Is Western Dakota Technical College worth it?

The numbers behind the score

At Western Dakota Technical, a typical graduate carries about $14,147 in student debt and earns roughly $46,591 ten years after enrolling. On a standard 10-year repayment plan, that works out to about $161 per month, or 4% of pre-tax income. That sits inside a borrower comfort range for many graduates.

How earnings compare to a high school diploma

Graduates earn $15,206 more than the typical working high school graduate in South Dakota ($31,385) ten years after entering this school. A federal rule finalized in July 2026 ties each undergraduate program's federal loan eligibility to a comparison like this one, with the first calculations expected in 2027.

The national figure is $31,269. The Department of Education uses it instead of the state figure when fewer than half of a school's students come from its state.

68% of former students here earned more than the typical high school graduate ten years after entry, by College Scorecard's own measure.

Context, not a federal determination. The benchmarks are the Department of Education's published thresholds (2024 notice, based on 2022 Census data); thresholds under the 2026 rule have not been released yet. The official test looks at each program's graduates four years after completion; our figure is College Scorecard's median for the whole school, ten years after entry. How this works

Program earnings vs. the federal benchmark

Median earnings of working graduates four years after finishing each undergraduate program, next to the benchmark the federal earnings test uses: the typical working high school graduate aged 25–34 in South Dakota ($31,385).

• Business Administration, Management and Operations

  Associate degree · 22 working graduates counted

  $35,644

  $4,259 above the benchmark

• Clinical/Medical Laboratory Science/Research and Allied Professions

  Certificate · 16 working graduates counted

  $36,793

  $5,408 above the benchmark

• Dental Support Services and Allied Professions

  Certificate · 25 working graduates counted

  $39,988

  $8,603 above the benchmark

• Clinical/Medical Laboratory Science/Research and Allied Professions

  Associate degree · 19 working graduates counted

  $40,340

  $8,955 above the benchmark

• Criminal Justice and Corrections

  Associate degree · 31 working graduates counted

  $46,659

  $15,274 above the benchmark

• Precision Metal Working

  Certificate · 42 working graduates counted

  $48,803

  $17,418 above the benchmark

• Precision Metal Working

  Associate degree · 28 working graduates counted

  $51,988

  $20,603 above the benchmark

• Allied Health Diagnostic, Intervention, and Treatment Professions

  Associate degree · 29 working graduates counted

  $52,795

  $21,410 above the benchmark

• Computer Systems Networking and Telecommunications

  Certificate · 23 working graduates counted

  $53,185

  $21,800 above the benchmark

• Practical Nursing, Vocational Nursing and Nursing Assistants

  Certificate · 64 working graduates counted

  $53,976

  $22,591 above the benchmark

27 other undergraduate programs here have no four-year earnings figure, usually because too few graduates were counted to publish one. That says nothing about how those programs do. See every program on College Scorecard

An estimate, not an official determination. Under a federal rule taking effect July 1, 2027, programs below this benchmark in official results may face limits on federal student loans; Pell Grants are not affected. The official test uses finer program categories, different graduating classes and the Department's own records; its first results are expected in 2027. Programs that train for tipped jobs, such as cosmetology and massage, won't be rated on 2025 earnings, and the Department decides which programs qualify. Earnings: College Scorecard field-of-study data (released Oct 15, 2026). Benchmark: Department of Education published thresholds (2024 notice).

Represent Western Dakota Technical College and think a figure here is wrong? Request a correction and we'll check it against the latest College Scorecard release.

What this means for your family

Western Dakota Technical is a two year school in Rapid City, SD. For many families, the real question is not just sticker price but what this path unlocks next, whether that is direct employment, transfer, or a lower cost route into a four year degree.

Common questions about Western Dakota Technical

Looking at community colleges options in South Dakota? See the most affordable community colleges in South Dakota →

The Worth-It Score weighs affordability (40%), after graduation outcomes (40%), and repayment burden (20%). Underlying data points come from publicly available federal higher education reporting. See full methodology →