Southeast Technical College vs. Western Dakota Tech

Comparable Facts

Compare Southeast Technical College in Sioux Falls, SD with Western Dakota Technical College in Rapid City, SD on tuition, admissions, graduation, earnings, and student body data using the table above.

Southeast Technical College is larger than Western Dakota Tech based on total student enrollment (2,659 students vs. 1,164 students)

Location, institution type, and student-faculty ratio

• Southeast Technical College is located in Sioux Falls, SD (Rural Fringe setting); Western Dakota Technical College is in Rapid City, SD (Rural Fringe setting).
• Southeast Technical College is a public, non-profit 2-year institution. Western Dakota Technical College is a public, non-profit 2-year institution.
• Student-to-faculty ratio: Southeast Technical College 13:1; Western Dakota Technical College 11:1.

Southeast Technical College vs. Western Dakota Tech Cost Comparison

Which college is more expensive, Southeast Technical College or Western Dakota Tech? Published tuition is the sticker price; many students pay less after aid (see average net price below).

• The typical actual cost that students pay to attend (average net price) is less at Western Dakota Technical College than Southeast Technical College ($12,277 vs. $15,635).
• Living costs (room and board or off-campus housing budget) at Western Dakota Technical College are 3% lower than at Southeast Technical College ($8,150 vs. $8,404).
• Western Dakota Technical College is 8.4% more expensive for in-state tuition than Southeast Technical College (about $644 more per year; $8,294.00 vs. $7,650.00).
• Out-of-state tuition is 8.4% higher at Western Dakota Tech than at Southeast Technical College (about $644 more per year; $8,294.00 vs. $7,650.00).
• A larger share of students receive grant aid at Southeast Technical College than at Western Dakota Technical College (76% vs. 56%).
• The average total grant financial aid received by Western Dakota Technical College students is 58.9% larger than aid received by Southeast Technical College students ($7,370 vs. $4,637).

Southeast Technical College vs. Western Dakota Tech Admissions comparison

Which college is harder to get into, Southeast Technical College or Western Dakota Tech? Typical SAT and ACT scores (same estimates as in the table above), middle 50% test ranges where reported, test score submission policy, deadlines, and acceptance rates summarize admission difficulty between Western Dakota Tech and Southeast Technical College.

• Both colleges report an open admissions policy; selectivity can still vary by program or major.
• Submitting SAT or ACT scores: Southeast Technical College - Open admission; Western Dakota Tech - Open admission.
• Typical fall application deadline: Western Dakota Tech Aug 25, 2027.
• Accepted freshman Western Dakota Tech students have a 0.53 point higher average high school GPA (2.93) than students at Southeast Technical College (2.4).

Southeast Technical College vs. Western Dakota Tech Graduation Outcomes Comparison

How do outcomes compare for Southeast Technical College and Western Dakota Tech? Graduation rate, earnings, and student loan debt are common indicators. The bullets below summarize the same federal outcomes fields as the comparison table (College Scorecard / IPEDS where applicable).

• Graduates from Southeast Technical College earn a median of about $2,300 more per year than Western Dakota Tech graduates about ten years after starting college ($39,300 vs. $37,000), per the same Scorecard earnings definition.
• Among federal student loan borrowers, Western Dakota Technical College and Southeast Technical College graduates have the same median loan debt ($12,000 vs. $12,000).
• Among borrowers in the federal data, Western Dakota Technical College and Southeast Technical College graduates have the same median monthly federal student loan payment ($124 vs. $124).
• More Southeast Technical College graduates are actively paying back their federal student loan debt than former Western Dakota Tech students, three years after graduation. (60% vs. 52%)

Sources: U.S. Department of Education https://nces.ed.gov IPEDS and College Scorecard https://collegescorecard.ed.gov/. Values reflect the most recent year available in our dataset.