VCM vs. Ripon College

Should I go to VanderCook College of Music or Ripon College? Compare 50+ facts and figures about the colleges to help you determine if VCM or Ripon College is the better college for you. The CollegeSimply comparison tool allows side-by-side comparison of 50+ statistics and facts for over 2,500 colleges and universities.

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VanderCook College of Music vs. Ripon College comparison
VanderCook College of Music Ripon College College 3 College 4
Ripon College
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Overview

VCM Ripon College
Location Chicago, IL Ripon, WI
Setting Large City Rural Fringe
Enrollment 340 734
Type Private 4 Year Private 4 Year
National Ranking
Religious Affiliation - - - -
Status Non-profit Non-profit
Website vandercook.edu ripon.edu
Team Colors                    

Costs

VCM Ripon College
Tuition (In State) $28,640 $50,400
Tuition (Out of State) $28,640 $50,400
Room & Board $7,500 $10,190
Avg Net Price $16,601 $22,557
Avg Grant Aid $22,249 $38,989
% Receiving Grant Aid 100% 100%

Admission

VCM Ripon College
Admission Chances Calculate Calculate
Applied 37 1,797
Admitted 36 1,508
Acceptance Rate 97.3% 83.9%
Enrolled % 47.2% 12.9%
Avg High School GPA 3.1 3.41
Typical High School Grades B B+
Admissions Standards Extremely Easy Moderate
Applicant Competition
ACT Range 15/20 20/27
SAT Range 890/1160 1000/1190
Submit Test Scores Not required for admission, but considered if submitted (Test Optional) Not required for admission, but considered if submitted (Test Optional)
Application Deadline Apr 1, 2026

Academics

VCM Ripon College
Student to Faculty Ratio 4:1 12:1
Popular Majors
  • Education (100%)
  • Social Sciences (14%)
  • Business (13%)
  • History (10%)
  • Recreation, Leisure and Fitness Studies (9%)
  • Psychology (9%)

Outcomes

VCM Ripon College
Graduation Rate 45% 70%
Median Earnings (After 10 years) N/A $49,200
Making Student Loan Payments 66% 77%
Median Student Loan Debt $27,000 $28,000
Median Loan Payment $279 $289

Diversity

VCM Ripon College
% Men 32% 1%
% Women 39% 1%
Racial Diversity Medium Very Low
HBCU No No
% White 62% 83%
% Black 8% 3%
% Hispanic 21% 6%
% Native American 0% 0%
% Pacific Islander 0% 0%
% Two or More Races 4% 2%
% International 2% 4%
% Unknown Race 2% 1%

Students

VCM Ripon College
% In-State 58% 63%
% Out-of-State 42% 35%

Campus

VCM Ripon College
Campus Housing Yes Yes
Freshman Dorm Required No No
Meal Plan Yes Yes
Weekend/Evening Classes No No
Daycare Facility No No
Learn More Details Details

Comparable Facts

  • Ripon College is larger than than VCM based on total student enrollment (734 students vs. 340 students)

VCM vs. Ripon College Cost Comparison

Which college is more expensive, VCM or Ripon College?

  • Ripon College is 76% more expensive to attend than VCM for in-state tuition ($50,400.00 vs. $28,640.00)
  • Out of state tuition is 76% higher at Ripon College than VanderCook College of Music ($50,400.00 vs. $28,640.00)
  • The typical actual cost that students pay to attend (average net price) is less at VanderCook College of Music than Ripon College ($16,601 vs. $22,557)
  • Living costs (room and board or off-campus housing budget) at VanderCook College of Music are 35.9% lower than costs at Ripon College ($7,500 vs. $10,190)
  • The same percent of students receive financial grant aid at VanderCook College of Music as Ripon College (100% vs. 100%)
  • The average total grant financial aid received by Ripon College students is 75.2% larger than aid received VanderCook College of Music ($38,989 vs. $22,249)

VCM vs. Ripon College Admissions Difficulty Comparison

Which college is harder to get into, VCM or Ripon College? Average SAT and ACT scores plus acceptance rates offer good insight into the difficulty of admission between Ripon College or VCM .

  • The average SAT score at VanderCook College of Music (1107) is 2 points higher than at Ripon College (1105)
  • Incoming VCM students have a 1 point higher average ACT score (25) than students at Ripon College (24)
  • Accepted freshman Ripon College students have a 0.31 point higher average high school GPA (3.41) than students at VCM (3.1)
  • VCM has a higher acceptance rate (97.3%) than Ripon College (83.9%)

VCM vs. Ripon College Graduation Outcomes Comparison

Which is better, VCM or Ripon College? Graduation rate, salary and amount of student loan debt are indicators of a college which offers better outcomes for its graduates. Compare the following outcomes facts between Ripon College and VCM.

  • The graduation rate at Ripon College is higher than VanderCook College of Music (70% vs. 45%)
  • VanderCook College of Music students graduate with a $1,000 lower median federal student loan debt than Ripon College graduates. ($27,000 vs. $28,000)
  • VCM graduates are paying $10 less per month on federal student loans than Ripon College graduates. ($279 vs. $289)
  • More Ripon College graduates are actively paying back their federal student loan debt than former VCM students, three years after graduation. (77% vs. 66%)

Sources: U.S. Department of Education https://nces.ed.gov IPEDS and College Scorecard https://collegescorecard.ed.gov/