A financial aid award consists of gift aid or self-help assistance. Scholarships and grants are considered gift aid. Student loans and campus employment are forms of self help aid. In order to assist as many students as possible with our grant and scholarship resources, the Financial Aid Office must provide maximum self-help funding as the foundation of each financial aid award. 

Rivier Scholarships
These are institutional awards offered by Rivier College that do not have to be repaid. Scholarship eligibility is based on academic merit. These funds are offered to qualified full-time undergraduate day students, who are enrolling at Rivier directly out of high school, with the exception of the Transfer Scholarship. (Full-time attendance is defined as 12 or more credits per semester.) All students are considered for the Presidential, Deans, Catholic High School, Alumni, Honors, Founders, Trustee, Achievement, and Transfer Scholarships when applying for full-time admission. All of the scholarships are to be received for a maximum of four continuous years of undergraduate study. If a student meets the criteria for two scholarships, he/she will receive the higher dollar value award.

Rivier College Grant Program
The Rivier College Grant Program is awarded on the basis of financial need. A grant award is not guaranteed from one year to the next. Students must file a Free Application for Federal Student Aid (FAFSA) each year. Changes to a student's EFC may effect the amount of Rivier College Grant offered in future years. Rivier Grant funding is offered for four years of full-time enrollment.

Founders Scholarship

Full tuition for commuters and full tuition, room and board for resident students who are named National Merit Finalists.

Honors Scholarship

Awarded to students accepted into Rivier’s Honors Program, this scholarship is valued at $8,000 over four years of full-time enrollment.

Trustee Scholarship

This four-year scholarship is available to full-time students with an SAT score of 1800 or better who either rank in the top quarter of their class or have a minimum grade point average of 85 as calculated by the Admissions Office. The scholarship is also awarded to high school valedictorians and salutatorians. The value is $32,000 for residents and $28,000 for commuters.

Presidential Scholarship

Full-time students with an SAT score between 1650 – 1799 who rank in the top quarter of their class or have a minimum grade point average of 85 as calculated by the Admissions Office are eligible for this scholarship. Annual awards are $7,000 for residents and $6,000 for commuters.

Deans' Scholarship

Valued at $24,000 for residents and $20,000 for commuters over four years of full-time enrollment, this scholarship is available to students with an SAT score of 1500-1649 who either rank in the top third of their class or have a minimum grade point average of 83 as calculated by the Admissions Office.

Catholic High School Grant

This grant is available for all Catholic high school graduates enrolled full-time who do not qualify for a higher merit scholarship.

The Samuel A. Tamposi Sr. Scholarship

Currently valued at $3,000 a year, renewable for four years of full-time study, this scholarship is awarded to incoming Rivier freshmen who have graduated from Nashua, NH area high schools and who demonstrate financial need and an exemplary work ethic and determination to succeed. In recognition of Mr. Tamposi's alma mater, Nashua High School, one of the recipients must be a graduate of Nashua High School. Other eligible applicants must be graduating high school seniors from the New Hampshire towns of Nashua, Amherst, Brookline, Hollis, Hudson, Litchfield, Merrimack, or Milford. A separate scholarship application is required and the submission deadline is May 1.

Transfer Scholarship

Awarded to students transferring to a Rivier College undergraduate day program who have demonstrated a high level of academic achievement at another accredited college or university. Eligible students must have a GPA of 2.5 earned after a minimum of 15 credits at the same college or university. Renewal is contingent upon remaining a full-time student.  $8,000 is awarded to students with GPAs of 3.5 or more; $6,000 is awarded to students with GPAs of 3.0-3.49; $4,500 is awarded to students with GPAs of 2.5-2.99.

Alumni Scholarship

Awarded to first time Rivier students who enroll full-time at Rivier College and who are children of Rivier alumni. The $2,000 awards are renewable annually provided the recipients maintain their full-time enrollment status and a minimum cumulative GPA of 2.0.

Family Incentive Grant

This grant is awarded to siblings who attend the College as full-time students for the same period; $2000 per year is given to each sibling.

Achievement Award

This annual award is offered to students who demonstrate special achievement or talent in high school; the award is $4000 for commuters and $5000 for resident students.

Federal Grants

Federal Pell Grant
The Federal Pell Grant is a federally funded, need-based grant that does not have to be repaid.  Eligibility is determined by the federal government and the fund is offered to qualified undergraduate students who have not yet earned a bachelor's degree.    

YEAR-ROUND PELL POLICY 

 Beginning with the 2009-2010 academic year students are eligible for up to two scheduled awards (200%) per year of Pell grants. For the summer of 2010, Rivier College (RC) will pay Pell grants from the 2009-2010 year (as a "trailer") during the transition period for the new Pell grant awards. If students use their first scheduled award and they enroll in a minimum of six credit hours they can be eligible for a 2nd scheduled award. For example, if the student receives a full-time award in fall 2009 and spring 2010 and enrolls in six hours or more in summer, they would receive a Pell grant for the summer payment period from the 2009-2010 year, providing they are otherwise eligible. Pell grants for a payment period may be combined using the first and second scheduled awards if the student is eligible. For the summer 2010 semester only, no consideration will be given to 2010-11 student eligibility during the cross-over payment period and no consideration will be given to academic progression requirements. 

For the summer of 2011, RC will consider the term to be a "cross-over" payment period and will pay Pell grants out of the 2010-2011 or 2011-2012 depending on which award year provides the student with the most Pell grant eligibility. Students must have a valid ISIR on file for the year used to determine Pell grant eligibility. If students use their first scheduled award and they enroll in a minimum of six credit hours, they can be eligible for a 2nd scheduled award. Student must have one hour which would go into their second year. For example, RC defines its year as twenty-four credit hours; if the student receives a full-time award in fall 2010 and spring 2011 and enrolls in six hours or more in the summer, they would receive a Pell grant for the summer payment period from the 2010-11 or the 2011-12 award year based on whichever will provide the largest scheduled award, providing they are otherwise eligible. Pell grants for a payment period may be combined using the first and second scheduled awards if the student is eligible. For the summer 2011, students will also need to meet applicable academic progression requirement for a 2010-2011 award or they may be eligible for a first scheduled award from the 2011-2012 year. 

For the summer terms in all subsequent years after 2011, the rules applied in summer 2011 will be applied using the correct aid years as determined by federal regulations. 

Transfer Students for two scheduled Pell Awards beginning 2010-2011, RC will use the assumption method to determine acceleration toward the second Scheduled Pell Award.  If student received 100% of the first scheduled Pell award at prior school(s), we will assume the student completed the first academic year.   If student received less than 100% we will use the same ratio to RC’s academic year as the % of the scheduled award that was received from the other school(s) and round up.

o Example: Assume student completed the same ratio of the academic year as the % of Pell received

§ Prior school disbursed $2,007 of $5,350 Scheduled Award at that school.

§ RC's academic year is defined as twenty-four credit hours

§ $2,007 X 24/$5,350 = 9 credits assumed earned at prior school

§ Student is given nine credits toward completion of the first academic year.

§ Special Circumstances for Academic Year Completion Requirement for Second Scheduled Award: Can be waived if the financial aid administrator determines that the student was unable to complete the hours of the first academic year due to "circumstances beyond the student's control."

May include but are not limited to:

o Student withdrawing from classes due to a verifiable illness.

o Student being unable to register for classes necessary to complete his or her eligible program because classes were not offered.

o Determination must be documented and made on a student by student basis

Special circumstances beyond a student's control does not include:

o Withdrawing to avoid a particular grade.

o Failing to register for necessary class that is offered during the term to avoid a particular instructor.

o Classes are full and student is unable to register

Federal Supplemental Educational Opportunity Grant (SEOG) 
SEOG is a federally funded need-based grant that does not have to be repaid. Federal funding for the SEOG is limited. These awards are offered only to students with exceptional financial need.

State Grants
State grants are state funded awards issued by the state in which the student permanently resides. An estimate of the grant may appear on the student's award letter. Rivier College will be notified by the state agency of actual award amounts. Adjustments to the student's grant funding may be necessary if estimated and actual awards differ.

TEACH Grant

The TEACH Grant program will provide up to $4,000 a year in grant aid to undergraduate and graduate students and students enrolled in a post-baccalaureate teacher credential program, or current or prospective teachers. Eligible undergraduate and post-baccalaureate students may not receive more than $16,000 and graduate students may receive no more than $8,000 in total TEACH Grants.  In exchange for TEACH Grant aid, students must agree to serve as a full-time teacher at specified schools and teach in a specified field for four academic years within eight years after completing the college course. TEACH Grant recipients that do not fulfill their teaching obligations must repay the grant as if it was an unsubsidized Direct Loan.

Academic Competitiveness Grant

The Academic Competitiveness Grant provides up to $750 for the first year of undergraduate study and up to $1,300 for the second year of undergraduate study.  Students must:

• Be a U.S. citizen or eligible non-citizen;
• Be Federal Pell Grant eligible;
• Be enrolled full-time in a degree program;
• Be enrolled in the first or second academic year of his or her program of study at a two-year or four-year degree-granting institution;
• Have completed a rigorous secondary school program of study (after January 1, 2006, if a first-year student, and after January 1, 2005, if a second year student);
• If a first-year student, not have been previously enrolled in an undergraduate program; and
• If a second-year student, have at least a cumulative 3.0 grade point average on a 4.0 scale for the first academic year.

National SMART Grant

The National SMART Grant provides up to $4,000 for each of the third and fourth years of undergraduate study. The National SMART Grant award is in addition to the student's Pell Grant award.  To be eligible, a student must:

1. Be a US citizen or eligible non-citizen;
2. Be eligible to receive a Pell Grant;
3. Be enrolled as a full-time third or fourth year student in a baccalaureate degree program;
4. Have a 3.0 cumulative grade point average;
5. Be enrolled in an eligible major in one of the following categories: Computer Science, Engineering, Critical Foreign Languages, Life Sciences, Mathematics, Physical Sciences, Technology, or Multidisciplinary Studies? (Please click below to view complete list of eligible majors).

If you meet all of the above requirements and you have already submitted a FAFSA form, please contact the Financial Aid Office at your school to identify yourself asa potentially eligible student.

Student Employment

The Financial Aid Office hosts a job fair at the beginning of the fall semester for all students interested in student employment.  Students may stop by the job fair so they may complete the required work authorization forms.  All available jobs are posted on-line on our web page.  Students are responsible for contacting the supervisor listed in the job description and setting up an interview with them directly. Federal Work Study and College Employment are available.  Students who have never worked on-campus must complete an I-9 and a W4 form.  Originals of your birth certificate OR Social Security card AND a picture ID (driver's license or school ID) are required to complete the forms. 

Federal Loans

Loans are a form of self-help aid that need to be repaid once a student leaves school or drops below half time enrollment.  All undergraduate students are eligible for an additional $2000 in unsubsidized Stafford loans.

Stafford Loan
The Stafford Loan is a federal loan for students.  Repayment begins six months after the student ceases to be at least half-time or completes his/her course of study.  The interest rate for a subsidized Stafford loan is a fixed rate of 5.6% effective July 1, 2009 for undergraduate students.  The rate for unsubsidized Stafford loans for undergraduate students and for all Stafford loans for graduate students is 6.8%. The student is required to complete a Master Promissory Note, (MPN) at the start of their enrollment at Rivier. The MPN will serve as the promissory note for all Stafford Loans borrowed throughout the student's course of study.

Federal Plus Loan
The Parent Loan for Undergraduate Students (PLUS) program allows parents to borrow up to the cost of education less any financial aid. The interest rate for 2009-10 is 8.5%.  The fixed interest rate is capped at 9% and repayment, beginning 30 days after full disbursement of the loan, may extend up to ten years.

Alternative Loans

Parents and students are encouraged to research alternative loans at www.elmselect.com to view different alternative loan lenders.  You are not required to choose one of these lenders.