Rider First Day Program

Rider First Day is a course material and textbook fulfillment program operated by Barnes & Noble College, Rider’s bookstore partner. The program lowers the cost of course materials and ensures students have their required course materials on the first day of class.

Through this program, physical books will be conveniently packaged and provided to students on a rental basis and digital materials will be delivered directly within Canvas. Costs will be included as a per credit fee each fall and spring semester. At the end of the fall and spring semesters, students will receive email reminders to return their physical course materials to the Rider University Bookstore.

How does it work?

• Once you register for your classes, the bookstore will start preparing your course materials.
• One month before classes start, you will receive an email instructing you to select your delivery preference (in-store pickup or shipped directly to you).
• An email notification will be sent when your order is ready for pickup or when it ships.
• Your digital materials will be delivered for your course(s) within Canvas.

Affordability and student success are top concerns for Rider. Through Rider First Day, we are not only reducing the cost of course materials, but also providing additional ways to ensure your academic success in the coming year. Rider joins more than 100 schools nationwide to participate in the course materials delivery program designed by Barnes & Noble College. Among students who have participated in the program, 83% say it better prepared them for the academic term, 73% say it helped them achieve better grades and 88% say they are likely to recommend the program to another student.

All undergraduate students are automatically enrolled in the program each semester including J-term and summer I and summer II. Graduate students will be added beginning Fall 2026.

Rider First Day is available each fall and spring semester, J-Term, and summer sessions for undergraduate students. They are automatically enrolled in the program.  

The program provides all required textbooks, lab manuals, access codes and digital textbook versions to eligible students.

The program does not include consumables that cannot be returned and reused such as lab goggles, dissection kits, etc.

It is included automatically as a per credit fee for all eligible students. Students save an average of 35-50% on their course materials.

Charges are based on a per credit fee. The charges are added to a student's account when they register for their courses. Any schedule changes that impact the number of credits will be reflected in the final first day charges.  

All eligible students will be automatically enrolled in the program.

Students have the option to opt out of the program and purchase their materials independently. 

• For Spring 2026 Semester:
  •  You may begin the opt-out process here beginning December 27, 2025.
  •  The opt-out period ends on February 9, 2026.
• For Summer I:
  •  You may begin the opt-out process here beginning April 18, 2026.
  •  The opt-out period ends on June 1, 2026.
• For Summer II:
  •  You may begin the opt-out process here beginning June 6, 2026.
  •  The opt-out period ends on July 20, 2026.

You must opt-out for each individual semester if you do not wish to participate.

• Fall/Spring Semester Late Start courses (example; starts in mid-March or early October) added after Drop/Add will be charged to the student account unless the student has already opted-out of the program. 

You can change your status and opt into the program here.

The deadline to return all rental textbooks is the last day of finals. Students will receive email reminders about the rental deadline to their Rider email address.

Yes, the program provides you with the option to purchase textbooks at a reduced rate during the return period.

Yes, you will still be required to return continuation course textbooks. You will be issued the same title for the next semester of the continuation course.

Students will receive emails and phone calls from the bookstore to remind them to verify their order. If the student does not opt-out, their materials will be held at the bookstore and their student account will be charged.

Yes, if you do not opt-out, your materials will be held at the bookstore and your student account will be charged.

You may return the course materials to the bookstore before the end of the add/drop period. If you drop a class and enroll in a different class, the bookstore will “swap” the required textbooks/codes so that you have what you need. Any schedule changes that impact the number of credits will be reflected in the final first day charges.  

Yes, you will have 48 hours to return your textbooks. If you do not return the textbooks, the charges will be reflected on your student account.