Books for Broncs

Students with permanent residence in NJ, NY or PA must attend three in-person visits from the list above.

If your permanent residence is a state, territory or country outside the tri-state area of New Jersey, New York or Pennsylvania, you have the option to attend at least one (1) in-person campus visit through the Office of Admission, plus you must participate in two (2) qualifying off-campus or virtual engagement activities to qualify for the free textbooks initiative to meet the three visit requirement. See below for detail.

Step 1: Participate in one (1) on-campus visit option from the list below:

• In-Person Campus Tours
• Open Houses
• Bronc for a Day
• B.F.A. Bronc for a Day (For admitted students in B.F.A. programs only)
• Financial Aid Friday appointment
• Financial Aid appointment (in-person)
• Admitted Student Days
• Summer Preview Day
• Auditions (on-campus only)
• Official Division 1 Athletic Visits that meet with an admissions counselor (By invite only)

Step 2: Participate in two (2) of the following engagement activities:

• Attend a college fair, meet with a representative from Rider University and complete an inquiry card
• Attend an individual school (high school or community college) visit, meet with a representative from Rider University and complete an inquiry card
• Attend an off-campus audition in New York, Chicago and Texas (applies to qualifying audition-based programs only)
• Attend a virtual information session hosted by the Office of Admission (topics may include application planning, audition prep, financial aid information, etc.)
• Meet with the Rider University financial aid office via its Zoom Drop-In hours
• Attend a Financial Aid appointment (virtual via Zoom)
• Interview with a Rider University Regional Admissions Counselor via Zoom, phone, or in person

Please contact your Rider admission counselor if you have questions on how to register for an engagement opportunity or if you are unsure if a visit option qualifies toward the textbook initiative.

The Office of Admissions will email qualifying students after the deposit deadline (January 15 for spring; May 1 for fall) to let them know they are eligible to receive free textbooks through the Rider Bookstore's First Day program.

Please make sure [email protected] is whitelisted in your email account so you receive the message.

Contact your admission counselor if you have questions.

For select students who qualify for the textbook initiative through the Office of Admission, your Rider First Day program fees will automatically be covered up to 18 credits per semester, during your first two semesters as a student. This credit will appear on your term bill. 

The First Day program ensures students have their required course materials on the first day of class. Students are subject to the terms of the First Day program and are responsible for ensuring compliance with the rental usage and return policies. Students are required to return physical course materials to the Rider University Bookstore by the last day of finals. See rider.edu/first-day for details.

Qualifying students must participate in the First Day program to receive the free textbooks. If you choose to opt out of the Rider First Day program, you will forfeit the free textbook offer. Funds cannot be transferred, assigned, redeemed for cash or gift cards or substituted by the recipients.

To learn more about the Rider First Day program and how your textbooks will be delivered, please visit rider.edu/first-day.