Lake Area Technical College — tuition $3,720Lake Area Technical College campus, Watertown, SD. Photo: Bp0, CC BY-SA 4.0 via Wikimedia Commons.
ℹ️
Rating Context:⚠️ Limited Data Available. Some metrics for this institution are incomplete or unavailable, which may affect the overall grade. Consider researching this school directly for the most current information.
Suggested Focus: For this type of institution, we recommend prioritizing the
Outcomes Score (B)
which measures graduation and job placement rates — the most relevant metrics for career programs.
Graduation Rate: 64%
Outcomes
B
69/100
Affordability
C
50/100
Resources
C+
60/100
Experience
D
40/100
Prestige
D
35/100
Two ratings: the overall grade compares colleges the conventional way (outcomes, cost, resources, experience, reputation). The Outcome Rating asks what students earn: 60% wage-adjusted earnings 10 years after enrolling, 25% graduation, 15% retention. Methodology
Quick Stats
2,179
Total Enrollment
64%
Graduation Rate
83%
Retention Rate
17.0:1
Student-Faculty Ratio
N/A
Acceptance Rate
$12,554
Avg Net Price
🏠 Housing Market Near Lake Area Technical College ▼
87%
of first-year students live off campus and not with family (U.S. Dept. of Education, IPEDS). Upper-year students at most universities move off campus at much higher rates, so near-campus rental demand is typically larger than this figure suggests.
What happens to students who enroll at Lake Area Technical College, from the U.S. Department of Education’s College Scorecard.
$45,473
Median earnings 10 yrs after entry
$43,659
Median earnings 6 yrs after entry
$12,000
Median debt at graduation
73.1%
Completion rate (within 150% of normal time)
27.5%
Students receiving Pell grants
Typical debt at graduation equals about 26% of one year’s median earnings ten years after entry.
Earnings rank: 89th percentile among associate-degree-focused colleges after a partial adjustment for local wage levels (SD wage index 0.86). This drives the Outcome Rating.
Source: U.S. Department of Education College Scorecard, retrieved Oct 2026. Earnings are for federally aided students who enrolled, whether or not they graduated.
Earnings by Major at Lake Area Technical College
Median pay of associate's degree graduates by field of study, and how each program ranks against every college reporting that major — by raw pay and adjusted for state wage levels. Same school, very different paychecks.
Source: U.S. Department of Education College Scorecard, field-of-study data. Earnings are for graduates who received federal aid and were working; small programs are not reported.
For parents & investors
The Lake Area Technical College Town Property Report
Avg home value near campus: $326,761
Avg rent near campus: $1,205/mo
Top nearby ZIP by cap rate: 57201 (2.9% cap, Watertown)
Get the free 1-page report: rent-vs-dorm math, the 3 best nearby ZIPs by yield,
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🏆 Where Lake Area Technical College Ranks
Rankings based on Repit College Grade among schools offering each program.
🏘️ Rental Demand: ~1,896 students need off-campus housing
💻 Learning Mode
In-Person50%
Hybrid (Some Online)29%
Fully Online22%
📊 Age Distribution
18-24 (Traditional)69%
25-64 (Adult)12%
Frequently Asked Questions
What is the acceptance rate at Lake Area Technical College?
Acceptance rate data is not available for this institution. Many schools with open enrollment or specialized programs do not report traditional acceptance rates.
How much does it cost to attend Lake Area Technical College?
Tuition at Lake Area Technical College is
$3,720 for in-state students
and $3,720 for out-of-state students
.
However, the average net price after financial aid is $12,554.
What is the graduation rate at Lake Area Technical College?
The graduation rate at Lake Area Technical College is 64%.
This is a solid graduation rate, showing that most students who enroll successfully complete their degrees.
Is Lake Area Technical College a good school?
Lake Area Technical College has a Repit College Score of 52/100 (Grade: C).
Our rating evaluates five key factors:
Outcomes (B): Graduation and retention rates
Affordability (C): Net cost and financial aid access
Resources (C+): Class sizes and selectivity
Experience (D): Campus life and learning format
Prestige (D): Reputation and recognition
Note: As a smaller institution, we recommend focusing on the Outcomes score when evaluating this school.
How many students attend Lake Area Technical College?
Lake Area Technical College has a total enrollment of 2,179 students.
Is there rental demand near Lake Area Technical College?
Yes! Approximately 87% of students at Lake Area Technical College live off-campus (not with family).
That's roughly 1,896 students who need rental housing near campus.
This represents significant rental demand, which affects housing availability and pricing in the Watertown area.
Deciding between a dorm and buying near campus? Run the numbers for Lake Area Technical College — four years of dorm costs vs. owning, including what you’d recover at resale. Buy vs Dorm calculator →
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