HomeSouth DakotaWelding schools › Western Dakota Technical College

Western Dakota Technical College

Rapid City, South Dakota · public · mainly awards associate degrees · 753 students · WeldingMachining & CNCHVACElectricianElectrical LinemanPlumbingDiesel MechanicsAutomotive TechnologyAviation MaintenanceDental AssistingMedical AssistingPractical Nursing (LPN/LVN)EMT & ParamedicRadiologic Technology

Avg net price / yr
$12,670
cheaper than 25% of comparable schools
Completion rate
47%
Median debt at completion
$15,000
Median earnings (10 yrs after entry)
$40,240
earns ~$3,176 per $1k of yearly net price

About

Western Dakota Technical College is a public community college in Rapid City, SD that mainly awards associate degrees. It serves students seeking practical training in healthcare, trades, and technical fields.

What to know

The average annual net price after aid is $12,670, while the median student debt at completion is reported at $15,000. About 47% of students complete their programs, a figure that may undercount transfers from the public institution. Ten years after entry, median earnings for graduates are reported at $40,240.

Net price is 14% below the South Dakota median ($14,720) for schools offering these programs. Reported median earnings are 5% above the national median ($38,354) for comparable schools.

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Programs & what graduates earn

ProgramCredentialMedian earnings 2 yrs after completion
Allied Health Diagnostic, Intervention, and Treatment Professionsassociate degree$39,909
Precision Metal Workingassociate degree$36,134
Practical Nursing, Vocational Nursing and Nursing Assistantsundergraduate certificate$36,042
Electrical and Power Transmission Installersassociate degree$31,848
Allied Health and Medical Assisting Servicesassociate degree$26,850
Allied Health and Medical Assisting Servicesundergraduate certificate$26,353
Plumbing and Related Water Supply Servicesundergraduate certificatenot reported
Heating, Air Conditioning, Ventilation and Refrigeration Maintenance Technology/Technician (HAC, HACR, HVAC, HVACR)associate degreenot reported
Vehicle Maintenance and Repair Technologies/Techniciansassociate degreenot reported
Precision Metal Workingundergraduate certificatenot reported
Dental Support Services and Allied Professionsundergraduate certificatenot reported
Allied Health Diagnostic, Intervention, and Treatment Professionsundergraduate certificatenot reported
Show all 29 other programs at this school
ProgramCredentialMedian earnings (2 yr after completion)
Criminal Justice and Correctionsassociate degree$33,993
Drafting/Design Engineering Technologies/Techniciansassociate degree$30,409
Health and Medical Administrative Servicesassociate degree$29,685
Agricultural Business and Managementassociate degreenot reported
Agricultural Production Operationsassociate degreenot reported
Computer Systems Networking and Telecommunicationsundergraduate certificatenot reported
Computer Systems Networking and Telecommunicationsassociate degreenot reported
Electromechanical Technologies/Techniciansundergraduate certificatenot reported
Environmental Control Technologies/Techniciansassociate degreenot reported
Drafting/Design Engineering Technologies/Techniciansundergraduate certificatenot reported
Library and Archives Assistingundergraduate certificatenot reported
Library and Archives Assistingassociate degreenot reported
Multi-/Interdisciplinary Studies, Generalassociate degreenot reported
Fire Protectionassociate degreenot reported
Building/Construction Finishing, Management, and Inspectionundergraduate certificatenot reported
Heavy/Industrial Equipment Maintenance Technologies/Techniciansassociate degreenot reported
Health Services/Allied Health/Health Sciences, Generalassociate degreenot reported
Health and Medical Administrative Servicesundergraduate certificatenot reported
Clinical/Medical Laboratory Science/Research and Allied Professionsundergraduate certificatenot reported
Clinical/Medical Laboratory Science/Research and Allied Professionsassociate degreenot reported
Registered Nursing, Nursing Administration, Nursing Research and Clinical Nursingassociate degreenot reported
Business Administration, Management and Operationsundergraduate certificatenot reported
Business Administration, Management and Operationsassociate degreenot reported
Accounting and Related Servicesundergraduate certificatenot reported
Accounting and Related Servicesassociate degreenot reported
Business Operations Support and Assistant Servicesundergraduate certificatenot reported
Entrepreneurial and Small Business Operationsundergraduate certificatenot reported
Hospitality Administration/Managementundergraduate certificatenot reported
Marketingundergraduate certificatenot 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 at what credential level?
The school offers associate degrees in Allied Health, Precision Metal Working, Electrical and Power Transmission, and HVAC maintenance. It also offers undergraduate certificates in Practical Nursing, Allied Health and Medical Assisting Services, and Plumbing, plus 33 other programs.
How much do graduates of specific programs typically earn?
Allied Health Diagnostic graduates earn a median of $39,909 two years after completion. Precision Metal Working graduates earn $36,134. Practical Nursing graduates earn $36,042. Electrical and Power Transmission graduates earn $31,848. Allied Health and Medical Assisting graduates earn $26,850 for the associate degree or $26,353 for the certificate.
How many students finish their programs?
The completion rate is reported at 47%. Note that for public community colleges, this rate may undercount students who transfer out after starting but before finishing.
Is this school public or private?
Western Dakota Technical College is a public school.
What is the typical student debt compared to the yearly net price?
The median student debt at completion is $15,000. The average annual net price after aid is $12,670. These numbers are not directly comparable because debt is a total accumulated amount while net price is an annual figure.

Other options in South Dakota

SchoolCityNet price / yrCompletionEarnings (10 yr)
Lake Area Technical CollegeWatertown$15,97972.7%$45,473
Mitchell Technical CollegeMitchell$13,46073%$50,743
Southeast Technical CollegeSioux Falls$17,40062.7%$46,709
Data: U.S. Department of Education College Scorecard (most recent release, pulled July 2026), school ID 219480. 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.