Lake Area Technical College
Watertown, South Dakota. 1,812 undergraduates.
Graduates' median debt ($11,000) equals 23% of former students' median earnings ten years after starting ($48,729). That is a light load relative to pay.
What families actually pay
Average yearly net price for first-time, full-time students who received federal aid, by family income. Net price is the cost of attendance minus grants and scholarships. Source: College Scorecard.
Do students finish, and what do they earn?
| Measure | This college | Similar colleges nationally |
|---|---|---|
| Graduation rate | 76% | 38% |
| Return for second year | 81% | 64% |
| Median earnings, 6 years after starting | $48,159 | $40,416 |
| Median earnings, 10 years after starting | $48,729 | $45,146 |
| Median debt at graduation | $11,000 | $12,000 |
Graduation rate within 150% of normal time; retention is the share of first-year students who return. Earnings are medians for former students who received federal aid, working and not enrolled. National comparison is the median for colleges of the same type (mostly associate degrees).
Programs and what graduates earn
31 programs reported| Program | Graduates / yr | Median earnings, 1 yr | Median earnings, 5 yrs | Median debt |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Practical Nursing, Vocational Nursing and Nursing Assistants | 94 | $47,904 | $54,438 | $15,271 |
| Precision Metal Working | 30 | — | $50,391 | $5,500 |
| Dental Support Services and Allied Professions | 18 | $38,826 | $39,126 | $5,500 |
| Cosmetology and Related Personal Grooming Services | 35 | $24,262 | $30,655 | $8,250 |
| Natural Resources Conservation and Research | 5 | — | — | — |
| Human Services, General | 16 | — | — | $5,500 |
| Vehicle Maintenance and Repair Technologies/Technicians | 16 | — | — | $5,500 |
| Ground Transportation | 17 | — | — | — |
| Allied Health Diagnostic, Intervention, and Treatment Professions | 6 | — | — | — |
| Mental and Social Health Services and Allied Professions | 25 | — | — | $17,444 |
Program-level medians for graduates who received federal aid. A dash means the Department of Education suppressed the figure to protect privacy, usually because the program is small. At four-year colleges, certificate graduates often earned a bachelor's at the same time, so their earnings can reflect the degree. Source: College Scorecard, field of study data.
Similar colleges in South Dakota
Quick answers
- How much does Lake Area Technical College cost per year?
- The average net price at Lake Area Technical College, what students pay after grants and scholarships, is $15,278 per year. Source: U.S. Department of Education College Scorecard.
- How much do Lake Area Technical College graduates earn?
- Former Lake Area Technical College students earn a median of $48,729 a year ten years after starting college. Source: U.S. Department of Education College Scorecard.
- What is the graduation rate at Lake Area Technical College?
- 76% of Lake Area Technical College students graduate within 150% of normal time. Source: U.S. Department of Education College Scorecard.
- How much student debt do Lake Area Technical College graduates have?
- The median federal student debt at graduation from Lake Area Technical College is $11,000. Source: U.S. Department of Education College Scorecard.
