“A 174-year-old Wisconsin liberal arts college where 98% of alumni are employed within 6 months — and #1 in the state for 10-year graduate earnings.”
Ripon College is a private liberal arts college founded in 1851 in Ripon, Wisconsin — historically significant as the birthplace of the Republican Party (founded in a Ripon schoolhouse in 1854). Located on a 250-acre campus in the small Wisconsin town of Ripon, the college combines its 174-year heritage with a focused liberal arts curriculum and exceptional career outcomes: 98% of alumni are employed, student teaching, or in graduate school within six months of graduation. With approximately 700 undergraduates and an 11:1 student-to-faculty ratio, Ripon offers a personally engaged liberal arts experience grounded in practical preparation for careers and graduate study. Ripon's curriculum emphasizes Catalyst — the college's signature general education program developing skills in communication, applied innovation, and intercultural competency that complement traditional liberal arts disciplines. Strong programs include business, biology, exercise science, education, communication, and the natural sciences. Notably, Ripon has been named the #1 school in Wisconsin for graduate earnings 10 years after enrollment, with the top quartile of alumni earning more than $62,100 annually. International students must meet TOEFL 79, IELTS 6.5, or Duolingo 100 minimums, and the comprehensive international tuition (including room and board) is $64,350 for 2025-2026. Campus life at Ripon centers on Rally the Red Hawk and the Wisconsin small-college tradition. The Red Hawks compete in NCAA Division III through the Midwest Conference, and the campus features residence halls, themed living communities, and Greek life houses. The deep red colors (PMS 201) reflect Ripon's longstanding athletic identity. With strong outdoor recreation in the surrounding Wisconsin lakes and forests, an active campus organizational life, and tight-knit class cohesion, Ripon offers a distinctive small-college Wisconsin experience that delivers exceptional career outcomes.
Visa, OPT, H-1B alumni outcomes, and acceptance rates by country — sourced from FOIA, USCIS H-1B Hub, and DHS SEVIS.
National Universities
US News 2026
Social Mobility — Liberal Arts Colleges
US News 2026
#1 Wisconsin LAC for 10-year graduate earnings
Wisconsin College Earnings Report
Test Optional — You can submit scores if they help your case, but they're not required.
Official SourceApplication Fee Waiver Deadline
$30 application fee waived if applied by January 15
Invitation Scholarship Deadline
Priority deadline for invitation merit scholarships
Regular Decision
Rolling admissions for fall semester
The deep admissions playbook beyond the headline acceptance rate — round-by-round breakdowns, nationality data, requirements, and contact paths.
Domestic
$51,900
/yr
Out-of-State / Intl
$64,350
/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.
Strong programs in biology, chemistry, exercise science, and pre-health pathways with active research culture.
Practical business education with strong placement in Wisconsin and Midwest employers.
Programs examining politics, society, psychology, and history.
Programs in literature, philosophy, religion, languages, and communication studies.
Comprehensive teacher preparation with K-12 licensure pathways.
4 years
Ripon's signature general education program developing communication, applied innovation, and intercultural competency skills that complement traditional liberal arts disciplines.
4 years
Ripon's most popular major with strong career placement and the highest median earnings among the college's programs.
4 years
Distinctive program at a small LAC, with strong placement to physical therapy, healthcare, and graduate programs.
Where alumni go after graduation — top industries, grad-school continuation, and the qualitative outcomes story.
Sticker price (annual, out-of-state): $51,900
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.
