Liberal Arts and Sciences, General Studies and Humanities at Rider University

At first glance, these numbers look promising for a liberal arts degree: first-year earnings of $41,315 beat the national median by $5,000 and rank in the 74th percentile nationwide. However, the small sample size (under 30 graduates) means these figures could shift dramatically with just a few data points. Among New Jersey's 22 liberal arts programs, Rider lands solidly in the 60th percentile—respectable, but notably behind Thomas Edison State and several public universities that deliver stronger outcomes at likely lower sticker prices.

The debt picture offers genuine advantage. Graduates leave with $22,233 in loans—about $4,800 less than both state and national medians—creating a manageable debt-to-earnings ratio of 0.54. Combined with healthy 24% earnings growth by year four, this suggests graduates gain traction in the job market rather than stalling. For context, that four-year salary of $51,305 significantly outpaces what most liberal arts graduates nationwide are earning.

The smart play here: if your child has been admitted to multiple New Jersey schools for liberal arts, compare net prices carefully. Rider's below-average debt and above-average outcomes create a viable pathway, but the small dataset means you're working with limited visibility. At a 79% admission rate, this isn't a selective program banking on credential prestige—the value comes from keeping debt reasonable while achieving solid, if not spectacular, early-career earnings.