Pine Technical & Community College vs. Ridgewater College

Comparable Facts

Compare Pine Technical & Community College in Pine City, MN with Ridgewater College in Willmar, MN on tuition, admissions, graduation, earnings, and student body data using the table above.

Ridgewater College is larger than Pine Technical & Community College based on total student enrollment (3,148 students vs. 1,794 students)

Location, institution type, and student-faculty ratio

• Pine Technical & Community College is located in Pine City, MN (Remote Town setting); Ridgewater College is in Willmar, MN (Remote Town setting).
• Pine Technical & Community College is a public, non-profit 2-year institution. Ridgewater College is a public, non-profit 2-year institution.
• Student-to-faculty ratio: Pine Technical & Community College 21:1; Ridgewater College 19:1.

Pine Technical & Community College vs. Ridgewater College Cost Comparison

Which college is more expensive, Pine Technical & 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 Pine Technical & Community College ($9,448 vs. $11,760).
• Living costs (room and board or off-campus housing budget) at Pine Technical & Community College are 6% lower than at Ridgewater College ($9,786 vs. $10,408).
• Ridgewater College is 29.2% more expensive for in-state tuition than Pine Technical & Community College (about $1,383 more per year; $6,121.00 vs. $4,738.00).
• Out-of-state tuition is 29.2% higher at Ridgewater College than at Pine Technical & Community College (about $1,383 more per year; $6,121.00 vs. $4,738.00).
• A larger share of students receive grant aid at Pine Technical & Community College than at Ridgewater College (81% vs. 62%).
• The average total grant financial aid received by Ridgewater College students is 5.1% larger than aid received by Pine Technical & Community College students ($6,437 vs. $6,124).

Pine Technical & Community College vs. Ridgewater College Admissions comparison

Which college is harder to get into, Pine Technical & 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 Pine Technical & Community College.

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

Pine Technical & Community College vs. Ridgewater College Graduation Outcomes Comparison

How do outcomes compare for Pine Technical & 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 Ridgewater College earn a median of about $2,800 more per year than Pine Technical & Community College graduates about ten years after starting college ($35,200 vs. $32,400), per the same Scorecard earnings definition.
• Among federal student loan borrowers, Ridgewater College graduates have a $7,000 lower median loan debt than Pine Technical & Community College graduates ($12,000 vs. $19,000).
• Among borrowers, Ridgewater College graduates have an estimated $72 lower median monthly federal student loan payment than Pine Technical & Community College graduates ($124 vs. $196).
• More Ridgewater College graduates are actively paying back their federal student loan debt than former Pine Technical & Community College students, three years after graduation. (58% vs. 39%)

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.