Western Dakota Technical College: programs, outcomes and local jobs

Western Dakota Technical College at a glance

• 753

  students enrolled

• 431

  degrees and certificates a year

• 54%

  of students complete

  College Scorecard

• $12,670

  average net price a year

  Tuition $3,472

• $36,971

  median earnings, 6 years after entry

• $40,240

  median earnings, 10 years after entry

  88% working

What students study

AI and data programs

Degrees and certificates awarded in 2024, by program area and level, from IPEDS completions.

The job market around Western Dakota Technical College

Professional jobs listed in the cities of Pennington County, where the college is.

Layoff notices in Pennington CountySouth Dakota layoff noticesSouth Dakota rapid response

• 66

  open professional jobs

• 13

  entry level

• 0%

  ask for AI skills

  0 jobs

• 2.1%

  unemployment in Pennington County

  2026-08 · unchanged from a year earlier

• $70,768

  median household income

  Pennington County

• 39%

  of workers are in professional jobs

  estimated 1.4% unemployment among them

Jobs that fit what students study here: most degrees are in health professions, business & management, which lead to clinical (5 open), finance (6 open), sales (10 open), operations (15 open), marketing (6 open), human resources (2 open).

Hiring most: GPAC (4), City of Rapid City, Public Works (3), Pabst Brewing (3), Sanford (3), Terex (3), Vibra Healthcare (3), Dialysis Clinic (2), Nexstar Media Group (2).

What they hire for: Operations (15), Sales (10), Engineering (6), Finance (6), Marketing (6), Clinical (5). Operations jobs

Job search help near campus

Workforce board: South Dakota Workforce Development Council.

• Rapid City American Job CenterRapid City · 605-773-3372 · 8:00am - 5pm M-W & Fri; 9am - 5pm Thur

American Job Centers are free, public career offices.

Similar colleges in South Dakota

• Mitchell Technical CollegeMitchell · 990 students
• Lake Area Technical CollegeWatertown · 1,812 students
• Southeast Technical CollegeSioux Falls · 2,310 students

All South Dakota colleges

Common questions

How big is Western Dakota Technical College?

Western Dakota Technical College enrolls about 753 students and is a public 2-year institution in Rapid City, South Dakota. It awards about 431 degrees and certificates a year.

What is the graduation rate at Western Dakota Technical College?

54% of students complete, from the U.S. Department of Education College Scorecard (IPEDS 2023 / Scorecard 2026-06).

What do Western Dakota Technical College graduates earn?

Median earnings of students who received federal aid are $36,971 six years after entry and $40,240 ten years after entry, from the College Scorecard.

Does Western Dakota Technical College offer AI or data science degrees?

Yes. Western Dakota Technical College awarded degrees or certificates in robotics, mechatronics and automation (certificate) in 2024, from IPEDS completions by program.

Are there jobs near Western Dakota Technical College?

66 open professional jobs are listed in Pennington County, 13 of them entry level and 0 saying no experience is needed. GPAC has the most openings.