Western Dakota Technical College is a public community college located in Rapid City, SD. It offers 45 programs for degree/certificate. (Of that, the distance learning opportunity (online degrees/courses) is given to 9 programs).

It is accredited by Higher Learning Commission.

The 2024 tuition & fees of Western Dakota Technical College is $8,008 for South Dakota residents and $8,008 for out-of-state students. Its tuition & fees is cheaper than that of South Dakota public community colleges' average ($7,475).

The school has 1,267 students, which is higher than South Dakota community collleges' average (1,032). In addition, 242 students have enrolled online exclusively. The students to faculty ratio is 9 to 1, which is lower than the average ratio (11 to 1) of South Dakota community colleges.

2024 Tuition & Fees

The following table shows the 2023-2024 tuition & fees, books & supplies, and living costs at Western Dakota Technical College. Then, we compare its costs to South Dakota community colleges and all U.S. community colleges.

In addition, the chart shows tuition trends over the last 5 years. You can check more comprehensive tuition information on the cost of attendance page.

2024 Cost Of Attendance - Western Dakota Tech
South Dakota ResidentsOut-of-State
Tuition & Fees$8,008$8,008
Books & Supplies$1,000
On-Campus Living Costs$12,000
Off-Campus Living Costs$14,400
Average Financial Aid$5,504
Cost of Attendance$21,008$21,008
After Financial Aid$15,504$15,504
Western Dakota Tech Tuition Comparison to National and State Average
South Dakota ResidentsOut-of-State Students
Western Dakota Technical College$8,008$8,008
Public Community Colleges in South Dakota$7,475$7,475
Public Community Colleges in U.S.$4,992$8,639

Offered Degrees/Programs By Area of Study

Western Dakota Technical College offers Certificate and Associate's programs. The following table summarizes the number of offered programs by degree types.

Offered Programs and Online Availability
CertificateAssociate'sBachelor's
Online Programs63NOT OFFERED
Total Programs2124NOT OFFERED

The following tables list each major program along with offered degrees and online availability. The number in each column indicates the number of awarded degrees and/or certificates of the program. It includes completers through on-campus classes, partially online classes, and only online classes.

What is Computer and Information Sciences program?
CertificateAssociateBachelor
Farm/Farm and Ranch ManagementNOT OFFERED 3 completers
 NOT OFFERED
Agroecology and Sustainable AgricultureNOT OFFERED 4 completers
 NOT OFFERED
What is Engineering Technology program?
CertificateAssociateBachelor
Computer Systems Networking and Telecommunications11 completers
 12 completers
 NOT OFFERED
What is Library Science program?
CertificateAssociateBachelor
Automation Engineer Technology/TechnicianNOT OFFERED NOT OFFERED NOT OFFERED
Environmental Engineering Technology/Environmental TechnologyNOT OFFERED 9 completers
 NOT OFFERED
Drafting and Design Technology/TechnicianNOT OFFERED 9 completers
 NOT OFFERED
What is Multi-/Interdisciplinary Studies program?
CertificateAssociateBachelor
Library and Archives Assisting3 completers
 1 completers
 NOT OFFERED
What is Construction Trades program?
CertificateAssociateBachelor
Criminal Justice/Safety StudiesNOT OFFERED 6 completers
 NOT OFFERED
Criminal Justice/Police ScienceNOT OFFERED 11 completers
 NOT OFFERED
What is Mechanics and Repairers program?
CertificateAssociateBachelor
ElectricianNOT OFFERED 7 completers
 NOT OFFERED
Building Construction Technology10 completers
 NOT OFFERED NOT OFFERED
Plumbing Technology/Plumber7 completers
 NOT OFFERED NOT OFFERED
What is Precision Production Trades program?
CertificateAssociateBachelor
Heating, Air Conditioning, Ventilation and Refrigeration Maintenance TechnologyNOT OFFERED 8 completers
 NOT OFFERED
Industrial Mechanics and Maintenance TechnologyNOT OFFERED 2 completers
 NOT OFFERED
Automobile/Automotive Mechanics Technology/TechnicianNOT OFFERED 16 completers
 NOT OFFERED
Diesel Mechanics Technology/TechnicianNOT OFFERED 11 completers
 NOT OFFERED
What is Health Services/Allied Health/Health Sciences program?
CertificateAssociateBachelor
Machine Tool Technology/Machinist8 completers
 5 completers
 NOT OFFERED
Welding Technology/Welder12 completers
 18 completers
 NOT OFFERED
What is Business program?
CertificateAssociateBachelor
Dental Assisting/Assistant6 completers
 NOT OFFERED NOT OFFERED
Medical Reception/Receptionist9 completers
 NOT OFFERED NOT OFFERED
Medical Insurance Coding Specialist/CoderNOT OFFERED 10 completers
 NOT OFFERED
Medical/Clinical Assistant8 completers
 NOT OFFERED NOT OFFERED
Pharmacy Technician/Assistant2 completers
 NOT OFFERED NOT OFFERED
Emergency Medical Technology/Technician (EMT Paramedic)3 completers
 2 completers
 NOT OFFERED
Surgical Technology/TechnologistNOT OFFERED 16 completers
 NOT OFFERED
Clinical/Medical Laboratory TechnicianNOT OFFERED 13 completers
 NOT OFFERED
Phlebotomy Technician/PhlebotomistNOT OFFERED NOT OFFERED NOT OFFERED
Clinical/Medical Laboratory Science and Allied Professions (other)5 completers
 NOT OFFERED NOT OFFERED
Registered Nursing/Registered NurseNOT OFFERED 31 completers
 NOT OFFERED
Licensed Practical/Vocational Nurse Training56 completers
 NOT OFFERED NOT OFFERED
What is Business program?
CertificateAssociateBachelor
Business Administration and ManagementNOT OFFERED 12 completers
 NOT OFFERED
AccountingNOT OFFERED 13 completers
 NOT OFFERED
Accounting Technology/Technician and Bookkeeping17 completers
 NOT OFFERED NOT OFFERED
Administrative Assistant and Secretarial Science5 completers
 NOT OFFERED NOT OFFERED
Entrepreneurship/Entrepreneurial StudiesNOT OFFERED NOT OFFERED NOT OFFERED
Hotel, Motel, and Restaurant Management2 completers
 NOT OFFERED NOT OFFERED
Digital MarketingNOT OFFERED NOT OFFERED NOT OFFERED

Student Population

There are 1,267 students at Western Dakota Technical College including both full-time and part-time students. By gender, 527 male students and 765 female students are attending the school.

The following table shows the total number of students by gender and attending status at the school. You can check more enrollment information of the school.

Student Population
TotalFull-TimePart-time
Total1,292593699
Male Students527302225
Female Students765291474

Distance Learning (Online Degree/Program) Enrollment

Of the 1,267 total students, 540 students enrolled through distance learning (242 students enrolled exclusively and 298 enrolled in some online courses).

Distance Learning Enrollment Distribution
Total Enrollment1,267
Enrolled Exclusively in Online Courses242
Enrolled in Some But Not All Online Courses298
Not Enrolled In Any Online Courses727

School Profile and Academic Overview

The following table shows directory information and summarizes important academic and admission characteristics for Western Dakota Technical College.

Directory Information and Key Academic Statistics
Type2-4 year, public
Address800 Mickelson Dr, Rapid City, SD
Phone605-718-2400
Tuition & Fees (2023-2024) »In-State$8,008
Out-of-State$8,008
Student Population »1,267 Total Enrollment
Graduation Rate »52%
Transfer-out Rate6%
Retention Rate66% (Full-time)
56% (Part-time)
Average Financial Aid »$5,504
Students to Faculty9:1 (11.11%)