Do Students Succeed at Western Dakota Technical College?
Student success metrics for Western Dakota Technical College in Rapid City, SD: graduation, transfer, and retention data.
Student Success at Western Dakota Technical College at a Glance
Western Dakota Technical College is a public institution offering at least 2 but less than 4 years programs located in Rapid City, SD. Current enrollment is 1,164 students.
- 54.2% overall graduation rate (IPEDS)
- 44.7% of all entering students earn their award within 8 years
- 6% of exiters from its largest program (Licensed Practical Nurse | Hybrid (45 credit hours)) were employed within 6 months — verified by the U.S. Department of Labor
- DOL-verified median earnings of $12,281 per quarter after exiting Licensed Practical Nurse | Hybrid (45 credit hours)
- 327 graduates across 46 programs in 2024
- VA-approved for GI Bill benefits — 107 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 Western Dakota 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 |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Licensed Practical Nurse | Hybrid (45 credit hours) | 97% | 6% | 4% | $12,281 |
| Welding & Fabrication | AAS | Hybrid (66 credit hours) | 59% | 8% | 6% | $10,800 |
| Computer Science // Information Technology | AAS | Hybrid (69 credit hours) | 46% | 6% | 7% | $3,175 |
| Paramedic | AAS | Hybrid (63 credits) | 13% | — | 5% | — |
| Commercial Driver's License | Class A | Campus | 98% | 33% | 27% | $12,926 |
| Registered Nurse | AAS | Hybrid (41 credit hours) | 86% | 10% | 11% | $18,468 |
| Accounting | AAS | Campus (62 credit hours) | 54% | 10% | 6% | $13,115 |
| Electrical Trades | AAS | Campus (77 credit hours) | 55% | 8% | — | $11,560 |
| Automotive Technology | AAS | Campus (68 credit hours) | 59% | — | — | — |
| Criminal Justice // Law Enforcement Emphasis | AAS | Hybrid (63 credit hours) | 58% | 3% | 4% | $5,206 |
| Diesel Technology | AAS | Hybrid (66 credit hours) | 68% | 7% | 7% | $14,313 |
| Surgical Technology | AAS | Hybrid (60 credit hours) | 75% | 8% | — | $14,214 |
| Medical Laboratory Technician | AAS | Hybrid (69 credit hours) | 68% | 10% | 9% | $14,984 |
| Architectural & Engineering Technology | AAS | Hybrid (68 credit hours) | 63% | 6% | — | $3,269 |
| Welding and Fabrication | Diploma | Hybrid (36 credit hours) | 71% | 8% | 11% | $9,707 |
| Bookkeeping | Diploma | Online (30 credit hours) | 74% | 9% | 12% | $7,758 |
| Environmental Engineering Technician | AAS | Hybrid (61 credit hours) | 62% | 5% | 6% | $12,742 |
| HVAC/R Technology | AAS | Hybrid (62 credit hours) | 76% | 13% | 16% | $13,553 |
| Medical Assisting | Diploma | Hybrid (39 credit hours) | 35% | — | — | — |
| Health Information Management | Coding Specialty | AAS | Hybrid (60 credit hours) | 66% | 8% | — | $7,950 |
| Computer Science // Information Technology | Diploma | Hybrid (36 credit hours) | 76% | — | — | — |
| Commercial Driver's License | Class B | Campus | 100% | 11% | — | $13,199 |
| EMT/Pre-Paramedic | UpSkill | Campus | 91% | — | — | — |
| Phlebotomy | UpSkill | In-Person (18 credit hours) | 61% | — | 22% | — |
| Phlebotomy/Laboratory Assistant | Diploma | Hybrid (31 credit hours) | 38% | 10% | — | $7,958 |
| Health Information Management | Diploma | Hybrid (31 credit hours) | 67% | — | — | — |
| Precision Machining Technology | Diploma | Hybrid (42 credit hours) | 63% | — | — | — |
| Drafting and Machining Technology | AAS | Hybrid (68 credit hours) | 50% | — | — | — |
| Plumbing Technology | Diploma | Hybrid (30 credit hours) | 72% | — | — | — |
| Business // Hospitality | Diploma | Hybrid (39 credit hours) | 27% | — | — | — |
| Construction Technology | Diploma | Hybrid | 57% | — | — | — |
| Business Office Professional | Diploma | Hybrid (30 credit hours) | 67% | — | — | — |
| Environmental Engineering Technician // Controlled Environmental Agriculture | AAS | Hybrid (60 credit hours) | 83% | — | — | — |
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 Western Dakota Technical College?
Unlike the program-level results above, the figures below cover all students at Western Dakota Technical College, tracked over eight years by the federal IPEDS survey.
Overall Completion Rate
44.7%
Working Student Success
48.8%
Transfer Out Rate
16.7%
Still Enrolled Rate
0.5%
How Western Dakota Technical College Compares
A completion rate of 45% places Western Dakota Technical College in the typical zone for trade colleges. 0% are still enrolled, meaning the final completion picture continues to evolve — this is a metric where a school's profile changes over time as cohorts mature.
What Happens After Students Enroll at Western Dakota Technical College?
Eight-Year Student Outcomes
Eight-year outcomes for students who entered Western Dakota 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 56.1% 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 Western Dakota 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 12.0% 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 Western Dakota Technical College?
What does this mean for you? These completion rates show how different types of students succeed at this institution. Notably, part-time students have a higher success rate here (48.8% vs 41% for full-time), which is great news if you plan to work while studying. This pattern is common at trade colleges where programs are designed to accommodate working adults. First-time students are those new to college, while transfer students have attended another institution before.
What Are the Cohort Outcomes Over Time at Western Dakota Technical College?
Tracking outcomes for the 2015-16 cohort of 585 students
After 4 Years
After 6 Years
After 8 Years (Final)
Final Student Status
Completion Breakdown by Cohort
Part-time First-time Students
Part-time First-time Transfer Students
All First-time Transfer Students
All Part-time Students
Full-time First-time Transfer Students
All First-time Students
Part-time Non-first-time Transfer Students
Full-time First-time 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.