Rochester Community and Technical College vs. Ridgewater College

Comparable Facts

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

Rochester Community and Technical College is larger than Ridgewater College based on total student enrollment (5,205 students vs. 3,148 students)

Location, institution type, and student-faculty ratio

• Rochester Community and Technical College is located in Rochester, MN (Midsize City setting); Ridgewater College is in Willmar, MN (Remote Town setting).
• Rochester 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: Rochester Community and Technical College 23:1; Ridgewater College 19:1.

Rochester Community and Technical College vs. Ridgewater College Cost Comparison

Which college is more expensive, Rochester Community and Technical 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 Rochester Community and Technical College ($9,448 vs. $13,684).
• Living costs (room and board or off-campus housing budget) at Rochester Community and Technical College are 21.2% lower than at Ridgewater College ($8,200 vs. $10,408).
• Rochester Community and Technical College is 4.4% more expensive for in-state tuition than Ridgewater College (about $268 more per year; $6,389.00 vs. $6,121.00).
• Out-of-state tuition is 4.4% higher at Rochester Community and Technical College than at Ridgewater College (about $268 more per year; $6,389.00 vs. $6,121.00).
• A larger share of students receive grant aid at Ridgewater College than at Rochester Community and Technical College (62% vs. 58%).
• The average total grant financial aid received by Ridgewater College students is 11.5% larger than aid received by Rochester Community and Technical College students ($6,437 vs. $5,771).

Rochester Community and Technical College vs. Ridgewater College Admissions comparison

Which college is harder to get into, Rochester Community and Technical 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 Rochester Community and Technical College.

• Both colleges report an open admissions policy; selectivity can still vary by program or major.
• Submitting SAT or ACT scores: Rochester Community and Technical College - Open admission; Ridgewater College - Open admission.
• Typical fall application deadline: Rochester Community and Technical College Aug 15, 2027.

Rochester Community and Technical College vs. Ridgewater College Graduation Outcomes Comparison

How do outcomes compare for Rochester Community and Technical 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 Rochester Community and Technical College earn a median of about $3,100 more per year than Ridgewater College graduates about ten years after starting college ($38,300 vs. $35,200), per the same Scorecard earnings definition.
• Among federal student loan borrowers, Ridgewater College graduates have a $2,142 lower median loan debt than Rochester Community and Technical College graduates ($12,000 vs. $14,142).
• Among borrowers, Ridgewater College graduates have an estimated $22 lower median monthly federal student loan payment than Rochester Community and Technical College graduates ($124 vs. $146).
• More Ridgewater College graduates are actively paying back their federal student loan debt than former Rochester Community and Technical College 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.