Do Students Succeed at Lake Area Technical College?
A data-driven look at student outcomes at Lake Area Technical College — completion rates, transfers, and enrollment status.
Student Success at Lake Area Technical College at a Glance
Lake Area Technical College is a public institution offering at least 2 but less than 4 years programs located in Watertown, SD. Current enrollment is 2,312 students.
- 73.1% overall graduation rate (IPEDS)
- 62.9% of all entering students earn their award within 8 years
- 14% of exiters from its largest program (Agriculture | AA/AS | In-person) were employed within 6 months — verified by the U.S. Department of Labor
- DOL-verified median earnings of $12,692 per quarter after exiting Agriculture | AA/AS | In-person
- 847 graduates across 48 programs in 2024
- VA-approved for GI Bill benefits — 129 students used them here
Program-Level Results · Verified by the U.S. Department of Labor
Verified Program Outcomes
Completion and employment results reported to the U.S. Department of Labor for Lake Area Technical College programs on the state Eligible Training Provider List. Missing values ("—") mean the state suppressed or did not report that metric — they never mean zero.
| Program | Completion rate | Employed 6 mo after exit | Employed 1 yr after exit | Median quarterly earnings |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Agriculture | AA/AS | In-person | 71% | 14% | 16% | $12,692 |
| Diesel Technology Ag/Industrial and Truck Options | AAS | Campus | 86% | 12% | 7% | $14,628 |
| Licensed Practical Nurse | Certificate | Hybrid | 38% | 6% | 5% | $14,710 |
| Business | AA/AS | In-person | 46% | 7% | 4% | $9,446 |
| Licensed Practical Nursing | Certificate | Campus | 42% | 7% | 7% | $10,905 |
| Business | AA/AS | Online | 39% | 11% | 5% | $5,648 |
| Welding Technology | Diploma | Campus | 78% | 7% | 5% | $11,255 |
| Cosmetology | In-person | Certificate | 68% | 8% | 7% | $6,486 |
| Automotive Technology | AAS | Campus | 74% | 8% | — | $7,075 |
| Computer Information Systems | AAS | Campus | 56% | 6% | 3% | $5,022 |
| Financial Services | AAS | Online | 49% | 6% | — | $14,190 |
| Registered Nurse | AAS | Campus | 93% | 9% | 9% | $13,753 |
| Law Enforcement | AAS | Campus | 64% | 7% | 5% | $11,497 |
| Building Trades Technology | AAS | Campus | 87% | — | — | — |
| Financial Services | AAS | Campus | 68% | 4% | 6% | $5,699 |
| Robotics | AAS | Campus | 70% | 10% | — | $14,689 |
| Welding Technology | AAS | Campus | 92% | 12% | 11% | $12,293 |
| Heavy Equipment Operator | Diploma | Campus | 66% | 14% | 13% | $14,190 |
| Medical Laboratory Technician | AAS | Campus | 46% | — | 5% | — |
| Energy Technology | AAS | Campus | 77% | 16% | — | $11,679 |
| Medical Lab Technician | AAS | Hybrid | 17% | — | — | — |
| Computer Information Systems | AAS | Hybrid | 28% | 7% | — | $13,979 |
| Precision Machining | AAS | Campus | 70% | 5% | — | $4,586 |
| Custom Paint & Fabrication | Diploma | Campus | 81% | — | 6% | — |
| Custom Paint & Fabrication | AAS | Campus | 91% | 13% | 10% | $9,748 |
| Robotics | AAS | Hybrid | 39% | — | — | — |
| Medical Assisting | AAS | Campus | 59% | — | — | — |
| Diesel Technology DCAT ThinkBig Caterpillar | AAS | Campus | 82% | — | — | — |
| Human Services | AA/AS | In-person | 80% | — | — | — |
| Heavy Equipment Operator | AAS | Campus | 84% | — | — | — |
| Environmental Technology | Diploma | Campus | 69% | — | — | — |
| Electronic Systems Technology | AAS | Campus | 43% | — | — | — |
| Energy Operations | AAS | Campus | 69% | — | — | — |
| Precision Machining - UpSkill In-Person | 83% | 42% | 20% | $6,771 |
| Community Healthcare Worker - UpSkill Online* | 86% | — | — | — |
| Environmental Technology | AAS | Campus | 85% | — | — | — |
| Agriculture-Livestock Production & Management | AA/AS | Online | 47% | 38% | — | $5,275 |
| Electronic Systems Technology | AAS | Hybrid | 47% | — | — | — |
| Dental Assisting | AAS | In-person | 73% | — | — | — |
Source: U.S. Department of Labor, WIOA participant outcomes (trainingproviderresults.gov), PY 2023.
College-Wide Statistics · IPEDS Federal Survey
What Are the Student Outcomes at Lake Area Technical College?
Unlike the program-level results above, the figures below cover all students at Lake Area Technical College, tracked over eight years by the federal IPEDS survey.
Overall Completion Rate
62.9%
Working Student Success
62.2%
Transfer Out Rate
10.9%
Still Enrolled Rate
1%
How Lake Area Technical College Compares
Lake Area Technical College completes 63% of students — a meaningfully better-than-average outcome for the trade-school space. Combined with a 11% transfer-out rate, the data suggests strong institutional follow-through on the credential or pathway students enrolled for.
What Happens After Students Enroll at Lake Area Technical College?
Eight-Year Student Outcomes
Eight-year outcomes for students who entered Lake Area Technical College. This shows what happened to students in their cohort by the end of the tracking period.
Understanding These Outcomes
Completed: Students who earned a certificate, diploma, or degree from this institution.
Still Enrolled: Students who remain enrolled at this institution after the tracking period.
Transferred Out: Students who transferred to another institution and may have completed there.
No Award: Students who left without earning a credential and are not enrolled elsewhere.
Combined completion and transfer rate of 74.9% indicates strong student success pathways.
These outcomes track what happened to students eight years after they first enrolled. Completion rates include certificates, diplomas, and degrees earned at this institution. Transfer rates show students who continued their education at other colleges. Understanding these pathways helps prospective students set realistic expectations and plan their educational journey.
What Are the Transfer and Continuation Patterns at Lake Area Technical College?
Success Rates by Student Entry Pathway
Comparing completion rates across different student entry pathways helps understand which groups succeed and how transfer experience impacts outcomes.
Key Insights
First-time and transfer students achieve similar completion rates, indicating equitable support regardless of entry pathway.
Combined 11.0% transfer-out rate suggests this institution may serve as a stepping stone for students continuing their education elsewhere.
Cohort Composition
Understanding Student Pathways
First-Time Students: Beginning postsecondary education for the first time at this institution.
Transfer-In Students: Previously attended another postsecondary institution before enrolling here.
Continuing Students: Returned to this institution after a break in enrollment.
Completion rates tracked over 8 years from initial entry.
Different student entry pathways lead to varying success rates. First-time students enter directly from high school or are starting college for the first time. Transfer students bring prior college experience and credits. Understanding these patterns helps you identify which pathway aligns best with your situation and predict your likelihood of success.
What Are the Completion Rates by Student Type at Lake Area Technical College?
What does this mean for you? These completion rates show how different types of students succeed at this institution. Full-time students have a higher completion rate (63.6%) compared to part-time students (62.2%). Consider your work and life commitments when deciding on your enrollment status. First-time students are those new to college, while transfer students have attended another institution before.
What Are the Cohort Outcomes Over Time at Lake Area Technical College?
Tracking outcomes for the 2015-16 cohort of 904 students
After 4 Years
After 6 Years
After 8 Years (Final)
Final Student Status
Completion Breakdown by Cohort
Part-time First-time Students
All First-time Students
Full-time First-time Students
All Part-time Students
Part-time First-time Transfer Students
All First-time Transfer Students
All Full-time Students
Full-time First-time Transfer Students
Time to Completion
About This Data
Outcome measures data tracks student cohorts over 4, 6, and 8-year periods. Data is sourced from IPEDS (Integrated Postsecondary Education Data System) and reflects the most recent available reporting year.