Riverland Community College
#2 Most Affordable Colleges in Minnesota- Graduation Rate
- 53% C-
- About half of students who start complete their degree
- Earnings (10yr)
- $45,247 C+
- Roughly in line with national averages
- Net Price
- $7,427 A-
- 57% less than the typical college
- Enrollment
- 2,003
Bottom line: A B- overall grade — average outcomes for a U.S. college. 34.0× return on investment — every $1 spent returns $34.0 over 20 years. Ranked #2 in Most Affordable Colleges in Minnesota.
Every $1 spent returns $34.0 over 20 years — debt pays back in ~under a year. Net gain: $980,774.
What The Data Says
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A B- overall — outcomes above the typical U.S. college.
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Every $1 invested returns $34.0 over 20 years — an exceptional return.
Why Riverland Community College Matters
Riverland Community College is a public college in Austin, 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
- 2,003
- Setting
- Town
- Primary Strengths
- Humanities, Health Professions, Business & Marketing, Mechanic & Repair Tech
Why students choose Riverland Community 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 $7,427 a year after grants and scholarships — 57% below the typical U.S. college. See net price by family income below.
See cost & aid →Earnings + debt
Graduates earn a median of $45,247 ten years after enrolling — 11% 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 1.30 (Opportunity Insights).
See mobility →Overview
With an enrollment of around 2,003 students, Riverland Community College in Austin, MN, is a solid choice for those looking to get a practical education. This school is particularly well-suited for students interested in fields like Humanities, Health Professions, Business & Marketing, Construction Trades, and Culinary & Personal Services. The focus here is on hands-on learning and building skills that translate directly into the workforce, making it a great fit for those aiming to enter the job market quickly.
Looking at life after graduation, the average earnings after ten years is about $45,247. This figure highlights the potential for upward mobility, especially for those who engage fully in their programs. Affordability is another key factor; students can expect a net price of around $7,427, which makes it easier to manage financial commitments. While 24% of students receive Pell Grants, this support helps to further bridge the gap for those from lower-income backgrounds.
On the practical side of things, the median debt for graduates stands at $12,000, which is manageable compared to many other institutions. This relatively low debt load means that students can focus on their careers without being overwhelmed by financial burdens. Riverland tends to attract individuals who value community, hands-on work, and a straightforward path to a stable job, creating an environment where they can thrive both personally and professionally.
Rankings
Can I Get In?
How selective Riverland Community 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 Riverland Community College? Acceptance Rate & Requirements
As a public institution in Austin, Minnesota, Riverland Community College enrolls students across a range of programs. The graduation rate is roughly 53%.
- Retention Rate
- 75%
- Full-Time Faculty
- 50%
- Faculty Salary (mo)
- $9,379
- Student–Faculty Ratio
- 18:1
- Diversity Index
- 0.56
- First-Gen Students
- 36%
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 Riverland Community College? Tuition, Net Price & Aid
Published tuition at Riverland Community College is $6,298, 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 $7,427. Students from families earning under $30,000 typically pay closer to $6,612 after need-based grants. The median graduate leaves with about $12,000 in federal student loans.
- In-State Tuition
- $6,298
- Out-of-State
- $6,298
- Avg Net Price
- $7,427
- Median Debt
- $12,000
- Pell Grant Rate
- 24%
- Federal Loan Rate
- 14%
What Families Actually Pay
- Family Income $0–$30K
- $6,612
- Family Income $30K–$48K
- $6,402
- Family Income $48K–$75K
- $7,274
- Family Income $110K+
- $12,676
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 Riverland Community 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 Riverland Community College Worth It? Graduate Earnings & ROI
Ten years out, alumni of Riverland Community College earn a median of $45,247, roughly in line with the national average for college graduates.
- 6 Years After Entry
- $41,043
- 8 Years
- $41,797
- 10 Years
- $45,247
- Debt-to-Earnings
- 0.27x
- Earning > $25K
- 59%
Earnings Trajectory
Graduation by Timeframe
- 100% (118)
- 36%
- 100% (118)
- 36%
- 100% (118)
- 36%
- 100% (118)
- 36%
How Riverland 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 Riverland Community College Worth It?
A data-driven look at the return on your educational investment — using real federal data.
Yes — for most students, Riverland Community College delivers a positive return. Over four years, the typical net price is $7,427/year ($29,708 total). Graduates earn $45,247 at ten years, and over a 20-year career we project $1,010,482 in total earnings — a net gain of $980,774 (34.0× your investment). The median debt is $12,000, which takes less than a year to pay back at typical earnings. With a 53% graduation rate, the path to that return is well-tested. This is a exceptional ROI compared to national averages.
- Total Cost (4yr)
- $29,708
- Projected 20yr Earnings
- $1,010,482
- Net Return
- $980,774
- ROI Multiple
- 34.0×
- Cost Per Year
- $7,427
- Median Debt
- $12,000
- Debt Payback
- Less than 1 yr
- Graduation Rate
- 53%
Does It Change Lives?
Mobility, social capital, and innovation — does it move people up?
Institutional Finances
Data: NCES IPEDS
- Endowment
- $1,960,000
- Investment Income
- $29,000
Top Programs
The fields Riverland Community 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.
- Humanities 28%
- Health Professions 14%
- Business & Marketing 11%
- Mechanic & Repair Tech 8%
- Construction Trades 6%
- Computer Science & IT 5%
- Culinary & Personal Services 5%
- Criminal Justice 4%
Top Careers
Where these majors tend to lead — common career paths for Riverland Community 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
- C+Cloud Architect$142,000 · 15% growthAdaptable 52
- B-Site Reliability Engineer$140,000 · 20% growthAdaptable 52
- CSolutions Architect$138,000 · 12% growthAdaptable 52
- CHR Manager$136,350 · 5% growthAdaptable 64
- CPetroleum Engineer$135,690 · 2% growthResilient 72
- CSales Manager$135,160 · 4% growthAdaptable 64
Frequently Asked Questions
Is It Hard to Get Into Riverland Community College? Acceptance Rate & Requirements
As a public institution in Austin, Minnesota, Riverland Community College enrolls students across a range of programs. The graduation rate is roughly 53%.
How Much Does It Cost to Attend Riverland Community College? Tuition, Net Price & Aid
Published tuition at Riverland Community College is $6,298, 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 $7,427. Students from families earning under $30,000 typically pay closer to $6,612 after need-based grants. The median graduate leaves with about $12,000 in federal student loans.
Is Riverland Community College Worth It? Graduate Earnings & ROI
Ten years out, alumni of Riverland Community College earn a median of $45,247, roughly in line with the national average for college graduates.
How Connected Is Riverland Community 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 Riverland Community College. Its economic connectedness score is 1.30, where about 1.0 is the national norm. Its friending bias is low (-0.01), a sign that students from different economic backgrounds actually mix rather than self-segregate. Around 6% of students take part in civic and volunteering activity.
Similar Schools
Schools with similar outcomes, selectivity, and student profiles to Riverland Community College.
- Northwood Technical CollegeRice Lake, WI · Close peer54% grad $43,406 earnWhy: similar earnings · similar grad rate · similar size
- Minnesota West Community and Technical CollegeGranite Falls, MN · Close peer49% grad $45,285 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
- New River Community CollegeDublin, VA · Close peer47% grad $40,025 earnWhy: similar grad rate · similar size
- Lakeshore Technical CollegeCleveland, WI · Close peer46% grad $47,113 earnWhy: similar earnings · similar grad rate · similar size
- Hutchinson Community CollegeHutchinson, KS · Close peer49% grad $43,470 earnWhy: similar earnings · similar grad rate · similar net price
Social Capital
Data: Opportunity Insights Social Capital Atlas
How Connected Is Riverland Community 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 Riverland Community College. Its economic connectedness score is 1.30, where about 1.0 is the national norm. Its friending bias is low (-0.01), a sign that students from different economic backgrounds actually mix rather than self-segregate. Around 6% of students take part in civic and volunteering activity.
Research Note