Public Associate Strong 73/100

Riverland Community College

See admissions data, costs, student outcomes, and academic programs, all verified from official US government sources.

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Austin, Minnesota

About Riverland Community College

Riverland Community College is a public institution offering associate degrees based in Austin, Minnesota. It enrolls 2,003 students (a mid-sized student body), according to IPEDS 2023-24 data. Below you'll find verified data on admissions, cost, student outcomes, programs offered, and what graduates typically earn, all pulled from the U.S. Department of Education's College Scorecard and IPEDS.

Acceptance
Open
Graduation
1.3%
Net Price
$7,427
Median Earnings (10yr)
$45,247
Enrollment
2,003
Student : Faculty
20:1

Accreditor Higher Learning Commission
Academic Calendar Semester

How It Measures Up

US College Data scores each college on four pillars (outcomes, value, affordability, and selectivity) on a 0–100 scale, ranked within its peer group (2-Year). Scores are calculated from verified College Scorecard and IPEDS data, not opinion or paid placement. Where data is missing, that pillar isn't scored.

Strong
73/100
UCD Score · 2-Year
Outcomes 60
Value 76
Affordability 44
Selectivity

Admissions & Acceptance Rate

As a two-year college, Riverland Community College generally admits all qualified applicants.

Acceptance Rate
Open
SAT Range (25th–75th)
Not reported
ACT Range (25th–75th)
Not reported

Cost & Financial Aid

The real cost of attending Riverland Community College isn't the sticker price. It's the net price,which is what most students actually pay after grants and scholarships. According to College Scorecard 2023-24 data, the average net price is $7,427 per year. That's well below the typical net price for public colleges nationally.

Average Net Price
$7,427
Per year, after typical aid
Receive Pell Grants
24%
Need-based federal aid
Receive Federal Loans
14%
Borrowing to attend

Full Cost Breakdown

Published cost of attendance, the sticker price before grants and scholarships. Most students underestimate room & board and other expenses.

Tuition & Fees
$6,298
Room & Board (off-campus)
$9,452
Books & Supplies
$1,600
Other Expenses (off-campus)
$4,500
Total Cost of Attendance
$14,442

Net Price by Family Income

Aid is need-based, so net price varies by family income. Here's what each bracket typically pays after grants and scholarships.

  • Under $30,000
    $6,612
  • $30,001 – $48,000
    $6,402
  • $48,001 – $75,000
    $7,274
  • $75,001 – $110,000
    $8,827
  • Over $110,000
    $12,676

Debt at Graduation

Cumulative federal-loan debt across the full borrowing distribution. The 10th and 90th percentiles bracket the typical range; the median sits in the middle.

$2,136
10% percentile
$4,283
25% percentile
$12,000
Median percentile
$17,750
75% percentile
$29,210
90% percentile

Median Debt by Student Type

Median federal-loan debt at graduation broken down by demographic. Each slice's size is proportional to the dollar amount that group typically borrows.

GroupDebtvs Median
Pell recipients $10,000 ↓ $2,000
No Pell $6,500 ↓ $5,500
Dependent students $6,500 ↓ $5,500
Independent students $11,986
Female students $10,184 ↓ $1,816
Male students $7,496 ↓ $4,504
Pell recipients: 19.0% (2,279 students)No Pell: 12.3% (1,481 students)Dependent students: 12.3% (1,481 students)Independent students: 22.8% (2,731 students)Female students: 19.3% (2,320 students)Male students: 14.2% (1,708 students)Overall Median$12,000
Worth knowing: Students who don't finish leave with a median debt of $7,550, less than completers ($12,000), but still a meaningful obligation without a degree in hand.

Graduation Rate & Retention

1% of full-time students who enrolled at Riverland Community College graduate within six years, and 70% return for their second year, per IPEDS 2023-24 completion data.

6-Year Graduation Rate
1%
Of students who graduate within six years
First-Year Retention
70%
Returning for their second year
What this means: Lower than typical completion. Worth asking the school how they support students who fall behind.

After Graduation: Earnings & Outcomes

According to College Scorecard 2023-24 data, students who entered Riverland Community College earn a median of $45,247 ten years after first enrolling. That's close to the national median for U.S. colleges.

Median Earnings (10 yrs)
$45,247
Earning > $25K
71%
10 yrs after entry

Earnings Growth After Graduation

Median annual earnings 6, 8, and 10 years after students first enrolled.

$40,000$42,000$43,000$45,000$46,0006 yrs8 yrs10 yrs

Earnings by Demographic

Mean annual earnings 10 years after entry, segmented by demographic. Reveals gaps the headline median can't show.

By Gender

Female graduates
$32,700

Median earnings for female grads ten years after first enrolling here.

Male graduates
$41,600

Median earnings for male grads ten years after first enrolling here.


By Family Income at Entry

Family income (lowest third)
$32,200

Earnings of grads from the bottom-third of family incomes at entry.

Family income (middle third)
$39,100

Earnings of grads from the middle-third of family incomes at entry.

Family income (highest third)
$40,500

Earnings of grads from the top-third of family incomes at entry.

The gender gap: Male graduates earn $8,900, about 21% more than female graduates ten years out. The gap reflects industry mix, role choice, and structural pay differences that exist across most US colleges.
What this means: Strong return on investment. Every dollar of net annual cost is matched by ~$6.1 of median earnings 10 years out.

Who Studies Here

Riverland Community College is home to 2,003 students, a mid-sized community. Some distinctive traits: 36% are first-generation college students, 55% study part-time.

Total Enrolled
2,003
Part-Time
55%
First-Generation
36%

Race & Ethnicity Breakdown

Undergraduate student body composition reported to the US Department of Education.

GroupShareStudents
White 63.6% 1,273
Hispanic 17.0% 341
Black 7.5% 151
Asian 4.3% 87
Other 2.8% 55
International 1.5% 29
White: 63.6% (1,273 students)Hispanic: 17.0% (341 students)Black: 7.5% (151 students)Asian: 4.3% (87 students)Other: 2.8% (55 students)International: 1.5% (29 students)Total2,003

Student Life & Campus Culture

Where students live, learn, and connect at Riverland Community College. The campus setting, housing profile, and signals that shape day-to-day life here.

Setting
Town: Distant Austin, Minnesota
Housing
Commuter campus No on-campus housing
Adult Learners
24% of students are 25 or older
Athletics
NCAA athletic-conference member
Academic Calendar
Semester scheduling structure

What You Can Study

Riverland Community College offers a varied set of programs: 36 distinct programs across 17 majors. Below are its strongest majors, each with flagship programs and typical earnings. Open a major to explore it in depth, or browse the full program catalog.

1 Program
7 Programs
6 Programs
3 Programs
3 Programs

Faculty & Resources

The student-to-faculty ratio at Riverland Community College is 20:1, on the higher side.

Student : Faculty
20:1
Students per instructional faculty member
Instruction / Student
$7,498
Annual instructional spending per enrolled student
Endowment
$2.0M
Modest endowment
Avg Faculty Salary
$75,320
9-month equivalent across all ranks

Faculty by Rank

64 instructional faculty across 1 ranks. The rank mix shows how many senior faculty are teaching versus contingent or junior staff, with average salary equated to a 9-month contract.

Rank Faculty Count Share Avg Salary
Instructors 64 100% $75,320

Pros & Cons of Riverland Community College

A quick at-a-glance summary of how Riverland Community College tends to stack up for prospective students,weighing its data, size, setting, and cost profile together.

PROS
  • Very affordable net price after aid
  • Open admissions
  • Low typical debt at graduation
  • Flexible part-time enrollment options
CONS
  • Larger class sizes than typical
  • Low completion rate, many students don't graduate within six years
  • First-year retention is below typical
  • Predominantly serves middle- and upper-income families
  • Mostly part-time student body, less full-time campus feel
Best for: Based on the data, Riverland Community College is a fit for students who want a clear path to start college without a competitive admissions barrier; families focused on keeping net cost low; working adults or students needing part-time study options.

Frequently Asked Questions about Riverland Community College

Quick answers to the questions most students and parents ask. Every answer below is calculated from verified government data about Riverland Community College.

Is Riverland Community College hard to get into?
Riverland Community College has open or near-open admissions. Most qualified applicants are accepted.
What is the acceptance rate at Riverland Community College?
Riverland Community College has an acceptance rate of 0%, according to College Scorecard 2023-24 admissions data.
How much does Riverland Community College cost?
The average net price after aid at Riverland Community College is $7,427 per year, this is what students typically pay after grants and scholarships are applied. Net price data: College Scorecard 2023-24.
Is Riverland Community College worth it?
Strong return on investment. Graduates earn a median of $45,247 ten years after entering, against an average net price of $7,427 per year. That's roughly 6.1x earnings-to-cost. Source: College Scorecard 2023-24.
What is Riverland Community College known for?
Riverland Community College is best known for its programs in Liberal Arts, Nursing, Electrical and Power Transmission Installers. These are the most popular fields by completed degrees, per IPEDS 2023-24 completion data.
What do Riverland Community College graduates earn?
Median earnings 10 years after entering Riverland Community College are $45,247, based on College Scorecard 2023-24 federal earnings data for Title IV recipients.
Is Riverland Community College accredited?
Yes. Riverland Community College is accredited by the Higher Learning Commission.
How many students attend Riverland Community College?
Riverland Community College enrolls 2,003 students, per IPEDS 2023-24 fall enrollment data.
What is the graduation rate at Riverland Community College?
Riverland Community College graduates 1% of full-time students within six years, per IPEDS 2023-24 completion data.
Is Riverland Community College a public or private college?
Riverland Community College is a Public institution.
Where is Riverland Community College located?
Riverland Community College is located in Austin, Minnesota.
What programs does Riverland Community College offer?
Riverland Community College offers 36 distinct programs. The most popular include Liberal Arts, Nursing, Electrical and Power Transmission Installers.
What is the student-to-faculty ratio at Riverland Community College?
The student-to-faculty ratio at Riverland Community College is 20:1, per IPEDS 2023-24 data.

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