С����Ƶ

It’s that time of year when high school seniors sit down with their families to decide what institution is the right choice to pursue their higher education goals. While the vast majority of these soon-to-be college freshmen will pursue a standard four-year undergraduate degree, many are opting to pursue an accelerated degree, such as those now offered at С����Ƶ, allowing them to save both time and money. 

“It’s about creative thinking,” says Gregory G. Dell’Omo, Ph.D., president of С����Ƶ, “and finding ways to deliver higher education in different, but credible ways.”

“While a four-year degree may be customary in higher education, for highly motivated, academically prepared high school seniors, an accelerated program can be very attractive. And it can result in a significant cost savings for both students and their parents,” Dell’Omo adds.

At Rider, incoming freshman in the fall of 2016 have the option of choosing from one of three accelerated business degrees from its AACSB-accredited College of Business Administration: a three year bachelor of science in business administration (3-Year BSBA); a three-plus-one bachelor of science in business administration and master of business administration or accountancy (3 + 1 BSBA/MBA or MACC); and a four-plus-one bachelor of science in business administration and master of business administration or accountancy (4 + 1 BSBA/MBA or MACC).

James P. O’Hara, vice president of Enrollment Management at Rider, said while the concept of accelerated degrees is not new, what is unique and different about Rider’s offerings is the guaranteed tuition rate that does not increase from year-to-year. 

“Students who enroll in one of our three accelerated degree programs benefit from a tuition rate that is locked in during their first year, meaning tuition will not increase over the course of their studies. This, coupled with one less year of room and board expense, can equate to thousands of dollars in savings,” he explains.

For example, Rider’s 3-Year BSBA allows students to choose from one of 12 undergraduate business majors and graduate in just three years at an annual guaranteed tuition rate of $23,000 per year. The 3 +1 BSBA/MBA or MACC is offered at a guaranteed tuition of $21,500 per year. And the 4 + 1 BSBA/MBA or MACC can be completed for $19,000 annually. Rider’s current annual undergraduate tuition for a traditional student pursuing a four-year degree is $37,650 per year.

“Students save money, increase their marketability, and can enter the professional workforce sooner,” O’Hara says. “These are all exceptional benefits to choosing an accelerated degree program.”

He cautions that these programs are not suitable for every student. “Accelerated degree programs are intended for academically strong students with above average high school GPAs and SAT or ACT scores. We want students to be prepared and motivated to earn their degrees on a faster timetable, so we will assure they work closely with a dedicated academic advisor to develop a personal education plan to achieve these goals.”

But what about that traditional college experience? Do students who pursue accelerated programs miss out on all that college has to offer when their studies are fast-tracked? No, says Dell’Omo, who stresses that a student who undertakes an accelerated program will not be shortchanged at Rider. 

“It is entirely feasible for a student in one of these programs to participate in unique college experiences such as internships, co-ops, even study abroad,” Dell’Omo says. “Although these students will most likely need to take summer and winter courses to complete degree requirements on an accelerated basis, they can participate in extracurricular activities both on and off campus while at Rider. In fact, we strongly encourage that and will work closely with students to make sure they are having the college experience they want and expect.”

To learn more about Rider’s accelerated business degrees, go to www.rider.edu/acceleratedbusiness or contact Bill Larrousse in the Office of Admissions at 609-896-5042 or wlarrousse@rider.edu.