Lake Area Technical College is a public institution offering associate degrees based in Watertown, South Dakota. It enrolls 1,812 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.
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.
Strong
71/100
UCD Score · 2-Year
Outcomes86
Value38
Affordability30
Selectivity—
Admissions & Acceptance Rate
As a two-year college, Lake Area 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 Lake Area 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 $15,979 per year. That's below the typical net price for public colleges nationally.
Average Net Price
$15,979
Per year, after typical aid
Receive Pell Grants
27%
Need-based federal aid
Receive Federal Loans
57%
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
$6,718
Room & Board (off-campus)
$9,000
Books & Supplies
$1,200
Other Expenses (off-campus)
$3,750
Total Cost of Attendance
$19,637
Application fee: $25 (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
$11,193
$30,001 – $48,000
$12,971
$48,001 – $75,000
$14,129
$75,001 – $110,000
$18,118
Over $110,000
$18,230
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.
$3,16610%percentile
$5,50025%percentile
$12,000Medianpercentile
$14,16775%percentile
$20,00090%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 $10,000
↓ $2,000
No Pell $9,500
↓ $2,500
Dependent students $9,854
↓ $2,146
Independent students $11,556
↓ $444
Female students $9,500
↓ $2,500
Male students $11,000
↓ $1,000
Worth knowing:
Students who don't finish leave with a median debt of $5,500, less than completers ($12,000), but still a meaningful obligation without a degree in hand.
Graduation Rate & Retention
68% of full-time students who enrolled at Lake Area Technical College graduate within six years, and 82% return for their second year, per IPEDS 2023-24 completion data.
6-Year Graduation Rate
68%
Of students who graduate within six years
First-Year Retention
82%
Returning for their second year
After Graduation: Earnings & Outcomes
According to College Scorecard 2023-24 data, students who entered Lake Area Technical College earn a median of $45,473 ten years after first enrolling. That's close to the national median for U.S. colleges.
Median Earnings (10 yrs)
$45,473
Earning > $25K
75%
10 yrs after entry
Earnings Growth After Graduation
Median annual earnings 6, 8, and 10 years after students first enrolled.
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
$29,800
Median earnings for female grads ten years after first enrolling here.
Male graduates
$47,300
Median earnings for male grads ten years after first enrolling here.
By Family Income at Entry
Family income (lowest third)
$33,500
Earnings of grads from the bottom-third of family incomes at entry.
Family income (middle third)
$40,900
Earnings of grads from the middle-third of family incomes at entry.
Family income (highest third)
$44,300
Earnings of grads from the top-third of family incomes at entry.
The gender gap:
Male graduates earn $17,500, about 37% 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 ↑
6.2 pts
across 6 years
What this signals:
Excellent. 87% of graduates were paying down at least $1 of principal seven years out.
Who Studies Here
Lake Area Technical College is home to 1,812 students, a mid-sized community.
Total Enrolled
1,812
Part-Time
19%
First-Generation
29%
Race & Ethnicity Breakdown
Undergraduate student body composition reported to the US Department of Education.
GroupShareStudents
White 88.0%1,595
Other 3.2%57
Hispanic 2.8%50
Black 1.9%34
Asian 1.0%18
International 0.1%2
Student Life & Campus Culture
Where students live, learn, and connect at Lake Area Technical College. The campus setting, housing profile, and signals that shape day-to-day life here.
Setting
Town: RemoteWatertown, South Dakota
Housing
Commuter campusNo on-campus housing
Adult Learners
12%of students are 25 or older
Athletics
NCAAathletic-conference member
Academic Calendar
Semesterscheduling structure
What You Can Study
Lake Area Technical College offers
a varied set of programs:
33 distinct programs across
13 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.
The student-to-faculty ratio at Lake Area Technical College is 17:1, on the higher side.
Student : Faculty
17:1
Students per instructional faculty member
Instruction / Student
$10,591
Annual instructional spending per enrolled student
Endowment
$25M
Modest endowment
Avg Faculty Salary
$67,175
9-month equivalent across all ranks
Faculty by Rank
109 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
109
100%
$67,175
Pros & Cons of Lake Area Technical College
A quick at-a-glance summary of how Lake Area 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
Above-average graduation rate
Low typical debt at graduation
CONS
Class sizes are on the higher side
Best for:
Based on the data, Lake Area Technical College is a fit for
students who want a clear path to start college without a competitive admissions barrier.
Frequently Asked Questions about Lake Area Technical College
Quick answers to the questions most students and parents ask. Every answer below is calculated from verified government data about Lake Area Technical College.
Is Lake Area Technical College hard to get into?
Lake Area Technical College has open or near-open admissions. Most qualified applicants are accepted.
What is the acceptance rate at Lake Area Technical College?
Lake Area Technical College has an acceptance rate of 0%, according to College Scorecard 2023-24 admissions data.
How much does Lake Area Technical College cost?
The average net price after aid at Lake Area Technical College is $15,979 per year, this is what students typically pay after grants and scholarships are applied. Net price data: College Scorecard 2023-24.
Is Lake Area Technical College worth it?
Moderate return on investment. Graduates earn a median of $45,473 ten years after entering, against an average net price of $15,979 per year. That's roughly 2.8x earnings-to-cost. Source: College Scorecard 2023-24.
What is Lake Area Technical College known for?
Lake Area Technical College is best known for its programs in Vehicle Maintenance, Agricultural Business and Management, Practical Nursing. These are the most popular fields by completed degrees, per IPEDS 2023-24 completion data.
What do Lake Area Technical College graduates earn?
Median earnings 10 years after entering Lake Area Technical College are $45,473, based on College Scorecard 2023-24 federal earnings data for Title IV recipients.
Is Lake Area Technical College accredited?
Yes. Lake Area Technical College is accredited by the Higher Learning Commission.
How many students attend Lake Area Technical College?
Lake Area Technical College enrolls 1,812 students, per IPEDS 2023-24 fall enrollment data.
What is the graduation rate at Lake Area Technical College?
Lake Area Technical College graduates 68% of full-time students within six years, per IPEDS 2023-24 completion data.
Is Lake Area Technical College a public or private college?
Lake Area Technical College is a Public institution.
Where is Lake Area Technical College located?
Lake Area Technical College is located in Watertown, South Dakota.
What programs does Lake Area Technical College offer?
Lake Area Technical College offers 33 distinct programs. The most popular include Vehicle Maintenance, Agricultural Business and Management, Practical Nursing.
What is the student-to-faculty ratio at Lake Area Technical College?
The student-to-faculty ratio at Lake Area Technical College is 17:1, per IPEDS 2023-24 data.
Related Colleges in South Dakota
Other colleges in South Dakota share the same applicant pool, regional economy, and academic landscape. Comparing nearby options puts admissions, costs, and outcomes in context, useful when weighing your fit against local alternatives.
Business Administration
Teacher Education (K-12)
Biology
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