Founded in 1933, Rivier University. is a Private college. Located in New Hampshire, which is a city setting in New Hampshire, the campus itself is Urban. The campus is home to 1,396 full time undergraduate students, and 1,239 full time graduate students.
The Rivier University Academic calendar runs on a Semester basis. In the school year the student to faculty ratio was 15:1. There are 66 full time instructional teachers. Degrees awarded at Rivier University include: Bachelor's Degree, Masters Degree, Post-master's certificate, Doctor's degree.
Quick Facts
Acceptance Rate
70%
Application Deadline
Application Fee
0
SAT Range
ACT Range
Admissions at are considered Selective, with ,14% of all applicants being admitted.
In the school year, of the students who applied to the school, only 12 of those who were admitted eventually ended up enrolling.
71% of incoming freshmen are in the top half of their high school class. 27% were in the top quarter, and 6% were in the top tenth. You can apply online.
STUDENT LIFE Reviews
We asked, and students answered these important questions about student life at Rivier University.
19%
“We”re apathetic”
31%
“We know about current events and vote”
50%
“We participate and encourage others to get involved”
0%
“There”s nothing we won”t protest”
6%
“We save it for the classroom”
44%
“Sometimes, but not often”
44%
“There”s usually intelligent conversation to be found”
6%
“All the time, including weekends”
0%
“I”m always terrified”
0%
“I only go out in groups”
31%
“I usually let someone know where I”m going”
69%
“I feel extremely safe”
31%
“We don”t play sports”
0%
“We play recreationally”
56%
“We bought the gear”
13%
“We live for the big game”
25%
“It”s not really our thing”
44%
“Occasinally we gallery crawl”
31%
“There are a variety of opportunities”
0%
“We”re a very artistic group”
0%
“Haven”t met them”
0%
“Available in class”
69%
“They keep regular office hours”
31%
“They”re always available”
93%
“No greek life, but other groups to join”
7%
“There is some involvement, but not a lot”
0%
“Plenty of people join a sorority or fraternity”
0%
“It”s everything. If you”re not greek, you”re a geek”
0%
“We”re not into drinking at all”
38%
“Maybe a little, but it”s not a big thing”
56%
“We only party on weekends”
6%
“There”s some drinking happening every night”
0%
“Never, we”re here to learn”
94%
“There might be people who do”
6%
“People are known to partake on weekends”
0%
“There”s a huge drug scene”
19%
“We”re apathetic”
31%
“We know about current events and vote”
50%
“We participate and encourage others to get involved”
0%
“There”s nothing we won”t protest”
6%
“We save it for the classroom”
44%
“Sometimes, but not often”
44%
“There”s usually intelligent conversation to be found”
6%
“All the time, including weekends”
0%
“I”m always terrified”
0%
“I only go out in groups”
31%
“I usually let someone know where I”m going”
69%
“I feel extremely safe”
31%
“We don”t play sports”
0%
“We play recreationally”
56%
“We bought the gear”
13%
“We live for the big game”
25%
“It”s not really our thing”
44%
“Occasinally we gallery crawl”
31%
“There are a variety of opportunities”
0%
“We”re a very artistic group”
0%
“Haven”t met them”
0%
“Available in class”
69%
“They keep regular office hours”
31%
“They”re always available”
93%
“No greek life, but other groups to join”
7%
“There is some involvement, but not a lot”
0%
“Plenty of people join a sorority or fraternity”
0%
“It”s everything. If you”re not greek, you”re a geek”
34 Students rated on-campus housing 3.4 stars. 15 % gave the school a 5.0.
How would you rate off-campus housing?
31 Students rated off-campus housing 2.7 stars. 0 % gave the school a 5.0.
How would you rate campus food?
39 Students rated campus food 3.1 stars. 21 % gave the school a 5.0.
How would you rate campus facilities?
47 Students rated campus facilities 4 stars. 43 % gave the school a 5.0.
How would you rate class size?
47 Students rated class size 4.5 stars. 66 % gave the school a 5.0.
How would you rate school activities?
47 Students rated school activities 3.6 stars. 30 % gave the school a 5.0.
How would you rate local services?
47 Students rated local services 4.3 stars. 62 % gave the school a 5.0.
How would you rate academics?
47 Students rated academics 4.2 stars. 43 % gave the school a 5.0.
Rivier University REVIEWS
What's your overall opinion of Rivier University?
18 Students rated Rivier University
juan
I think it a really good school but it need to get update in-turns of housing. Also food as not begin really good for the pass year i think they need to work on bring new food and try different food from other culture to be more diverse. But i think the school has good potential in becoming better.
Brittany
Very nice school, this school was recommended to me by a coworker and I found the application to be an easy process. The first class I am completing now was a good introduction. I however have found the school to be pricey especially the core nursing classes.
Svetlana
Rigid leadership, poor student support, lack of offering in courses, no accommodations to adult working students, lack of flexibility, no acceptance of different opinions, poor diversity among faculty members and staff, this is one of reason why they don't understand cultural diversity, this is the reason University has very poor diversity among students.
Perla
Rivier has a lot to offer however there are things it needs to work on. The professors are easy to talk to but the material could be organized better. I feel like sometimes the curriculum doesn’t focus on what is intended to be achieved by the end of the semester. However the professors are intelligent and for the most part have good office hours outside of the classroom. The school is small so there aren’t a lot of parties and there is a good distribution between commuters and residents at the school.
Dax
I absolutely love Rivier University. It is a very small school that enables you to have personal interactions with your professors and piers. The class sizes are small and you never feel like just a number or a face in the crowd. There is no football or hockey but he athletics are a huge part of campus life. There are many majors to choose from giving you a diverse group of students. Some of the majors are Homeland and Cyber Security, Nursing, Education and Business that are among the most popular. I have found a home away from home at Rivier!
McKayla
Could have bigger dorm rooms and a better male-to-female ration. Nursing program is amazing here, which is why a lot of female students are here. In the heart of Nashua, sometimes there are slight fears of people recently released from jail to be lingering around campus, but overall a great private catholic university.
Taylor
For a small university, I believe that Rivier hands out a large bundle of opportunities for students to be involved and enjoy their time at the university. The other students are so nice and supportive and the faculty are an amazing help whenever you need them. The services Rivier offers are always available and are extremely beneficial towards your success at Rivier.
Ella
Overall, this is a school focused on the wrong things. There is an intelligent and willing student body, but there is so little community, and with less than half of the student population living off campus, most students end up putting their head down and just coming to get their work done. There are clubs, but the only ones with any sort of organization revolve around the church. Rivier is a Catholic school, but most of their students are not religious. The only communal gathering area is out of the way, and you have to buy food if you even want to enter the dining room. There is construction the students didn't want, that didn't fix the actual issues with the school. The effort is there and the academics are good, but the school needs a better understanding of the desires of the students.
James
Rivier is a safe and fun environment. It's a small school with a close feel. Highly recommended for people nervous about going to a big school, and wanting a homey, and caring institution. Sports teams are competitive and hard work happens off the field as well. This school is a solid 7.5 out of 10.
Bethani
There should be more activities available on campus so more students will become involved. I believe the public safety staff is not very friendly when asked to do something for the students, such as open a door. Many of the teaching staff members are extremely helpful and want you to succeed.
Yailen
Personally, Rivier's tuition and fees are far too high for what they offer their students. The food at the dining hall is the absolute worse, it's one of the reasons I'm commuting next school year. People are mostly nice here, depends on who you associate yourself with. I've had pretty good professors thus far. Class sizes are small so that's a plus. The campus is currently under construction to make it more "aesthetically" pleasing. The nursing department is awesome but then again I'm only in my second year so that's not much to go off of. This isn't the worst school ever but they definitely fool you when you come on tour.
Shannon
The school is small, but it's great for small class sizes. The smaller class sizes allow professors to get to know you and actually care about your education. The food sucks and the campus isn't the most beautiful, but if you're looking for a good education, the academics are really good. Nursing is a difficult major, but each professor makes it known to you that they are there to help. There are disability services and other resources for people with conditions and even things like test anxiety. There are also peer tutors, which are also super helpful.
Samantha
Overall, I find the school to be a very nice one! You know everyone, including professors, and you can be running late and still make it to class on time if you live on campus (which is an added bonus). The food is terrible, which is why I live off ice cream and pasta while I am in school. However, the cafe in the library is a very useful for when you dont want to eat in the main dining hall.
consolata
Best and affordable university in New England states. Quality education and competent staff who are ready and willing to guide you through. Teachers respond to students concerns appropriately and in a timely manner.
Laurel
As soon as I set foot on campus, I knew that Rivier is where I wanted to be. The vibe of the school is amazing. Everyone knows everyone, and even as a freshman, upperclassman easily took me under their wing. Rivier was the best decision I have made since graduating high school.
The fall 2020 acceptance rate for Rivier University is 70%. That means, out of _____ applications received in 2020, _____ students were offered admission.
What should every freshman at your school know before they start?
I had a very difficult time in high school, starting with the death of my grandmother that was a close friend, and went down hill ffor a while. Needless to say, it was difficult to get a college to believe that I had the maturity to be successful. Being accepted to Rivier College was one of the best things that has ever happened to me. The educational opportunities, strong friendships, and personal growth and achievements that I have experienced over the past year has been life changing. Not many of my friends from high school can say that they have had the opportunity to meet television and music celebrities up close and personal. From stars from "The Real World" to our director of Multicultural Affairs who was a singer with the Platters and has shared her awesome experiences with us, Riv students are getting their monies worth. My school, although small, does an amazing job exposing its's students to cultural, spiritual, and civic responsibility and I am glad to be a part of it. I was afraid to leave home last fall, but in a very short period of time, I learned that I had wings could fly.
Here's your chance: Say anything about your college!
It is has a great vibe. I attend mostly night classes and I don't feel any different than when I take day classes. Not sure what is especially unique but I do know Its a terrific school.
What do you brag about most when you tell your friends about your school?
The cafeteria--it's a buffet! I know it's probably not that impressive compared to some schools, but I personally enjoy it. Most of my friends think the food is gross, but I like it and I love the fact that you can have however much you want. Also, the library, the super fast internet service, and the awesome people I've met there.
My classmates are dedicated, hard-working parents, full time employees, and students who are always available to help other students out with academics and/or personal issues.
What's the one thing you wish someone had told you about freshman year?
I wish I knew how to apply for scholarships before attending this school. I feel this process would have helped me financially before taking out loans.
A person that is use to small and likes small, a person that is determined and ready to work hard for what they want. Definatly a nursing major. The school offers MBA is a lot of majors in a 5 year porgram!
What's the most frustrating thing about your school?
I wouldn't say there is something extremely frustrating. Although it made things easier that they chose our first semester classes for the incomming freshmen it was a little frustrating that we did not have the chance to have some say in it. We ended up in the classes they wanted instead of having any chose what so ever like some of my friends had have.
What do you consider the worst thing about your school? Why?
The worst thing about the school and probably any school for students it that this year as an incoming freshman we have to baord three people to one dorm because the is an over-abundance of freshman students this year.
The academic department is excellent. the teachers are supportive and informative on the lecture side of it. However, the clinical side of clinicals can be a nightmare. It's all about personalities. If your clinical instructor and you do not get along well or do not gel she or he can make sure you fail and that's it--all the money and time you invested because of this one person's opinion. I've lost a few fellow students to them being flunked out by the clinical instructors who don't seem to be there to support you and work with you-- the feeling is they are against you. It's really too bad. I think it's based upon the old fashioned nursing model of putting people through hell and seeing who can land safely. It's really a horror show I'm just trying to get through because I love nursing and know this is my path. I've had friends who graduated tell me to just get through the undergrad part of this process. I think most people are so relieved they graduate they just forget about it and don't talk about it.
All students must apply yearly for financial aid. This process starts with the FAFSA.
Though financial aid deadlines vary by school, it is a good idea to apply as soon as possible. For the upcoming school year, you can apply as early as October 1 for the FAFSA. Additional school aid will be dependent on the FAFSA results.
99% of students attending Rivier University receive some sort of financial aid.
38% were awarded federal grants.82%received federal loans. Many students do also need to apply for additional private student loans.