Ridgewater College
A good fit for families looking for lower cost and students who prefer a mid-size campus. no major red flags in the data. a public school with 2,162 students.
About This School
Ridgewater College is a public institution located in Willmar, Minnesota with approximately 2,162 undergraduate students enrolled. The average net price after financial aid is $10,046 per year. Typical graduates earn $35,900 within 10 years of enrollment.
Ridgewater College is a public community college in Willmar and Hutchinson, Minnesota. It was founded in 1996 as part of the Minnesota State Colleges and Universities System. It was created by the consolidation of Willmar Community College and Hutchinson-Willmar Regional Technical College. Its name refers to the rivers and lakes near the colleges and to the glacial ridge in the region.
Worth considering if you're looking for an affordable, low-risk entry point into a career or transfer path — at just $10,955/year in net cost and a median debt of only $9,196 at graduation, you're unlikely to leave buried in loans. The honest concern is that median earnings sit at $35,900 a decade out, which is modest, so this school makes the most sense for students pursuing specific technical programs with clear local job demand rather than those expecting broad career flexibility or high earning potential.
Popular Programs
Percentage of degrees awarded. Source: College Scorecard.
Admissions
SAT Scores
ACT Scores
Cost & Financial Aid
Net Price by Family Income
Average annual cost after grants/scholarships, by household income. Source: U.S. Department of Education College Scorecard.
Financial Aid
Full Cost
After Graduation
Earnings 6 Years After Enrollment, by Gender
Gap: 29% less for female graduates. National avg ~16%.
Will This School Pay Off?
Solid return. Earnings outpace debt, though major choice matters.
Earnings data from the U.S. Department of Education College Scorecard. These are means across all graduates, not specific to any major.
Student Body
Source: U.S. Department of Education College Scorecard (2,162 undergraduates).
Contact & Location
Official Links
Other Schools in Minnesota
University of Minnesota
Minneapolis, MN · Public
Capella University
Minneapolis, MN · Private for-profit
Minnesota State University-Mankato
Mankato, MN · Public
Walden University
Minneapolis, MN · Private for-profit
Rasmussen University-Minnesota
St. Cloud, MN · Private for-profit
University of Minnesota-Duluth
Duluth, MN · Public
Sources & Methodology
Primary data source: U.S. Department of Education College Scorecard. Accessed via automated sync. Latest values may come from different reporting years depending on the metric.
School overview from Wikipedia. Used for context only, not as a primary data source for admissions, cost, or outcomes claims.
- Earnings figures are institution-level averages, not major-specific.
- Some metrics are based on Title IV financial aid recipients only.
- Some values may be privacy-suppressed or rolled up by the Department of Education.
- Contact the school directly for current admissions requirements and costs.
All school names, logos, and trademarks are the property of their respective owners. Their use on this page is for identification purposes only and does not imply endorsement or affiliation with CollegeHelpGuide.