Online Admissions

Take advantage of rolling admissions and terms beginning every seven weeks, so you can choose the best time for you to start earning your degree.

In most bachelor’s degree programs, you can transfer up to 90 credit hours to accelerate your progress and finish faster. Master’s degree programs may accept up to 9 transfer credits.

Professional Studies Programs (Undergraduate)

Business

Human Services

Individualized Studies

Psychology

  • A minimum 2.0 cumulative GPA is required for admission to the B.A. Psychology program.

Public Health

  • A minimum 2.0 cumulative GPA is required for admission to the B.S. Public Health program.

Nursing

  • A minimum 2.67 cumulative GPA is required for admission to the RN to BSN program. Applicants whose GPA falls below this minimum will be evaluated and may be considered for admission.
  • Applicants must provide evidence of an active, unencumbered RN nursing license.

Graduate Programs

  • Explore our online graduate programs.
  • Complete our online application. There is no application fee if you use our online application.
  • Submit transcripts from every accredited post-secondary college or university attended.
  • Statement of Purpose. Submit an essay of at least one typed page, but no longer than two pages, with your application. Please give your reasons for deciding to do graduate work in the field you have chosen. We request that you cover these points:
    • What previous experiences and commitments have brought you to consider applying for graduate training?
    • What are your chief objectives in applying now?
    • How do you think Rivier University’s graduate program will help you in the pursuit of your objectives?

Business

  • Submit one letter of recommendation.
  • A minimum 3.0 cumulative GPA is required for admission to the program. Applicants whose GPA falls below this minimum will be evaluated and may be considered for admission.

Computer Information Systems

  • Submit one professional letter of recommendation.
  • A minimum 3.0 cumulative GPA is required for admission to the program. Applicants whose GPA falls below this minimum will be evaluated and may be considered for admission.

Education (Clinical Mental Health Counseling and School Counseling)

  • Submit one letter of recommendation.
  • A minimum 3.0 cumulative GPA is required for admission to the program. Applicants whose GPA falls below this minimum will be evaluated and may be considered for admission.

Public Health

  • Submit two letters of recommendation.
  • A minimum 3.0 cumulative GPA is required for admission to the program. Applicants whose GPA falls below this minimum will be evaluated and may be considered for admission.
  • Provide evidence of a completed undergraduate-level statistics course.

Nursing

  • Submit a statement of purpose outlining goals.
  • Submit two letters of recommendation, with one from an RN in a leadership position. Post-Master’s Certificate programs in Family Nurse Practitioner and Psychiatric Mental Health Nurse Practitioner require only one letter of recommendation.
  • Provide evidence of an active, unencumbered RN nursing license.
  • A minimum 3.0 cumulative GPA is required for admission to the program. Applicants whose GPA falls below this minimum will be evaluated and may be considered for admission.
  • Submit a resume or curriculum vitae.
  • Complete the Course of Study Choice Form.
  • Complete the Practicum Form.
  • Evidence of successful completion of an undergraduate statistics course.
  • RN-MS applicants are required to provide documentation of two years (full-time or equivalent) RN experience and a professional portfolio.
  • AG-ACNP MSN and Post-Master’s Certificate applicants must show proof of Basic Life Support (BLS) and Advanced Cardiovascular Life Support (ACLS) certification.

Doctoral Programs

Ed.D.

  • Explore our Ed.D. program.
  • Complete our online application.
  • Applicants must hold both baccalaureate and master’s degrees from an accredited college or university and have obtained a GPA of 3.25 or higher in courses at the 500-level or above.
  • Submit official transcripts from all colleges or universities attended.
  • Provide a current resume or curriculum vitae documenting at least three years of professional experience.
  • Submit a written Statement of Purpose in seeking doctoral study that reflects in detail upon the following:
    • professional experience and how that experience relates to your intended doctoral study;
    • reason for pursuing doctoral study;
    • the research goal(s), problem(s), and/or question(s) you are interested in addressing through doctoral study and research;
    • the ways in which doctoral study will enhance your personal and professional career goals and plans;
    • specific examples of presentations, papers, publications, or other scholarship related to your goals for doctoral study.
  • Remit a $100 non-refundable fee.
  • Provide three (3) letters of recommendation.
  • An interview with the applicant may be required.

DNP

  • Explore our DNP program.
  • Complete our online application.
  • Submit copies of official transcripts of all post-secondary education.
  • Provide two recommendation letters in sealed envelopes. These letters should be mailed to the Office of Graduate and Professional Studies Admissions or emailed directly from the author with the DNP applicant’s name in the subject line.
    • One letter must be from a direct supervisor or professional who can address your clinical expertise and leadership potential.
    • The second letter may also be a professional recommendation or else a recent academic instructor who may address your professional strengths as a student.
  • Submit a copy of your unencumbered, active advanced practice registered nurse (APRN) license in the state where practicums will be conducted.
  • Provide a Statement of Purpose (1-2 pages) that gives your reasons for pursuing the DNP and shows how your interests align with one of the eight AACN Essentials of Doctoral Education for Advanced Nursing Practice. Keep in mind this exercise may be a springboard to the scholarly project you will develop as part of the DNP.
  • Submit your updated resume or CV.
  • Provide evidence of a completed graduate-level statistics course.
  • Submit documentation of the number of supervised clinical hours completed in a previous master’s Nursing program. (Must be a minimum of 500 hours.) Note: Since Rivier University’s Master of Science in Nursing program requires this number of hours for graduation, and this information is documented, graduates of this program do not need to submit additional proof of these hours.
  • Complete a nursing practicum form.
  • A minimum graduate GPA of 3.2 or better on a 4.0 scale is required for admission. Candidates with less than a 3.2 GPA meeting the above criteria may be considered after interviewing with Graduate Nursing Faculty. A visit to campus is not required.

Apply Now

Applying to Rivier is quick and easy. Our free online application will guide you through each step of the process, and you can save your progress at any time and complete the application later.

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Earn a degree on your schedule. With multiple term starts and generous transfer policies, we make it easy to start, and finish, faster.

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