Best Trade Schools in South Dakota (2026)

Updated June 8, 2026 | TradeCareerPath Editorial Team

South Dakota’s economy depends on agriculture, manufacturing, healthcare, and construction, industries that need skilled workers. Trade schools here offer hands-on programs that prepare students for in-demand careers in 6 months to 2 years. Many partner directly with local employers to offer internships and apprenticeships.

Whether you live in Sioux Falls, Rapid City, or smaller towns, there are accredited options to match your career goals.

Best Trade Schools in South Dakota

We could not confirm enough colleges teaching this subject within range of this location, so the list below shows nearby institutions instead. Confirm with each school that it offers the program before you apply.

How we rank schools – graduation rate, graduate earnings, cost and retention. Advertising plays no part.

This page lists 4 schools, closest group first, then ordered by BOC Score with the highest at the top. 4 of them carry a score.

Location / proximity to this page
Defines the local group
Graduation rate how often students finish
30%
Median earnings, 10 years after entry whether it paid off
25%
Average net price what students actually pay after aid; lower ranks higher
20%
Retention rate how many come back for year two
15%
Fully online availability whether you can study while working
10%

Scores come from IPEDS (2024) and the U.S. Department of Education College Scorecard. Earnings are for all graduates of a school, not one program, so treat them as a signal about the institution rather than about this subject. Sponsored listings are paid placements and are labelled as such; they are separate from this ranking and never change it. Read the full methodology.

#1

Mitchell Technical College

Mitchell, SD In-state option BOC Score 78.9
Tuition Contact school for pricing
Contact
Key stats
  • Completion rate: 73.7% (College Scorecard)
  • Programs offered: 43
  • Annual completions: 769
  • Median graduate earnings, 4 yrs after completing (all majors, not a single program): $54,865 (College Scorecard)
  • Online programs available

Source: ACCSC IPEDS College Scorecard

#2

Lake Area Technical College

Watertown, SD In-state option BOC Score 74.7
Tuition Contact school for pricing
Contact
Key stats
  • Completion rate: 69.0% (College Scorecard)
  • Programs offered: 35
  • Annual completions: 932
  • Median graduate earnings, 4 yrs after completing (all majors, not a single program): $49,488 (College Scorecard)
  • Online programs available

Source: ACCSC IPEDS College Scorecard

#3

Southeast Technical College

Sioux Falls, SD In-state option BOC Score 69.7
Tuition $7,650 - $20,272
Contact
Key stats
  • Graduation rate: 55.5%
  • Programs offered: 54
  • Annual completions: 1193
  • Median graduate earnings, 4 yrs after completing (all majors, not a single program): $53,289 (College Scorecard)
  • Online programs available

Source: ACCSC IPEDS College Scorecard

#4

Western Dakota Technical College

Rapid City, SD In-state option BOC Score 60.4
Tuition $8,294 - $18,845
Contact
Key stats
  • Graduation rate: 53.6%
  • Programs offered: 45
  • Annual completions: 445
  • Median graduate earnings, 4 yrs after completing (all majors, not a single program): $49,930 (College Scorecard)
  • Online programs available

Source: ACCSC IPEDS College Scorecard

Trade Schools by City in South Dakota

Compare accredited trade schools in 11 South Dakota cities. Each city page lists the closest local schools with tuition, median graduate earnings, and the trades hiring nearby.

Frequently Asked Questions

What is the best trade school in South Dakota?

Southeast Technical College and Lake Area Technical College are consistently ranked among the top for hands-on training and strong career placement.

What trades are in demand in South Dakota in 2025?

HVAC technicians, welders, diesel mechanics, electricians, nurses, and agriculture technicians are in demand.

South Dakota trade schools offer career-focused training with strong employer connections, making them a great choice for launching a skilled trade career.

Outcome figures such as graduation, completion, and job placement rates are reported by schools and by federal data sources, reflect prior student cohorts, and are not a prediction or promise of future results. Individual outcomes may vary.

About this guide: Researched and written by the TradeCareerPath Editorial Team. Our editorial team researches and sources every trade school and career guide using federal labor and education data, including BLS OEWS and Employment Projections, DOL apprenticeship records, IPEDS, College Scorecard, and state licensing boards. We follow the editorial standards documented at /editorial-policy/.

Data sources

Figures on this page are sourced from the federal and state datasets below. Methodology: how we rank and source data.

DataProviderVintage
Occupational Employment and Wage Statistics (OEWS)U.S. Bureau of Labor StatisticsMay 2025
Employment ProjectionsU.S. Bureau of Labor Statistics2024-2034
Integrated Postsecondary Education Data SystemNational Center for Education Statistics (IPEDS)2024
College Scorecard (school-level outcomes)U.S. Department of Educationlatest release
College Scorecard (field-of-study earnings)U.S. Department of Educationlatest release (updated 2026-06-12)
Occupational licensing requirementsCareerOneStop (U.S. Department of Labor)latest release (updated 2026-02-22)
Registered apprenticeship programsCareerOneStop / Apprenticeship.gov (U.S. Department of Labor)latest release (updated 2025-10-25)