Lake Area Technical College
Watertown, SD · Public · Associate degree-granting
A public institution in Watertown, South Dakota, accredited by the Higher Learning Commission, Lake Area Technical College serves students across multiple degree programs. With 1,812 students, it is a small institution. Graduates earn a median of $45,473 ten years after enrollment, which is 12% above the national median of $40,747. The graduation rate is 69.0%. On the financial side, median graduate debt is $12,000, yielding an earnings-to-debt ratio of 3.79x. The average net price after financial aid is $15,979 per year. The most popular programs include Vehicle Maintenance & Repair, Agricultural Business, Practical Nursing, Marketing, and Machinist.
Key Outcomes
Median Earnings (10yr)
$45,473
Graduation Rate
69.0%
Median Debt
$12,000
Average Net Price
$15,979
Earnings-to-Cost Ratio
1.42x
Earnings-to-Debt Ratio
3.79x
Admissions & Enrollment
Total Enrollment
1,812
Admission Rate
Not reported
Average SAT
Not reported
Retention Rate
81.3%
Cost
In-State Tuition
$6,718
Out-of-State Tuition
$6,718
Pell Grant Rate
27.5%
Federal Loan Rate
57.4%
Net Cost by Family Income
Income $0–$30K
$11,193
Income $30K–$48K
$12,971
Income $48K–$75K
$14,129
Income $110K+
$18,230
Student Demographics
Women
47.9%
White
88.0%
Black
1.9%
Hispanic
2.8%
Asian
1.0%
Two or More Races
0.1%
Student Loan Performance
Repayment Rate (3yr)
71.2%
Accreditations
- Accreditation Commission for Education in Nursing, Inc. — Nursing (ADNUR) - Associate degree programs, Nursing (PNUR) - Practical nursing programs (Accredited)
- American Dental Association, Commission on Dental Accreditation — Dental Assisting (DA) (Accredited)
- American Occupational Therapy Association, Accreditation Council for Occupational Therapy Education — Occupational Therapy Assistant (OTA) - Programs leading to an associate degree (Accredited)
- American Physical Therapy Association, Commission on Accreditation in Physical Therapy Education — Physical Therapy (PTA) - Programs for the physical therapist assistant (Accredited)
- Higher Learning Commission — Institutional Accreditation (Accredited)
Programs (32)
Associate (22)
| Program | Median Earnings | Completers |
|---|---|---|
| Vehicle Maintenance & Repair | $60,763 | 133 |
| Agricultural Business | $48,305 | 104 |
| Marketing | $43,632 | 62 |
| Registered Nursing | Not reported | 46 |
| Allied Health & Medical Assisting | $43,574 | 40 |
| Computer Science | $60,752 | 31 |
| Electromechanical Technologies/Technicians | $69,953 | 27 |
| Machinist | $51,201 | 27 |
| Finance | $47,420 | 27 |
| Construction Engineering Technology | $72,225 | 23 |
| Electrical Engineering Technology | Not reported | 20 |
| Public Administration | $37,135 | 20 |
| Building Construction | $47,946 | 20 |
| Criminal Justice & Corrections | $52,822 | 14 |
| Dental Support Services | Not reported | 9 |
| Air Transportation | Not reported | 8 |
| Ground Transportation | Not reported | 7 |
| Allied Health Diagnostic & Treatment | Not reported | 7 |
| Clinical Laboratory Science | $51,402 | 7 |
| Natural Resources Conservation | Not reported | 4 |
| Industrial Production Technology | Not reported | 4 |
| Mental Health Services | Not reported | 3 |
Undergraduate Certificate (10)
| Program | Median Earnings | Completers |
|---|---|---|
| Practical Nursing | $56,633 | 90 |
| Machinist | $49,693 | 48 |
| Mental Health Services | Not reported | 35 |
| Cosmetology and Related Personal Grooming Services | $35,222 | 28 |
| Vehicle Maintenance & Repair | $50,334 | 25 |
| Dental Support Services | $38,313 | 20 |
| Public Administration | $34,188 | 19 |
| Ground Transportation | Not reported | 15 |
| Allied Health Diagnostic & Treatment | Not reported | 12 |
| Natural Resources Conservation | Not reported | 4 |
Rankings Featuring This Institution
- Highest Earning Associate's Computer Science Programs in South Dakota
- Highest Earning Associate's Nursing & Health Programs in South Dakota
- Highest Earning Associate's Business Programs in South Dakota
- Highest Earning Associate's Agriculture Programs in South Dakota
- Highest Earning Associate's Engineering Technology Programs in South Dakota
- Highest Earning Associate's Construction Programs in South Dakota
- Highest Job Growth Associate's Computer Science Programs
- Highest Job Growth Associate's Construction Programs
- Highest Job Growth Associate's Precision Production Programs
- Highest Earning Colleges in South Dakota
Similar Institutions
- Black Hills State University — $46,674
- Dakota State University — $50,970
- South Dakota School of Mines and Technology — $72,257
- Southeast Technical College — $46,709
- Northern State University — $47,618