Key differences on Cost & aid
- 1
Rider costs about $7.8K less per year on average than California Lutheran ($29,872 vs. $37,718, all students)
Average cost, all students - 2
Rider's grants cover 49% of its full price on average, vs. 49% at California Lutheran
Aid generosity
Cost & aid
Cost & aid
Average cost, aid generosity, net price by family income, sticker prices, and grants.
What students pay
Grants
Sticker prices
On one scale, so the bars read against each other.
Up to $110K: the average net price per year for students receiving federal aid, 2023–24; families who didn't file the FAFSA aren't included. Above it the published data end. For your own number, use the college's net price calculator .
Family income per year $150K
- California LutheranLittle need-based aid above $110K
Merit possible (proxy); averaging $30K
- RiderPublished data end at $110K
Merit possible (proxy); averaging $24K
Published (federal figure, up to $110K) EstimateBars share one scale: the largest full price.
Where need-based aid ends, merit, and published promises
| Metric | California Lutheran | Rider |
|---|---|---|
| Need-based aid up to | Little need-based aid above $110K | Published data end at $110K |
| Merit for students without need | 30% got a grant without federal aid, averaging $30K (proxy) | 26% got a grant without federal aid, averaging $24K (proxy) |
| Published promise | – | – |
A college's own promise is stated for a typical family and changes yearly; where a promise and our estimate disagree, the promise wins. Merit has no income limit, so it can lower the price above the point where need-based aid ends.
Tuition guarantee & Promise program
| Metric | California Lutheran | Rider |
|---|---|---|
| Tuition guarantee | No | No |
| Promise program | No | No |
From the colleges' Common Data Sets
| Metric | California Lutheran | Rider |
|---|---|---|
| Aid forms | FAFSA | – |
| Aid priority date or deadline | March 1 (priority) | – |
| Need met, first-years | – | – |
| Average aid package, first-years | – | – |
| College grant dollars given as merit | – | – |
| Aid for international students | – | – |
Sources:IPEDS Institutional Characteristics survey, 2023–24;IPEDS Student Financial Aid survey, 2023–24;College Scorecard, 2023–24;California Lutheran University Common Data Set 2017–18, Fall 2018 entrants;California Lutheran University Common Data Set 2017–18, 2017–18 (estimated);College Scorecard, most recent release;Common Data Set, most recent releaseAbout the data(retrieved 2026-10-12)
Figures are the newest each college has published; years can differ between colleges. Each value's ⓘ shows its source and year. Why