Public Associate Good 68/100

Dakota County Technical College

See admissions data, costs, student outcomes, and academic programs, all verified from official US government sources.

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Rosemount, Minnesota

About Dakota County Technical College

Dakota County Technical College is a public institution offering associate degrees based in Rosemount, Minnesota. It enrolls 2,168 students (a mid-sized student body), according to IPEDS 2023-24 data. Below you'll find verified data on admissions, cost, student outcomes, programs offered, and what graduates typically earn, all pulled from the U.S. Department of Education's College Scorecard and IPEDS.

Acceptance
Open
Graduation
40.5%
Net Price
$13,548
Median Earnings (10yr)
$51,938
Enrollment
2,168
Student : Faculty
22:1

Accreditor Higher Learning Commission
Academic Calendar Semester

How It Measures Up

US College Data scores each college on four pillars (outcomes, value, affordability, and selectivity) on a 0–100 scale, ranked within its peer group (2-Year). Scores are calculated from verified College Scorecard and IPEDS data, not opinion or paid placement. Where data is missing, that pillar isn't scored.

Good
68/100
UCD Score · 2-Year
Outcomes 66
Value 53
Affordability 34
Selectivity

Admissions & Acceptance Rate

As a two-year college, Dakota County Technical College generally admits all qualified applicants.

Acceptance Rate
Open
SAT Range (25th–75th)
Not reported
ACT Range (25th–75th)
Not reported

Cost & Financial Aid

The real cost of attending Dakota County Technical College isn't the sticker price. It's the net price,which is what most students actually pay after grants and scholarships. According to College Scorecard 2023-24 data, the average net price is $13,548 per year. That's below the typical net price for public colleges nationally.

Average Net Price
$13,548
Per year, after typical aid
Receive Pell Grants
27%
Need-based federal aid
Receive Federal Loans
25%
Borrowing to attend

Full Cost Breakdown

Published cost of attendance, the sticker price before grants and scholarships. Most students underestimate room & board and other expenses.

Tuition & Fees
$6,679
Room & Board (off-campus)
$10,800
Books & Supplies
$1,200
Other Expenses (off-campus)
$7,764
Total Cost of Attendance
$18,552

Application fee: $20 (one-time, due at submission)


Net Price by Family Income

Aid is need-based, so net price varies by family income. Here's what each bracket typically pays after grants and scholarships.

  • Under $30,000
    $9,549
  • $30,001 – $48,000
    $9,835
  • $48,001 – $75,000
    $12,371
  • $75,001 – $110,000
    $14,517
  • Over $110,000
    $18,089

Debt at Graduation

Cumulative federal-loan debt across the full borrowing distribution. The 10th and 90th percentiles bracket the typical range; the median sits in the middle.

$2,750
10% percentile
$5,433
25% percentile
$11,000
Median percentile
$14,975
75% percentile
$24,880
90% percentile

Median Debt by Student Type

Median federal-loan debt at graduation broken down by demographic. Each slice's size is proportional to the dollar amount that group typically borrows.

GroupDebtvs Median
Pell recipients $9,053 ↓ $1,947
No Pell $7,371 ↓ $3,629
Dependent students $5,500 ↓ $5,500
Independent students $9,500 ↓ $1,500
Female students $8,250 ↓ $2,750
Male students $8,023 ↓ $2,977
Pell recipients: 19.0% (2,088 students)No Pell: 15.5% (1,700 students)Dependent students: 11.5% (1,268 students)Independent students: 19.9% (2,191 students)Female students: 17.3% (1,903 students)Male students: 16.8% (1,850 students)Overall Median$11,000
Worth knowing: Students who don't finish leave with a median debt of $5,500, less than completers ($11,000), but still a meaningful obligation without a degree in hand.

Graduation Rate & Retention

40% of full-time students who enrolled at Dakota County Technical College graduate within six years, and 71% return for their second year, per IPEDS 2023-24 completion data.

6-Year Graduation Rate
40%
Of students who graduate within six years
First-Year Retention
71%
Returning for their second year

After Graduation: Earnings & Outcomes

According to College Scorecard 2023-24 data, students who entered Dakota County Technical College earn a median of $51,938 ten years after first enrolling. That's close to the national median for U.S. colleges.

Median Earnings (10 yrs)
$51,938
Earning > $25K
77%
10 yrs after entry

Earnings Growth After Graduation

Median annual earnings 6, 8, and 10 years after students first enrolled.

$46,000$47,000$49,000$51,000$53,0006 yrs8 yrs10 yrs

Earnings by Demographic

Mean annual earnings 10 years after entry, segmented by demographic. Reveals gaps the headline median can't show.

By Gender

Female graduates
$34,500

Median earnings for female grads ten years after first enrolling here.

Male graduates
$49,200

Median earnings for male grads ten years after first enrolling here.


By Family Income at Entry

Family income (lowest third)
$35,900

Earnings of grads from the bottom-third of family incomes at entry.

Family income (middle third)
$42,100

Earnings of grads from the middle-third of family incomes at entry.

Family income (highest third)
$49,000

Earnings of grads from the top-third of family incomes at entry.

The gender gap: Male graduates earn $14,700, about 30% more than female graduates ten years out. The gap reflects industry mix, role choice, and structural pay differences that exist across most US colleges.

Loan Repayment Progression

Share of completer-cohort borrowers paying down at least $1 of principal at the 1-, 3-, 5-, and 7-year mark. Climbing rates show graduates settling into careers and managing debt; flat or declining rates are a warning.

Climbing: graduates increasingly paying down debt 17.8 pts across 6 years
63.6%1yr67.7%3yr74.7%5yr81.4%7yr
What this signals: Strong. 81% of graduates are actively reducing their debt seven years out.

Who Studies Here

Dakota County Technical College is home to 2,168 students, a mid-sized community. Some distinctive traits: 31% are first-generation college students.

Total Enrolled
2,168
Part-Time
36%
First-Generation
31%

Race & Ethnicity Breakdown

Undergraduate student body composition reported to the US Department of Education.

GroupShareStudents
White 62.6% 1,356
Hispanic 14.7% 319
Black 10.9% 237
Other 6.3% 136
Asian 3.3% 72
International 0.6% 12
White: 62.6% (1,356 students)Hispanic: 14.7% (319 students)Black: 10.9% (237 students)Other: 6.3% (136 students)Asian: 3.3% (72 students)International: 0.6% (12 students)Total2,168

Student Life & Campus Culture

Where students live, learn, and connect at Dakota County Technical College. The campus setting, housing profile, and signals that shape day-to-day life here.

Setting
Rural: Fringe Rosemount, Minnesota
Housing
Commuter campus No on-campus housing
Adult Learners
30% of students are 25 or older
Athletics
NCAA athletic-conference member
Academic Calendar
Semester scheduling structure

What You Can Study

Dakota County Technical College offers an extensive catalog of programs: 46 distinct programs across 14 majors. Below are its strongest majors, each with flagship programs and typical earnings. Open a major to explore it in depth, or browse the full program catalog.

Faculty & Resources

The student-to-faculty ratio at Dakota County Technical College is 22:1, on the higher side.

Student : Faculty
22:1
Students per instructional faculty member
Instruction / Student
$8,383
Annual instructional spending per enrolled student
Endowment
$2.5M
Modest endowment
Avg Faculty Salary
$76,435
9-month equivalent across all ranks

Faculty by Rank

61 instructional faculty across 1 ranks. The rank mix shows how many senior faculty are teaching versus contingent or junior staff, with average salary equated to a 9-month contract.

Rank Faculty Count Share Avg Salary
Instructors 61 100% $76,435

Pros & Cons of Dakota County Technical College

A quick at-a-glance summary of how Dakota County Technical College tends to stack up for prospective students,weighing its data, size, setting, and cost profile together.

PROS
  • Below-average net price
  • Open admissions
  • Solid post-graduation earnings
  • Low typical debt at graduation
CONS
  • Larger class sizes than typical
  • Below-average completion rate
  • Modest first-year retention
Best for: Based on the data, Dakota County Technical College is a fit for students who want a clear path to start college without a competitive admissions barrier.

Frequently Asked Questions about Dakota County Technical College

Quick answers to the questions most students and parents ask. Every answer below is calculated from verified government data about Dakota County Technical College.

Is Dakota County Technical College hard to get into?
Dakota County Technical College has open or near-open admissions. Most qualified applicants are accepted.
What is the acceptance rate at Dakota County Technical College?
Dakota County Technical College has an acceptance rate of 0%, according to College Scorecard 2023-24 admissions data.
How much does Dakota County Technical College cost?
The average net price after aid at Dakota County Technical College is $13,548 per year, this is what students typically pay after grants and scholarships are applied. Net price data: College Scorecard 2023-24.
Is Dakota County Technical College worth it?
Solid return on investment. Graduates earn a median of $51,938 ten years after entering, against an average net price of $13,548 per year. That's roughly 3.8x earnings-to-cost. Source: College Scorecard 2023-24.
What is Dakota County Technical College known for?
Dakota County Technical College is best known for its programs in Vehicle Maintenance, Precision Metal Working, Electrical and Power Transmission Installers. These are the most popular fields by completed degrees, per IPEDS 2023-24 completion data.
What do Dakota County Technical College graduates earn?
Median earnings 10 years after entering Dakota County Technical College are $51,938, based on College Scorecard 2023-24 federal earnings data for Title IV recipients.
Is Dakota County Technical College accredited?
Yes. Dakota County Technical College is accredited by the Higher Learning Commission.
How many students attend Dakota County Technical College?
Dakota County Technical College enrolls 2,168 students, per IPEDS 2023-24 fall enrollment data.
What is the graduation rate at Dakota County Technical College?
Dakota County Technical College graduates 40% of full-time students within six years, per IPEDS 2023-24 completion data.
Is Dakota County Technical College a public or private college?
Dakota County Technical College is a Public institution.
Where is Dakota County Technical College located?
Dakota County Technical College is located in Rosemount, Minnesota.
What programs does Dakota County Technical College offer?
Dakota County Technical College offers 46 distinct programs. The most popular include Vehicle Maintenance, Precision Metal Working, Electrical and Power Transmission Installers.
What is the student-to-faculty ratio at Dakota County Technical College?
The student-to-faculty ratio at Dakota County Technical College is 22:1, per IPEDS 2023-24 data.

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