Rivier University is a private nonprofit institution offering graduate degrees based in Nashua, New Hampshire. It enrolls 1,231 students (a small, tight-knit student body), according to IPEDS 2023-24 data. Below you'll find verified data on admissions, cost, student outcomes, programs offered, and what graduates typically earn, all pulled from the U.S. Department of Education's College Scorecard and IPEDS.
AccreditorNew England Commission on Higher Education
Academic CalendarSemester
How It Measures Up
US College Data scores each college on four pillars (outcomes, value, affordability, and selectivity) on a 0–100 scale, ranked within its peer group (4-Year Selective). Scores are calculated from verified College Scorecard and IPEDS data, not opinion or paid placement. Where data is missing, that pillar isn't scored.
Fair
51/100
UCD Score · 4-Year Selective
Outcomes42
Value15
Affordability29
Selectivity29
Admissions & Acceptance Rate
With an acceptance rate of 82.6%, Rivier University is broadly accessible to qualified applicants.
Acceptance Rate
82.6%
Easy
SAT Range (25th–75th)
1055 – 1175
Reading + Math combined
ACT Range (25th–75th)
—
Not reported
Test PolicyNot ConsideredStandardized test scores are not used in admissions decisions.
5-Year Admission Trend
Acceptance rate over the last five admission cycles. The trend tells you whether Rivier University is getting harder, easier, or staying about the same.
Becoming less selective ↑
6.9 pts
since 2019
Cost & Financial Aid
The real cost of attending Rivier University isn't the sticker price. It's the net price,which is what most students actually pay after grants and scholarships. According to College Scorecard 2023-24 data, the average net price is $28,082 per year. That's in line with the typical net price for private nonprofit colleges nationally.
Average Net Price
$28,082
Per year, after typical aid
Receive Pell Grants
28%
Need-based federal aid
Receive Federal Loans
70%
Borrowing to attend
Full Cost Breakdown
Published cost of attendance, the sticker price before grants and scholarships. Most students underestimate room & board and other expenses.
Tuition & Fees
$39,488
Room & Board (on-campus)
$15,636
Room & Board (off-campus)
$13,060
Books & Supplies
$1,400
Other Expenses (on-campus)
$2,450
Other Expenses (off-campus)
$5,630
Total Cost of Attendance
$53,499
Net Price by Family Income
Aid is need-based, so net price varies by family income. Here's what each bracket typically pays after grants and scholarships.
Under $30,000
$23,321
$30,001 – $48,000
$23,978
$48,001 – $75,000
$25,106
$75,001 – $110,000
$27,352
Over $110,000
$31,359
Debt at Graduation
Cumulative federal-loan debt across the full borrowing distribution. The 10th and 90th percentiles bracket the typical range; the median sits in the middle.
$4,75010%percentile
$7,98925%percentile
$26,956Medianpercentile
$27,00075%percentile
$35,00090%percentile
Median Debt by Student Type
Median federal-loan debt at graduation broken down by demographic. Each slice's size is proportional to the dollar amount that group typically borrows.
GroupDebtvs Median
Pell recipients $22,421
↓ $4,535
No Pell $19,987
↓ $6,969
Dependent students $23,000
↓ $3,956
Independent students $18,172
↓ $8,784
Female students $21,000
↓ $5,956
Male students $19,000
↓ $7,956
Worth knowing:
Students who don't finish leave with a median debt of $8,250, less than completers ($26,956), but still a meaningful obligation without a degree in hand.
Graduation Rate & Retention
50% of full-time students who enrolled at Rivier University graduate within six years, and 76% return for their second year, per IPEDS 2023-24 completion data.
6-Year Graduation Rate
50%
Of students who graduate within six years
First-Year Retention
76%
Returning for their second year
After Graduation: Earnings & Outcomes
According to College Scorecard 2023-24 data, students who entered Rivier University earn a median of $52,248 ten years after first enrolling. That's close to the national median for U.S. colleges.
Median Earnings (10 yrs)
$52,248
Earning > $25K
80%
10 yrs after entry
Earnings Growth After Graduation
Median annual earnings 6, 8, and 10 years after students first enrolled.
Earnings by Demographic
Mean annual earnings 10 years after entry, segmented by demographic. Reveals gaps the headline median can't show.
By Gender
Female graduates
$48,800
Median earnings for female grads ten years after first enrolling here.
Male graduates
$51,900
Median earnings for male grads ten years after first enrolling here.
By Family Income at Entry
Family income (lowest third)
$48,300
Earnings of grads from the bottom-third of family incomes at entry.
Family income (middle third)
$47,400
Earnings of grads from the middle-third of family incomes at entry.
Family income (highest third)
$51,100
Earnings of grads from the top-third of family incomes at entry.
Loan Repayment Progression
Share of completer-cohort borrowers paying down at least $1 of principal at the 1-, 3-, 5-, and 7-year mark. Climbing rates show graduates settling into careers and managing debt; flat or declining rates are a warning.
Climbing: graduates increasingly paying down debt ↑
15.0 pts
across 6 years
What this signals:
Excellent. 88% of graduates were paying down at least $1 of principal seven years out.
Who Studies Here
Rivier University is home to 1,231 students, a small, close-knit community. Some distinctive traits: 37% are first-generation college students.
Total Enrolled
1,231
Part-Time
21%
First-Generation
37%
Race & Ethnicity Breakdown
Undergraduate student body composition reported to the US Department of Education.
GroupShareStudents
White 72.2%889
Black 9.5%117
Hispanic 7.4%91
Asian 3.9%48
Other 3.2%39
Student Life & Campus Culture
Where students live, learn, and connect at Rivier University. The campus setting, housing profile, and signals that shape day-to-day life here.
Setting
Small CityNashua, New Hampshire
Housing
Mostly residential495 beds on campus
Adult Learners
25%of students are 25 or older
Athletics
NCAAathletic-conference member
Academic Calendar
Semesterscheduling structure
Designation
Religiously affiliated
What You Can Study
Rivier University offers
an extensive catalog of programs:
41 distinct programs across
12 majors.
Below are its strongest majors, each with flagship programs and typical earnings.
Open a major to explore it in depth, or browse the full program catalog.
The student-to-faculty ratio at Rivier University is 14:1, close to the national average.
Student : Faculty
14:1
Students per instructional faculty member
Endowment
$101M
Solid financial position
Avg Faculty Salary
$73,513
9-month equivalent across all ranks
Faculty by Rank
69 instructional faculty across 3 ranks.
The rank mix shows how many senior faculty are teaching versus contingent or junior staff, with average salary equated to a 9-month contract.
Rank
Faculty Count
Share
Avg Salary
Full Professors
10
14%
$89,015
Associate Professors
12
17%
$73,620
Assistant Professors
47
68%
$70,187
Pros & Cons of Rivier University
A quick at-a-glance summary of how Rivier University tends to stack up for prospective students,weighing its data, size, setting, and cost profile together.
PROS
Accessible admissions for most applicants
Reasonable class sizes
Tight-knit, close community feel
Solid post-graduation earnings
CONS
Above-average net price
Fewer clubs, activities, and social options
Below-average completion rate
Modest first-year retention
Most students take on federal loans
Best for:
Based on the data, Rivier University is a fit for
students who want a clear path to start college without a competitive admissions barrier; students who thrive in small, close-knit environments.
Frequently Asked Questions about Rivier University
Quick answers to the questions most students and parents ask. Every answer below is calculated from verified government data about Rivier University.
Is Rivier University hard to get into?
Rivier University has open or near-open admissions. Most qualified applicants are accepted. Acceptance rate: 82.6%.
What is the acceptance rate at Rivier University?
Rivier University has an acceptance rate of 82.6%, according to College Scorecard 2023-24 admissions data.
What SAT score do you need for Rivier University?
The middle 50% of admitted students at Rivier University scored between 1055 and 1175 on the SAT (Reading + Math combined). Scores at the higher end of that range improve admissions odds materially. Per IPEDS 2023-24 data.
How much does Rivier University cost?
The average net price after aid at Rivier University is $28,082 per year, this is what students typically pay after grants and scholarships are applied. Net price data: College Scorecard 2023-24.
Is Rivier University worth it?
Moderate return on investment. Graduates earn a median of $52,248 ten years after entering, against an average net price of $28,082 per year. That's roughly 1.9x earnings-to-cost. Source: College Scorecard 2023-24.
What is Rivier University known for?
Rivier University is best known for its programs in Nursing, Nursing, Nursing. These are the most popular fields by completed degrees, per IPEDS 2023-24 completion data.
What do Rivier University graduates earn?
Median earnings 10 years after entering Rivier University are $52,248, based on College Scorecard 2023-24 federal earnings data for Title IV recipients.
Is Rivier University accredited?
Yes. Rivier University is accredited by the New England Commission on Higher Education.
How many students attend Rivier University?
Rivier University enrolls 1,231 students, per IPEDS 2023-24 fall enrollment data.
What is the graduation rate at Rivier University?
Rivier University graduates 50% of full-time students within six years, per IPEDS 2023-24 completion data.
Is Rivier University a public or private college?
Rivier University is a Private Nonprofit institution.
Where is Rivier University located?
Rivier University is located in Nashua, New Hampshire.
What programs does Rivier University offer?
Rivier University offers 41 distinct programs. The most popular include Nursing, Nursing, Nursing.
What is the student-to-faculty ratio at Rivier University?
The student-to-faculty ratio at Rivier University is 14:1, per IPEDS 2023-24 data.
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