Western Dakota Technical College is a public institution offering associate degrees based in Rapid City, South Dakota. It enrolls 753 students (a small, tight-knit 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.
Good
65/100
UCD Score · 2-Year
Outcomes57
Value44
Affordability42
Selectivity—
Admissions & Acceptance Rate
As a two-year college, Western Dakota 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 Western Dakota 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 $12,670 per year. That's below the typical net price for public colleges nationally.
Average Net Price
$12,670
Per year, after typical aid
Receive Pell Grants
33%
Need-based federal aid
Receive Federal Loans
41%
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
$8,294
Room & Board (on-campus)
$8,150
Room & Board (off-campus)
$9,756
Books & Supplies
$800
Other Expenses (on-campus)
$2,475
Other Expenses (off-campus)
$2,475
Total Cost of Attendance
$18,845
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
$10,071
$30,001 – $48,000
$10,543
$48,001 – $75,000
$14,003
$75,001 – $110,000
$18,657
Over $110,000
$18,845
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.
$2,00010%percentile
$3,57525%percentile
$15,000Medianpercentile
$12,76875%percentile
$19,00090%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 $10,250
↓ $4,750
No Pell $8,723
↓ $6,277
Dependent students $8,190
↓ $6,810
Independent students $11,338
↓ $3,662
Female students $9,500
↓ $5,500
Male students $9,500
↓ $5,500
Worth knowing:
Students who don't finish leave with a median debt of $5,500, less than completers ($15,000), but still a meaningful obligation without a degree in hand.
Graduation Rate & Retention
39% of full-time students who enrolled at Western Dakota Technical College graduate within six years, and 67% return for their second year, per IPEDS 2023-24 completion data.
6-Year Graduation Rate
39%
Of students who graduate within six years
First-Year Retention
67%
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
According to College Scorecard 2023-24 data, students who entered Western Dakota Technical College earn a median of $40,240 ten years after first enrolling. That's close to the national median for U.S. colleges.
Median Earnings (10 yrs)
$40,240
Earning > $25K
69%
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
$27,500
Median earnings for female grads ten years after first enrolling here.
Male graduates
$47,400
Median earnings for male grads ten years after first enrolling here.
By Family Income at Entry
Family income (lowest third)
$34,100
Earnings of grads from the bottom-third of family incomes at entry.
Family income (middle third)
$41,700
Earnings of grads from the middle-third of family incomes at entry.
Family income (highest third)
$42,800
Earnings of grads from the top-third of family incomes at entry.
The gender gap:
Male graduates earn $19,900, about 42% 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 ↑
6.5 pts
across 6 years
What this signals:
Moderate. Only 66% of graduates are paying down principal seven years out.
Who Studies Here
Western Dakota Technical College is home to 753 students, a small, close-knit community. Some distinctive traits: 38% are first-generation college students.
Total Enrolled
753
Part-Time
32%
First-Generation
38%
Race & Ethnicity Breakdown
Undergraduate student body composition reported to the US Department of Education.
GroupShareStudents
White 72.9%549
Other 15.3%115
Hispanic 7.0%53
Black 1.9%14
Asian 1.3%10
International 0.1%1
Student Life & Campus Culture
Where students live, learn, and connect at Western Dakota Technical College. The campus setting, housing profile, and signals that shape day-to-day life here.
Setting
Small CityRapid City, South Dakota
Housing
Limited on-campus housing40 beds
Adult Learners
29%of students are 25 or older
Athletics
NAIAathletic-conference member
Academic Calendar
Semesterscheduling structure
What You Can Study
Western Dakota Technical College offers
a varied set of programs:
33 distinct programs across
10 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 Western Dakota Technical College is 10:1, low (small classes, more faculty contact).
Student : Faculty
10:1
Students per instructional faculty member
Instruction / Student
$7,626
Annual instructional spending per enrolled student
Avg Faculty Salary
$60,429
9-month equivalent across all ranks
Faculty by Rank
53 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
53
100%
$60,429
Pros & Cons of Western Dakota Technical College
A quick at-a-glance summary of how Western Dakota 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
Small classes (low student-faculty ratio)
Tight-knit, close community feel
CONS
Fewer clubs, activities, and social options
Low completion rate, many students don't graduate within six years
First-year retention is below typical
Earnings outcomes are on the lower side
Best for:
Based on the data, Western Dakota Technical College is a fit for
students who want a clear path to start college without a competitive admissions barrier; students who thrive in small, close-knit environments.
Frequently Asked Questions about Western Dakota Technical College
Quick answers to the questions most students and parents ask. Every answer below is calculated from verified government data about Western Dakota Technical College.
Is Western Dakota Technical College hard to get into?
Western Dakota Technical College has open or near-open admissions. Most qualified applicants are accepted.
What is the acceptance rate at Western Dakota Technical College?
Western Dakota Technical College has an acceptance rate of 0%, according to College Scorecard 2023-24 admissions data.
How much does Western Dakota Technical College cost?
The average net price after aid at Western Dakota Technical College is $12,670 per year, this is what students typically pay after grants and scholarships are applied. Net price data: College Scorecard 2023-24.
Is Western Dakota Technical College worth it?
Solid return on investment. Graduates earn a median of $40,240 ten years after entering, against an average net price of $12,670 per year. That's roughly 3.2x earnings-to-cost. Source: College Scorecard 2023-24.
What is Western Dakota Technical College known for?
Western Dakota Technical College is best known for its programs in Practical Nursing, Nursing, Vehicle Maintenance. These are the most popular fields by completed degrees, per IPEDS 2023-24 completion data.
What do Western Dakota Technical College graduates earn?
Median earnings 10 years after entering Western Dakota Technical College are $40,240, based on College Scorecard 2023-24 federal earnings data for Title IV recipients.
Is Western Dakota Technical College accredited?
Yes. Western Dakota Technical College is accredited by the Higher Learning Commission.
How many students attend Western Dakota Technical College?
Western Dakota Technical College enrolls 753 students, per IPEDS 2023-24 fall enrollment data.
What is the graduation rate at Western Dakota Technical College?
Western Dakota Technical College graduates 39% of full-time students within six years, per IPEDS 2023-24 completion data.
Is Western Dakota Technical College a public or private college?
Western Dakota Technical College is a Public institution.
Where is Western Dakota Technical College located?
Western Dakota Technical College is located in Rapid City, South Dakota.
What programs does Western Dakota Technical College offer?
Western Dakota Technical College offers 33 distinct programs. The most popular include Practical Nursing, Nursing, Vehicle Maintenance.
What is the student-to-faculty ratio at Western Dakota Technical College?
The student-to-faculty ratio at Western Dakota Technical College is 10:1, 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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