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Is Western Dakota Technical College worth it?
A first pass affordability and outcome read for Western Dakota Technical, using national average inputs. Run your own numbers for a personalized score.
Worth-It Score
Workable
Western Dakota Technical lands in the workable band for a typical family. Median debt of $15,000 can be carried by median long-run earnings of $40,240, but the margin is not huge. For context, Western Dakota Technical's net price runs about 82% above the typical 2-year, public school. This is the kind of school where your actual aid offer can move the answer meaningfully.
Is the price fair?
Compared to 791 similar 2-year, public schools
This school
$13,723
/yrAverage school like this
$7,555
/yrThis weighs on your Worth-It Score
You'd pay about $6,168 more per year than the typical student at a similar school. Over 4 years that's roughly $25,000 in extra cost.
Score breakdown
The public version of the score weighs affordability, after graduation outcomes, and repayment burden.
Affordability
40% weight
The yearly net price sits in a range that leaves more room for family cash flow and lower borrowing.
Outcome
40% weight
The outcome data does not create enough margin to fully offset the cost.
Repayment
20% weight
Median debt stays in a more comfortable repayment range for a typical graduate.
The numbers behind the score
Median net price per year
$12,670
Median earnings 10 years out
$40,240
Median debt at graduation
$15,000
Graduation rate
54%
At Western Dakota Technical, a typical graduate carries about $15,000 in student debt and earns roughly $40,240 ten years after enrolling. On a standard 10-year repayment plan, that works out to about $171 per month, or 5% of pre-tax income. That sits inside a borrower comfort range for many graduates.
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.
Similar schools worth comparing
These schools share a similar sector, geography, or price range.
2-year
Mitchell Technical
Mitchell, SD
Worth-It Score: 76/100
Median net price: $13,460
2-year
Stewart School
Sioux Falls, SD
Worth-It Score: 83/100
Median net price: $14,221
2-year
Lake Area Technical
Watertown, SD
Worth-It Score: 74/100
Median net price: $15,979
2-year
Southeast Technical
Sioux Falls, SD
Worth-It Score: 67/100
Median net price: $17,400
2-year
The Salon Professional Academy
Rapid City, SD
Worth-It Score: 68/100
Median net price: $18,146
Common questions about Western Dakota Technical
The median net price at Western Dakota Technical is $12,670 per year. That is the average yearly price after typical grant aid for students in the public federal data, not the published sticker price.
Get your personalized Worth-It score
National averages are a starting point. Plug in your actual aid offer, intended major, and family situation to get a score that reflects your specific picture.
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 →