Western Dakota Technical College — ROI, Cost & Payback
Western Dakota Technical College charges a net price of $12,670/yr after aid — a 2-year total of $25,340. Median earnings ten years after entry are $40,240, below the $48,360 high-school baseline, so on this institution-wide metric the degree does not clear its cost. Program choice is what changes that. (Scorecard, 2026 · our math.)
On institution-wide earnings, Western Dakota Technical College does not clear its cost — it ranks #14 of 17 South Dakota colleges we track by ROI. The specific program you pick moves this more than the school average.
| Measure | Value | Source |
|---|---|---|
| Net price (after aid) | $12,670/yr | Scorecard, 2026 |
| Total net cost (2 yrs) | $25,340 | our math |
| Median earnings, 10 yrs after entry | $40,240 | Scorecard, 2026 |
| Earnings premium over HS baseline | -$8,120/yr | our math |
| Median debt (completers) | $15,000 | Scorecard, 2026 |
| Payback | does not clear | our math |
| 20-year net return | -$187,740 | our math |
College Scorecard (2026 release), institution-level · payback and returns are our math.
The arithmetic, on Western Dakota Technical College's own numbers. Net price $12,670 × 2 years = $25,340 total. Median earnings $40,240 fall $8,120 short of the $48,360 high-school baseline, so the premium this formula divides by is not positive and no break-even year exists on institution-wide pay. A programme here earning $58,360 would clear the $25,340 bill in about 2.5 years — the gap, not the price, is what blocks payback. Full method.
How much debt do Western Dakota Technical College students graduate with?
A median $15,000 in federal loans among completers, or 37% of the $40,240 its graduates earn ten years out — our math. The figure excludes private loans and students who left before finishing.
What share of Western Dakota Technical College students graduate?
54% finish their degree — 46% leave carrying the cost without the credential. Spread the $25,340 bill across that completion rate and the cohort pays $46,926 per graduate produced — our math, and the figure a payback number never shows.
Is Western Dakota Technical College expensive compared with other South Dakota colleges?
Its $12,670 net price runs $7,065 below the $19,735 median across the 17 South Dakota colleges we profile, and $14,130 less across the full degree.