Dakota County Technical College
- Graduation Rate
- 52% C-
- About half of students who start complete their degree
- Earnings (10yr)
- $51,938 B
- Well above the typical college graduate
- Net Price
- $13,548 C+
- 21% less than the typical college
- Enrollment
- 2,168
Bottom line: A C+ overall grade — average outcomes for a U.S. college. 21.8× return on investment — every $1 spent returns $21.8 over 20 years.
Every $1 spent returns $21.8 over 20 years — debt pays back in ~under a year. Net gain: $1,128,395.
What The Data Says
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A C+ overall — outcomes above the typical U.S. college.
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Earnings 27% above the national college median.
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Every $1 invested returns $21.8 over 20 years — an exceptional return.
Why Dakota County Technical College Matters
Dakota County Technical College is a public community college in Rosemount, MN and its outcomes are not an accident. They are driven by a well-connected, high-opportunity alumni network. The result: graduate earnings well above the typical college.
Interpretation generated from this school's federal outcomes, research, and mobility data.
Institutional Profile
- Institution Type
- Public Community College
- Carnegie Class
- Associate's College
- Enrollment
- 2,168
- Setting
- Rural
- Primary Strengths
- Health Professions, Business & Marketing, Mechanic & Repair Tech, Construction Trades
Why students choose Dakota County Technical College
CollegeRanker Report Card
Graded on outcomes, against every U.S. college.
Each grade is this school's national percentile on a real outcome — earnings, value, mobility, and more.
How we grade →Admissions
This school does not report a competitive admit rate — most qualified applicants are admitted.
Check your odds →Net price + aid
Students pay about $13,548 a year after grants and scholarships — 21% below the typical U.S. college. See net price by family income below.
See cost & aid →Earnings + debt
Graduates earn a median of $51,938 ten years after enrolling — 27% above the typical college, against $11,000 in median debt.
See outcomes →Mobility + social capital
Strong cross-class social capital — an economic-connectedness score of 1.53 (Opportunity Insights).
See mobility →Overview
Dakota County Technical College is a solid choice for students looking to jumpstart their careers in practical fields. With around 2,168 students, it's a community where you can get personal attention. Many students dive into programs like Health Professions, Business & Marketing, Mechanic & Repair Technology, Construction Trades, and Precision Production. These areas reflect the college's focus on hands-on training and immediate job readiness, making it a good fit for those who want to enter the workforce quickly.
After graduation, students can expect to earn approximately $51,938 within ten years. That translates to meaningful opportunities, particularly for those who engage in the right programs. Affordability plays a role here, too, as the net price after aid is about $13,548, making it relatively accessible for many. This balance of cost and potential earnings suggests that graduates can find their footing in the job market, especially if they take advantage of the skills learned in their programs.
In terms of finances, students graduate with a median debt of $11,000, which is manageable compared to their earning potential. The college supports a mix of financial aid options, with about 27% of students receiving Pell Grants. Those who thrive here tend to be motivated individuals ready to roll up their sleeves and take advantage of the practical training offered. Dakota County Technical College is well-suited for anyone looking to build a solid career without the burden of overwhelming debt.
Rankings
Can I Get In?
How selective Dakota County Technical College is — and how your numbers stack up.
Tool
Will I Be Accepted?
Enter your credentials to see your chances at this school.
Academics & Admissions
Is It Hard to Get Into Dakota County Technical College? Acceptance Rate & Requirements
As a public institution in Rosemount, Minnesota, Dakota County Technical College enrolls students across a range of programs. The graduation rate is roughly 52%.
- Retention Rate
- 74%
- Full-Time Faculty
- 39%
- Faculty Salary (mo)
- $9,498
- Student–Faculty Ratio
- 23:1
- Diversity Index
- 0.57
- First-Gen Students
- 31%
Can I Afford It?
What you'll actually pay after grants and aid — not the sticker price.
Cost & Financial Aid
How Much Does It Cost to Attend Dakota County Technical College? Tuition, Net Price & Aid
Published tuition at Dakota County Technical College is $6,679, but few families pay that. The number to watch is net price, what students actually pay each year after federal grants and institutional scholarships. Here it averages about $13,548. Students from families earning under $30,000 typically pay closer to $9,549 after need-based grants. The median graduate leaves with about $11,000 in federal student loans.
- In-State Tuition
- $6,679
- Out-of-State
- $6,679
- Avg Net Price
- $13,548
- Median Debt
- $11,000
- Pell Grant Rate
- 27%
- Federal Loan Rate
- 25%
What Families Actually Pay
- Family Income $0–$30K
- $9,549
- Family Income $30K–$48K
- $9,835
- Family Income $48K–$75K
- $12,371
- Family Income $110K+
- $18,089
What Happens After?
Earnings, debt, and where graduates actually land.
Students Like You
Tell us a little about yourself to see what students like you have typically experienced at Dakota County Technical College — the net price for your income, your admission odds, and the outcomes that follow. These are patterns from federal data, not predictions.
Graduate Outcomes
Is Dakota County Technical College Worth It? Graduate Earnings & ROI
Ten years out, alumni of Dakota County Technical College earn a median of $51,938, roughly in line with the national average for college graduates.
- 6 Years After Entry
- $46,398
- 8 Years
- $49,316
- 10 Years
- $51,938
- Debt-to-Earnings
- 0.21x
- Earning > $25K
- 67%
Earnings Trajectory
Graduation by Timeframe
- 100% (176)
- 47%
- 100% (176)
- 47%
- 100% (176)
- 47%
- 100% (176)
- 47%
How Dakota Compares
Dot right of center = above national average.
Net Price by Family Income
What families actually pay after aid, by income bracket.
College ROI Calculator
Is Dakota County Technical College Worth It?
A data-driven look at the return on your educational investment — using real federal data.
Yes — for most students, Dakota County Technical College delivers a positive return. Over four years, the typical net price is $13,548/year ($54,192 total). Graduates earn $51,938 at ten years, and over a 20-year career we project $1,182,587 in total earnings — a net gain of $1,128,395 (21.8× your investment). The median debt is $11,000, which takes less than a year to pay back at typical earnings. With a 52% graduation rate, the path to that return is well-tested. This is a exceptional ROI compared to national averages.
- Total Cost (4yr)
- $54,192
- Projected 20yr Earnings
- $1,182,587
- Net Return
- $1,128,395
- ROI Multiple
- 21.8×
- Cost Per Year
- $13,548
- Median Debt
- $11,000
- Debt Payback
- Less than 1 yr
- Graduation Rate
- 52%
Does It Change Lives?
Mobility, social capital, and innovation — does it move people up?
Institutional Finances
Data: NCES IPEDS
- Endowment
- $2,043,000
- Investment Income
- $37,000
Top Programs
The fields Dakota County Technical College awards the most degrees in, by share of completions. Where federal field-of-study data exists, we show what graduates in that major earned early in their careers. Each links to its degree guide — or see what someone with your income, scores, and major would pay and earn here in the Students Like You simulator.
- Health Professions 23% $39,438 early-career
- Business & Marketing 20% $52,924 early-career
- Mechanic & Repair Tech 17% $72,208 early-career
- Construction Trades 10% $56,154 early-career
- Precision Production 5% $46,136 early-career
- Visual & Performing Arts 5% $35,271 early-career
- Computer Science & IT 4% $60,214 early-career
- Education 1%
Early-career median earnings by major (typically 1–2 years after completion, bachelor's level where available), in today's dollars (CPI-adjusted). Source: U.S. Dept. of Education College Scorecard field of study. Distinct from the school-wide 10-year median; suppressed for small programs.
Top Careers
Where these majors tend to lead — common career paths for Dakota County Technical College's most popular programs, ranked by median pay with our proprietary scorecard insights.
- CChief Executive Officer$189,520 · 3% growthAdaptable 64
- C+IT Manager$169,510 · 15% growthAdaptable 52
- C+Cloud Architect$142,000 · 15% growthAdaptable 52
- B-Site Reliability Engineer$140,000 · 20% growthAdaptable 52
- CSolutions Architect$138,000 · 12% growthAdaptable 52
- CHR Manager$136,350 · 5% growthAdaptable 64
- CPetroleum Engineer$135,690 · 2% growthResilient 72
- CSales Manager$135,160 · 4% growthAdaptable 64
Frequently Asked Questions
Is It Hard to Get Into Dakota County Technical College? Acceptance Rate & Requirements
As a public institution in Rosemount, Minnesota, Dakota County Technical College enrolls students across a range of programs. The graduation rate is roughly 52%.
How Much Does It Cost to Attend Dakota County Technical College? Tuition, Net Price & Aid
Published tuition at Dakota County Technical College is $6,679, but few families pay that. The number to watch is net price, what students actually pay each year after federal grants and institutional scholarships. Here it averages about $13,548. Students from families earning under $30,000 typically pay closer to $9,549 after need-based grants. The median graduate leaves with about $11,000 in federal student loans.
Is Dakota County Technical College Worth It? Graduate Earnings & ROI
Ten years out, alumni of Dakota County Technical College earn a median of $51,938, roughly in line with the national average for college graduates.
How Connected Is Dakota County Technical College? Social Capital & Cross-Class Networks
Social capital, the web of cross-class friendships that researchers link to long-run upward mobility, runs high at Dakota County Technical College. Its economic connectedness score is 1.53, where about 1.0 is the national norm. Its friending bias is low (0.03), a sign that students from different economic backgrounds actually mix rather than self-segregate. Around 5% of students take part in civic and volunteering activity.
Similar Schools
Schools with similar outcomes, selectivity, and student profiles to Dakota County Technical College.
- North Dakota State College of ScienceWahpeton, ND · Close peer52% grad $50,513 earnWhy: similar earnings · similar grad rate · similar size
- Alexandria Technical & Community CollegeAlexandria, MN · Close peer60% grad $49,393 earnWhy: similar earnings · similar grad rate · similar size
- Southeast Technical CollegeSioux Falls, SD · Close peer56% grad $46,709 earnWhy: similar grad rate · similar size
- Lake Superior CollegeDuluth, MN · Close peer40% grad $46,449 earnWhy: similar size · same state
- Minnesota State Community and Technical CollegeFergus Falls, MN · Close peer47% grad $45,591 earnWhy: similar grad rate · similar size · similar net price
- Inver Hills Community CollegeInver Grove Heights, MN · Close peer22% grad $49,898 earnWhy: similar earnings · similar size · same state
Social Capital
Data: Opportunity Insights Social Capital Atlas
How Connected Is Dakota County Technical College? Social Capital & Cross-Class Networks
Social capital, the web of cross-class friendships that researchers link to long-run upward mobility, runs high at Dakota County Technical College. Its economic connectedness score is 1.53, where about 1.0 is the national norm. Its friending bias is low (0.03), a sign that students from different economic backgrounds actually mix rather than self-segregate. Around 5% of students take part in civic and volunteering activity.
Research Note