Carpenters at Ridgewater College
a smaller institution with 2,048 students in Willmar, MN.
Program Analysis
Graduates earn $33,969/yr, roughly in line with the $37,206 national median for Carpenters. The value proposition here depends on cost, not earnings.
Every dollar of tuition returns an estimated 58.2x in decade earnings — an exceptional ratio that places this among the highest-ROI Carpenters programs nationally.
Some AI exposure exists in Carpenters's career paths, with 29% of job tasks potentially affected. The pessimistic scenario still projects solid returns, with a 0% gap from the optimistic case.
At #7 of 15 Carpenters programs, Ridgewater College scores above the median — competitive but not a standout.
Carpenters offers 37 registered apprenticeship pathways — an unusually broad set of earn-while-you-learn alternatives to the classroom track.
Earnings Overview
Projected 10-Year Earnings
Based on actual graduate salary data and Bureau of Labor Statistics growth projections.
Top Career Paths
Top career paths for Carpenters graduates by median salary.
| Career Path | Median Salary | Growth | AI-ProofAI |
|---|---|---|---|
| First-line supervisors of construction trades and extraction workers | $78,690 | +5.3% | 57% |
| Carpenters | $59,310 | +4.5% | 86% |
About Carpenters Careers
You’ll start your career with a tool belt strapped on, working on residential or commercial job sites. Your days will involve reading blueprints, measuring and cutting lumber with power saws, and framing walls or building staircases with precision. As your skills sharpen, you’ll advance from an apprentice to a journeyman carpenter, trusted with more complex projects like custom cabinetry or detailed finish work. This is hands-on work that can’t be automated or done from a desk; you are physically building and shaping the world.