Rivier SAT Scores, GPA, and ACT (2026)
By the Cheetah Prep team · Reviewed July 15, 2026
SAT middle 50 percent
1055 to 1175
Half of enrolled students at Rivier scored in this range on the SAT. One quarter scored above 1175, and one quarter below 1055.
- Average composite
- 1070
- Acceptance rate
- 82.6%
- Test policy
- Test optional
- Location
- Nashua, NH
- Undergraduates
- 1,231
- School type
- Private nonprofit university
Rivier SAT Scores and Admissions
About 83 of every 100 applicants get into Rivier University, so the Rivier SAT scores that matter here sit inside a wide, forgiving band. The acceptance rate is 82.6%, which tells you the door is open for most students who apply. The middle 50 percent of admitted students scored between 1055 and 1175 on the SAT. The reported average is 1070, close to the bottom of that range, which means a score in the 1100s already puts you comfortably ahead of the typical admit.
Rivier is a private nonprofit university in Nashua, New Hampshire, and it is small. Total enrollment sits around 1,231 students, so classes and cohorts stay tight rather than sprawling. Break the SAT band into sections and you can see where the bar sits. Reading and Writing runs 545 to 590 for the middle 50 percent, and Math runs 510 to 585. That gap matters when you plan. Reading and Writing carries the slightly higher floor and ceiling here, so a strong verbal section does real work. In the most recent federal data, Rivier reports a test optional policy, so scores are one input the school will read rather than a hard gate you must clear.
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Rivier SAT Score Breakdown by Section
Here is the section by section SAT profile of enrolled students at Rivier, from the federal College Scorecard.
| Section | 25th percentile | 75th percentile |
|---|---|---|
| Reading and Writing | 545 | 590 |
| Math | 510 | 585 |
| CompositeTotal SAT | 1055 | 1175 |
The College Board reports section percentiles, not section averages, so an average is shown for the composite only.
Where this sits on the 400 to 1600 scale
1055 to 1175
Rivier Admissions Calculator: What Are Your Chances?
Enter your SAT score and unweighted GPA for an honest read on your chances of getting into Rivier, measured against real enrolled student data instead of a made up percentage.
No SAT score yet? Take the diagnostic and get a real number in about 25 minutes.
How this calculator works: your SAT is compared with Rivier's reported middle 50 percent range from the federal College Scorecard, your GPA is compared with the range admitted students at similarly selective schools typically present, and both are weighed against the school's real acceptance rate. We do not print a made up percent chance. No calculator can see your essays, your course rigor, or your recommendations, and at selective schools those decide close calls. Treat this as an honest read of your academic position, not a prediction.
Chances of Getting Into Rivier by SAT Score
Here is what specific scores mean at Rivier, based on its reported 1055 to 1175 middle 50 percent range. Find the row closest to your score, or use the calculator above for a read on your exact numbers. No made up percentages: each verdict is your real position in the enrolled class.
| SAT score | Where it lands | The honest read |
|---|---|---|
| 910 | Well below the 25th percentile | A 910 is well below the 1055 to 1175 range at Rivier. On testing alone this score does not keep the application in contention, so raising it is the priority. |
| 1010 | Just below the 25th percentile | A 1010 falls just short of Rivier's 25th percentile of 1055. Some students get in below the range, but they usually bring something exceptional elsewhere in the application. |
| 1120 | Inside the middle 50 percent | A 1120 sits inside the 1055 to 1175 range, matching the profile of enrolled students. This is a competitive score here. |
| 1180 | At the 75th percentile | A 1180 matches the 75th percentile at Rivier, stronger than about 3 out of 4 enrolled students. Testing is a clear strength at this level. |
| 1210 | Above the 75th percentile | A 1210 beats the 75th percentile at Rivier. The score is doing all it can; nothing more is gained by retaking. |
How to Raise Your SAT Score to Rivier's Range
The two targets that matter here are 1055, the score that puts you inside the admitted range, and 1175, the score that puts you in the top quarter. Here is the size of the jump from common starting points, with the step by step plan for each one.
| Starting score | To reach 1055 | To reach 1175 | The plan |
|---|---|---|---|
| 1000 | +55 points | +175 points | 1000 to 1200 plan |
| 1100 | Already there | +75 points | 1100 to 1200 plan |
Not sure where you stand today? The diagnostic gives you a real starting score and a section breakdown in one sitting, so the gap you plan around is your actual gap.
What SAT Score Do You Need for Rivier?
Here is how to read your SAT against Rivier's numbers. The middle 50 percent runs 1055 to 1175, so those two figures mark the edges of the typical admit. Score below 1055 and you sit under the middle 50 percent. You can still get in given the 82.6% acceptance rate, but your grades and the rest of your file carry more of the weight. Land between 1055 and 1175 and you are inside the range where most admitted students fall, right where the school expects you to be. Clear 1175 and you are above the middle 50 percent, in the top quarter of admits, which is a genuine advantage at a school this open.
The section splits sharpen the target. Reading and Writing spans 545 to 590 while Math spans 510 to 585. Reading and Writing sets the higher bar on both ends, so if you are stronger in verbal, lean into it. A 580 in Reading and Writing does more to lift your total here than the same points would in Math.
Rivier GPA Requirements
Admitted students at Rivier typically present an unweighted GPA in the range of 3.0 to 3.5. That band fits a school that admits most of the students who apply. You do not need a perfect transcript to be in the mix, but a steady record across four years helps your case.
The number on its own is only part of the story. Grades earned in rigorous courses count as much as the GPA itself, so a 3.3 built on honors or harder classes reads stronger than a 3.5 from an easy load. Admissions readers look at what you took, not just the average it produced. If your GPA lands at the lower edge of that 3.0 to 3.5 band, a strong SAT score is the fastest way to offset it. A result in the upper half of the 1055 to 1175 range, say 1130 or higher, gives a reader a concrete reason to look past a softer transcript and see a student who can handle the work.
Typical admitted GPA
Admitted students at Rivier typically present a GPA in the 3.0 to 3.5 range on an unweighted 4.0 scale. Steady grades in a reasonable course load are usually enough on the GPA side of the application.
If your GPA sits at or below this range, a strong SAT score is the fastest way to stay competitive, since grades are hard to move late in high school. See where your SAT score really stands and build the plan around the gap.
These are unweighted grades on a 4.0 scale. A school that weights GPA or reports a different scale will show a higher number.
Rivier SAT Testing Policy
Rivier considered scores without requiring them (test optional) in the most recent federal data. Testing policies change year to year, so confirm the current 2026-2027policy on the school's admissions site before you decide whether to submit scores.
Should you submit your score?
Submit your score when it is at or above 1115, the middle of Rivier's range. If you are below 1055, the 25th percentile, consider holding your score and letting your grades, essays, and activities carry the application.
Last verified July 15, 2026
Should You Submit Your SAT Score to Rivier?
Rivier was test optional in the most recent federal data, which turns your score into a strategic choice. The folk theory that applying without scores signals weakness is overstated, but the math of what helps is simple: a score that lands inside or above the admitted range works for you, and a score well below it does not.
1120+
Submit
At or above the middle of the admitted range, submitting clearly helps. A real data point beats an open question.
1055 to 1120
Lean submit
Inside the range, most counselors say send it: you are within the profile of enrolled students, and holding it back leaves the reader guessing.
Below 1055
Usually hold it
Below the 25th percentile the score rarely helps at Rivier. Apply without it, or better, close the gap first. Scores can still matter for merit scholarships elsewhere on your list.
Policy as reported for the 2024-2025 cycle. We verified it against Rivier's own site, where any mid cycle change would appear first.
How to Get Into Rivier
Set your targets against the percentiles. Scoring at or above the 25th percentile, which is 1055 total, keeps you in range with the typical admit. Scoring at or above the 75th percentile, which is 1175, puts you in the top quarter of admitted students and strengthens every other part of your file. By section, aim for 545 or higher in Reading and Writing and 510 or higher in Math to match the lower edge, and push toward 590 and 585 to reach the top of each band.
A good working goal is somewhere around 1120 to 1150. That clears the average of 1070 with room to spare and moves you toward the upper half of the range. Turn that number into a plan with our score plans, then find your real starting point with a diagnostic so you know exactly how many points each section needs. Your next step: take the diagnostic, then set a section by section target and build from there.
How Hard Is It to Get Into Rivier?
Rivier admits about 826 of every 1,000 applicants, and enrolls an undergraduate class of about 1,231. That ratio, not any single cutoff, is what makes the admitted profile look the way it does: when a school turns away 174 of every 1,000 people who apply, the students who get in cluster at the top of every measurable scale.
For perspective against the country as a whole: Rivier's 25th percentile score of 1055 already beats roughly 51% of all SAT takers nationally, and its 75th percentile of 1175 sits around the 71th percentile. A score that feels middling on this page is an excellent score almost anywhere else, which is worth remembering when you build the rest of your list.
Colleges Similar to Rivier: Reach, Match, and Safety Options
Real reported ranges from schools students often consider alongside Rivier, ordered by acceptance rate. Odds are compared on acceptance rate first, because a school with a lower SAT average can still be far harder to get into.
| School | SAT middle 50 percent | Acceptance rate | Odds vs Rivier |
|---|---|---|---|
| Rivier | 1055 to 1175 | 82.6% | This page |
| Dartmouth | 1500 to 1570 | 5.4% | Harder to get into than RivierSAT about 420 higher |
| McMurry | 950 to 1160 | 57.0% | Harder to get into than RivierSAT about 60 lower |
| Ouachita Baptist | 1070 to 1280 | 67.5% | Similar oddsSAT about 60 higher |
| Saint Anselm | 1110 to 1278 | 78.0% | Similar oddsSAT about 79 higher |
| Winthrop | 1010 to 1220 | 79.3% | Similar oddssimilar SAT range |
| Murray State | 940 to 1170 | 85.7% | Similar oddsSAT about 60 lower |
How Recent Are These Rivier SAT Scores?
Every score, rate, and enrollment figure on this page comes from the US Department of Education College Scorecard, 2024-2025 release, the same federal dataset colleges report into. Testing policy reflects the 2024-2025 admissions cycle. This page was last reviewed July 15, 2026.
Score ranges quoted around the web for Rivier disagree with each other more than you would expect, usually because a site is quoting an older class or an unlabeled estimate. We publish the reported number, label the vintage, and update when the source updates. We also cross checked Rivier's own admissions site, where any change would appear first.
Rivier SAT Scores and GPA: Frequently Asked Questions
What SAT score do you need to get into Rivier?
Rivier's middle 50 percent SAT range is 1055 to 1175. Aim for at least 1055 to be competitive, and 1175 or higher to be a strong applicant. There is no hard cutoff, but a score in or above this range keeps your application in contention.
Is a 1055 a good SAT score for Rivier?
A 1055 sits at Rivier's 25th percentile, the lower edge of its middle 50 percent range of 1055 to 1175. It keeps you in range, but a score closer to 1175 makes your application stronger.
What is the average SAT score at Rivier?
The average composite SAT score at Rivier is 1070. The middle 50 percent of enrolled students scored between 1055 and 1175.
Does Rivier require SAT scores?
No. Rivier was test optional in the most recent federal data, so you can apply without SAT scores. Confirm the current 2026-2027 policy on the school's admissions site before you decide whether to submit.
Is Rivier test optional for 2026-2027?
Rivier was test optional in the most recent federal data, meaning you could apply without scores. Policies change year to year, so verify the 2026-2027 policy on the school's admissions site.
What GPA do you need to get into Rivier?
Admitted students at Rivier typically present an unweighted GPA in the 3.0 to 3.5 range on the 4.0 scale, based on schools with a comparable acceptance rate. Grades earned in rigorous courses matter as much as the number itself, and a strong SAT score is the fastest way to offset a GPA at the lower edge of that range.
What is Rivier's acceptance rate?
Rivier admits about 82.6% of applicants, which makes it less selective. A strong SAT score still helps your application stand out, especially for selective majors, honors programs, and merit scholarships.
What are my chances of getting into Rivier?
Rivier admits about 82.6% of applicants, so your chances depend on where you sit against the admitted pool. The middle 50 percent of enrolled students scored 1055 to 1175 on the SAT and admitted students typically carry an unweighted GPA around 3.0 to 3.5. A score above 1175 puts you in the strongest quarter of the class on testing. Use the admissions calculator on this page to check your own SAT and GPA against Rivier's real numbers.
How can I raise my SAT score for Rivier?
Focus your prep on the section costing you the most points, then follow a study plan built for your target score range. Cheetah Prep has step by step score plans for specific point jumps and unlimited practice questions with worked solutions.
Does Rivier superscore the SAT?
Superscore policies vary by school and change year to year, and Rivier does not report this in the federal data. Check the school's admissions site for its current superscore policy, which tells you whether it combines your best section scores across test dates.
About this page: written and reviewed by the Cheetah Prep team. Last reviewed July 15, 2026.
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