Lake Area Technical College vs Western Dakota Technical 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 $40,240 at Western Dakota Technical College. (Scorecard, 2026 · our math.)
| Measure | Lake Area Technical College | Western Dakota Technical College |
|---|---|---|
| Net price / yr | $15,979 | $12,670 |
| Total net cost | $31,958 | $25,340 |
| Median earnings, 10 yrs | $45,473 | $40,240 |
| Median debt | $12,000 | $15,000 |
| Payback | — | — |
| 20-year net return | -$89,698 | -$187,740 |
College Scorecard (2026), institution-level · payback and returns are our math. Figures blend all majors.
Which is cheaper, Lake Area Technical College or Western Dakota Technical College?
Western Dakota Technical College, at $12,670 a year after aid versus $15,979 — a gap of $3,309 a year, or $6,618 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 Western Dakota Technical College graduates earn more?
Lake Area Technical College graduates report a median $45,473 ten years after entry, $5,233 more than the $40,240 at Western Dakota Technical 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 leaves students with less debt, Lake Area Technical College or Western Dakota Technical College?
Lake Area Technical College: its completers carry a median $12,000 in federal loans versus $15,000 at Western Dakota Technical College, a difference of $3,000. The figure counts students who finished; it excludes private loans and anyone who left before graduating.
Which graduates more of its students?
73% of students finish at Lake Area Technical College, against 54% at Western Dakota Technical 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.