Riverland Community College vs. M State

Comparable Facts

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

Minnesota State Community and Technical College is larger than Riverland Community College based on total student enrollment (5,645 students vs. 3,959 students)

Location, institution type, and student-faculty ratio

• Riverland Community College is located in Austin, MN (Distant Town setting); Minnesota State Community and Technical College is in Fergus Falls, MN (Remote Town setting).
• Riverland Community College is a public, non-profit 2-year institution. Minnesota State Community and Technical College is a public, non-profit 2-year institution.
• Student-to-faculty ratio: Riverland Community College 20:1; Minnesota State Community and Technical College 18:1.

Riverland Community College vs. M State Cost Comparison

Which college is more expensive, Riverland Community College or M State? 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 Riverland Community College than M State ($8,017 vs. $11,802).
• Living costs (room and board or off-campus housing budget) at Minnesota State Community and Technical College are 6.7% lower than at Riverland Community College ($8,820 vs. $9,452).
• Riverland Community College is 6.6% more expensive for in-state tuition than M State (about $390 more per year; $6,298.00 vs. $5,908.00).
• Out-of-state tuition is 6.6% higher at Riverland Community College than at Minnesota State Community and Technical College (about $390 more per year; $6,298.00 vs. $5,908.00).
• A larger share of students receive grant aid at Riverland Community College than at Minnesota State Community and Technical College (78% vs. 55%).
• The average total grant financial aid received by Riverland Community College students is 20.8% larger than aid received by Minnesota State Community and Technical College students ($6,593 vs. $5,456).

Riverland Community College vs. M State Admissions comparison

Which college is harder to get into, Riverland Community College or M State? 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 M State and Riverland Community College.

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

Riverland Community College vs. M State Graduation Outcomes Comparison

How do outcomes compare for Riverland Community College and M State? 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 Riverland Community College graduates about ten years after starting college ($37,300 vs. $35,200), per the same Scorecard earnings definition.
• More M State graduates are actively paying back their federal student loan debt than former Riverland Community College students, three years after graduation. (52% vs. 46%)

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.