Lake Area Technical College
Watertown, SD · Public · offers Associate's degrees
—Acceptance rate
$15,979Average net price / year
73%Graduation rate
$45,473Median earnings 10 yrs after entry
$12,000Median debt at graduation
1,812Undergraduates
Cost
- In-state tuition & fees
- $6,718
- Total cost of attendance
- $19,637
- Books & supplies
- $1,200
- Average net price
- $15,979
Net price by family income
- $0–30k
- $11,193
- $30–48k
- $12,971
- $48–75k
- $14,129
- $75–110k
- $18,118
- $110k+
- $18,230
Admissions
- Acceptance rate
- —
Outcomes
- Graduation rate
- 73%
- First-year retention
- 81%
- Median earnings (6 yrs)
- $43,659
- Median earnings (10 yrs)
- $45,473
- Median debt (graduates)
- $12,000
- 3-year loan default rate
- 0.0%
- Students with Pell grants
- 27%
- Students with federal loans
- 57%
Programs: what graduates earn
21 of 37 programs have published earnings or debt data. Earnings are median salaries of graduates one year after completing the program (or the latest available year).
Undergraduate certificate
| Program | Graduates | Earnings | Median debt |
|---|---|---|---|
| Practical Nursing, Vocational Nursing and Nursing Assistants | 90 | $42,160 | $9,500 |
| Dental Support Services and Allied Professions | 20 | $36,631 | $5,500 |
| Cosmetology and Related Personal Grooming Services | 28 | $20,420 | $12,000 |
| Precision Metal Working | 48 | $49,693 | — |
| Human Services, General | 19 | $34,188 | — |
| Vehicle Maintenance and Repair Technologies/Technicians | 25 | $50,334 | — |
Associate's degree
| Program | Graduates | Earnings | Median debt |
|---|---|---|---|
| Construction Engineering Technology/Technician | 23 | $75,253 | $12,000 |
| Registered Nursing, Nursing Administration, Nursing Research and Clinical Nursing | 46 | $66,233 | $18,707 |
| Electromechanical Technologies/Technicians | 27 | $60,085 | $12,000 |
| Clinical/Medical Laboratory Science/Research and Allied Professions | 7 | $47,512 | — |
| Vehicle Maintenance and Repair Technologies/Technicians | 133 | $47,080 | $12,000 |
| Precision Metal Working | 27 | $43,436 | $11,000 |
| Agricultural Business and Management | 104 | $41,340 | $12,000 |
| Criminal Justice and Corrections | 14 | $41,230 | $12,000 |
| Finance and Financial Management Services | 27 | $40,070 | $12,000 |
| Building/Construction Finishing, Management, and Inspection | 20 | $38,635 | $12,000 |
| Allied Health and Medical Assisting Services | 40 | $35,932 | $12,000 |
| Marketing | 62 | $32,043 | $12,000 |
| Human Services, General | 20 | $26,730 | $11,273 |
| Ground Transportation | 7 | $48,072 | — |
| Computer Science | 31 | $60,752 | — |
Students
- Undergraduates
- 1,812
- Part-time
- 19%
- Women / men
- 47% / 53%
- White
- 88%
- Hispanic
- 3%
- Black
- 2%
- Asian
- 1%
- International
- 0%
Faculty & school
- Student–faculty ratio
- 16:1
- Avg faculty salary
- $70,128 / year
- Full-time faculty
- 79%
- Accreditor
- Higher Learning Commission
- Website
- www.lakeareatech.edu
- Also known as
- LATC/Lake Area Tech
Most popular fields
- Agriculture – 14% of degrees
- Computer & Information Sciences – 2% of degrees
- Personal & Culinary Services – 4% of degrees
- Engineering Technologies – 3% of degrees
- Homeland Security, Law Enforcement & Firefighting – 1% of degrees
- Public Administration & Social Service – 4% of degrees
Frequently asked questions
How much does Lake Area Technical College cost?
The average net price after grants is $15,979 per year; in-state tuition and fees are $6,718 and the full cost of attendance is $19,637.
How much do Lake Area Technical College graduates earn?
Students who enrolled earn a median of $45,473 ten years later. See the program table above for salaries by major.
What is the graduation rate?
73% of first-time, full-time students graduate within 150% of normal time.
Source: U.S. Department of Education College Scorecard, June 2026 release.