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2023 Most Popular Trade Schools in South Dakota
There are lots of options to pick from today when trying to decide which trade school program is right for you. You're no longer limited to schools in your local area, either, since online programs are becoming more prevalent.
Along with in-depth profiles of schools and the programs they offer, Trade College Search has created the Most Popular Trade Schools in South Dakota to help you in your search for the best school for you. This report analyzed 25 schools in South Dakota to see which ones were the most popular programs for trade school students. To create this ranking we looked at how many students graduated from each school on the list.
Most Popular Trade Schools in South Dakota
Learn more about these popular schools below:
Our 2023 rankings named Lake Area Technical Institute the most popular school in South Dakota for trade school students working on their degree. This small public school is located in Watertown, South Dakota, and it awarded 793 degrees in 2021-2022.
By the time they get their degree, students from this school have racked up an average of $13,201 in student loans. Once they receive their degree, LATI graduates enter the workforce, making an average salary of $36,525 during the early year of their career. Around 48% of those degree recipients were women.
A rank of #2 on this year’s list means Southeast Technical College is a great place for trade school students. Located in Sioux Falls, South Dakota, the small public school handed out 797 degrees in 2021-2022.
By the time they get their degree, students from this school have racked up an average of $15,006 in student loans. During the early years of their career, Southeast Tech graduates make an average of $39,912 annually. Around 54% of those degree recipients were women.
You’ll be in good company if you decide to attend Mitchell Technical College. It ranked #3 on our 2023 Most Popular Trade Schools in South Dakota list. Mitchell Tech is located in Mitchell, South Dakota and has a small student population. In 2021-2022, this school awarded 464 degrees to qualified students.
Degree recipients from Mitchell Tech accumulate an average of $12,522 in student debt by the time they complete their degree. Once they receive their degree, Mitchell Tech graduates enter the workforce, making an average salary of $40,678 during the early year of their career. Of those students who received their degree, 33% were women.
A rank of #4 on this year’s list means Western Dakota Technical Institute is a great place for trade school students. Western Dakota Tech is located in Rapid City, South Dakota and has a small student population. In 2021-2022, this school awarded 377 degrees to qualified students.
On average, students take out $15,628 in loans while pursuing their degree.After graduating from Western Dakota Tech, students go on to jobs where they make an average of $37,539 during the early years of their career. Around 58% of those degree recipients were women.
A rank of #5 on this year’s list means University of South Dakota is a great place for trade school students. Located in Vermillion, South Dakota, the medium-sized public school handed out 2,132 degrees in 2021-2022.
Degree recipients from USD accumulate an average of $29,872 in student debt by the time they complete their degree. If you borrow this amount, expect your monthly student loan payment to be around $171, assuming you are on a 10-year repayment plan.After graduating from USD, students go on to jobs where they make an average of $48,161 during the early years of their career. Of those students who received their degree, 62% were women.
National American University - Rapid City ranked #6 on this year’s Most Popular Trade Schools in South Dakota list. National American University - Rapid City is located in Rapid City, South Dakota and has a small student population. In 2021-2022, this school awarded 332 degrees to qualified students.
On average, students take out $27,065 in loans while pursuing their degree. Once they receive their degree, National American University - Rapid City graduates enter the workforce, making an average salary of $42,187 during the early year of their career. Around 54% of those degree recipients were women.
Stewart School landed the #7 spot in the 2023 rankings for the most popular trade school programs. Stewart School is a private for-profit institution located in Sioux Falls, South Dakota. The school has a very small population, and it awarded 93 degrees in 2021-2022.
On average, students take out $6,982 in loans while pursuing their degree. During the early years of their career, Stewart School graduates make an average of $21,923 annually. Of those students who received their degree, 99% were women.
South Dakota State University came in at #8 in this year’s edition of the Most Popular Trade Schools in South Dakota ranking. Located in Brookings, South Dakota, the fairly large public school handed out 2,703 degrees in 2021-2022.
On average, students take out $27,285 in loans while pursuing their degree. If you borrow this amount, expect your monthly student loan payment to be around $210, assuming you are on a 10-year repayment plan.After graduating from South Dakota State, students go on to jobs where they make an average of $45,741 during the early years of their career. Around 58% of those degree recipients were women.
Black Hills Beauty College landed the #9 spot in the 2023 rankings for the most popular trade school programs. This very small private for-profit school is located in Rapid City, South Dakota, and it awarded 40 degrees in 2021-2022.
Once they receive their degree, Black Hills Beauty College graduates enter the workforce, making an average salary of $21,146 during the early year of their career. Of those students who received their degree, 95% were women.
Headlines Academy Inc came in at #10 in this year’s edition of the Most Popular Trade Schools in South Dakota ranking. Located in Rapid City, South Dakota, the very small private for-profit school awarded 73 diplomas to qualifed students in 2021-2022.
On average, students take out $8,448 in loans while pursuing their degree. Once they receive their degree, Headlines Academy Inc graduates enter the workforce, making an average salary of $14,756 during the early year of their career. Around 97% of those degree recipients were women.
Dakota State University came in at #11 in this year’s edition of the Most Popular Trade Schools in South Dakota ranking. Located in Madison, South Dakota, the small public school awarded 583 diplomas to qualifed students in 2021-2022.
On average, students take out $23,088 in loans while pursuing their degree. For those students on a 10-year repayment plan, the average payment due each month is around $180. During the early years of their career, Dakota State graduates make an average of $49,355 annually. Around 32% of those degree recipients were women.
University of Sioux Falls landed the #11 spot in the 2023 rankings for the most popular trade school programs. University of Sioux Falls is a small private not-for-profit school situated in Sioux Falls, South Dakota. It awarded 586 degrees in 2021-2022.
By the time they get their degree, students from this school have racked up an average of $22,340 in student loans. During the early years of their career, University of Sioux Falls graduates make an average of $40,299 annually. Around 69% of those degree recipients were women.
Sanford Medical Center ranked #13 on this year’s Most Popular Trade Schools in South Dakota list. Sanford Medical Center is a very small private not-for-profit school situated in Sioux Falls, South Dakota. It awarded 14 degrees in 2021-2022.
Around 64% of those degree recipients were women.
Avera McKennan Hospital School of Radiologic Technology came in at #14 in this year’s edition of the Most Popular Trade Schools in South Dakota ranking. Avera McKennan Hospital School of Radiologic Technology is located in Sioux Falls, South Dakota and has a very small student population. In 2021-2022, this school awarded 12 degrees to qualified students.
Around 92% of those degree recipients were women.
Presentation College did quite well in this year’s ranking of the most popular places for trade school students. It came in at #15 on the list. Located in Aberdeen, South Dakota, the very small private not-for-profit school handed out 153 degrees in 2021-2022.
Degree recipients from Presentation College accumulate an average of $27,837 in student debt by the time they complete their degree. Once they receive their degree, Presentation College graduates enter the workforce, making an average salary of $51,279 during the early year of their career. Of those students who received their degree, 66% were women.
Avera Sacred Heart Hospital came in at #16 in this year’s edition of the Most Popular Trade Schools in South Dakota ranking. Avera Sacred Heart Hospital is a private not-for-profit institution located in Yankton, South Dakota. The school has a very small population, and it awarded 6 degrees in 2021-2022.
Around 100% of those degree recipients were women.
With a ranking of #16, Oglala Lakota College did quite well on this year’s most popular schools for trade school students working. Oglala Lakota College is located in Kyle, South Dakota and has a small student population. In 2021-2022, this school awarded 165 degrees to qualified students.
During the early years of their career, Oglala Lakota College graduates make an average of $42,569 annually. Of those students who received their degree, 76% were women.
Sisseton Wahpeton College came in at #18 in this year’s edition of the Most Popular Trade Schools in South Dakota ranking. Sisseton, South Dakota is the setting for this very small institution of higher learning. The public school handed out degrees to 18 students in 2021-2022.
Around 61% of those degree recipients were women.
South Dakota School of Mines and Technology did quite well in this year’s ranking of the most popular places for trade school students. It came in at #19 on the list. Rapid City, South Dakota is the setting for this small institution of higher learning. The public school handed out degrees to 545 students in 2021-2022.
Degree recipients from SD Mines accumulate an average of $23,164 in student debt by the time they complete their degree. If you borrow this amount, expect your monthly student loan payment to be around $306, assuming you are on a 10-year repayment plan. During the early years of their career, SD Mines graduates make an average of $64,929 annually. Around 26% of those degree recipients were women.
Read full report on South Dakota School of Mines and Technology
With a ranking of #19, Mount Marty University did quite well on this year’s most popular schools for trade school students working. Mount Marty is a small private not-for-profit school situated in Yankton, South Dakota. It awarded 198 degrees in 2021-2022.
By the time they get their degree, students from this school have racked up an average of $63,778 in student loans. Once they receive their degree, Mount Marty graduates enter the workforce, making an average salary of $80,285 during the early year of their career. Of those students who received their degree, 60% were women.
Sinte Gleska University landed the #21 spot in the 2023 rankings for the most popular trade school programs. Mission, South Dakota is the setting for this very small institution of higher learning. The public school handed out degrees to 87 students in 2021-2022.
Of those students who received their degree, 78% were women.
National American University - Ellsworth AFB Extension landed the #21 spot in the 2023 rankings for the most popular trade school programs. Located in Box Elder, South Dakota, the very small private for-profit school awarded 13 diplomas to qualifed students in 2021-2022.
By the time they get their degree, students from this school have racked up an average of $25,597 in student loans. Once they receive their degree, National American University - Ellsworth AFB Extension graduates enter the workforce, making an average salary of $37,317 during the early year of their career. Around 31% of those degree recipients were women.
Read full report on National American University - Ellsworth AFB Extension
With a ranking of #21, Black Hills State University did quite well on this year’s most popular schools for trade school students working. Spearfish, South Dakota is the setting for this small institution of higher learning. The public school handed out degrees to 539 students in 2021-2022.
On average, students take out $23,849 in loans while pursuing their degree. During the early years of their career, BHSU graduates make an average of $34,476 annually. Around 67% of those degree recipients were women.
Northern State University did quite well in this year’s ranking of the most popular places for trade school students. It came in at #21 on the list. Northern State University is a small public school located in Aberdeen, South Dakota that handed out 399 degrees in 2021-2022.
Degree recipients from NSU accumulate an average of $24,273 in student debt by the time they complete their degree. During the early years of their career, NSU graduates make an average of $38,422 annually. Around 61% of those degree recipients were women.
Augustana University landed the #25 spot in the 2023 rankings for the most popular trade school programs. Augustana University is a small private not-for-profit school located in Sioux Falls, South Dakota that handed out 818 degrees in 2021-2022.
On average, students take out $20,160 in loans while pursuing their degree. During the early years of their career, Augustana Sioux Falls graduates make an average of $40,631 annually. Around 66% of those degree recipients were women.
Most Popular Trade School Schools in the Plains States Region
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Notes and References
Footnotes
*These averages are for the top 25 schools only.
References
- The Integrated Postsecondary Education Data System (IPEDS) from the National Center for Education Statistics (NCES), a branch of the U.S. Department of Education (DOE) serves as the core of our data about colleges.
- Some other college data, including much of the graduate earnings data, comes from the U.S. Department of Education’s (College Scorecard).
- Information about the national average student loan default rate is from the U.S. Department of Education and refers to data about the 2016 borrower cohort tracking period for which the cohort default rate (CDR) was 10.1%.
More about our data sources and methodologies.
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