Covering Innovation & Inequality in Education
This year at Western Dakota Technical College, we project that on average students will pay $11,304, while the advertised price of attendance is $21,553. That’s a difference of $10,249.
| Year | Net in-state price at Western Dakota Technical College | In-state sticker price at Western Dakota Technical College | Out-of-state sticker price at Western Dakota Technical College |
|---|---|---|---|
| 26-27 | $11,304 | $21,553 | $21,553 |
| 25-26 | $11,244 | $21,439 | $21,439 |
| 24-25 | $11,185 | $21,325 | $21,325 |
| 23-24 | $12,277 | $23,408 | $23,408 |
| 22-23 | $13,723 | $25,586 | $25,586 |
| 21-22 | $13,239 | $24,082 | $24,082 |
| 20-21 | $13,934 | $24,024 | $24,024 |
| 19-20 | $15,936 | $24,004 | $24,004 |
| 18-19 | $13,443 | $22,210 | $22,210 |
| 17-18 | $15,387 | $23,060 | $23,060 |
| 16-17 | $13,114 | $20,798 | $20,798 |
| 15-16 | $11,631 | $20,590 | $20,590 |
| 14-15 | $12,607 | $20,111 | $20,111 |
| 13-14 | $10,443 | $19,449 | $19,449 |
How much a student actually pays usually depends, at least in part, on their family's household income. At Western Dakota Technical College this year, we project students with incomes over $110K will pay around $17,352, while students with incomes below $30K will pay around $9,273. That's a difference of $8,079.
| Income bracket | Projected net price at Western Dakota Technical College |
|---|---|
| <$30K | $9,273 |
| $30K-$48K | $9,708 |
| $48K-$75K | $12,894 |
| $75K-$110K | $17,179 |
| >$110K | $17,352 |
A school’s graduation rate can indicate how likely a student is to complete their degree. At Western Dakota Technical College, over the last five years 50% of students earned their associate’s degree within four years of enrolling.
Students from different demographic backgrounds often graduate at different rates, so it can be helpful to look beyond the overall graduation rate. This chart shows how students of different races and ethnicities fare earning their degrees at Western Dakota Technical College.
| Demographic category | Graduation rate at Western Dakota Technical College | National average |
|---|---|---|
| American Indian/Alaska Native | 24% | 31% |
| Asian | 75% | 48% |
| Black | 50% | 35% |
| Hispanic | 46% | 45% |
| Native Hawaiian/Pacific Islander | 33% | 25% |
| White | 55% | 51% |
| Multiple races | 38% | 36% |
| Unknown race | 29% | 34% |
Student retention, or how often students return to continue their degree after completing their first year, is another helpful indicator. Over the last five years, at Western Dakota Technical College, about 66% of full-time students returned the following fall to continue their degree.
The size and demographic makeup of a school’s student body can have a large impact on a student’s experience. Western Dakota Technical College has 1,461 students, which puts it in the {SIZE_PERCENTILE} percentile of public, 2-year schools.
About 56% of students are female.
And about 78% of students are white.