Public Graduate Strong 72/100

Oglala Lakota College

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

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Kyle, South Dakota

About Oglala Lakota College

Thinking about Oglala Lakota College, a college in South Dakota where more students graduate in Cultural Studies than anything else? The four things worth knowing are what it actually costs after aid, whether you would get in, whether students finish, and what they earn after they do.

Oglala Lakota College is a public institution offering graduate degrees based in Kyle, South Dakota. It enrolls 1,097 students (a small, tight-knit student body), according to IPEDS 2023-24 data. Every figure on this page is reported by the federal government, not supplied by the college, so it can be compared like for like against anywhere else you are looking.

Acceptance
—
Graduation
7.7%
Net Price
$1,895
Median Earnings (10yr)
$22,517
Enrollment
1,097
Student : Faculty
11:1

Accreditor Higher Learning Commission
Academic Calendar Semester

How It Measures Up

These four scores answer one question: compared with similar colleges, is this one worth the money? Each runs 0 to 100 and is judged only against its peer group (4-Year Open / Online), so a community college is never marked down for not being Harvard. Everything is computed from federal data. Nobody can pay to move a score, and a pillar with missing data is left unscored rather than guessed.

Strong
72/100
UCD Score · 4-Year Open / Online
Outcomes 22
Value 96
Affordability 79
Selectivity —

Admissions & Acceptance Rate

Oglala Lakota College does not report an acceptance rate. Schools that do not publish one are usually open-admission, but confirm with the admissions office before you assume it.

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

Cost & Financial Aid

Ignore the sticker price. What matters is the net price, which is what a typical family pays here after grants and scholarships come off. At $1,895 a year on average, it sits well below what public colleges charge nationally. At that level cost is rarely the reason to rule a college out. Figures are College Scorecard 2023-24.

The average hides a wide spread by household income, so it is worth estimating what a family at your income would actually pay before treating this as the price.

Average Net Price
$1,895
Per year, after typical aid
Receive Pell Grants
47%
Need-based federal aid
Receive Federal Loans
0%
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
$2,684
Room & Board (on-campus)
$7,200
Room & Board (off-campus)
$7,200
Books & Supplies
$1,200
Other Expenses (on-campus)
$4,450
Other Expenses (off-campus)
$4,450
Total Cost of Attendance
$10,494

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
    $1,422
  • $30,001 – $48,000
    $219
  • $48,001 – $75,000
    $5,542
  • $75,001 – $110,000
    $6,535
What this means: Aid reaches a meaningful share of the student body: 47% of students receive Pell grants. If your family qualifies for Pell, the real cost to you could be substantially lower than the average.

Graduation Rate & Retention

8% of students who start here finish within six years, and 58% come back after first year. Most students who start here do not finish. That is the single most important number on this page. Source: IPEDS 2023-24.

Completion and earnings carry the most weight in this college's score, and how the UCD Score weighs each measure sets out exactly how they are combined.

6-Year Graduation Rate
8%
Of students who graduate within six years
First-Year Retention
58%
Returning for their second year
What this means: Lower than typical completion. Worth asking the school how they support students who fall behind.

After Graduation: Earnings & Outcomes

Ten years after starting here, the median student earns $22,517 a year, below the national median. Weigh that against the cost above before taking on debt here. Source: College Scorecard 2023-24.

Median Earnings (10 yrs)
$22,517
Earning > $25K
39%
10 yrs after entry

Earnings Growth After Graduation

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

$20,000$21,000$21,500$22,000$23,0006 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
$19,900

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

Male graduates
$21,800

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

What this means: Strong return on investment. Every dollar of net annual cost is matched by ~$11.9 of median earnings 10 years out.

Who Studies Here

Who you would actually be sitting next to: 1,097 students, a small, close-knit community. Worth knowing: 39% are the first in their family to go to college, and 61% study part-time, so many are working alongside classes.

Total Enrolled
1,097
Part-Time
61%
First-Generation
39%

Race & Ethnicity Breakdown

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

GroupShareStudents
Other 98.2% 1,077
White 1.1% 12
Hispanic 0.3% 3
Asian 0.3% 3
Black 0.2% 2
Other: 98.2% (1,077 students)White: 1.1% (12 students)Hispanic: 0.3% (3 students)Asian: 0.3% (3 students)Black: 0.2% (2 students)Total1,097

Student Life & Campus Culture

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

Setting
Rural: Remote Kyle, South Dakota
Housing
Limited on-campus housing 35 beds
Adult Learners
65% of students are 25 or older
Athletics
NAIA athletic-conference member
Academic Calendar
Semester scheduling structure

What You Can Study

After that comes the national picture for Business graduates, which shows what the field pays across every college rather than just this one.

Oglala Lakota College offers a varied set of programs: 20 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.

3 Programs
2 Programs
1 Program
1 Program
2 Programs
1 Program
1 Program

Faculty & Resources

There are 11 students for every instructor here: about average, so expect a mix of small seminars and big lectures.

Student : Faculty
11:1
Students per instructional faculty member
Instruction / Student
$4,768
Annual instructional spending per enrolled student
Endowment
$71M
Modest endowment
Avg Faculty Salary
$61,609
9-month equivalent across all ranks

Faculty by Rank

54 instructional faculty across 3 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
Full Professors 3 6% $76,732
Associate Professors 8 15% $64,981
Assistant Professors 43 80% $59,926

Pros & Cons of Oglala Lakota College

No college is right for everyone. Here is where Oglala Lakota College is likely to suit you and where it may not, based on the same figures shown above.

Read against a single profile these cut both ways, which is why it helps to put two colleges side by side on the same measures rather than judging one in isolation.

PROS
  • Very affordable net price after aid
  • Small classes (low student-faculty ratio)
  • Tight-knit, close community feel
  • Wide reach of need-based federal aid
  • Flexible part-time enrollment options
CONS
  • Fewer clubs, activities, and social options
  • Low completion rate, many students don't graduate within six years
  • First-year retention is below typical
  • Below-average post-graduation earnings
  • Mostly part-time student body, less full-time campus feel
Best for: Based on the data, Oglala Lakota College is a fit for families focused on keeping net cost low; working adults or students needing part-time study options; students who thrive in small, close-knit environments.

Frequently Asked Questions about Oglala Lakota College

The questions families ask most about Oglala Lakota College, answered straight from the federal data rather than from the college's own marketing.

How much does Oglala Lakota College cost?
Budget around $1,895 a year. That is the net price, what families typically pay once grants and scholarships come off, not the sticker price. Your own figure depends on household income, so treat this as a midpoint rather than a quote. Source: College Scorecard 2023-24.
Is Oglala Lakota College worth it?
On the numbers, yes: strong return on investment. Ten years in, the median graduate earns $22,517 a year against a net price of $1,895, about 11.9 dollars of earnings for every dollar of annual cost. That ratio ignores whether you finish and what you study, which matter just as much. Source: College Scorecard 2023-24.
What is Oglala Lakota College known for?
Mostly Ethnic Studies, Legal Research, Business Administration. Those are the fields where it awards the most degrees, which is a better guide to where the teaching strength sits than any reputation ranking. Source: IPEDS 2023-24.
What do Oglala Lakota College graduates earn?
About $22,517 a year, measured ten years after students first enrolled. Half earn more and half earn less, and what you study moves that figure far more than where you study. Source: College Scorecard 2023-24.
Is Oglala Lakota College accredited?
Yes. Oglala Lakota College is accredited by the Higher Learning Commission.
How many students attend Oglala Lakota College?
1,097 students. Small enough that you will recognize faces across campus, and small enough that course choice can be limited. Source: IPEDS 2023-24.
What is the graduation rate at Oglala Lakota College?
8% finish within six years. That means most students do not finish in six years. Ask the school directly what support exists for students who fall behind. Source: IPEDS 2023-24.
Is Oglala Lakota College a public or private college?
It is Public. Public, so in-state students usually pay materially less than everyone else.
Where is Oglala Lakota College located?
Oglala Lakota College is located in Kyle, South Dakota.
What programs does Oglala Lakota College offer?
20 different programs, most commonly Ethnic Studies, Legal Research, Business Administration. If the subject you want is not among them, check the full list before applying rather than assuming it is offered.
What is the student-to-faculty ratio at Oglala Lakota College?
11 students per instructor. Low enough that staff are likely to know who you are. Source: IPEDS 2023-24.

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