“Public community college in Willmar and Hutchinson, Minnesota.”
Ridgewater College is a public community college in Willmar and Hutchinson, Minnesota, founded in 1996 by merging Willmar Community College with Hutchinson-Willmar Regional Technical College. It is part of the Minnesota State Colleges and Universities System and offers around 90 program options.
Visa, OPT, H-1B alumni outcomes, and acceptance rates by country — sourced from FOIA, USCIS H-1B Hub, and DHS SEVIS.
Test Optional — You can submit scores if they help your case, but they're not required.
Official SourceRolling Admission
Open admission policy; applications accepted year-round for fall, spring, and summer terms
The deep admissions playbook beyond the headline acceptance rate — round-by-round breakdowns, nationality data, requirements, and contact paths.
Tuition & Fees (All Students)
$6,121
/yr
Beyond the sticker price — every named scholarship, the financial aid policy, need-aware notes, and a personalized net-cost estimate.
How life on campus actually feels — clubs, sports, traditions, housing realities, and how the school integrates with its city.
Houses Ridgewater's Registered Nursing (ADN), Practical Nursing, and allied health programs alongside the AVMA-accredited Veterinary Technology AAS — one of the most competitive applications at the college.
Reflects central Minnesota's farm economy with programs in dairy management, agribusiness, agronomy, and farm operations. Strong articulation pathways to the University of Minnesota's College of Food, Agricultural and Natural Resource Sciences.
AAS, diploma, and certificate programs in skilled trades that feed central Minnesota's manufacturing and construction employers.
Two-year transfer and AAS pathways in accounting, business administration, marketing, and administrative support careers.
The largest enrollment area, providing AA and AS transfer degrees that articulate into Minnesota State universities and the University of Minnesota system.
2 years
AVMA-accredited program preparing graduates for the Veterinary Technician National Examination. Combines on-campus labs with externships at regional veterinary practices.
2 years
Two-year nursing program preparing graduates to sit for the NCLEX-RN. Includes clinical rotations at central Minnesota healthcare partners.
2 years
One of Ridgewater's signature ag programs, training students for management roles in dairy operations through coursework, lab work, and farm placements.
Where alumni go after graduation — top industries, grad-school continuation, and the qualitative outcomes story.
Sticker price (annual, out-of-state): $6,121
Net-cost estimate is US-resident-only — international applicants are typically excluded from need-based aid at most schools and should treat the sticker price as the planning baseline.
