Head-to-head comparison
South Dakota School of Mines and Technology vs Mitchell Technical College: which has better ROI?
Option A Rapid City, SD
South Dakota School of Mines and Technology
- Net price / year
- $20,183
- Earnings, 10 years
- $72,257
- Payback
- 3.4 yrs
Option B Mitchell, SD
Mitchell Technical College
- Net price / year
- $13,460
- Earnings, 10 years
- $50,743
- Payback
- 11.3 yrs
South Dakota School of Mines and Technology has the better ROI: it clears its 4-year net cost of $80,732 in 3.4 years versus 11.3 years at Mitchell Technical College, on median earnings of $72,257 vs $50,743 ten years out. (Scorecard, 2026 · our math.)
| Measure | South Dakota School of Mines and Technology | Mitchell Technical College |
|---|---|---|
| Net price / yr | $20,183 | $13,460 |
| Total net cost | $80,732 | $26,920 |
| Median earnings, 10 yrs | $72,257 | $50,743 |
| Median debt | $27,000 | $12,000 |
| Payback | 3.4 yrs | 11.3 yrs |
| 20-year net return | $397,208 | $20,740 |
College Scorecard (2026), institution-level · payback and returns are our math. Figures blend all majors.
The short answer
Which is cheaper, South Dakota School of Mines and Technology or Mitchell Technical College?
Mitchell Technical College, at $13,460 a year after aid versus $20,183 — a gap of $6,723 a year, or $53,812 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 South Dakota School of Mines and Technology or Mitchell Technical College graduates earn more?
South Dakota School of Mines and Technology graduates report a median $72,257 ten years after entry, $21,514 more than the $50,743 at Mitchell 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, South Dakota School of Mines and Technology or Mitchell Technical College?
Mitchell Technical College: its completers carry a median $12,000 in federal loans versus $27,000 at South Dakota School of Mines and Technology, a difference of $15,000. 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?
76% of students finish at Mitchell Technical College, against 53% at South Dakota School of Mines and Technology. 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.