Students seeking federal student aid must complete the FAFSA for each academic year. The FAFSA is also used to determine eligibility for many New Jersey and Rider University financial aid programs. Some Rider merit scholarships do not require a FAFSA. Eligible New Jersey students who cannot complete the FAFSA because of their immigration status may apply for state financial aid through the New Jersey Alternative Financial Aid Application.
Key FAFSA points to keep in mind:
- It's not too late! File your 2026-2027 Free Application for Federal Student Aid (FAFSA). Rider University’s 2026-2027 FAFSA priority deadline, to maximize your eligibility for financial aid, was February 1, 2026. Students may still submit the FAFSA after the priority deadline, but some institutional or state funds may no longer be available.
The U.S. Department of Education must receive the 2026–2027 FAFSA no later than June 30, 2027. However, Rider University must receive the student’s correct and complete FAFSA information by the student’s last day of enrollment during the 2026–2027 award year. Rider, New Jersey, and individual financial aid programs may have earlier deadlines. Students should review the current HESAA deadlines and complete all NJFAMS requirements promptly. - List Rider University on your FAFSA using Rider’s federal school code, 002628.
- The FAFSA requests income, tax, assets, household, and other eligibility information. Federal tax information is generally transferred directly from the IRS after each required contributor provides consent and approval. Some financial information, including current asset values, may still need to be entered manually. Learn more about the documents needed to fill out the FAFSA.
- Students are encouraged to complete the FAFSA online using the U.S. Department of Education’s secure website. The student and each person identified as a required contributor must have their own StudentAid.gov account. Contributors may include the student, the student’s spouse, a biological or adoptive parent, or a parent’s spouse. Each required contributor must provide the requested information, provide consent and approval for the transfer and use of federal tax information, and sign their section of the FAFSA. Providing information on the FAFSA does not make a contributor financially responsible for the student’s educational expenses. A parent or spouse contributor who does not have a Social Security number may still create a StudentAid.gov account and complete their required portion of the FAFSA.
- New Jersey residents should create or access their NJFAMS account after submitting the FAFSA or New Jersey Alternative Financial Aid Application. Review your award status and customized To Do List regularly and submit all requested state documents by HESAA’s applicable deadlines.
With your FSA ID and password, you can return to the FAFSA website later to check the status of your application, review the results of your processed FAFSA, and submit corrections.
After You Submit the FAFSA
Make sure every required contributor has completed and signed their section of the FAFSA. A FAFSA cannot be fully processed until all required sections, consent and approval requirements, and signatures are complete.
After your FAFSA is processed, log in to your StudentAid.gov account and review your FAFSA Submission Summary. Confirm that your information is accurate, review your Student Aid Index (SAI), read any comments or required next steps, and submit corrections when needed. The financial aid amounts shown in the FAFSA Submission Summary are estimates and are not Rider University’s final financial aid offer.
Monitor your Rider email and myRider account for financial aid notifications and requests for additional documentation. If you are selected for verification or additional review, submit all requested documents promptly. New Jersey residents should also monitor their NJFAMS To Do List and state aid status.
Questions
If you need help completing the FAFSA, please contact the Federal Student Aid Information Center at 1-800-433-3243. Please visit the Contact Financial Aid page to learn how to contact the office directly.