Anoka-Ramsey Community College vs Ridgewater College: which has better ROI?
Neither clears its cost on institution-wide earnings, but Anoka-Ramsey Community College comes closer — median earnings $48,342 against a $32,868 total, vs $43,827 at Ridgewater College. (Scorecard, 2026 · our math.)
| Measure | Anoka-Ramsey Community College | Ridgewater College |
|---|---|---|
| Net price / yr | $16,434 | $10,046 |
| Total net cost | $32,868 | $20,092 |
| Median earnings, 10 yrs | $48,342 | $43,827 |
| Median debt | $13,500 | $12,000 |
| Payback | — | — |
| 20-year net return | -$33,228 | -$110,752 |
College Scorecard (2026), institution-level · payback and returns are our math. Figures blend all majors.
Which is cheaper, Anoka-Ramsey Community College or Ridgewater College?
Ridgewater College, at $10,046 a year after aid versus $16,434 — a gap of $6,388 a year, or $12,776 across the full degree. These are net prices after grants and scholarships, not sticker prices, so they reflect what an aided student pays.
Do Anoka-Ramsey Community College or Ridgewater College graduates earn more?
Anoka-Ramsey Community College graduates report a median $48,342 ten years after entry, $4,515 more than the $43,827 at Ridgewater College. Both are institution-wide medians from federal tax records, so a high-paying major at the lower school can beat the average at the higher one.
Which leaves students with less debt, Anoka-Ramsey Community College or Ridgewater College?
Ridgewater College: its completers carry a median $12,000 in federal loans versus $13,500 at Anoka-Ramsey Community College, a difference of $1,500. The figure counts students who finished; it excludes private loans and anyone who left before graduating.
Which graduates more of its students?
50% of students finish at Ridgewater College, against 30% at Anoka-Ramsey Community College. Completion matters to the ROI arithmetic because a degree that is never finished still carries its cost and its debt, but earns none of the graduate premium above the $48,360 high-school baseline.