Lake Area Technical College
A good fit for families looking for lower cost and students who want small classes and close faculty access. no major red flags in the data. a public school with 1,710 students.
About This School
Lake Area Technical College is a public institution located in Watertown, South Dakota with approximately 1,710 undergraduate students enrolled. The average net price after financial aid is $14,826 per year. Typical graduates earn $38,900 within 10 years of enrollment.
Lake Area Technical College is a public community college in Watertown, South Dakota. The campus covers 40 acres and serves an area of 18,000 square miles. Founded in 1965, Lake Area Tech was the first technical school to be established in South Dakota, followed by schools in Mitchell, Sioux Falls and Rapid City. Lake Area Tech is accredited by the Higher Learning Commission.
This is a strong option for students pursuing hands-on technical careers in the region, especially given the low median debt at graduation of just $9,888 — meaning most graduates leave without a crushing financial burden. The median earnings of $38,900 a decade out are modest but reasonable for the trades and technical fields this school specializes in, and the cost-to-debt ratio is genuinely favorable compared to many four-year institutions. Worth considering if you have a clear career direction in a technical field and want an affordable, accredited path to get there quickly.
Popular Programs
Percentage of degrees awarded. Source: College Scorecard.
Admissions
SAT Scores
ACT Scores
Cost & Financial Aid
Financial Aid
Full Cost
After Graduation
Will This School Pay Off?
Strong return. Graduates earn well above their debt load.
Earnings data from the U.S. Department of Education College Scorecard. These are means across all graduates, not specific to any major.
Student Body
Source: U.S. Department of Education College Scorecard (1,710 undergraduates).
Contact & Location
Official Links
Other Schools in South Dakota
South Dakota State University
Brookings, SD · Public
University of South Dakota
Vermillion, SD · Public
Southeast Technical College
Sioux Falls, SD · Public
South Dakota School of Mines and Technology
Rapid City, SD · Public
Dakota State University
Madison, SD · Public
Black Hills State University
Spearfish, SD · Public
Sources & Methodology
Primary data source: U.S. Department of Education College Scorecard. Accessed via automated sync. Latest values may come from different reporting years depending on the metric.
School overview from Wikipedia. Used for context only, not as a primary data source for admissions, cost, or outcomes claims.
- Earnings figures are institution-level averages, not major-specific.
- Some metrics are based on Title IV financial aid recipients only.
- Some values may be privacy-suppressed or rolled up by the Department of Education.
- Contact the school directly for current admissions requirements and costs.
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