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Compare Dakota County Technical College vs Ridgewater College

Rosemount, MN · Willmar, MN

Dakota County Technical CollegeRidgewater College
Cost
Price after aid (average)$13,548/yr$10,046/yr
Price after aid (family income under $30k)$9,549/yr$7,963/yr
Typical loan debt at graduation$11,000$12,000
Price after aid ($30k–$48k income)$9,835/yr$6,891/yr
Price after aid ($48k–$75k income)$12,371/yr$9,176/yr
Price after aid ($75k–$110k income)$14,517/yr$13,111/yr
Price after aid (income over $110k)$18,089/yr$15,103/yr
Typical loan payment after graduation$117/mo$127/mo
Room & board (off campus)$10,800/yr$10,408/yr
Borrowers who default0%0%
Books & supplies$1,200/yr$1,236/yr
Sticker price (before aid)$18,552/yr$15,694/yr
Tuition (in-state)$6,679/yr$6,121/yr
Tuition (out-of-state)$6,679/yr$6,121/yr
Students with Pell Grants27%32%
Students taking federal loans25%25%
Getting in
SAT/ACT policyOpen admission (everyone qualified gets in)Open admission (everyone qualified gets in)
Graduation & earnings
Students who graduate58%50%
Freshmen who come back74%70%
Typical earnings 10 years in$51,938/yr$43,827/yr
Earnings range 10 years in$32,416–$73,399$26,512–$63,192
Finish within 8 years (anywhere)53%47%
Typical earnings 6 years in$46,398/yr$40,862/yr
Earn more than a HS grad68%61%
Graduate on time52%45%
First-gen students who finish41%29%
Low-income students who finish36%29%
Students who transfer out9.9%14%
Typical earnings 8 years in$49,316/yr$43,677/yr
Majors & programs
Top 3 programsHealth Professions 23% · Business, Management & Marketing 20% · Mechanic & Repair Technologies 17%Health Professions 23% · Liberal Arts & General Studies 21% · Agriculture & Veterinary Science 14%
Most popular programHealth Professions — 23% of degreesHealth Professions — 23% of degrees
2nd most popular programBusiness, Management & Marketing — 20% of degreesLiberal Arts & General Studies — 21% of degrees
3rd most popular programMechanic & Repair Technologies — 17% of degreesAgriculture & Veterinary Science — 14% of degrees
4th most popular programConstruction Trades — 10% of degreesConstruction Trades — 8% of degrees
5th most popular programAgriculture & Veterinary Science — 6% of degreesEngineering Technologies — 6% of degrees
Highest-paying major (1 year out)Electromechanical Technologies/Technicians — $69,044/yrRegistered Nursing, Nursing Administration, Nursing Research and Clinical Nursing — $59,082/yr
Degrees in STEM7.1%7.5%
Campus & students
Undergrad enrollment2,1682,162
Students per professor23 : 119 : 1
Average professor pay$9,498/mo$9,379/mo
Full-time professors39%60%
Fully onlineNoNo
Accredited byHigher Learning CommissionHigher Learning Commission
Median family income$39,514$37,534
SettingRural (fringe)Town (remote)
LocationRosemount, MNWillmar, MN
RegionPlainsPlains
Founded19701996
Public or privatePublicPublic
Main degree offeredAssociate degreesAssociate degrees
Carnegie classificationAssociate's Colleges: High Career & Technical-High TraditionalAssociate's Colleges: High Career & Technical-Mixed Traditional/Nontraditional
Main or branch campusMain campusMain campus
International students0.5%0.3%
Men57%38%
Women43%62%
White students63%74%
Black students11%5.1%
Hispanic or Latino students15%13%
Asian students3.3%1.6%
Two or more races5.6%2.9%
Other / not reported2.4%2.6%
Special typeNoneNone
First-generation students31%31%
Part-time students36%42%
Students age 25+30%24%
Spent on teaching per student$9,163/yr$11,440/yr
Endowment$2.5M$3.7M
Campus life
Campus data from20232023
On-campus housingNo — no campus housingNo — no campus housing
Meal plan offeredNoNo
Academic calendarSemesterSemester
Federal designationNoneNone
Study abroadNoNo
Undergraduate researchNoNo
ROTCNoNo
Accepts AP creditYesYes
Accepts dual-enrollment creditNoNo
Credit for life experienceYesYes
Online classesYesYes
Whole degrees onlineYesYes
Weekend & evening classesYesYes
Teacher certificationNoNo
Academic & career counselingYesYes
Job help while you studyYesYes
Job placement for graduatesYesYes
On-campus day careNoNo
Program for students with intellectual disabilitiesNoNo
Yellow Ribbon (GI Bill) schoolNoNo
Credit for military trainingYesYes
Student veteran organizationYesNo
Tuition payment planYesYes
Guaranteed (locked) tuitionNoNo
Prepaid tuition planNoNo
Athletics
Athletics data from2024-252024-25
College sports levelNJCAA Division IINJCAA Division III
Football teamNoNo
Varsity teams66
Student athletes11974
Athletic scholarships$109,125$0
Athletics budget$884,047$424,205
Athletics revenue$889,564$432,152
Recruiting spend$1,800$0

Data: U.S. Department of Education — College Scorecard 2026-06-10, EADA athletics, IPEDS admissions — each on its own survey year. Campus life: IPEDS institutional characteristics, retrieved from the Urban Institute Education Data Portal (ODC-BY 1.0). Founding year and links via Wikidata / Wikipedia. SHMACS is an independent tool and is not affiliated with or endorsed by any institution shown.