Southeast Technical College vs Black Hills State University: which has better ROI?
Neither clears its cost on institution-wide earnings, but Southeast Technical College comes closer — median earnings $46,709 against a $34,800 total, vs $46,674 at Black Hills State University. (Scorecard, 2026 · our math.)
| Measure | Southeast Technical College | Black Hills State University |
|---|---|---|
| Net price / yr | $17,400 | $15,911 |
| Total net cost | $34,800 | $63,644 |
| Median earnings, 10 yrs | $46,709 | $46,674 |
| Median debt | $12,000 | $26,000 |
| Payback | — | — |
| 20-year net return | -$67,820 | -$97,364 |
College Scorecard (2026), institution-level · payback and returns are our math. Figures blend all majors.
Which is cheaper, Southeast Technical College or Black Hills State University?
Black Hills State University, at $15,911 a year after aid versus $17,400 — a gap of $1,489 a year, or $28,844 across the full degree. These are net prices after grants and scholarships, not sticker prices, so they reflect what an aided student pays.
Do Southeast Technical College or Black Hills State University graduates earn more?
Southeast Technical College graduates report a median $46,709 ten years after entry, $35 more than the $46,674 at Black Hills State University. 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, Southeast Technical College or Black Hills State University?
Southeast Technical College: its completers carry a median $12,000 in federal loans versus $26,000 at Black Hills State University, a difference of $14,000. The figure counts students who finished; it excludes private loans and anyone who left before graduating.
Which graduates more of its students?
59% of students finish at Southeast Technical College, against 43% at Black Hills State University. 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.