Lake Area Technical College vs Oglala Lakota College: which has better ROI?
Neither clears its cost on institution-wide earnings, but Lake Area Technical College comes closer — median earnings $45,473 against a $31,958 total, vs $22,517 at Oglala Lakota College. (Scorecard, 2026 · our math.)
| Measure | Lake Area Technical College | Oglala Lakota College |
|---|---|---|
| Net price / yr | $15,979 | $1,895 |
| Total net cost | $31,958 | $3,790 |
| Median earnings, 10 yrs | $45,473 | $22,517 |
| Median debt | $12,000 | — |
| Payback | — | — |
| 20-year net return | -$89,698 | -$520,650 |
College Scorecard (2026), institution-level · payback and returns are our math. Figures blend all majors.
Which is cheaper, Lake Area Technical College or Oglala Lakota College?
Oglala Lakota College, at $1,895 a year after aid versus $15,979 — a gap of $14,084 a year, or $28,168 across the full degree. These are net prices after grants and scholarships, not sticker prices, so they reflect what an aided student pays.
Do Lake Area Technical College or Oglala Lakota College graduates earn more?
Lake Area Technical College graduates report a median $45,473 ten years after entry, $22,956 more than the $22,517 at Oglala Lakota College. Both are institution-wide medians from federal tax records, so a high-paying major at the lower school can beat the average at the higher one.
Which graduates more of its students?
73% of students finish at Lake Area Technical College, against 9% at Oglala Lakota College. Completion matters to the ROI arithmetic because a degree that is never finished still carries its cost and its debt, but earns none of the graduate premium above the $48,360 high-school baseline.