What programs are offered and what credential level do they grant?

The school offers associate degrees in Ground Transportation, Vehicle Maintenance and Repair Technologies, Allied Health and Medical Assisting Services, and Precision Metal Working. It also offers undergraduate certificates in Practical Nursing, Dental Support Services, Cosmetology, and Vehicle Maintenance and Repair Technologies.

How much do graduates of the Ground Transportation program typically earn?

Graduates of the Ground Transportation associate degree program typically earn a median of $45,852 two years after completion.

What is the completion rate for students at this school?

The reported completion rate for the school is 72.7%.

Is Lake Area Technical College a public or private institution?

It is a public school located in Watertown, SD.

How does typical student debt compare to the yearly net price?

The median student debt at completion is $12,000, while the average annual net price after aid is $15,979. These figures measure different things, so do not compare the total debt directly to one year of net price.

Home › South Dakota › Welding schools › Lake Area Technical College

Lake Area Technical College

Watertown, South Dakota · public · mainly awards associate degrees · 1,812 students · WeldingMachining & CNCCDL & Truck DrivingDiesel MechanicsAutomotive TechnologyAviation MaintenanceDental AssistingMedical AssistingPractical Nursing (LPN/LVN)CosmetologyBarberingEMT & ParamedicRadiologic Technology

Avg net price / yr

$15,979

cheaper than 15% of comparable schools

Completion rate

72.7%

Median debt at completion

$12,000

Median earnings (10 yrs after entry)

$45,473

earns ~$2,845.8 per $1k of yearly net price

About

Lake Area Technical College is a public school in Watertown, SD that mainly awards associate degrees. With 1,812 students, it offers training in fields like nursing, automotive repair, and metalworking. The U.S. Department of Education College Scorecard data reports typical costs and earnings for graduates.

What to know

The average annual net price after aid is reported at $15,979. A solid 72.7% of students complete their studies, though public community college completion rates often undercount transfer-outs. Typical student debt at completion is $12,000, which compares to a median earnings figure of $45,473 ten years after entry.

Net price is 9% above the South Dakota median ($14,720) for schools offering these programs. Reported median earnings are 19% above the national median ($38,354) for comparable schools.

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Programs & what graduates earn

Program	Credential	Median earnings 2 yrs after completion
Ground Transportation	associate degree	$45,852
Vehicle Maintenance and Repair Technologies/Technicians	associate degree	$40,821
Practical Nursing, Vocational Nursing and Nursing Assistants	undergraduate certificate	$37,856
Allied Health and Medical Assisting Services	associate degree	$37,088
Precision Metal Working	associate degree	$36,560
Dental Support Services and Allied Professions	undergraduate certificate	$31,314
Cosmetology and Related Personal Grooming Services	undergraduate certificate	$21,508
Vehicle Maintenance and Repair Technologies/Technicians	undergraduate certificate	not reported
Precision Metal Working	undergraduate certificate	not reported
Ground Transportation	undergraduate certificate	not reported
Dental Support Services and Allied Professions	associate degree	not reported
Allied Health Diagnostic, Intervention, and Treatment Professions	undergraduate certificate	not reported
Allied Health Diagnostic, Intervention, and Treatment Professions	associate degree	not reported

Show all 24 other programs at this school

Program	Credential	Median earnings (2 yr after completion)
Construction Engineering Technology/Technician	associate degree	$66,915
Electromechanical Technologies/Technicians	associate degree	$52,107
Agricultural Business and Management	associate degree	$37,291
Clinical/Medical Laboratory Science/Research and Allied Professions	associate degree	$35,416
Building/Construction Finishing, Management, and Inspection	associate degree	$33,993
Finance and Financial Management Services	associate degree	$29,250
Marketing	associate degree	$26,519
Human Services, General	associate degree	$23,069
Agricultural Business and Management	undergraduate certificate	not reported
Natural Resources Conservation and Research	undergraduate certificate	not reported
Natural Resources Conservation and Research	associate degree	not reported
Computer Science	undergraduate certificate	not reported
Computer Science	associate degree	not reported
Electrical/Electronic Engineering Technologies/Technicians	associate degree	not reported
Industrial Production Technologies/Technicians	associate degree	not reported
Criminal Justice and Corrections	associate degree	not reported
Human Services, General	undergraduate certificate	not reported
Air Transportation	associate degree	not reported
Mental and Social Health Services and Allied Professions	undergraduate certificate	not reported
Mental and Social Health Services and Allied Professions	associate degree	not reported
Registered Nursing, Nursing Administration, Nursing Research and Clinical Nursing	associate degree	not reported
Entrepreneurial and Small Business Operations	undergraduate certificate	not reported
Finance and Financial Management Services	undergraduate certificate	not reported
Marketing	undergraduate certificate	not reported

Get paid while you train instead

Registered apprenticeships are an alternative to paying for school — sponsors pay wages from day one. In South Dakota:

Questions students ask

What programs are offered and what credential level do they grant?: The school offers associate degrees in Ground Transportation, Vehicle Maintenance and Repair Technologies, Allied Health and Medical Assisting Services, and Precision Metal Working. It also offers undergraduate certificates in Practical Nursing, Dental Support Services, Cosmetology, and Vehicle Maintenance and Repair Technologies.
How much do graduates of the Ground Transportation program typically earn?: Graduates of the Ground Transportation associate degree program typically earn a median of $45,852 two years after completion.
What is the completion rate for students at this school?: The reported completion rate for the school is 72.7%.
Is Lake Area Technical College a public or private institution?: It is a public school located in Watertown, SD.
How does typical student debt compare to the yearly net price?: The median student debt at completion is $12,000, while the average annual net price after aid is $15,979. These figures measure different things, so do not compare the total debt directly to one year of net price.

Other options in South Dakota

School	City	Net price / yr	Completion	Earnings (10 yr)
Mitchell Technical College	Mitchell	$13,460	73%	$50,743
Southeast Technical College	Sioux Falls	$17,400	62.7%	$46,709
Western Dakota Technical College	Rapid City	$12,670	47%	$40,240

Data: U.S. Department of Education College Scorecard (most recent release, pulled July 2026), school ID 219143. Figures are federally reported medians and may lag current prices. "Not reported" means the federal dataset suppresses or lacks the value — often due to small cohort sizes. How we compute comparisons. This site is independent and not affiliated with any government agency or school.