Ridgewater College
#6 Most Affordable Colleges in Minnesota- Graduation Rate
- 48% C-
- About half of students who start complete their degree
- Earnings (10yr)
- $43,827 C+
- Roughly in line with national averages
- Net Price
- $10,046 B
- 41% less than the typical college
- Enrollment
- 2,162
Bottom line: A C+ overall grade — average outcomes for a U.S. college. 23.6× return on investment — every $1 spent returns $23.6 over 20 years. Ranked #6 in Most Affordable Colleges in Minnesota.
Every $1 spent returns $23.6 over 20 years — debt pays back in ~under a year. Net gain: $906,432.
What The Data Says
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A C+ overall — outcomes trail most U.S. colleges on measured metrics.
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Every $1 invested returns $23.6 over 20 years — an exceptional return.
Why Ridgewater College Matters
Ridgewater College is a public community college in Willmar, MN and its outcomes are not an accident. They are driven by a well-connected, high-opportunity alumni network. The result: measurable returns for the students it serves.
Interpretation generated from this school's federal outcomes, research, and mobility data.
Institutional Profile
- Institution Type
- Public Community College
- Carnegie Class
- Associate's College
- Enrollment
- 2,162
- Setting
- Town
- Primary Strengths
- Health Professions, Humanities, Construction Trades, Culinary & Personal Services
Why students choose Ridgewater 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 $10,046 a year after grants and scholarships — 41% below the typical U.S. college. See net price by family income below.
See cost & aid →Earnings + debt
Graduates earn a median of $43,827 ten years after enrolling — 7% above the typical college, against $12,000 in median debt.
See outcomes →Mobility + social capital
Strong cross-class social capital — an economic-connectedness score of 1.46 (Opportunity Insights).
See mobility →Overview
Ridgewater College is an excellent fit for students seeking a focused education in practical fields. With around 2,162 students, the college emphasizes programs in Humanities, Health Professions, Construction Trades, Business & Marketing, and Precision Production. Those interested in hands-on learning and a supportive environment will find their niche here.
Graduates from Ridgewater can expect to earn about $43,827 after ten years, which speaks to the value of the education they receive. This earning potential is a strong motivator for students who want to enter the workforce quickly and effectively. The affordability of the school also plays a significant role, with a net price of $10,046 after aid, making it accessible for many.
When we consider student debt, the median amount stands at $12,000, which is manageable for most graduates. Students who tend to thrive here are often those who appreciate a practical approach to learning and are ready to take on careers in dynamic fields. The college's supportive atmosphere encourages persistence, contributing to a graduation rate of 48%, which reflects the commitment of students and faculty alike.
Rankings
Can I Get In?
How selective Ridgewater 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 Ridgewater College? Acceptance Rate & Requirements
Based in Willmar, Minnesota, Ridgewater College enrolls students across a range of programs. The graduation rate is roughly 48%.
- Retention Rate
- 70%
- Full-Time Faculty
- 60%
- Faculty Salary (mo)
- $9,379
- Student–Faculty Ratio
- 19:1
- Diversity Index
- 0.42
- First-Gen Students
- 31%
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 Ridgewater College? Tuition, Net Price & Aid
Published tuition at Ridgewater College is $6,121, 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 $10,046. Students from families earning under $30,000 typically pay closer to $7,963 after need-based grants. The median graduate leaves with about $12,000 in federal student loans.
- In-State Tuition
- $6,121
- Out-of-State
- $6,121
- Avg Net Price
- $10,046
- Median Debt
- $12,000
- Pell Grant Rate
- 32%
- Federal Loan Rate
- 25%
What Families Actually Pay
- Family Income $0–$30K
- $7,963
- Family Income $30K–$48K
- $6,891
- Family Income $48K–$75K
- $9,176
- Family Income $110K+
- $15,103
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 Ridgewater 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 Ridgewater College Worth It? Graduate Earnings & ROI
Ten years out, alumni of Ridgewater College report median earnings of $43,827, a figure worth comparing against the cost of attendance before enrolling.
- 6 Years After Entry
- $40,862
- 8 Years
- $43,677
- 10 Years
- $43,827
- Debt-to-Earnings
- 0.27x
- Earning > $25K
- 59%
Earnings Trajectory
Graduation by Timeframe
- 100% (174)
- 39%
- 100% (174)
- 39%
- 100% (174)
- 39%
- 100% (174)
- 39%
How Ridgewater 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 Ridgewater College Worth It?
A data-driven look at the return on your educational investment — using real federal data.
Yes — for most students, Ridgewater College delivers a positive return. Over four years, the typical net price is $10,046/year ($40,184 total). Graduates earn $43,827 at ten years, and over a 20-year career we project $946,616 in total earnings — a net gain of $906,432 (23.6× your investment). The median debt is $12,000, which takes less than a year to pay back at typical earnings. With a 48% graduation rate, the path to that return is well-tested. This is a exceptional ROI compared to national averages.
- Total Cost (4yr)
- $40,184
- Projected 20yr Earnings
- $946,616
- Net Return
- $906,432
- ROI Multiple
- 23.6×
- Cost Per Year
- $10,046
- Median Debt
- $12,000
- Debt Payback
- Less than 1 yr
- Graduation Rate
- 48%
Does It Change Lives?
Mobility, social capital, and innovation — does it move people up?
Institutional Finances
Data: NCES IPEDS
- Endowment
- $2,492,000
- Investment Income
- $-44,000
Top Programs
The fields Ridgewater 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 23% $64,292 early-career
- Humanities 21%
- Construction Trades 8% $49,829 early-career
- Culinary & Personal Services 5% $30,487 early-career
- Business & Marketing 5% $30,854 early-career
- Precision Production 5% $50,335 early-career
- Education 4%
- Mechanic & Repair Tech 3% $43,440 early-career
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 Ridgewater 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 Ridgewater College? Acceptance Rate & Requirements
Based in Willmar, Minnesota, Ridgewater College enrolls students across a range of programs. The graduation rate is roughly 48%.
How Much Does It Cost to Attend Ridgewater College? Tuition, Net Price & Aid
Published tuition at Ridgewater College is $6,121, 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 $10,046. Students from families earning under $30,000 typically pay closer to $7,963 after need-based grants. The median graduate leaves with about $12,000 in federal student loans.
Is Ridgewater College Worth It? Graduate Earnings & ROI
Ten years out, alumni of Ridgewater College report median earnings of $43,827, a figure worth comparing against the cost of attendance before enrolling.
How Connected Is Ridgewater 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 Ridgewater College. Its economic connectedness score is 1.46, where about 1.0 is the national norm. Its friending bias is low (0.00), a sign that students from different economic backgrounds actually mix rather than self-segregate. Around 7% of students take part in civic and volunteering activity.
Similar Schools
Schools with similar outcomes, selectivity, and student profiles to Ridgewater College.
- Minnesota North CollegeHibbing, MN · Close peer42% grad $45,570 earnWhy: similar earnings · similar grad rate · similar size
- Northeast Community CollegeNorfolk, NE · Close peer56% grad $42,634 earnWhy: similar earnings · similar grad rate · similar size
- Casper CollegeCasper, WY · Close peer41% grad $40,935 earnWhy: similar earnings · similar grad rate · similar size
- Hawkeye Community CollegeWaterloo, IA · Close peer38% grad $42,849 earnWhy: similar earnings · similar size · similar net price
- South Central CollegeNorth Mankato, MN · Close peer34% grad $45,068 earnWhy: similar earnings · similar size · similar net price
- Rowan College of South Jersey-Cumberland CampusVineland, NJ · Close peer33% grad $41,751 earnWhy: similar earnings · similar size · similar net price
Social Capital
Data: Opportunity Insights Social Capital Atlas
How Connected Is Ridgewater 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 Ridgewater College. Its economic connectedness score is 1.46, where about 1.0 is the national norm. Its friending bias is low (0.00), a sign that students from different economic backgrounds actually mix rather than self-segregate. Around 7% of students take part in civic and volunteering activity.
Research Note