LSC vs. Ridgewater College

Comparable Facts

Compare Lake Superior College in Duluth, MN with Ridgewater College in Willmar, MN on tuition, admissions, graduation, earnings, and student body data using the table above.

Lake Superior College is larger than Ridgewater College based on total student enrollment (4,074 students vs. 3,148 students)

Location, institution type, and student-faculty ratio

• Lake Superior College is located in Duluth, MN (Small City setting); Ridgewater College is in Willmar, MN (Remote Town setting).
• Lake Superior College is a public, non-profit 2-year institution. Ridgewater College is a public, non-profit 2-year institution.
• Student-to-faculty ratio: Lake Superior College 19:1; Ridgewater College 19:1.

LSC vs. Ridgewater College Cost Comparison

Which college is more expensive, LSC 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 LSC ($9,448 vs. $14,131).
• Living costs (room and board or off-campus housing budget) at Lake Superior College are 5.5% lower than at Ridgewater College ($9,839 vs. $10,408).
• Ridgewater College is 5.8% more expensive for in-state tuition than LSC (about $336 more per year; $6,121.00 vs. $5,785.00).
• Out-of-state tuition is 5.8% higher at Ridgewater College than at Lake Superior College (about $336 more per year; $6,121.00 vs. $5,785.00).
• A larger share of students receive grant aid at Ridgewater College than at Lake Superior College (62% vs. 49%).
• The average total grant financial aid received by Ridgewater College students is 15.9% larger than aid received by Lake Superior College students ($6,437 vs. $5,552).

LSC vs. Ridgewater College Admissions comparison

Which college is harder to get into, LSC 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 LSC.

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

LSC vs. Ridgewater College Graduation Outcomes Comparison

How do outcomes compare for LSC 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 Lake Superior College earn a median of about $3,500 more per year than Ridgewater College graduates about ten years after starting college ($38,700 vs. $35,200), per the same Scorecard earnings definition.
• Among federal student loan borrowers, Ridgewater College graduates have a $2,000 lower median loan debt than LSC graduates ($12,000 vs. $14,000).
• Among borrowers, Ridgewater College graduates have an estimated $20 lower median monthly federal student loan payment than LSC graduates ($124 vs. $144).
• More Ridgewater College graduates are actively paying back their federal student loan debt than former LSC 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.