NECHE Disclosure

Three-Year (90 credit) Applied Bachelor’s Degrees

Rivier University has launched an innovative option for students to obtain their applied bachelor’s degree (90 credits) in three years (or six semesters). The university’s accreditor, the New England Commission of Higher Education (NECHE), has approved these reduced-time and reduced-credit applied bachelor’s degree programs in lieu of the standard program that takes four years (or eight semesters) with 120 credits.

Given the novel nature of the programs, students should be aware of the following:

  • While Rivier is not the only NECHE-accredited program to receive approval to offer a three-year (six-semester) 90-credit program for students to earn their applied bachelor’s degree, the norm for a bachelor’s degree remains a four-year (eight-semester) 120-credit program.
  • Applied bachelor’s degree programs are best suited to students committed to a particular field or discipline, students who have a clear career objective, and/or students who are focused on pursuing near-term employment in their chosen industry as practitioners.
  • To enable students to complete the applied bachelor’s degree programs in less time and with fewer credits, these programs will be highly structured with limited or no elective credits.
  • Rivier’s applied bachelor’s degree programs are eligible for Title IV federal financial aid. However, students who leave Rivier having completed an applied bachelor’s degree but later choose to return to Rivier or attend another institution to complete additional undergraduate credits, either to earn a Certificate of Post-baccalaureate Studies or to earn a second bachelor’s degree, will not be eligible for federal grant aid and may have limited eligibility for other federal aid programs. For more details, see Federal Subsidized & Unsubsidized Loans and Federal Pell Grants.
  • Given that Rivier’s applied bachelor’s degree programs are designed to be completed within three years (six semesters), students can expect to save a full year of tuition, fees, and related costs, including room and board, assuming they complete the program within the expected time frame.
  • Rivier’s applied bachelor’s degree programs will be sufficient to meet admission requirements for Rivier’s master’s degree programs. However, other institutions may have different admission requirements, and such institutions may not accept Rivier’s applied bachelor’s degree as undergraduate credentials sufficient for admission. It is critical that students confirm specific requirements with their institutions of choice.
  • Rivier’s applied bachelor’s programs will be available for the following degrees on campus in Nashua, NH.

Contact

Office of Admissions