Western Dakota 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 753 students.
About This School
Western Dakota Technical College is a public institution located in Rapid City, South Dakota with approximately 753 undergraduate students enrolled. The average net price after financial aid is $12,670 per year. The graduation rate is 54%, and the typical graduate earns $37,900 within 10 years of enrollment.
Western Dakota Technical Institute is a public community college in Rapid City, South Dakota. It has an enrollment of 1,324 and offers 26 associate degree programs.
Worth considering if you want a low-cost, career-focused path — graduates leave with just $9,500 in median debt, which is genuinely low compared to most institutions. The trade-off is that median earnings sit at $37,900 a decade out, so this school makes the most sense for students entering fields like welding, healthcare tech, or trades where local demand is strong and a two-year credential opens real doors. If you're chasing a high-earning career that typically requires a bachelor's degree, you'll want to map out a transfer plan from the start.
Popular Programs
Percentage of degrees awarded. Source: College Scorecard.
Admissions
SAT Scores
ACT Scores
Cost & Financial Aid
Net Price by Family Income
Average annual cost after grants/scholarships, by household income. Source: U.S. Department of Education College Scorecard.
Financial Aid
Full Cost
After Graduation
Earnings 6 Years After Enrollment, by Gender
Gap: 35% less for female graduates. National avg ~16%.
What Each Major Actually Earns
Median earnings four years after graduation, by major, next to the national median for that same major at every college. The school-wide average hides this: at most schools the spread between the best- and worst-paying majors is far wider than the gap between schools.
Western Dakota Technical College graduates earn most above the national rate in Computer Systems Networking and Telecommunications ($59,696 vs $54,971 nationally), and most below it in Clinical/Medical Laboratory Science/Research and Allied Professions ($40,340 vs $57,472).
| Major | Grads | Here | National | Diff |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Vehicle Maintenance and Repair Technologies/Technicians | 27 | $54,948 | $58,424 | −$3,476 |
| Precision Metal Working | 23 | $51,988 | $56,451 | −$4,463 |
| Health Services/Allied Health/Health Sciences, General | 21 | $55,671 | $51,180 | +$4,491 |
| Allied Health Diagnostic, Intervention, and Treatment Professions | 18 | $52,795 | $65,389 | −$12,594 |
| Criminal Justice and Corrections | 17 | $46,659 | $46,706 | −$47 |
| Clinical/Medical Laboratory Science/Research and Allied Professions | 13 | $40,340 | $57,472 | −$17,132 |
| Business Administration, Management and Operations | 12 | $35,644 | $48,733 | −$13,089 |
| Computer Systems Networking and Telecommunications | 12 | $59,696 | $54,971 | +$4,725 |
| Electrical and Power Transmission Installers | 7 | $67,204 | $70,808 | −$3,604 |
U.S. Department of Education, College Scorecard field-of-study data. Median earnings of graduates working and not enrolled four years after completing an associate's degreehere. Majors with too few graduates to report are omitted for privacy, so this is not the school's full program list.
Will This School Pay Off?
Solid return. Earnings outpace debt, though major choice matters.
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 (753 undergraduates).
Contact & Location
Address
Western Dakota Technical College
800 Mickelson Dr
Rapid City, SD 57703-4018
Official Links
Schools Like This in South Dakota
Mitchell Technical College
Mitchell, SD · Public
Sinte Gleska University
Mission, SD · Public
Northern State University
Aberdeen, SD · Public
Oglala Lakota College
Kyle, SD · Public
Lake Area Technical College
Watertown, SD · Public
Black Hills State University
Spearfish, SD · Public
See How Colleges Compare
Western Dakota Technical College is one of thousands of colleges in our data studies, each built from the same U.S. Department of Education data shown on this page. Compare schools head to head:
Frequently Asked Questions
How much does Western Dakota Technical College cost?
The average net price at Western Dakota Technical College is about $12,670 per year after grants and scholarships, based on federal data. Your actual cost depends on your family's finances and aid package.
What is the graduation rate at Western Dakota Technical College?
Western Dakota Technical College has a graduation rate of 54%, according to U.S. Department of Education data.
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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