Southeast Tech reports 99% job placement for 2024 graduates, median starting salary about $48,838
Loading...
Summary
College researchers presented year-long outcome tracking showing a 99% placement rate for the class of 2024, sector wage data, top local employers, and geographic destination breakdowns used to support workforce partnerships.
Jackie Palmer and Alex Anderson, Southeast Technical College staff members, presented the college’s graduate outcomes for the class of 2024, reporting a 99% job placement rate and a median starting salary of $48,838.
The presenters described a year-long data collection process that combines a first-destination graduate survey at cap-and-gown pickup, follow-up outreach by email/phone/social media, faculty-provided records, and Department of Labor wage matching. For the class of 2024 the college reported a knowledge rate (graduates reached directly or via instructors) of 86.4%, an employment-in-field rate of 93% and an in-field South Dakota employment rate of 89%.
Palmer and Anderson listed top employers for the class of 2024 as Sanford Health, Good Samaritan, Avera Health, Billion Automotive, Diamond Mowers, First Premier Bank, DGR, City of Sioux Falls, Interstates, and Lloyd Companies. They said 37 programs recorded 100% placement and that seven programs averaged more than $30 per hour; examples included civil and land survey science (about $34.47/hour) and registry nursing ($31.81/hour). The presenters said one small program had skewed statistics (HR at $3,407) and was excluded from the wage chart because it had only two graduates.
Geographic data showed 87% of graduates worked in South Dakota; of those, 67% reported Sioux Falls as their location. Of the 13% of graduates working outside South Dakota, Iowa and Minnesota were the largest destinations. The college also reported 14 articulation agreements to ease transfer to four-year institutions and said 10.8% of graduates planned to continue education, with 72.6% of those planning to remain at Southeast Tech for further study.
Board members asked methodological questions: whether reported hourly wages included benefits (they do not) and whether part-time work counted in placement statistics (the college tracks employment but does not separate whether a reported full-time job is the same role previously held part time). Palmer said the college uses Department of Labor figures when students do not self-report pay and that the reported wages exclude benefits and overtime.
Board members praised the results and asked the college to continue outreach for the few graduates not located; Palmer said the team makes additional calls and uses Department of Labor wage matches as part of continued follow-up. The board acknowledged the presentation.
