M State vs. Ridgewater College

Comparable Facts

Compare Minnesota State Community and Technical College in Fergus Falls, MN with Ridgewater College in Willmar, MN on tuition, admissions, graduation, earnings, and student body data using the table above.

Minnesota State Community and Technical College is larger than Ridgewater College based on total student enrollment (5,645 students vs. 3,148 students)

Location, institution type, and student-faculty ratio

• Minnesota State Community and Technical College is located in Fergus Falls, MN (Remote Town setting); Ridgewater College is in Willmar, MN (Remote Town setting).
• Minnesota State Community and Technical College is a public, non-profit 2-year institution. Ridgewater College is a public, non-profit 2-year institution.
• Student-to-faculty ratio: Minnesota State Community and Technical College 18:1; Ridgewater College 19:1.

M State vs. Ridgewater College Cost Comparison

Which college is more expensive, M State 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 M State ($9,448 vs. $11,802).
• Living costs (room and board or off-campus housing budget) at Minnesota State Community and Technical College are 15.3% lower than at Ridgewater College ($8,820 vs. $10,408).
• Ridgewater College is 3.6% more expensive for in-state tuition than M State (about $213 more per year; $6,121.00 vs. $5,908.00).
• Out-of-state tuition is 3.6% higher at Ridgewater College than at Minnesota State Community and Technical College (about $213 more per year; $6,121.00 vs. $5,908.00).
• A larger share of students receive grant aid at Ridgewater College than at Minnesota State Community and Technical College (62% vs. 55%).
• The average total grant financial aid received by Ridgewater College students is 18% larger than aid received by Minnesota State Community and Technical College students ($6,437 vs. $5,456).

M State vs. Ridgewater College Admissions comparison

Which college is harder to get into, M State 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 M State.

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

M State vs. Ridgewater College Graduation Outcomes Comparison

How do outcomes compare for M State 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 State Community and Technical College earn a median of about $2,100 more per year than Ridgewater College graduates about ten years after starting college ($37,300 vs. $35,200), per the same Scorecard earnings definition.
• Among federal student loan borrowers, Ridgewater College and M State graduates have the same median loan debt ($12,000 vs. $12,000).
• Among borrowers in the federal data, Ridgewater College and M State 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 M State students, three years after graduation. (58% vs. 52%)

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.