 – 53 credits completed
• Junior: 54 – 89 credits completed
• Senior: 90+ credits completed

 Students will be grouped by their class year and deposit date. 

No. Each number is specific to each student.

A limited number of double as single rooms will be available in various campus buildings. Rates may vary depending on location.

Applications will continue to be accepted, but options become more limited the further away from the room selection process. Single-room availability can not be guaranteed.

Students will see all eligible spaces for selection during their allotted timeslot.​ For specific dates please refer to the timeline in General Room Selection information.

Students who are interested in living in an apartment or suite must create a Roommate Group and complete the group formation process. Students wishing to participate in the group process must be in good judicial and financial standing with the university. The Group Leader will receive the Group Room Selection Appointment Time based on their deposit date and class standing.

Please view all of the Apartment and Suite spaces here.

Judicial Holds

• Level 1 Violations – Not eligible for Apartment and suite Housing
• Level 2 Violations – Not eligible for Apartment and suite Housing
• Tier 2 Alcohol Violations – Any Tier 2 violation - Restricted for 3 full semesters after incident occurred
• Tier 1 Alcohol Violations – Multiple (2 or more) Tier 1 violation - Restricted for 3 full semesters after incident occurred
• Level 3 Violations – Multiple (2 or more) violations – Restricted for 3 full semesters after incident occurred

Financial Holds

• Outstanding balance to the institution of $500 or more

No. Gender Inclusive Housing (GIH) options are available for students who wish to participate in the GIH process.

Once a space has been selected, all students are bound to the cancellation policy.  This means for anyone canceling their assignment after they have already selected or been placed there is a financial penalty.  A student leaving a group after an assignment has already been selected impacts the ability of the group to remain in that apartment and suite housing assignment.

If a student or a group of students decide to back out of their apartment or suite housing assignment, they may be relocated to standard housing if it is available. Alternatively, they could potentially fill the space with another student, provided that this student has a comparable Room Selection Appointment Time to the one who backed out. If the group does not fill the space with another student, the Residence Life office will fill it.

Please refer to the timeline in General Room Selection information for Greek Room Selection process dates.  The Residence Life Office will be working with all Greek organizations to work through their Greek Housing requests for next year.

Air conditioning units are not allowed in student rooms without AC unless a Housing Accommodation has been approved. If approved, Rider University will install the appropriate AC unit in the student's room.

Students who have been approved for an AC unit in the past may need to reapply. Please refer to your approval email for further information.

All new requests must be submitted by February 1 via the Housing Accommodations form found on the Students Accessibility and Support Services website.

Students seeking to be exempt from the meal plan based on a severe medical condition or disability must file for a Housing/Dining Accommodations. Students who qualify for an accommodation based on a disability can be exempt from the meal plan. The Housing/Dining Accommodations form can be found on the Housing Accommodations webpage. All requests should be submitted on or before March 1 to ensure a timely review prior to the start of room selection.

Yes. Each student must be a current student. The student with the better Room Selection Appointment Times will determine the time slot for selection.

Returning students cannot pair with incoming students.  Special consideration or exceptions should be submitted in writing to reslife@rider.edu.

Please note that we cannot guarantee that we will be able to accommodate your request for housing. The beds that are available for housing are specifically designated for incoming first-year and transfer students, and cannot be allotted to returning students. If there is any additional bed space available in the room you have selected, it may be selected by new students during their selection process in June.

Yes, provided they have paid the $200 room deposit by March 1 and completed their online housing application by the appropriate deadline for selection.

Students studying abroad for the Fall 2026 semester should deposit for Spring 2027 in October 2026 and should NOT participate in Fall 2026 room selection.

In an effort to provide residence hall security during a time when the residence halls are closed, we have created guidelines for students who remain on campus through vacations. 

Please note the information below and be cautious as you come and go. We ask your cooperation in abiding by these regulations as you have been granted the privilege of staying in the halls when school is not in session.

• Only those students whose names are submitted to Residence Life by a coach, faculty or administrative staff member are permitted to reside on campus during vacations.
• Consumption of alcohol is not permitted, regardless of legal age. THE CAMPUS IS DRY WHEN THE UNIVERSITY IS CLOSED.
• No cooking in student rooms.
• No guests are permitted.
• There will be no mail delivery.
• All students approved to stay will be held financially accountable for any damage in their hall during the vacation. This will include cleaning fees, if necessary.
• All other Social Code regulations remain in effect during this time.
• Doors and windows are to be closed each time you exit the building. PLEASE DO NOT PROP DOORS.
• Call Public Safety (X5029) immediately if you notice strangers in or around the building.
• In the event of a fire alarm, evacuate immediately. Public Safety will respond and instruct you when you may re-enter the building.

Violation of any of these guidelines may result in the immediate revocation of housing privileges.

Students enrolled in J-Term may take advantage of the J-Term housing rate.  Housing is available for current residential students registered in J-Term.  Housing is not available for high school students or visiting students.

Students requesting J-Term housing should complete the J-Term Housing Application available on the Housing Portal via their myRider accounts.

Important phone numbers:

• Public Safety x5029
• Residence Life x5102
• Facilities x5080

The University is not liable for any loss of personal property by theft, fire, water or any other cause. Please procure personal insurance, since the University cannot purchase this protection for students.

Insurance vendor information is also included in the New Student Orientation Information.