Inver Hills Community College vs. Ridgewater College

Comparable Facts

Compare Inver Hills Community College in Inver Grove Heights, MN with Ridgewater College in Willmar, MN on tuition, admissions, graduation, earnings, and student body data using the table above.

Inver Hills Community College is larger than Ridgewater College based on total student enrollment (3,804 students vs. 3,148 students)

Location, institution type, and student-faculty ratio

• Inver Hills Community College is located in Inver Grove Heights, MN (Large Suburban setting); Ridgewater College is in Willmar, MN (Remote Town setting).
• Inver Hills Community College is a public, non-profit 2-year institution. Ridgewater College is a public, non-profit 2-year institution.
• Student-to-faculty ratio: Inver Hills Community College 20:1; Ridgewater College 19:1.

Inver Hills Community College vs. Ridgewater College Cost Comparison

Which college is more expensive, Inver Hills Community 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 Inver Hills Community College ($9,448 vs. $11,432).
• Living costs (room and board or off-campus housing budget) at Ridgewater College are 3.6% lower than at Inver Hills Community College ($10,408 vs. $10,800).
• Inver Hills Community College is 0.4% more expensive for in-state tuition than Ridgewater College (about $25 more per year; $6,146.00 vs. $6,121.00).
• Out-of-state tuition is 0.4% higher at Inver Hills Community College than at Ridgewater College (about $25 more per year; $6,146.00 vs. $6,121.00).
• A larger share of students receive grant aid at Ridgewater College than at Inver Hills Community College (62% vs. 59%).
• The average total grant financial aid received by Ridgewater College students is 16.1% larger than aid received by Inver Hills Community College students ($6,437 vs. $5,546).

Inver Hills Community College vs. Ridgewater College Admissions comparison

Which college is harder to get into, Inver Hills Community 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 Inver Hills Community College.

• Both colleges report an open admissions policy; selectivity can still vary by program or major.
• Submitting SAT or ACT scores: Inver Hills Community College - Open admission; Ridgewater College - Open admission.
• Typical fall application deadline: Inver Hills Community College Aug 15, 2027.

Inver Hills Community College vs. Ridgewater College Graduation Outcomes Comparison

How do outcomes compare for Inver Hills Community 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 Inver Hills Community College earn a median of about $7,200 more per year than Ridgewater College graduates about ten years after starting college ($42,400 vs. $35,200), per the same Scorecard earnings definition.
• Among federal student loan borrowers, Ridgewater College graduates have a $148 lower median loan debt than Inver Hills Community College graduates ($12,000 vs. $12,148).
• Among borrowers, Ridgewater College graduates have an estimated $1 lower median monthly federal student loan payment than Inver Hills Community College graduates ($124 vs. $125).
• More Ridgewater College graduates are actively paying back their federal student loan debt than former Inver Hills Community College students, three years after graduation. (58% vs. 48%)

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.