Minnesota North College vs. Ridgewater College

Comparable Facts

Compare Minnesota North College in Hibbing, MN with Ridgewater College in Willmar, MN on tuition, admissions, graduation, earnings, and student body data using the table above.

Minnesota North College is larger than Ridgewater College based on total student enrollment (3,174 students vs. 3,148 students)

Location, institution type, and student-faculty ratio

• Minnesota North College is located in Hibbing, MN (Rural Fringe setting); Ridgewater College is in Willmar, MN (Remote Town setting).
• Minnesota North College is a public, non-profit 2-year institution. Ridgewater College is a public, non-profit 2-year institution.
• Student-to-faculty ratio: Minnesota North College 17:1; Ridgewater College 19:1.

Minnesota North College vs. Ridgewater College Cost Comparison

Which college is more expensive, Minnesota North College or Ridgewater College? Published tuition is the sticker price; many students pay less after aid (see average net price below).

• The typical actual cost that students pay to attend (average net price) is less at Ridgewater College than Minnesota North College ($9,448 vs. $9,766).
• Living costs (room and board or off-campus housing budget) at Minnesota North College are 22.5% lower than at Ridgewater College ($8,066 vs. $10,408).
• Ridgewater College is 1.6% more expensive for in-state tuition than Minnesota North College (about $99 more per year; $6,121.00 vs. $6,022.00).
• Out-of-state tuition is 1.6% higher at Ridgewater College than at Minnesota North College (about $99 more per year; $6,121.00 vs. $6,022.00).
• A larger share of students receive grant aid at Minnesota North College than at Ridgewater College (64% vs. 62%).
• The average total grant financial aid received by Ridgewater College students is 2.4% larger than aid received by Minnesota North College students ($6,437 vs. $6,289).

Minnesota North College vs. Ridgewater College Admissions comparison

Which college is harder to get into, Minnesota North College or Ridgewater College? Typical SAT and ACT scores (same estimates as in the table above), middle 50% test ranges where reported, test score submission policy, deadlines, and acceptance rates summarize admission difficulty between Ridgewater College and Minnesota North College.

• Both colleges report an open admissions policy; selectivity can still vary by program or major.
• Submitting SAT or ACT scores: Minnesota North College - Open admission; Ridgewater College - Open admission.

Minnesota North College vs. Ridgewater College Graduation Outcomes Comparison

How do outcomes compare for Minnesota North College and Ridgewater College? Graduation rate, earnings, and student loan debt are common indicators. The bullets below summarize the same federal outcomes fields as the comparison table (College Scorecard / IPEDS where applicable).

• Graduates from Minnesota North College earn a median of about $3,700 more per year than Ridgewater College graduates about ten years after starting college ($38,900 vs. $35,200), per the same Scorecard earnings definition.
• Among federal student loan borrowers, Ridgewater College and Minnesota North College graduates have the same median loan debt ($12,000 vs. $12,000).
• Among borrowers in the federal data, Ridgewater College and Minnesota North College graduates have the same median monthly federal student loan payment ($124 vs. $124).
• More Ridgewater College graduates are actively paying back their federal student loan debt than former Minnesota North College students, three years after graduation. (58% vs. 43%)

Sources: U.S. Department of Education https://nces.ed.gov IPEDS and College Scorecard https://collegescorecard.ed.gov/. Values reflect the most recent year available in our dataset.