Ripon College
Ripon, Wisconsin · Private Nonprofit · 79.8% acceptance rate
ROI Score: 51/100 · Below Average Value
Data: 2024-25 College Scorecard release
Ripon College scores 51 (Below Average Value) on the CampusROI scale. The core problem is a debt-to-earnings ratio of 0.785 against $34,400 average 6-year earnings and a $27,000 median debt load - figures that reflect a private liberal arts school charging $51,900 in sticker tuition that is discounted to a $20,216 net price, but whose earnings outcomes do not consistently justify even the reduced cost. A 63.3% completion rate is better than open-access institutions but still means more than one-third of students do not earn a degree. The 11.1-year payback period is long. Repayment rate of 83.6% at three years is adequate. The program mix shows wide dispersion: International Relations reaches $68,800 at four years (Scorecard does not report year-one); Economics reaches $67,395 at four years; Psychology (24 graduates) earns $50,762 at four years with a C+-grade ROI; Biology (15 graduates) earns $43,250 year one. History earns $25,421 year one with an F-grade ROI. Kinesiology (25 graduates) earns $29,768 year one with a D-grade ROI. Ripon is a small-town Wisconsin liberal arts college with 688 students. Students attracted to small-class instruction, faculty relationships, and a residential liberal arts experience are the target audience, but the financial data warrants careful program-level scrutiny.
Ripon College
Quick Numbers
| In-state tuition + fees | $51,900/yr |
| Out-of-state tuition + fees | $51,900/yr |
| Average net price | $20,216/yr |
| Total 4-year cost (net) | $80,864 |
| Median earnings (10yr post-entry) | $54,902 |
| Average earnings (6yr post-entry) | $34,400 |
| Median debt at graduation | $27,000 |
| Estimated monthly loan payment | $286 |
| Estimated payback period | 11.1 years |
| 6-year graduation rate | 63.3% |
| Undergraduate enrollment | 688 |
Data as of 2024-2025. Source: College Scorecard API (U.S. Department of Education).
The Full Financial Picture
The first number you'll see is the sticker price: $51,900/year, which covers tuition and fees only. After grants, scholarships, and aid, the average student here pays a net price of $20,216/year, or roughly $80,864 over four years. That's the number to plan around.
What you actually pay depends a lot on what your family earns. Families making under $30,000/year pay an average of $15,712/year here, while families earning over $110,000 pay $25,280/year.
Among graduates who borrowed, the median federal loan debt from this school is $27,000, which works out to about $286 a month on the standard 10-year repayment plan. Our debt-to-earnings ratio divides that debt by average earnings six years after entry ($34,400) and comes to 0.79, under 1.0, meaning median debt is less than a full year of those earnings.
Net Price by Family Income
What families actually pay after grants and scholarships, by income bracket.
| Family Income | Avg Net Price/Year |
|---|---|
| $0 - $30,000 | $15,712 |
| $30,001 - $48,000 | $14,267 |
| $48,001 - $75,000 | $16,971 |
| $75,001 - $110,000 | $19,124 |
| $110,001+ | $25,280 |
Cost by Income Bracket Explained
Lower-income families (under $30K)
The 0-30000 income bracket pays $15,712 per year at Ripon - a real discount from sticker. Four-year cost of roughly $62,850 against $34,400 average earnings produces a difficult return calculus. The 63.3% completion rate adds risk: if a low-income student does not complete, they face debt without a credential. Low-income students at Ripon should have explicit plans for completion support and have selected programs with clear earnings outcomes.
Middle-income families ($30K-$110K)
The 48001-75000 bracket pays $16,971 and the 75001-110000 bracket pays $19,124. Middle-income families paying these figures should scrutinize program-level outcomes carefully. Economics and international relations can produce returns that justify the cost; humanities and social sciences at these net prices create persistent debt-to-earnings imbalance.
Higher-income families ($110K+)
Families earning $110,000+ pay $25,280 per year at Ripon - roughly $101,000 over four years. The small-college experience has real qualitative value, but families paying near-full price should understand that the financial return is not a primary driver of Ripon's value proposition.
Earnings by Major
Top 9 most popular majors at Ripon College with available earnings data.
| Major | Median Earnings | Grade |
|---|---|---|
| Kinesiology and Exercise Science | $47,844 | D |
| Psychology | $50,762 | C+ |
| Biology | $48,508 | C |
| International Relations | $68,800 | - |
| English Language and Literature | $45,050 | - |
| History | $38,623 | F |
| Business Administration and Management | $61,701 | C |
| Economics | $67,395 | - |
| Liberal Arts and Sciences | $50,291 | D |
Earnings reflect median 4-year post-completion (or 1-year where 4-year unavailable). Grades based on debt-to-earnings ratio.
Program Analysis
Why these programs deliver their earnings outcomes.
International Relations
International Relations (12 graduates) reaches $68,800 at four years - Scorecard does not report year-one earnings or debt metrics for this cohort. The four-year figure is the highest at Ripon and suggests graduates are landing in business, government, or further professional training. At a cohort of 12, statistical stability is limited. Students considering this program should probe the career placement record directly with the college rather than relying solely on aggregate data.
Psychology
Psychology (24 graduates) earns $50,762 at four years - C+-grade ROI (debt-to-earnings 0.532, median debt $27,000). Scorecard does not report year-one earnings. The four-year outcome at $50,762 is moderate. Psychology at Ripon is best positioned for students who plan to continue to graduate clinical programs; the terminal bachelor's earnings trajectory alone does not strongly justify the cost.
Biology
Biology (15 graduates) earns $43,250 year one and $48,508 at four years - C-grade ROI (debt-to-earnings 0.624, median debt $27,000). The modest four-year growth suggests most graduates are in entry-level science or healthcare support roles rather than high-wage career tracks. Students treating Ripon biology as a pre-med or pre-graduate science path should understand that the year-one figure reflects those who did not gain professional school admission.
History
History (10 graduates) earns $25,421 year one and $38,623 at four years - F-grade ROI (debt-to-earnings 1.056, median debt $26,838). A debt-to-earnings ratio above 1.0 means median debt exceeds annual earnings at four years - a direct indicator of financial stress for graduates who do not enter higher-earning careers. History at a private liberal arts college charging $20,216 net price with these outcomes is a financially risky choice without a deliberate graduate or professional school plan.
How Graduates Do
Earnings
Loan Repayment
| Metric | This School | Median of schools we score |
|---|---|---|
| 1-year repayment | 79.1% | 68.8% |
| 3-year repayment | 83.6% | 73.6% |
| 5-year repayment | 80.4% | 67.7% |
| 7-year repayment | 85.2% | 72.8% |
Completion Rate
Trends Over Time
How Ripon College’s cost and outcomes have moved across College Scorecard releases (2009-2024).
Average Net Price
Completion Rate
Median Earnings, 10 Years After Entry (as reported)
Earnings reflect borrowers measured 10 years after entry and publish on an irregular cadence with a multi-year reporting lag, so this series shows only the years the Department of Education reported - the data is never interpolated.
Source: U.S. Department of Education College Scorecard, release years shown. Net price and completion are reported annually.
Admissions Snapshot
| Acceptance rate | 79.8% |
| SAT Math (25th-75th) | 470-590 |
| SAT Reading (25th-75th) | 510-680 |
| ACT Composite (25th-75th) | 21-27 |
| Enrollment | 688 |
| Pell Grant recipients | 33.8% |
| Avg faculty salary (monthly) | $8,249 |
At 79.8%, Ripon is accessible to most applicants with solid academic records. The ACT 21-27 and SAT 470-590 Math ranges describe middle-half admits. The broad admission range suggests Ripon is actively competing for enrollment at a small scale. The completion rate of 63.3% means a meaningful share of admitted students do not finish - applicants should assess what institutional support is available for academic challenges and financial stress before enrolling.
Compared to Similar Schools
Peer institutions matched by type, size, and selectivity.
| School | ROI | Net Price | 10yr Earnings |
|---|---|---|---|
| Ripon College (this school) | 51 | $20,216 | $54,902 |
| Bellin College | 72 | $37,408 | $76,222 |
| Whittier College | 52 | $25,757 | $59,492 |
| Woodbury University | 51 | $33,692 | $65,668 |
| Heritage University | 51 | $14,598 | $49,416 |
| Alverno College | 39 | $22,540 | $53,145 |
Who Thrives Here
Ripon admits 79.8% of applicants with SAT mid-ranges of 470-590 Math and 510-680 Reading, ACT composite 21-27. Enrollment of 688 is extremely small. Pell rate of 33.8% reflects a student body with significant financial need. At this enrollment size, the college operates more like a large high school - nearly every faculty member is accessible and class sizes are very small. Students who thrive in intimate learning environments and have clear program intentions in economics, international relations, or the sciences have a reasonable path. Students who drift into liberal arts or humanities without clear career direction face the highest risk relative to the $20,216 net price.
The Verdict: Proceed With Caution
The money case for Ripon College is mixed, and worth a hard look before you commit. At $20,216 per year after aid, the typical graduate earns $54,902 ten years after entry, which means it takes about 11.1 years to earn the cost back. For context, the median payback across the schools we score is about 12 years. Whether it's worth it comes down to your major and your aid package.
What it has going for it: high loan repayment success. What to keep an eye on: a debt-to-earnings ratio of 0.79 (median across the schools we score: 0.61).
Median debt of $27,000 among graduates who borrowed, against average earnings of $34,400 six years after entry, gives a debt-to-earnings ratio of 0.79. That is under 1.0 (a full year of those earnings); the median across the schools we score is about 0.61. Your major - and how much you borrow - really matters.
Ripon College: Common Questions
Is Ripon College worth it?
In our view, the money case is mixed and worth a hard look before you commit. Ripon College scores 51/100 on our ROI scale. At $20,216 a year after aid the typical graduate earns $54,902 ten years after entry, so it takes about 11.1 years to earn the cost back. For context, the median payback across the schools we score is about 12 years.
How much does Ripon College cost after financial aid?
The average net price - the cost of attendance (tuition, fees, books, supplies and average living costs) minus grants and scholarships, for full-time, first-time students receiving federal aid - is about $20,216 a year, or roughly $80,864 over four years. Because it counts living costs, it can run above tuition alone. That is the number to plan around. Actual cost varies by family income, per the U.S. Department of Education's College Scorecard.
What do Ripon College graduates earn?
The typical graduate earns about $54,902 ten years after enrolling, roughly $13,102 a year more than the median high-school graduate ($41,800, per NCES, 2022). That earnings gap is what has to cover the cost of the degree.
How long does it take to pay off Ripon College?
We estimate the payback period - the time it takes for the earnings bump over a high-school graduate to cover what you spent - at about 11.1 years for Ripon College. The median across the schools we track is about 12 years.
How much debt do Ripon College graduates take on?
Among graduates who borrowed, median federal loan debt from this school is about $27,000, against average earnings of $34,400 six years after entry - a debt-to-earnings ratio of 0.79. That is under 1.0 (a full year of those earnings); the median across the schools we score is about 0.61. How much you borrow really matters.
What is the graduation rate at Ripon College?
The six-year graduation rate is 63.3%. The national average for four-year schools is 64% (NCES, 2022). Completion is 15% of our ROI score, since a degree you don't finish rarely pays back.
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Data: College Scorecard API (U.S. Department of Education)
Vintage: 2024-2025 · Last updated: 2026-03-25
Earnings reflect median outcomes for all federal financial aid recipients. Individual results vary by major, effort, and career path.