True College Verdict
A

Lake Area Technical College

Watertown, SD · 1,812 undergraduates · 33% receive Pell Grants
PublicMainly associate degrees

A strong choice. It ranks 41 of 812 two-year colleges on student outcomes, with an overall score of 73.4 out of 100.

Is it affordable?
No
Average net price $15,278 a year after grants. Typical for similar colleges: $9,953.
Will most students finish?
Yes
70% graduate within 8 years. Typical for similar colleges: 36%.
Is it worth the price?
Likely
Graduates owe a typical $11,000 against earnings of $48,729, a ratio of 0.23. Under 0.4 is comfortable; over 0.7 is heavy.

These three answers are rules of thumb from the numbers below, not advice for any one student or major.

What do students really think?

You have seen the federal numbers for Lake Area Technical College. Now hear from people who went there, or add your own experience. Anonymous, no account.

Would you choose it again? That is the first question the rating form asks.

Why it is good

  • 70% of students graduate, better than 90% of two-year colleges.
  • Students stay: 81% of first-year students return for a second year, better than 87% of two-year colleges.
  • Strong pay: typical earnings ten years after starting are $48,729, higher than 70% of two-year colleges.
  • Debt is manageable: graduates owe a typical $11,000 in federal loans against earnings of $48,729.

Why it is bad

  • Expensive: the average student pays about $15,278 a year after grants, more than at 67% of two-year colleges.

The numbers

What these figures measure

Graduation rate: share of all students, full-time or part-time, who finish within 8 years. Return for year 2: share of first-time, full-time students who come back for a second year. Earnings: median pay about 10 years after starting, for students who received federal aid. Debt: median federal loan debt among those who finish. Net price: average yearly cost after grants and scholarships. All from the U.S. Education Department College Scorecard, institution file dated November 2, 2026.

Graduation rate
70%
Better than 90% of similar colleges. Typical: 36%
Return for year 2
81%
Better than 87% of similar colleges. Typical: 64%
Earnings after 10 years
$48,729
Better than 70% of similar colleges. Typical: $45,146
Debt at graduation
$11,000
Better than 67% of similar colleges. Typical: $12,000
Net price per year
$15,278
Better than 33% of similar colleges. Typical: $9,953
Published tuition
$7,622
Before any aid

Programs and early earnings

Associate degrees: largest programs

Certificates and diplomas: largest programs

Earnings are the median pay two years after completing, for graduates who were working and not enrolled again. The federal government hides figures for small programs, shown as n/a. Fields are broad groups, so a college may offer several majors inside one.

Students and reviews

Numbers cannot tell you about teaching, dorms or campus life. Read and write anonymous student reviews for Lake Area Technical College, or ask and answer questions about it. Other sources:

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The grade reflects outcomes for the average student compared with other two-year colleges. Individual majors can be much better or worse.