Mitchell Technical College
#1 Best Colleges in South Dakota- Graduation Rate
- 74% B
- Solid completion rate — most students graduate
- Earnings (10yr)
- $50,743 B-
- Well above the typical college graduate
- Net Price
- $13,460 C+
- 21% less than the typical college
- Enrollment
- 990
Bottom line: A B- overall grade — average outcomes for a U.S. college. 20.1× return on investment — every $1 spent returns $20.1 over 20 years. Ranked #1 in Best Colleges in South Dakota.
Every $1 spent returns $20.1 over 20 years — debt pays back in ~under a year. Net gain: $1,027,734.
What The Data Says
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A B- overall — outcomes above the typical U.S. college.
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Earnings 24% above the national college median.
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Social mobility rate of 3.13% — an engine of upward economic mobility.
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Every $1 invested returns $20.1 over 20 years — an exceptional return.
Why Mitchell Technical College Matters
Mitchell Technical College is a public community college in Mitchell, SD and its outcomes are not an accident. They are driven by a well-connected, high-opportunity alumni network and a strong record of moving students up the income ladder. 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
- 990
- Setting
- Town
- Primary Strengths
- Construction Trades, Health Professions, Business & Marketing, Mechanic & Repair Tech
Why students choose Mitchell 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 $13,460 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 $50,743 ten years after enrolling — 24% above the typical college, against $12,000 in median debt.
See outcomes →Mobility + social capital
Moves 3.1% of its students from the bottom income fifth to the top — top 9% nationally for mobility. High social capital (1.37 economic connectedness).
See mobility →Overview
With around 990 students, Mitchell Technical College is a great fit for those looking to enter practical fields quickly. The school stands out for its focus on hands-on training in programs like Construction Trades, Health Professions, Business & Marketing, Mechanic & Repair Tech, and Criminal Justice. This means that whether you're interested in building, healthcare, business, or mechanics, you can find a path that suits your interests and career goals.
When it comes to what happens after graduation, the figures are encouraging. Graduates earn an average of $50,743 within ten years of completing their studies. That’s a solid starting point, especially considering the college’s affordable net price of $13,460. Many students here also receive financial help, with 32% of them qualifying for Pell Grants, which can ease the burden of education costs even more.
Looking at the numbers, the median debt for graduates is $12,000, which is quite manageable compared to potential earnings. This indicates that students tend to graduate with a reasonable debt load, making it easier for them to thrive financially afterward. Those who do well here often appreciate the focus on practical skills and the supportive learning environment, which helps them transition smoothly into the workforce.
Rankings
Can I Get In?
How selective Mitchell 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 Mitchell Technical College? Acceptance Rate & Requirements
Based in Mitchell, South Dakota, Mitchell Technical College enrolls students across a range of programs. The graduation rate is roughly 74%.
- Retention Rate
- 85%
- Full-Time Faculty
- 90%
- Faculty Salary (mo)
- $7,841
- Student–Faculty Ratio
- 13:1
- Diversity Index
- 0.22
- First-Gen Students
- 32%
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 Mitchell Technical College? Tuition, Net Price & Aid
Published tuition at Mitchell Technical College is $7,524, 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 $13,460. Students from families earning under $30,000 typically pay closer to $9,750 after need-based grants. The median graduate leaves with about $12,000 in federal student loans.
- In-State Tuition
- $7,524
- Out-of-State
- $7,524
- Avg Net Price
- $13,460
- Median Debt
- $12,000
- Pell Grant Rate
- 32%
- Federal Loan Rate
- 42%
What Families Actually Pay
- Family Income $0–$30K
- $9,750
- Family Income $30K–$48K
- $10,505
- Family Income $48K–$75K
- $12,945
- Family Income $110K+
- $16,493
What Happens After?
Earnings, debt, and where graduates actually land.
Graduate Outcomes
Is Mitchell Technical College Worth It? Graduate Earnings & ROI
Ten years out, alumni of Mitchell Technical College earn a median of $50,743, roughly in line with the national average for college graduates.
- 6 Years After Entry
- $47,849
- 8 Years
- $47,285
- 10 Years
- $50,743
- Debt-to-Earnings
- 0.24x
- Earning > $25K
- 70%
Earnings Trajectory
Graduation by Timeframe
- 100% (253)
- 73%
- 100% (253)
- 73%
- 100% (253)
- 73%
- 100% (253)
- 73%
How Mitchell Compares
Dot right of center = above national average.
Net Price by Family Income
What families actually pay after aid, by income bracket.
The Mobility Equation
Mobility = Access x Success. How many low-income students get in, and how many reach the top 20%?
College ROI Calculator
Is Mitchell Technical College Worth It?
A data-driven look at the return on your educational investment — using real federal data.
Yes — for most students, Mitchell Technical College delivers a positive return. Over four years, the typical net price is $13,460/year ($53,840 total). Graduates earn $50,743 at ten years, and over a 20-year career we project $1,081,574 in total earnings — a net gain of $1,027,734 (20.1× your investment). The median debt is $12,000, which takes less than a year to pay back at typical earnings. With a 74% graduation rate, the path to that return is well-tested. This is a exceptional ROI compared to national averages.
- Total Cost (4yr)
- $53,840
- Projected 20yr Earnings
- $1,081,574
- Net Return
- $1,027,734
- ROI Multiple
- 20.1×
- Cost Per Year
- $13,460
- Median Debt
- $12,000
- Debt Payback
- Less than 1 yr
- Graduation Rate
- 74%
Does It Change Lives?
Mobility, social capital, and innovation — does it move people up?
Social Mobility
Data: Raj Chetty's Mobility Report Card · 30M+ anonymized tax records
Does Mitchell Technical College Drive Upward Mobility? Economic Mobility & Low-Income Outcomes
Mitchell Technical College is a genuine engine of upward mobility. Its mobility rate, the share of students who start in the bottom income quintile and climb to the top, is 3.13%, among the highest in the country. About 9.9% of students come from families in the bottom income quintile. Among bottom-quintile students who attend, roughly 31.7% go on to reach the top of the income ladder. The median family income of students sits near $59,000, a snapshot of the campus's socioeconomic mix.
- Mobility Rate
- 3.13%
- Bottom 20% → Top 20%
- Success Rate
- 31.7%
- If bottom 20% get in
- From Bottom 20%
- 9.9%
- Share of students
- Parent Median Income
- $59,000
Institutional Finances
Data: NCES IPEDS
- Endowment
- $4,294,676
- Federal Grants
- $3,495,910
- Investment Income
- $115,562
Top Programs
The fields Mitchell Technical College awards the most degrees in, by share of completions. Each links to its degree guide — with salary, growth, and the schools with the strongest outcomes.
- Construction Trades 37%
- Health Professions 17%
- Business & Marketing 8%
- Mechanic & Repair Tech 6%
- Precision Production 2%
- Computer Science & IT 1%
- Criminal Justice 1%
- Culinary & Personal Services 1%
Top Careers
Where these majors tend to lead — common career paths for Mitchell 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 Mitchell Technical College? Acceptance Rate & Requirements
Based in Mitchell, South Dakota, Mitchell Technical College enrolls students across a range of programs. The graduation rate is roughly 74%.
How Much Does It Cost to Attend Mitchell Technical College? Tuition, Net Price & Aid
Published tuition at Mitchell Technical College is $7,524, 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 $13,460. Students from families earning under $30,000 typically pay closer to $9,750 after need-based grants. The median graduate leaves with about $12,000 in federal student loans.
Is Mitchell Technical College Worth It? Graduate Earnings & ROI
Ten years out, alumni of Mitchell Technical College earn a median of $50,743, roughly in line with the national average for college graduates.
Does Mitchell Technical College Drive Upward Mobility? Economic Mobility & Low-Income Outcomes
Mitchell Technical College is a genuine engine of upward mobility. Its mobility rate, the share of students who start in the bottom income quintile and climb to the top, is 3.13%, among the highest in the country. About 9.9% of students come from families in the bottom income quintile. Among bottom-quintile students who attend, roughly 31.7% go on to reach the top of the income ladder. The median family income of students sits near $59,000, a snapshot of the campus's socioeconomic mix.
How Connected Is Mitchell 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 Mitchell Technical College. Its economic connectedness score is 1.37, where about 1.0 is the national norm. Its friending bias is low (-0.01), a sign that students from different economic backgrounds actually mix rather than self-segregate. Around 4% of students take part in civic and volunteering activity.
Similar Schools
Schools with similar outcomes, selectivity, and student profiles to Mitchell Technical College.
- Northwest Iowa Community CollegeSheldon, IA · Close peer57% grad $50,776 earnWhy: similar earnings · similar size · similar net price
- Alexandria Technical & Community CollegeAlexandria, MN · Close peer60% grad $49,393 earnWhy: similar earnings · similar net price
- Thaddeus Stevens College of TechnologyLancaster, PA · Close peer65% grad $54,681 earn 71% acceptWhy: similar earnings · similar grad rate · similar net price
- North Dakota State College of ScienceWahpeton, ND · Close peer52% grad $50,513 earnWhy: similar earnings
- Lake Region State CollegeDevils Lake, ND · Close peer51% grad $49,502 earnWhy: similar earnings · similar size · similar net price
- Dakota County Technical CollegeRosemount, MN · Close peer52% grad $51,938 earnWhy: similar earnings · similar net price
Social Capital
Data: Opportunity Insights Social Capital Atlas
How Connected Is Mitchell 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 Mitchell Technical College. Its economic connectedness score is 1.37, where about 1.0 is the national norm. Its friending bias is low (-0.01), a sign that students from different economic backgrounds actually mix rather than self-segregate. Around 4% of students take part in civic and volunteering activity.
Research Note