Minnesota West Community and Technical College
#10 Most Affordable Colleges in Minnesota- Graduation Rate
- 49% C-
- About half of students who start complete their degree
- Earnings (10yr)
- $45,285 C+
- Roughly in line with national averages
- Net Price
- $11,191 B
- 35% less than the typical college
- Enrollment
- 1,762
Bottom line: A C+ overall grade — average outcomes for a U.S. college. 23.5× return on investment — every $1 spent returns $23.5 over 20 years. Ranked #10 in Most Affordable Colleges in Minnesota.
Every $1 spent returns $23.5 over 20 years — debt pays back in ~under a year. Net gain: $1,005,248.
What The Data Says
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A C+ overall — outcomes above the typical U.S. college.
-
Every $1 invested returns $23.5 over 20 years — an exceptional return.
Why Minnesota West Community and Technical College Matters
Minnesota West Community and Technical College is a public college in Granite Falls, MN and its outcomes are not an accident. They are driven by a well-connected, high-opportunity alumni network. The result: graduate earnings well above the typical college.
Interpretation generated from this school's federal outcomes, research, and mobility data.
Institutional Profile
- Institution Type
- Public College
- Carnegie Class
- Associate's College
- Enrollment
- 1,762
- Setting
- Rural
- Primary Strengths
- Health Professions, Humanities, Construction Trades, Business & Marketing
Why students choose Minnesota West Community and Technical College
CollegeRanker Report Card
Graded on outcomes, against every U.S. college.
Each grade is this school's national percentile on a real outcome — earnings, value, mobility, and more.
How we grade →Admissions
This school does not report a competitive admit rate — most qualified applicants are admitted.
Check your odds →Net price + aid
Students pay about $11,191 a year after grants and scholarships — 35% below the typical U.S. college. See net price by family income below.
See cost & aid →Earnings + debt
Graduates earn a median of $45,285 ten years after enrolling — 11% above the typical college, against $10,987 in median debt.
See outcomes →Mobility + social capital
Strong cross-class social capital — an economic-connectedness score of 1.40 (Opportunity Insights).
See mobility →Overview
With an enrollment of about 1,762 students, Minnesota West Community and Technical College in Granite Falls, MN, offers a welcoming environment for those looking to jumpstart their careers in practical fields. Students here often dive into programs like Health Professions, Humanities, Construction Trades, Mechanic & Repair Tech, and Business & Marketing. This range is appealing for anyone seeking hands-on experience and a clear path to employment.
Life after graduation looks promising for many students, with a median earning of $45,285 ten years post-graduation. While the graduation rate sits at 49%, those who do complete their programs often find themselves in good positions financially. Plus, with a net price of $11,191 after aid, students can manage their education costs, making it a feasible option for many looking to invest in their futures without accumulating overwhelming debt.
On the financial side, graduates carry a median debt of $10,987, which is relatively manageable when considering their earning potential. The 16% Pell Grant rate indicates that some students receive additional financial support, helping to ease the burden of tuition. Overall, those who thrive at Minnesota West are typically motivated individuals seeking practical skills and a straightforward path to employment in their chosen fields.
Rankings
Can I Get In?
How selective Minnesota West Community and Technical College is — and how your numbers stack up.
Tool
Will I Be Accepted?
Enter your credentials to see your chances at this school.
Academics & Admissions
Is It Hard to Get Into Minnesota West Community and Technical College? Acceptance Rate & Requirements
As a public institution in Granite Falls, Minnesota, Minnesota West Community and Technical College enrolls students across a range of programs. The graduation rate is roughly 49%.
- Retention Rate
- 68%
- Full-Time Faculty
- 56%
- Faculty Salary (mo)
- $9,212
- Student–Faculty Ratio
- 19:1
- Diversity Index
- 0.52
- First-Gen Students
- 37%
Can I Afford It?
What you'll actually pay after grants and aid — not the sticker price.
Cost & Financial Aid
How Much Does It Cost to Attend Minnesota West Community and Technical College? Tuition, Net Price & Aid
Published tuition at Minnesota West Community and Technical College is $6,491, but few families pay that. The number to watch is net price, what students actually pay each year after federal grants and institutional scholarships. Here it averages about $11,191. Students from families earning under $30,000 typically pay closer to $8,950 after need-based grants. The median graduate leaves with about $10,987 in federal student loans.
- In-State Tuition
- $6,491
- Out-of-State
- $6,491
- Avg Net Price
- $11,191
- Median Debt
- $10,987
- Pell Grant Rate
- 16%
- Federal Loan Rate
- 13%
What Families Actually Pay
- Family Income $0–$30K
- $8,950
- Family Income $30K–$48K
- $9,317
- Family Income $48K–$75K
- $10,083
- Family Income $110K+
- $16,499
What Happens After?
Earnings, debt, and where graduates actually land.
Students Like You
Tell us a little about yourself to see what students like you have typically experienced at Minnesota West Community and Technical College — the net price for your income, your admission odds, and the outcomes that follow. These are patterns from federal data, not predictions.
Graduate Outcomes
Is Minnesota West Community and Technical College Worth It? Graduate Earnings & ROI
Ten years out, alumni of Minnesota West Community and Technical College earn a median of $45,285, roughly in line with the national average for college graduates.
- 6 Years After Entry
- $39,894
- 8 Years
- $41,082
- 10 Years
- $45,285
- Debt-to-Earnings
- 0.24x
- Earning > $25K
- 58%
Earnings Trajectory
Graduation by Timeframe
- 100% (125)
- 34%
- 100% (125)
- 34%
- 100% (125)
- 34%
- 100% (125)
- 34%
How Minnesota Compares
Dot right of center = above national average.
Net Price by Family Income
What families actually pay after aid, by income bracket.
College ROI Calculator
Is Minnesota West Community and Technical College Worth It?
A data-driven look at the return on your educational investment — using real federal data.
Yes — for most students, Minnesota West Community and Technical College delivers a positive return. Over four years, the typical net price is $11,191/year ($44,764 total). Graduates earn $45,285 at ten years, and over a 20-year career we project $1,050,012 in total earnings — a net gain of $1,005,248 (23.5× your investment). The median debt is $10,987, which takes less than a year to pay back at typical earnings. With a 49% graduation rate, the path to that return is well-tested. This is a exceptional ROI compared to national averages.
- Total Cost (4yr)
- $44,764
- Projected 20yr Earnings
- $1,050,012
- Net Return
- $1,005,248
- ROI Multiple
- 23.5×
- Cost Per Year
- $11,191
- Median Debt
- $10,987
- Debt Payback
- Less than 1 yr
- Graduation Rate
- 49%
Does It Change Lives?
Mobility, social capital, and innovation — does it move people up?
Institutional Finances
Data: NCES IPEDS
- Endowment
- $1,105,000
- Investment Income
- $49,000
Top Programs
The fields Minnesota West Community and Technical College awards the most degrees in, by share of completions. Where federal field-of-study data exists, we show what graduates in that major earned early in their careers. Each links to its degree guide — or see what someone with your income, scores, and major would pay and earn here in the Students Like You simulator.
- Health Professions 44% $65,133 early-career
- Humanities 10%
- Construction Trades 9% $60,214 early-career
- Business & Marketing 5% $40,390 early-career
- Precision Production 3%
- Mechanic & Repair Tech 3% $39,882 early-career
- Culinary & Personal Services 2%
- Criminal Justice 1%
Early-career median earnings by major (typically 1–2 years after completion, bachelor's level where available), in today's dollars (CPI-adjusted). Source: U.S. Dept. of Education College Scorecard field of study. Distinct from the school-wide 10-year median; suppressed for small programs.
Top Careers
Where these majors tend to lead — common career paths for Minnesota West Community and Technical College's most popular programs, ranked by median pay with our proprietary scorecard insights.
- CChief Executive Officer$189,520 · 3% growthAdaptable 64
- C+IT Manager$169,510 · 15% growthAdaptable 52
- CHR Manager$136,350 · 5% growthAdaptable 64
- CPetroleum Engineer$135,690 · 2% growthResilient 72
- CSales Manager$135,160 · 4% growthAdaptable 64
- CPurchasing Manager$131,350 · 5% growthAdaptable 64
- CAerospace Engineer$130,720 · 6% growthResilient 72
- B+Nurse Practitioner$129,480 · 40% growthResilient 96
Frequently Asked Questions
Is It Hard to Get Into Minnesota West Community and Technical College? Acceptance Rate & Requirements
As a public institution in Granite Falls, Minnesota, Minnesota West Community and Technical College enrolls students across a range of programs. The graduation rate is roughly 49%.
How Much Does It Cost to Attend Minnesota West Community and Technical College? Tuition, Net Price & Aid
Published tuition at Minnesota West Community and Technical College is $6,491, but few families pay that. The number to watch is net price, what students actually pay each year after federal grants and institutional scholarships. Here it averages about $11,191. Students from families earning under $30,000 typically pay closer to $8,950 after need-based grants. The median graduate leaves with about $10,987 in federal student loans.
Is Minnesota West Community and Technical College Worth It? Graduate Earnings & ROI
Ten years out, alumni of Minnesota West Community and Technical College earn a median of $45,285, roughly in line with the national average for college graduates.
How Connected Is Minnesota West Community and Technical College? Social Capital & Cross-Class Networks
Social capital, the web of cross-class friendships that researchers link to long-run upward mobility, runs high at Minnesota West Community and Technical College. Its economic connectedness score is 1.40, where about 1.0 is the national norm. Its friending bias is low (-0.02), a sign that students from different economic backgrounds actually mix rather than self-segregate. Around 5% of students take part in civic and volunteering activity.
Similar Schools
Schools with similar outcomes, selectivity, and student profiles to Minnesota West Community and Technical College.
- Lakeshore Technical CollegeCleveland, WI · Close peer46% grad $47,113 earnWhy: similar earnings · similar grad rate · similar size
- Riverland Community CollegeAustin, MN · Close peer53% grad $45,247 earnWhy: similar earnings · similar grad rate · similar size
- Mid-State Technical CollegeWisconsin Rapids, WI · Close peer53% grad $42,253 earnWhy: similar earnings · similar grad rate · similar size
- North Iowa Area Community CollegeMason City, IA · Close peer58% grad $43,462 earnWhy: similar earnings · similar grad rate · similar size
- Minnesota State College SoutheastWinona, MN · Close peer49% grad $43,613 earnWhy: similar earnings · similar grad rate · similar size
- Moraine Park Technical CollegeFond du Lac, WI · Close peer54% grad $44,371 earnWhy: similar earnings · similar grad rate · similar size
Social Capital
Data: Opportunity Insights Social Capital Atlas
How Connected Is Minnesota West Community and Technical College? Social Capital & Cross-Class Networks
Social capital, the web of cross-class friendships that researchers link to long-run upward mobility, runs high at Minnesota West Community and Technical College. Its economic connectedness score is 1.40, where about 1.0 is the national norm. Its friending bias is low (-0.02), a sign that students from different economic backgrounds actually mix rather than self-segregate. Around 5% of students take part in civic and volunteering activity.
Research Note