College ROI

Smarter Choices, Brighter Futures
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Ridgewater College

Willmar, MN 2,048 Undergrads 44.3% Grad Rate
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Total Cost
$16,195
Sticker Price
Avg Net Price
$10,955
After Aid
Median Earnings
$43,827
10yr Post-Entry

Vs. Peer Institutions

Net Price$10,955
Peer Midpoint: $9,014
Earnings (10yr)$43,827
Peer Midpoint: $40,397
Graduation Rate44.3%
Peer Midpoint: 32.9%
Socio-Economic Diversity
Pell Grant Recipients45.4%
Enrollment Status
Full-Time61.4%
Economic Outcomes
Earn More than HS69.4%

Admissions Profile

Acceptance
100.0%
SAT Avg
-
SAT Reading
25th: --75th: -
SAT Math
25th: --75th: -
ACT Composite
25th: --75th: -

ROI Sensitivity Analysis

This analysis tests three cost scenarios (Scholarship, Average Net Price, Full Sticker Price) to show how college costs impact your long-term return compared to the average student and a high school graduate.

Lifetime Value Added (NPV)

Institution Lifetime NPV
Vs Median Peer
Vs HS Grad
Zero Cost (Scholarship)$0
+$438k
+$49k
-$47k
Median Cost$11k/yr
+$417k
+$29k
-$67k
Full Cost$16k/yr
+$408k
+$19k
-$76k

ROI Efficiency Metrics

Break-Even Age
Return on Inv. %
Zero Cost (Scholarship)$0
Never
-∞
Median Cost$11k/yr
Never
-332%
Full Cost$16k/yr
Never
-257%
Analysis Assumptions:
  • Starting Salary: Estimated from the 10-year median earnings (assuming 2% annual growth from graduation).
  • Comparisons: "Vs Median Peer" compares to the median student nationwide in a similar level program. "Vs HS Grad" compares to a median high school graduate.
  • Break-Even: The age at which the college investment net income exceeds the median high school graduate's lifetime earnings.
  • NPV: Net Present Value of all future earnings minus costs and taxes, discounted at 7.8%.

Social Impact ROINew

Measures the societal return on a donor's investment. Calculated as the incremental pre-tax lifetime earnings vs. HS grad, divided by the tax-adjusted donation cost.

Donor Return-355%

Gov. Pell Grant ROINew

Measures the government's return on Pell Grants via increased tax revenue. Calculated as the portion of incremental lifetime taxes (discounted at 5.4%) attributed to the Pell Grant investment.

Taxpayer Return-117%
Important Note: Your ROI with any major will depend on the cost you pay to attend the program, and your starting salary. Both vary significantly across institutions. We encourage you to explore the ROI of a specific program variant by selecting the Program title of the credential level you are interested in. You will then have a more detailed return analysis for programs at specific institutions. We also encourage you to use the ROI calculator with your specific estimates of cost and salary.

Program ROI Analysis

Certificates

Agricultural Business and Management
CertCIP: 0101
Median Debt
$10,779
Earnings (5yr)
$55,791
Lifetime Value Added
+$132k
Cosmetology and Related Personal Grooming Services
CertCIP: 1204
Median Debt
$9,500
Earnings (5yr)
$28,325
Lifetime Value Added
-$161k
Electrical and Power Transmission Installers
CertCIP: 4603
Median Debt
-
Earnings (2yr)
$41,937
Lifetime Value Added
+$14k
Electromechanical Instrumentation and Maintenance Technologies/Technicians
CertCIP: 1504
Median Debt
-
Earnings (2yr)
$67,660
Lifetime Value Added
+$289k
Practical Nursing, Vocational Nursing and Nursing Assistants
CertCIP: 5139
Median Debt
$18,048
Earnings (5yr)
$38,268
Lifetime Value Added
-$53k
Precision Metal Working
CertCIP: 4805
Median Debt
$9,750
Earnings (5yr)
$58,734
Lifetime Value Added
+$162k
Vehicle Maintenance and Repair Technologies
CertCIP: 4706
Median Debt
$9,885
Earnings (5yr)
$49,744
Lifetime Value Added
+$69k

Associate's Degrees

Business Operations Support and Assistant Services
AssocCIP: 5204
Median Debt
-
Earnings (2yr)
$25,967
Lifetime Value Added
-$205k
Drafting/Design Engineering Technologies/Technicians
AssocCIP: 1513
Median Debt
-
Earnings (2yr)
$52,107
Lifetime Value Added
+$69k
Electromechanical Instrumentation and Maintenance Technologies/Technicians
AssocCIP: 1504
Median Debt
$15,015
Earnings (2yr)
$63,005
Lifetime Value Added
+$176k
Health and Medical Administrative Services
AssocCIP: 5107
Median Debt
$22,399
Earnings (5yr)
$42,713
Lifetime Value Added
-$53k
Liberal Arts and Sciences, General Studies and Humanities
AssocCIP: 2401
Median Debt
$10,960
Earnings (5yr)
$46,843
Lifetime Value Added
-$12k
Registered Nursing, Nursing Administration, Nursing Research and Clinical Nursing
AssocCIP: 5138
Median Debt
$15,250
Earnings (5yr)
$72,623
Lifetime Value Added
+$227k
Veterinary/Animal Health Technologies/Technicians
AssocCIP: 0183
Median Debt
$13,000
Earnings (5yr)
$36,956
Lifetime Value Added
-$110k

Note: Lifetime Value Added is the Net Present Value (NPV) of estimated career earnings relative to a median high school graduate, accounting for this institution's average cost and taxes. Computed over a career to retirement age.

For graduate programs (Master's, Doctoral, etc.), the calculation assumes a starting age of 22 (after undergraduate completion) and does not include the sunk costs of prior degrees. It represents the value added of the graduate degree decision moving forward. These Lifetime Value Added results should not be compared with those Undergraduate Certificates, Associates or Bachelors starting at age 18.