Riverland Community College vs. Minnesota West Community and Technical College

Comparable Facts

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

Riverland Community College is larger than Minnesota West Community and Technical College based on total student enrollment (3,959 students vs. 3,695 students)

Location, institution type, and student-faculty ratio

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

Riverland Community College vs. Minnesota West Community and Technical College Cost Comparison

Which college is more expensive, Riverland Community College or Minnesota West Community and Technical 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 Riverland Community College than Minnesota West Community and Technical College ($8,017 vs. $10,638).
• Living costs (room and board or off-campus housing budget) at Minnesota West Community and Technical College are 31.2% lower than at Riverland Community College ($6,500 vs. $9,452).
• Minnesota West Community and Technical College is 3.1% more expensive for in-state tuition than Riverland Community College (about $193 more per year; $6,491.00 vs. $6,298.00).
• Out-of-state tuition is 3.1% higher at Minnesota West Community and Technical College than at Riverland Community College (about $193 more per year; $6,491.00 vs. $6,298.00).
• A larger share of students receive grant aid at Riverland Community College than at Minnesota West Community and Technical College (78% vs. 64%).
• The average total grant financial aid received by Riverland Community College students is 0.4% larger than aid received by Minnesota West Community and Technical College students ($6,593 vs. $6,569).

Riverland Community College vs. Minnesota West Community and Technical College Admissions comparison

Which college is harder to get into, Riverland Community College or Minnesota West Community and Technical 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 Minnesota West Community and Technical College 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; Minnesota West Community and Technical College - Open admission.
• Accepted freshman Riverland Community College students have a 0.19 point higher average high school GPA (2.81) than students at Minnesota West Community and Technical College (2.62).

Riverland Community College vs. Minnesota West Community and Technical College Graduation Outcomes Comparison

How do outcomes compare for Riverland Community College and Minnesota West Community and Technical 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 West Community and Technical College earn a median of about $1,700 more per year than Riverland Community College graduates about ten years after starting college ($36,900 vs. $35,200), per the same Scorecard earnings definition.
• More Minnesota West Community and Technical College graduates are actively paying back their federal student loan debt than former Riverland Community College students, three years after graduation. (53% 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.