Head-to-head · 2026
Lake Area Technical College vs Sisseton Wahpeton College
Compare average net price ($15,979 at Lake Area Technical College; $2,977 at Sisseton Wahpeton College), ROI score (7.11 vs 26.49), school-wide ten-year median earnings ($45,473 vs $31,546), and admissions context (Open / not reported at Lake Area Technical College; Open / not reported at Sisseton Wahpeton College) using federal College Scorecard data. The table keeps affordability, outcomes, access and program fit separate rather than declaring one universal winner.
Face to face
Metric-by-metric comparison
13 metrics, side by side. Color marks a useful directional signal; admissions, SAT, tuition eligibility, ownership and enrollment stay neutral.
| Metric | Lake Area Technical College | Sisseton Wahpeton College |
|---|---|---|
| ROI score (school-wide) | 7.11 | 26.49 ✓ |
| Avg net price | $15,979 | $2,977 ✓ |
| 4-year avg net price | $63,916 | $11,908 ✓ |
| In-state tuition | $6,718 | $4,330 |
| Out-of-state tuition | $6,718 | $4,330 |
| School-wide earnings (10y) | $45,473 ✓ | $31,546 |
| Acceptance rate | Open / not reported | Open / not reported |
| Graduation rate | 73.1% ✓ | 20.6% |
| Retention rate | 81.3% | — |
| Median debt | $12,000 | — |
| Enrollment | 1,812 | 194 |
| Ownership | Public | Public |
| Avg SAT | — | — |
Cost by family income
Reported net price by income band
Federal averages for students receiving Title IV aid. These are context, not a substitute for either school's financial-aid offer.
| Income band | Lake Area Technical College | Sisseton Wahpeton College |
|---|---|---|
| Family income $0–30k | $11,193 | $590 ✓ |
| Family income $30–48k | $12,971 | $5,909 ✓ |
| Family income $48–75k | $14,129 | $5,315 ✓ |
| Family income $75–110k | $18,118 | $7,871 ✓ |
| Family income $110k+ | $18,230 | — |
Program fit
Shared fields with reported awards
Award share is the share of reported credentials in a field, not the share of currently enrolled students.
No shared field has positive award-share data at both schools in the current federal records. Check each school's official catalog before ruling out a program.
Decision readout
What the differences mean
Sisseton Wahpeton College reports the lower average net price by $13,002 per year. Holding today's averages constant, that is a $52,008 difference over four years ($11,908 vs $63,916).
Lake Area Technical College reports $13,927 higher school-wide median earnings ten years after entry ($45,473 vs $31,546). This is not earnings for a specific major.
Retention data is incomplete for at least one school. Compare the available graduation, debt, price and admissions context without treating a missing field as an advantage.
The current federal records do not show a shared field with positive award-share data for these schools. That does not prove a program is unavailable; verify offerings with each school.
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Frequently asked
Lake Area Technical College vs Sisseton Wahpeton College, answered
3 of the most common questions, with real numbers from federal data.
Which school costs less after aid?
Sisseton Wahpeton College is cheaper — average net price $2,977 per year vs $15,979 at Lake Area Technical College. The annual difference of $13,002 adds up to about $52,008 over four years.
Which school reports higher earnings?
Lake Area Technical College reports higher school-wide median earnings ten years after entry: $45,473 vs $31,546 at Sisseton Wahpeton College. The gap in the federal data is $13,927. This is not major-specific earnings.
Is there an overall winner?
No single metric makes either school the universal winner. Compare your actual aid offers, residency tuition, intended major, graduation and retention rates, debt, location and campus fit. EduGradify keeps these trade-offs separate instead of combining admissions selectivity and test scores into a final verdict.