Head-to-head comparison
Lake Area Technical College vs National American University-Rapid City: which has better ROI?
Option A Watertown, SD
Lake Area Technical College
- Net price / year
- $15,979
- Earnings, 10 years
- $45,473
- Payback
- No payback
Option B Rapid City, SD
National American University-Rapid City
- Net price / year
- $31,062
- Earnings, 10 years
- $37,325
- 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 $37,325 at National American University-Rapid City. (Scorecard, 2026 · our math.)
| Measure | Lake Area Technical College | National American University-Rapid City |
|---|---|---|
| Net price / yr | $15,979 | $31,062 |
| Total net cost | $31,958 | $124,248 |
| Median earnings, 10 yrs | $45,473 | $37,325 |
| Median debt | $12,000 | $29,020 |
| Payback | — | — |
| 20-year net return | -$89,698 | -$344,948 |
College Scorecard (2026), institution-level · payback and returns are our math. Figures blend all majors.
The short answer
Which is cheaper, Lake Area Technical College or National American University-Rapid City?
Lake Area Technical College, at $15,979 a year after aid versus $31,062 — a gap of $15,083 a year, or $92,290 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 Lake Area Technical College or National American University-Rapid City graduates earn more?
Lake Area Technical College graduates report a median $45,473 ten years after entry, $8,148 more than the $37,325 at National American University-Rapid City. 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, Lake Area Technical College or National American University-Rapid City?
Lake Area Technical College: its completers carry a median $12,000 in federal loans versus $29,020 at National American University-Rapid City, a difference of $17,020. 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 0% at National American University-Rapid City. 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.