Ridgewater College vs Anoka Technical College: which has better ROI?
Neither clears its cost on institution-wide earnings, but Anoka Technical College comes closer — median earnings $47,746 against a $67,812 total, vs $43,827 at Ridgewater College. (Scorecard, 2026 · our math.)
| Measure | Ridgewater College | Anoka Technical College |
|---|---|---|
| Net price / yr | $10,046 | $16,953 |
| Total net cost | $20,092 | $67,812 |
| Median earnings, 10 yrs | $43,827 | $47,746 |
| Median debt | $12,000 | $11,000 |
| Payback | — | — |
| 20-year net return | -$110,752 | -$80,092 |
College Scorecard (2026), institution-level · payback and returns are our math. Figures blend all majors.
Which is cheaper, Ridgewater College or Anoka Technical College?
Ridgewater College, at $10,046 a year after aid versus $16,953 — a gap of $6,907 a year, or $47,720 across the full degree. These are net prices after grants and scholarships, not sticker prices, so they reflect what an aided student pays.
Do Ridgewater College or Anoka Technical College graduates earn more?
Anoka Technical College graduates report a median $47,746 ten years after entry, $3,919 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, Ridgewater College or Anoka Technical College?
Anoka Technical College: its completers carry a median $11,000 in federal loans versus $12,000 at Ridgewater College, a difference of $1,000. The figure counts students who finished; it excludes private loans and anyone who left before graduating.
Which graduates more of its students?
66% of students finish at Anoka Technical College, against 50% at Ridgewater 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.