Ridgewater College — ROI, Cost & Payback
Ridgewater College charges a net price of $10,046/yr after aid — a 2-year total of $20,092. Median earnings ten years after entry are $43,827, below the $48,360 high-school baseline, so on this institution-wide metric the degree does not clear its cost. Program choice is what changes that. (Scorecard, 2026 · our math.)
On institution-wide earnings, Ridgewater College does not clear its cost — it ranks #51 of 68 Minnesota colleges we track by ROI. The specific program you pick moves this more than the school average.
| Measure | Value | Source |
|---|---|---|
| Net price (after aid) | $10,046/yr | Scorecard, 2026 |
| Total net cost (2 yrs) | $20,092 | our math |
| Median earnings, 10 yrs after entry | $43,827 | Scorecard, 2026 |
| Earnings premium over HS baseline | -$4,533/yr | our math |
| Median debt (completers) | $12,000 | Scorecard, 2026 |
| Payback | does not clear | our math |
| 20-year net return | -$110,752 | our math |
College Scorecard (2026 release), institution-level · payback and returns are our math.
The arithmetic, on Ridgewater College's own numbers. Net price $10,046 × 2 years = $20,092 total. Median earnings $43,827 fall $4,533 short of the $48,360 high-school baseline, so the premium this formula divides by is not positive and no break-even year exists on institution-wide pay. A programme here earning $58,360 would clear the $20,092 bill in about 2.0 years — the gap, not the price, is what blocks payback. Full method.
How much debt do Ridgewater College students graduate with?
A median $12,000 in federal loans among completers, or 27% of the $43,827 its graduates earn ten years out — our math. The figure excludes private loans and students who left before finishing.
What share of Ridgewater College students graduate?
50% finish their degree — 50% leave carrying the cost without the credential. Spread the $20,092 bill across that completion rate and the cohort pays $40,184 per graduate produced — our math, and the figure a payback number never shows.
Is Ridgewater College expensive compared with other Minnesota colleges?
Its $10,046 net price runs $6,775 below the $16,821 median across the 68 Minnesota colleges we profile, and $13,549 less across the full degree.