The consumer information includes enrollment rate, licensure and certification pass rates, job placement rates, graduation rates, program and employer satisfaction. Learn more here.
View the following Essential Program Requirements for our in-person programs and distance programs.
Essential program requirements must be met, with or without accommodations, in order to demonstrate clinical competency and complete the program outcomes required for graduation.
It is the policy of Riverside College of Health Sciences to maintain and promote equal educational opportunity without regard to race; age (except where age is a bona fide clinical requirement); color; sex; gender identity or sexual orientation; cultural, ethnic or national origin; religion; marital status; military or veteran status; pregnancy, childbirth, or related medical conditions; genetic information; disability; physical or mental condition(s), as long as the condition(s) do not limit the applicant/student’s ability to perform the Essential Program Requirements with or without reasonable accommodations as outlined in the Americans with Disabilities Act of 1990, Title III Public Accommodations, ADA Amendments Act of 2008, Title IX of the Education Amendments of 1972, and the Rehabilitation Act of 1973 and the Rehabilitation Act Amendments of 1992, Section 504; the U.S. Department of Justice’s revised final regulations implementing the ADA; Va. Code (annotated) §51.5-44; protected activity; or any other legally protected status in its educational programs or activities. Inquiries concerning this policy should be addressed to the college disabilities officer who can be reached at 757-240-2203. The campus is handicap accessible.
Federal regulations require we notify our students that a federal or state drug conviction can disqualify a student for federal student aid. Convictions count:
- If for an offense that occurred for periods while enrolled and
- If during that enrollment period the student was receiving federal financial aid such as federal loans, Pell, ACG, SMART, SEOG grants or federal work study.
Period of ineligibility for FSA funds for the possession of illegal drugs:
- 1st offense - 1 year from date of conviction
- 2nd offense - 2 years from date of conviction
- 3+ offenses - indefinite period
Period of ineligibility for FSA funds for the sale of illegal drugs:
- 1st offense - 2 years from date of conviction
- 2nd offense - indefinite period
- A conviction for sale of drugs includes convictions for conspiring to sell drugs. If convicted on both possessing and selling, the longer period of ineligibility applies.
A student regains eligibility the day after the period of ineligibility or when a qualified drug rehabilitation program is successfully completed. A qualified drug rehabilitation program must include at least two unannounced drug tests and must satisfy at least one of the following requirements:
- Be qualified to receive funds directly or indirectly from a federal, state or local government program.
- Be qualified to receive payment directly or indirectly from a federally or state-licensed insurance company.
- Be administered or recognized by a federal, state or local government agency or court.
- Be administered or recognized by a federally or state-licensed hospital, health clinic or medical doctor.
For more information about eligibility for federal aid, please visit https://studentaid.gov/. Information on the school's substance abuse prevention program is available in the school catalog. The school's substance abuse policy is available from the Registrar's office. The policy is also located in the Student Handbook for enrolled students.
Riverside College of Health Sciences is a small, non-residential, commuter college with an annual enrollment of approximately 500 students. The College maintains a zero-tolerance policy regarding the use of alcohol and/ other drugs in the educational environment and is consistent with Riverside Health's policy. The college has no ability to affect the cost, laws, or licensure of alcohol in the areas surrounding of the campus.
Although marijuana is legal for recreational purposes in the Commonwealth of Virginia, it has the ability to impair cognition, which is a safety hazard, particularly in clinical areas. Students who use marijuana for medical purposes must have medical certification from a Board of Pharmacy-registered practitioner. The medical certification must also verify that the medical use of marijuana will not impair cognitive functioning or the ability to perform safe patient care. Students are drug-screened prior to matriculation. Consistent with the college’s zero-tolerance drug and alcohol policy, admission will be withdrawn for a student who tests positive to marijuana or other DEA Schedule drugs if they do not possess a legal prescription or medical certification.
The college provides a substance abuse prevention program that is designed to educate the campus community on issues of personal safety and well-being. The program provides information and resources related to the use and abuse of alcohol and other drugs. Learn more here.
Upon graduation, prior criminal offenses must be reported on your application for credentialing examination and may negate eligibility for credentialing and employment in Virginia. Prospective students with prior criminal offenses are encouraged to contact the following professional boards before applying to the college. Learn more here.
See the college's Powers, Duties and Responsibilities Policy here.
The college recognizes a student’s right to attain employment in related or unrelated fields. During the hours of employment, students will not represent themselves as students, wear the student uniform or display their student identification badge. Students may not substitute clinical experience received during the time of employment for clinical experience required by the individual program. Students employed in a health care setting must work only in their appropriate scope of practice and may not practice or perform skills learned in a program of study.
You will be required to provide government-issued photo identification as part of your enrollment to the College. Identification must be a current government-issued form of photo identification. Examples may include but not limited to a state driver’s license, military ID card, state-issued ID card, or passport. Expired or unreadable documents will NOT be accepted. Identification documentation that is mailed or submitted through upload into the learning management system MUST be notarized.
Government-issued or student photo identification must be presented when picking up any items in-person. Your identity will also be verified by personnel speaking to you online or by phone when financial or other confidential information is to be shared. In these situations, you will be asked for your SONIS ID and the last four of your social security number before college personnel will discuss confidential information.
Student Address Location
Your physical location (in-school address) and permanent address are determined at the time of acceptance. The method of determining your physical location may include, but is not limited to government-issued identification, current lease, or utility documentation including your name, student attestation, or other official documentation of physical location.
You are required to notify the College within 30 days of changing your in-school and/or permanent address. College notification of address change is made by logging into the Student Account portal in the student information system (SIS) and updating your biographic information. At the beginning of each semester, the Registrar sends all students an electronic reminder that they must notify the College within 30 days of an address change.
If you are physically located outside of Virginia, your ability to complete the program or gain employment in the field, including eligibility for credentialing requirements for employment, may be impacted. Please see “Educational Requirements for Specific State Licensing or Credentialing” below.
About the Cohort Default Rate (CDR)
Federal student loan borrowers usually must start repaying their loans six months after they graduate, leave school, or drop below half-time enrollment. If borrowers do not make any payments for 270 days, or about 9 months, they will default on their student loans.
The U.S. Department of Education tracks how many federal student loan borrowers default on their loans within three years of starting repayment. This is known as the Cohort Default Rate, often called “three-year” CDRs.
The Department of Education releases official cohort default rates for each school eligible to participate in the federal student loan program once a year. The current rates for FY 2022 were released in September 2025, and the FY 2023 rates will be released in September 2026. Riverside College of Health Sciences cohort default rate is currently 0% because of the moratorium on student loan payments and interest charges that lasted until August 31, 2023.
Helpful Definitions for Deciphering the CDR
Cohort Default Period: This is the three-year period that starts on October 1 of the fiscal year when the borrower begins repayment and ends on September 30 of the second fiscal year after that. During this time, a borrower's default affects the school's cohort default rate.
Cohort Fiscal Year or Cohort Year: This refers to the fiscal year used to calculate the cohort default rate. For instance, when calculating the 2022 cohort default rate, the cohort fiscal year is FY 2022 (from October 1, 2021, to September 30, 2022).
Default: This means failing to repay debt. Loans must be repaid. If you make no payments on student loans for 270 days while in repayment status, your loans will go into default. Defaulting on student loans can seriously harm your credit.
Federal Fiscal Year: This spans from October 1 to September 30. Cohort default rates are linked to federal fiscal years, which begin on October 1 of a calendar year and end on September 30 of the following year. Each federal fiscal year corresponds to the calendar year in which it ends.
Treasury Offset: This occurs when your federal and state income tax refunds are taken to repay your defaulted loan.
Wage Garnishment: In this case, your employer must withhold part of your pay and send it to your loan holder to repay your defaulted loan.
Riverside College of Health Sciences Three-Year Official Cohort Default Rates
| 2022 | 2021 | 2020 | |
| Default Rate | 0% | 0% | 0% |
| Number in Default | 0 | 0 | 0 |
| Number in Repayment | 137 | 130 | 150 |
To compare the Riverside College of Health Sciences CDR to the average national CDR, please find it HERE.
Consequences of Default
Defaulting can impact your ability to borrow and affect your finances. Potential consequences include:
• The entire balance of your loan and any interest owed become immediately due.
• Your loans may be sent to a collection agency.
• You could be sued for the total amount of your loan.
• You would be responsible for costs related to collecting your loan, including fees and attorney costs.
• Some of your wages may be garnished.
• Your federal and state income tax refunds may be withheld for treasury offset.
• The federal government may take part of your Social Security benefit payments.
• Your defaulted loans will show up on your credit history for up to 7 years after the default claim is settled.
• It could take years to restore a good credit record.
• You might not be able to buy or sell assets, like real estate.
• You will not qualify for more federal financial aid until you repay the loan in full or set up a repayment plan and make at least six consecutive, on-time monthly payments.
• You may lose eligibility for assistance through most federal benefits programs.
• You can no longer receive deferment or forbearance, and you lose access to other loan repayment benefits, like choosing a specific repayment plan.
• Subsidized interest benefits will be denied.
• You may struggle to renew a professional license.
• You could be prevented from enlisting in the Armed Forces.
• Your school may withhold your academic transcript until your defaulted student loan is paid off. The academic transcript belongs to the school, and it decides whether to release it, not the U.S. Department of Education or your loan holder.
• YOU WILL STILL OWE THE FULL AMOUNT OF YOUR LOAN.
Our programs are designed to meet the educational requirements for licensing or certification that is required for employment. State requirements for credentialing vary; in addition to educational requirements, an agency or board may require additional criteria be met.
If you are physically located outside of Virginia, or intend to practice in another state, we encourage you to contact the state board or agency in the state in which you plan to practice for the most complete and up-to-date information pertaining to licensure and certification. Learn more here.
Technology Requirements
View the college's technology requirements and recommendations here.
Technology Support:
Technology support is provided by the college IT staff and is available throughout the week and with limited access on weekends.
For assistance with computers, network, or wireless issues, please call: 757-240-2466 or email [email protected].
For assistance with the student information system (SONIS), please call: 757-240-2465.
For assistance with the learning management system (Canvas), please call: 757-240-2258
