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South Dakota's Technical Institutes South Dakota’s four technical institutes — Lake Area Tech, Mitchell Tech, Southeast Tech, and Western Dakota Tech — offer more than 100 programs that educate and train students for South Dakota’s workforce. With missions focused on workforce development, the technical institutes are a key partner in the economic development efforts in all South Dakota communities. |
Lake Area Tech, located in Watertown, SD, provides training for approximately 1,100 full-time and 250 part-time students annually. An additional 2,500 students are served each year through the business and industry training program. Students who attend Lake Area Tech gravitate from all over the country, with the majority coming from a 90-mile radius of Watertown including, southern North Dakota and western Minnesota. Consistently, 95 percent plus of our graduates are employed upon graduation in highly skilled, high-tech career fields. Eighty three percent of our graduates elect to find employment in South Dakota and make South Dakota their home. Lake Area Tech offers 24 programs of study in the agriculture, business, health, and technical areas of study. Lake Area Tech is quick to respond to the needs of business and industry by providing either short-term or long–term training when requested. Continuous input from program advisory boards and business and industry partnerships provide Lake Area Tech the ability to keep up with the demands of an ever-changing workforce and to stay connected to a global market, yet committed to our local community. |
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Mitchell Technical Institute serves a large portion of the central part of South Dakota. The extensive James River Valley trade area spans from Salem to Yankton to Pierre to Aberdeen and Huron. Students who enroll at MTI come from many of the communities located within this region. More than 90% of MTI students are from South Dakota, and consistently, more than 75% of graduates each year find jobs within our state. Unique programs in areas like utilities, communications, and culinary arts, coupled with popular programs in health care, agriculture, business, and construction, provide MTI students with a strong foundation no matter what career they choose. MTI’s 10-year placement rate of over 90% is very attractive to those seeking technical education. MTI’s Business/Industry Training office provides employers and their workers with high quality training opportunities, whether for one day or on an ongoing basis. Since 1968, Mitchell Technical Institute’s mission has been to provide more than 13,000 graduates with “skills for success in technical careers.” |
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Southeast Tech Created by market demand, more than 40 of today’s hottest Associate in Applied Science Degrees and Diplomas ranging from Invasive Cardiovascular Technology to Computer Networking are offered at Southeast Technical Institute in Sioux Falls. In addition, non-degree training in many fields ranging from computer applications to welding is available through the Business & Industry Training division. Staying focused on regional industry needs, all programs are critiqued by industry professionals through Advisory Committees on an annual basis. Education is streamlined, allowing students to complete most degrees in 24-months or less. Plus, STI has agreements with many exceptional colleges and universities to transfer in STI’s credits, including all six South Dakota state universities. These agreements allow students to continue with their education in order to obtain their Bachelor’s Degree without losing time or money. STI is accredited by the Higher Learning Commission and has excellent placement rates. In just six months, 89% of STI graduates are employed within their field. In addition, 70% of all STI graduates stay in South Dakota. “Southeast Technical Institute has given me the training and committed attitude I needed to proceed with my dream career. As a business owner in digital imaging and graphic design, I prefer hiring students from a technical institute because of the depth of training they receive in school. They are more equipped to handle the job the moment they graduate,” says Cheryl Elbers, STI graphic design graduate and owner of Imij, Inc., a graphics and photography studio in Brandon. STI enrolls 1,745 full-time students and 370 part-time students, the majority coming from a 50 mile radius of Sioux Falls. More than 1/3 of the student population transfers in credits from other educational institutions. |
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Western Dakota Tech serves South Dakota’s entire West River area, giving the institution one of the largest service areas of any two-year college in the country. WDT serves this area by attracting more than 95 percent of its students from South Dakota and placing nearly 90 percent of graduates in South Dakota careers. WDT’s overall placement rate for graduates is 98 percent. WDT graduates enter careers in critical workforce areas – nursing, welding, manufacturing, computer networking, surgical technology, diesel mechanics, industrial electronics, and others. Through program advisory boards and close contact with industry, WDT continuously evaluates programs to make sure they all meet the needs of our communities. The Corporate Education Center at WDT provides customized training opportunities for employers throughout western South Dakota. The Center utilizes content specific experts from industry and education. The training classes can be conducted at Western Dakota Tech or at an employer’s site. |
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