Head-to-head comparison
Black Hills State University vs Lake Area Technical College: which has better ROI?
Option A Spearfish, SD
Black Hills State University
- Net price / year
- $15,911
- Earnings, 10 years
- $46,674
- Payback
- No payback
Option B Watertown, SD
Lake Area Technical College
- Net price / year
- $15,979
- Earnings, 10 years
- $45,473
- Payback
- No payback
Neither clears its cost on institution-wide earnings, but Lake Area Technical College comes closer — median earnings $45,473 against a $31,958 total, vs $46,674 at Black Hills State University. (Scorecard, 2026 · our math.)
| Measure | Black Hills State University | Lake Area Technical College |
|---|---|---|
| Net price / yr | $15,911 | $15,979 |
| Total net cost | $63,644 | $31,958 |
| Median earnings, 10 yrs | $46,674 | $45,473 |
| Median debt | $26,000 | $12,000 |
| Payback | — | — |
| 20-year net return | -$97,364 | -$89,698 |
College Scorecard (2026), institution-level · payback and returns are our math. Figures blend all majors.
The short answer
Which is cheaper, Black Hills State University or Lake Area Technical College?
Black Hills State University, at $15,911 a year after aid versus $15,979 — a gap of $68 a year, or $31,686 across the full degree. These are net prices after grants and scholarships, not sticker prices, so they reflect what an aided student pays.
The short answer
Do Black Hills State University or Lake Area Technical College graduates earn more?
Black Hills State University graduates report a median $46,674 ten years after entry, $1,201 more than the $45,473 at Lake Area Technical College. Both are institution-wide medians from federal tax records, so a high-paying major at the lower school can beat the average at the higher one.
The short answer
Which leaves students with less debt, Black Hills State University or Lake Area Technical College?
Lake Area Technical College: its completers carry a median $12,000 in federal loans versus $26,000 at Black Hills State University, a difference of $14,000. The figure counts students who finished; it excludes private loans and anyone who left before graduating.
The short answer
Which graduates more of its students?
73% of students finish at Lake Area Technical College, against 43% at Black Hills State University. Completion matters to the ROI arithmetic because a degree that is never finished still carries its cost and its debt, but earns none of the graduate premium above the $48,360 high-school baseline.