What Rivier University does

Rivier University is a private Catholic institution founded in 1933 by the Sisters of the Presentation of Mary and Sister Madeleine of Jesus, headquartered on a 68-acre campus in Nashua, New Hampshire, approximately 45 minutes from Boston. The university delivers associate, bachelor's, master's, and doctoral programs across nursing, business, education, computer science, psychology, and liberal arts, with notable accelerated options including three-year applied bachelor's degrees (90 credits) in AI, Business Management, Criminal Justice, and Elementary Education, 3+1 combined bachelor's-to-master's pathways, and an Accelerated BSN. Its operations run on a conventional higher-education technology stack: Canvas LMS for course delivery, Ellucian Colleague for student information and financial aid management, Handshake for career services, and Vimeo for video content, supplemented by the Regina Library's digital and print collections.

The university's revenue model is tuition-driven across multiple segments: undergraduate tuition, graduate and doctoral tuition (including Ed.D., DNP, and Psy.D.), professional studies programs for adult learners, on-campus housing and dining (operated with Sodexo), and financial aid packaging drawing on federal Title IV funds, state aid, and $19 million in annual institutional aid. Go-to-market is structured around a regional field sales enrollment model with admissions counselors assigned to specific US territories, a separate inside-sales motion for graduate and professional programs with program-dedicated enrollment counselors, and event-driven recruitment via campus tours, open houses, virtual info sessions, and transfer articulation agreements. The Employment Promise Program, which guarantees full-time employment within nine months of graduation or additional financial/educational support, serves as a core enrollment differentiator alongside 100% financial aid coverage for full-time undergraduates and deposit matching up to $500.

Strategically, Rivier is pursuing growth through new program launches (ABSN, M.S. in Applied AI, three-year applied degrees), opportunistic capture of displaced students from closing institutions (Anna Maria College transfer pathway announced April 2026), expansion of regional and international admissions territories, and AI-credential positioning. The institution is led by President Sister Paula Marie Buley, IHM, and operates without parent-company ownership, venture investment, or publicly disclosed financial results; revenue figures are not published.

Name

Rivier University

Legal name

Rivier University

Website

https://rivier.edu

Company type

Private

Founded year

1933

Operating status

Operating

Headcount range

1,001–5,000 employees

Short description

Rivier University is a private Catholic institution in Nashua, NH, founded in 1933, offering associate through doctoral programs with accelerated three-year degrees, an Employment Promise Program, and tuition-driven revenue across undergraduate, graduate, professional, and online channels.

Ownership category

akta.pro rank

Product category

Higher Education

NAICS

Colleges, Universities, and Professional Schools (6113), Colleges, Universities, and Professional Schools (611310)

SIC

Services-Educational Services (8200)

akta.pro primary industry

Online Divisions of Traditional Universities (Hybrid/Extension) (EDAHALAB)

akta.pro secondary industries

Graduate Schools of Education (M.Ed., Ed.D., Ph.D.) (EDAHAFAB), Online Graduate Schools (Master’s & Doctoral Programs) (EDAHALAD)

Keywords

• Higher education
• Undergraduate programs
• Graduate degrees
• Doctoral programs
• Nursing education

Headquarters

HQ city

Nashua

HQ country

United States

HQ region

North America

Offices2 records

Markets served

GTM type

B2C

Offering type

Services

Cost components

Personnel, Operations, Infrastructure, Marketing or Sales, Technology or R&D, Others

Revenue model

1. Undergraduate Tuition: Full-time undergraduate programs with tuition based on credit load. The university awards $19 million in institutional aid annually and 100% of full-time undergraduates receive some form of financial aid.
2. Graduate and Doctoral Tuition: Graduate programs in nursing, business, education, computer science, and psychology generate revenue. Doctoral programs in Ed.D., DNP, and Psy.D. contribute to graduate revenue stream.
3. Professional Studies Programs: Flexible programs for working professionals including evening classes and online options, serving adult learners with credit for prior learning options including CLEP, DANTES, and challenge exams.
4. Housing and Dining Services: On-campus housing including residential facilities, dining services through Sodexo, with housing lottery system for students.
5. Financial Aid Packaging: University packages federal aid (FAFSA Title IV code 002586), state aid, institutional grants, and merit scholarships. Transfer merit scholarships up to $19,000, $3,000 transition grant for Anna Maria College students.

Pricing tiers

Go-to-market motion3 records

Distribution channels5 records

Marketing channels8 records

Core offering

Rivier University delivers degree-granting higher education programs from associate through doctoral levels, including traditional four-year bachelor's degrees, three-year accelerated applied bachelor's degrees (90 credits), graduate master's programs, and doctoral degrees (Ed.D., DNP, Psy.D.). Courses are delivered on a 68-acre campus in Nashua, NH, online, and in hybrid formats, with academic concentrations spanning nursing, business, computer science, education, psychology, criminal justice, and liberal arts. The institution supplements academics with career services, an Employment Promise Program guaranteeing job placement within nine months of graduation, housing and dining services, and global engagement opportunities.

Product overview

Rivier University is a Catholic institution offering a comprehensive portfolio of academic programs across undergraduate, professional studies, graduate, and doctoral levels. The university operates on a multi-platform educational model with integrated systems including Canvas LMS for course delivery, Colleague Self Service (Ellucian) for student administration, and Handshake for career services. Academic programs span nursing, business, computer science, education, psychology, and liberal arts, with notable accelerated options including three-year applied bachelor's degrees and combined 3+1/4+1 programs enabling students to earn bachelor's and master's degrees in accelerated timeframes. The university also provides support services such as the Employment Promise Program, which guarantees job placement within nine months of graduation.

Differentiator

Problem solved

Functional benefit

Products and services

• Three-Year Applied Bachelor's Degrees Accelerated 90-credit bachelor's degree programs in Artificial Intelligence, Business Management, Criminal Justice, and Elementary Education, approved by NECHE and the NH Higher Education Commission, enabling students to complete a bachelor's degree in three years instead of four.
• Accelerated Bachelor of Science in Nursing (ABSN) Fast-track nursing program for career changers with previous college credits to become registered nurses; the program's 2026 launch drew strong enrollment and supports regional healthcare workforce development.
• Nursing Programs (ASN, BSN, RN-to-BSN, MSN, DNP) Comprehensive nursing education from associate to doctoral level, including ASN, BSN, RN-to-BSN, MSN, and DNP with specialized tracks for nurse practitioners and nursing education.
• Doctor of Psychology in Counseling and School Psychology (Psy.D.)
• M.S. in Applied Artificial Intelligence
• MBA Programs
• Employment Promise Program
• Career and Life Success Office Services
• Professional Studies Programs
• 3+1 Combined Degree Programs
• On-Campus Housing and Dining Services

Quantifiable outcome

• 100% of full-time undergraduates receive some form of financial aid
• +2 more outcomes

Named customers4 records

Segments7 records

Ideal customer profiles6 records

Technology focussed No

API detail

Has API

No

API docs

API detail

Core technology

AI maturity

App detail

Feature4 records

Partnerships

One partnership is on record.

• Anna Maria CollegeminorStrategic or Co-development Partner · 27 April 2026Rivier University announced transfer pathways and support for Anna Maria College students following the institution's announcement that it would cease academic operations at the end of Spring 2026 semester. Offers on-the-spot admission, generous transfer scholarships plus a $3,000 Transition Grant, and guaranteed housing.

Scale indicators9 records

Recent moves6 records

Expansion highlights6 records

Direct peers

• Saint Anselm College: Catholic liberal arts college in Manchester, NH, ~20 miles from Rivier, serving similar New England undergraduate populations with a comparable residential, mission-driven model.
• Franklin Pierce University: Small private New Hampshire university offering undergraduate and graduate programs including doctorates, targeting similar New England student demographics with comparable tuition and program mix.
• New England College: Small private New England college in Henniker, NH with undergraduate, professional, and graduate programs serving a comparable student profile to Rivier.
• Merrimack College: Catholic Augustinian college in North Andover, MA, ~45 minutes from Rivier's campus, competing for similar New England students across business, engineering, and health science programs.
• Anna Maria College: Small Catholic college in Paxton, MA serving similar working-adult, transfer, and traditional populations — directly comparable on mission and program mix, and is now ceasing operations with Rivier actively capturing its students.
• Assumption University: Catholic university in Worcester, MA offering undergraduate and graduate programs with similar professional and continuing-education orientation for New England students.
• Regis College: Catholic university in Weston, MA with comparable nursing, education, and graduate offerings, competing for the same greater-Boston-area traditional and adult learner pool.
• Emmanuel College: Catholic college in Boston, MA with undergraduate and graduate programs including nursing and education, overlapping with Rivier's regional admissions territory.
• Lasell University: Small private Massachusetts university in Newton, MA with professional, graduate, and connected-learning programs aimed at traditional and adult learners in the same metro area as Rivier.

Broad incumbents

• Southern New Hampshire University (SNHU): Large New Hampshire-based nonprofit university with dominant online programs in business, nursing, education, and computer science — directly competing with Rivier's online master's and professional offerings at much greater scale.

Market position

Strengths5 records

Weaknesses5 records

Competitive moat5 records

Key risks6 records

Key highlights7 records

Customer concentration

• Xx.com/RivUniversity
• YouTubeyoutube.com/user/riviercollege
• Facebookfacebook.com/RivierUniversity
• LinkedInlinkedin.com/company/rivier-university
• Instagraminstagram.com/rivieruniversity

Revenue estimate

Valuation estimate

Number of profiles

Profiles13 records

Funding overview

Funding rounds1 record

Investors1 record

Funding detail is available on the Subscription and Enterprise plan.Contact sales →

M&A

Investments

M&A and investment is available on the Subscription and Enterprise plan.Contact sales →

Frequently asked questions about Rivier University