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Lake Area Technical College reports record spring enrollment of 2,707; dual‑credit and Build Dakota participation grow
Summary
Lake Area Technical College president reported a spring headcount of 2,707 students (first time above 2,700), 395 new spring students, 549 dual‑credit high school students, and 249 Build Dakota scholarship students on campus; college officials said program growth in nursing, dental and cosmetology contributed to the increase.
Lake Area Technical College President Sanderson told the Watertown School District 14‑4 board at the district's February meeting that the college set a record for enrollment this spring, reporting a headcount of 2,707 students — the first time the college surpassed 2,700.
"Very, very happy to report that we have added on to the new records that Lake Area has set," Sanderson said, reporting spring enrollment of 2,707 and noting 395 new students entering this spring semester. Sanderson said dual‑credit remains a major area of growth: the college reported 549 high school students taking credit this spring, with some students taking a single class and some enrolled full time.
Sanderson highlighted growth across several programs, including nursing, dental and cosmetology, and reported that the average two‑year program at Lake Area Tech costs about $28,000; he added that students graduating from two‑year programs averaged about $12,000 in student debt and, for the class of 2023, graduates earned back the cost of their credential in about five months, according to the president's presentation.
The college also reported 249 Build Dakota scholarship recipients on campus this year. Sanderson said Build Dakota scholarships provide full tuition for eligible students in exchange for a three‑year work commitment in South Dakota after graduation. In addition, the college described an emerging class of "workforce scholarships" funded by employers in the region; Sanderson said those scholarships can range from half the cost of education up to a full ride and often include a work commitment.
Board member John Iverson asked several clarifying questions about the breakdown of dual‑credit students and on‑campus versus online enrollments. Sanderson said some dual‑credit students take classes on campus, others take online programs and an increasing share of students are part time compared with five to 10 years ago.
Sanderson encouraged potential students to apply for fall 2025 and noted that an estimated 0.4 unemployed people exist for every available job in South Dakota, underscoring demand for credentialed technical workers. He also said the college expects to offer roughly 150 Build Dakota scholarships starting in fall 2025 and noted that the surgical technology program began in fall 2023 and will graduate its first cohort this spring.
The president closed by thanking faculty and staff, and stood by for additional questions from the board.
Ending
District board members heard the college's enrollment report and asked for further details about dual‑credit participation; no formal board action was taken on the report.
