The Rivet School application takes about one hour to complete, from start to finish. It's broken into four parts. Here's what to have ready, and what to expect in each section
What you'll need before you start:
- A laptop or computer. You'll likely need to have a few tabs open at once, so a computer works better than a phone.
- Your state-issued ID.
- Your FAFSA login information, including your FSA ID. (More on that in Part 4, below.)
One important heads-up: your progress will not save automatically. Before you start your application, review Step 3 in [How to Apply: Request, Start, and Save Your Application] before you begin, so you don't lose any work.
When you have everything ready, go ahead and click "Next Page" to begin.
Part 1: Sharing Your Personal Details (~5 minutes)
This section collects your contact and background information so we can reach you and set up your student file the right way.
What you'll be asked:
- Preferred first name. This is what you'd like your coach and our team to call you. It can be different from your legal name.
- Date of birth. Enter this using the format shown on the form (MM/DD/YYYY). This confirms your identity for our records and SNHU's.
- Home address. Use the address where you currently live, including your city, state, zip code, and county. Not sure of your county? A quick search of "[your city] county" will tell you.
- Preferred email. List any emails you check regularly, and tell us which one to use first.
- Preferred phone. List any numbers where we can reach you, and tell us which one you'd like us to use.
- Are you a parent, guardian, or primary caretaker of one or more children? You can answer "yes" even if you're not a legal guardian. For example, if you provide more than half the childcare for a younger sibling or another relative, answer "yes." We ask this so your coach can plan around your family responsibilities.
- Gender and ethnicity. We ask about race, ethnicity, and gender because Rivet School reports this information to funders and partners who support our mission of serving first-generation, working, and parenting students. Your individual answers are kept private and are never used to decide whether you're admitted.
- Are you a first-generation college student? Generally, this means neither of your parents or guardians completed a four-year college degree. Many Riveters are first-generation students, and this is a core part of who we serve.
- Employment and income. We ask if you're currently employed and your approximate annual income. This is your own personal income, not your household's. If you're not working right now, you can enter $0 or your most recent income. If you're part of a household, we'll also ask your approximate combined household income. These numbers don't need to be exact; a close estimate is fine. We use this information to understand financial need and connect you with the right resources, not to disqualify you.
Part 2: Telling Us About Your Educational Background (~5 minutes)
This section helps us understand your school history so we can transfer any college credits you've already earned.
What you'll be asked:
- High school diploma, GED, or equivalent. Start typing your school's name and select it from the list.
- Have you attended college before? Answer yes or no. This includes any college classes, even if you didn't finish a degree. If you answer yes, we'll ask how many colleges you've attended and the name of each one.
- Your current academic standing. Choose the option that best matches where you are today (for example, fewer than 60 transferable credits, or an associate degree already earned). If you're not sure, a rough guess is fine. Our team and SNHU will confirm your exact credit count during transcript review.
- Would you like the university to evaluate your credits for transfer? We recommend "yes" if you've ever completed a college class. There's no cost or risk, and it could shorten your time to a degree. We recommend "no" if you've never completed a college class, since this lets you start fresh earning your associate degree at Rivet School.
- Which degree program would you like to apply to? Give your best guess, even if you're undecided. Rivet School currently offers:
- BA in Management
- BA in Communications
- BA in Healthcare Management
- AA in General Studies
- AA in Healthcare Management
- Financial aid history. Did you receive a Pell Grant in the past? Have you taken out any loans, government or private, to pay for college? Answer based on any prior college experience.
- Your career goals. Do you plan to become a classroom teacher, or work in healthcare, after finishing your degree? Give these your best guess, even if you're undecided. Your answers help your coach connect you to the right career guidance and, in some cases, the right funding opportunities.
Part 3: Getting to Know You and Our AI Policy (~15 minutes)
This section helps us understand your goals, your schedule, and how you work best online, so we can support you from day one.
Motivation
You'll be asked to share who you are, what you do, and what has shaped your path so far. We want to understand why now is the right time for you to finish your degree, and what earning it would make possible for you. Plan to write 2–3 paragraphs using complete sentences.
Our AI policy: please read this carefully
Our university partner, Southern New Hampshire University, does not allow AI tools on submitted academic work. During onboarding, coaches actively review responses for signs of AI use. If your responses show high rates of AI-generated content, you may be asked to delay your enrollment start date.
We ask you to answer every open-ended question in your own words. Your answers, typos and rough edges included, tell us exactly how to support you. Before you move forward, you'll check a box confirming you understand and agree to this.
Comfort with technology
You'll also answer a few questions about how comfortable you are with technology. There's no wrong answer here. It simply helps your coach know where to start supporting you during onboarding.
Time commitment and schedule fit
Earning your degree with Rivet School takes a 10–15 hour per week commitment. This section is where you'll start thinking through how you'll show up consistently and fit school in alongside everything else going on in your life.
Part 4: Getting Financial Aid Ready (~25 minutes)
In this section, you'll understand if you're eligible for the 2026–2027 Federal Student Aid (FAFSA) application and complete it if you haven't already.
Step 1: Confirm your eligibility
Use the Eligibility for Federal Student Aid resource to check whether you qualify: studentaid.gov/sites/default/files/eligibility.pdf
- If you do qualify, move on to Step 2 below.
- If you do not qualify, select "I will not submit because I am not eligible for Federal Student Aid" on your application, and we'll point you to other financing options to review instead.
Step 2: Submit your 2026–27 FAFSA application
Visit studentaid.gov/h/apply-for-aid/fafsa to submit your FAFSA.
Once it's submitted, you'll need to share your FAFSA Submission Summary (FSS) with Rivet School. Your FSS is the document that shows us the estimated federal aid amount you've been awarded. FAFSA takes 3–5 business days to process your FSS after you submit.
If you already have your FSS in hand, go ahead and fill in "What is your estimated federal financial aid?" on your application now.
If you don't have it yet, that's okay. Submit what you can, and our Admissions team will follow up with you about sharing your FSS once it's ready. (More on what happens next in [What Happens After You Submit Your Application].)