Lake Area Technical Institute

What Lake Area Technical Institute does

Lake Area Technical College (LATC), legally chartered as a public government state entity by the State of South Dakota, is a two-year technical college headquartered in Watertown, South Dakota, founded in 1965 as the first technical school in South Dakota. The institution serves approximately 2,600–2,800 students across 31 on-campus programs and 14 hybrid e-degrees spanning agriculture, automotive, aviation, building trades, business, diesel technology, healthcare, law enforcement, manufacturing, robotics, and welding. It also operates a Capital City Campus satellite location and offers dual credit, apprenticeship, adult education/literacy, and corporate workforce development programs.

The technology footprint is built around hands-on lab environments (notably a newly launched Agriculture Commodity Risk Management Lab funded by the CHS Foundation using industry-standard simulation software and live data feeds, plus a Simulation Center for healthcare training) combined with a hybrid e-degree delivery model blending online coursework with limited on-campus lab time. A competitive Esports program competes in the NJCAAE league (200+ member institutions), and a Drone Racing Team competes at the national level. The 2023 Aspen Prize for Community College Excellence marks it as the top two-year college in the nation, and outcome metrics — a 99–99.8% graduate placement rate, 82% in-state retention, and 25,000+ alumni — are its principal brand and outcome moat.

The business model is primarily subscription/recurring tuition and fees for degree and certificate programs, supplemented by professional-services revenue from corporate education and workforce training (CDL, healthcare, drone, welding, 3D printing), licensing/grant revenue from foundation partners such as CHS Foundation and Corteva Agriscience, and likely state appropriations as a chartered government entity (the latter not disclosed in the source material). Direct-to-consumer admissions target high school graduates, adult learners, and non-traditional students via campus visits, career fairs, camps/tech days, and dual credit pipelines.

Name

Lake Area Technical Institute

Legal name

Lake Area Technical College

Website

https://lakeareatech.edu

Company type

Private

Founded year

1965

Operating status

Operating

Headcount range

101–250 employees

Short description

Lake Area Technical College is a public technical college in Watertown, South Dakota, offering 31 on-campus programs, 14 hybrid e-degrees, corporate training, and dual credit to approximately 2,800 students across the Upper Midwest.

Ownership category

akta.pro rank

Product category

Technical and Vocational Education

NAICS

Junior Colleges (6112), Technical and Trade Schools (61151), Technical and Trade Schools (6115)

SIC

Services-Educational Services (8200)

akta.pro primary industry

Technical Community Colleges (Applied/CTE-Focused) (EDAHADAD)

akta.pro secondary industry

Comprehensive Community Colleges (Transfer + Workforce) (EDAHADAE)

Keywords

• Technical college education
• Workforce development training
• Associate degree programs
• Career and technical education
• Hybrid e-degree programs

Headquarters

HQ city

Watertown

HQ country

United States

HQ region

North America

Offices3 records

Markets served

GTM type

B2C

Offering type

Services

Cost components

Personnel, Operations, Infrastructure, Technology or R&D, Marketing or Sales, Others

Revenue model

1. Tuition and Fees: Traditional tuition and fee revenue from enrolled students pursuing associate degrees and certificates
2. Corporate Education and Workforce Training: Customized industry training, CDL programs, healthcare training, and professional development courses for businesses and individuals
3. Grants and Foundation Revenue: Funding from foundations like CHS Foundation and Corteva Agriscience for specific program development and equipment

Pricing tiers

Go-to-market motion1 record

Distribution channels4 records

Marketing channels6 records

Core offering

Lake Area Technical College is a public two-year technical college that delivers career-focused associate degrees, certificates, and diplomas across 31 on-campus programs and 14 hybrid e-degrees in fields such as agriculture, automotive, aviation, business, diesel technology, electronics, healthcare, law enforcement, manufacturing, and welding. It also provides customized corporate education, workforce training, dual credit for high school students, apprenticeship pathways, and continuing education for adult learners and businesses in South Dakota and the Upper Midwest.

Product overview

Lake Area Technical College offers a portfolio of 31 career-focused academic programs through on-campus, hybrid e-degree, and online formats, plus corporate education/workforce development services. The institution's programs span agriculture, automotive, aviation, building trades, business, dental, diesel technology, electronics, energy, financial services, healthcare, law enforcement, manufacturing, robotics, and welding. Key offerings include 14 hybrid E-Degrees combining online and on-campus learning, corporate training programs, dual credit for high school students, apprenticeship programs, and an esports competitive team. Recent additions include an Agriculture Commodity Risk Management Lab and dental radiography facilities.

Differentiator

Problem solved

Functional benefit

Products and services

• On-Campus Academic Programs 31 career-focused programs across agriculture, automotive, aviation, building trades, business, diesel technology, healthcare, law enforcement, manufacturing, and welding, delivered on the Watertown, SD campus to traditional and non-traditional students.
• E-Degrees (Hybrid Online Programs) Hybrid e-degree programs blending online and on-campus learning across 14 disciplines including agriculture, business, computer information systems, dental assisting, electronics, financial services, healthcare, precision machining, and robotics.
• Corporate Education / Workforce Development Industry training and continuing education offerings including 3D printer courses, drone training, CDL programs, healthcare training, and basic welding courses, targeted at adult learners and regional businesses.
• Dual Credit Program Dual credit opportunities allowing high school students to earn college credits while still in high school.
• Apprenticeship Programs Registered apprenticeship programs combining on-the-job training with related technical instruction.
• Adult Education & Literacy Adult basic education, GED preparation, and literacy programs for adult learners.
• Agriculture Commodity Risk Management Lab Simulation-based commodity risk management laboratory providing hands-on experience in commodity marketing, hedging simulations, and real-time market analysis using industry-standard software and live data feeds, serving 200+ students annually.
• Simulation Center Healthcare simulation training facility for CPR, emergency response, and medical procedures training under the corporate education offering.
• Esports Program Competitive esports team competing in the NJCAAE league with teams in Rainbow Six Siege and Super Smash Brothers, offering scholarships for student athletes.

Quantifiable outcome

• 99-99.8% graduate placement rate
• +3 more outcomes

Named customers4 records

Segments4 records

Ideal customer profiles3 records

Technology focussed No

API detail

Has API

No

API docs

API detail

Core technology

AI maturity

App detail

Feature2 records

Partnerships

Four partnerships are on record, tiered core and minor.

• National Junior College Athletic Association Esports (NJCAAE)coreStrategic or Co-development PartnerLake Area Tech Esports competes in the NJCAAE league with over 200 member institutions and 3,000+ students. Competition includes Tier 1 (Premier Series), Tier 2 (Contender Series), and Tier 3 (Open Series) at national levels.
• South Dakota Department of Public SafetyminorStrategic or Co-development PartnerPartnership recognizing LATC Law Enforcement graduates for top honors including Trooper of the Year and Police Officer of the Year awards for 2025.
• South Dakota Highway Patrol / Glacial Lakes SquadminorStrategic or Co-development PartnerEmployer of Trooper Paige Zempel, 2018 LATC graduate and 2025 South Dakota Trooper of the Year.
• Watertown Police DepartmentminorStrategic or Co-development PartnerEmployer of Officer Alexis Buysse, 2016 LATC graduate and 2025 South Dakota Police Officer of the Year as Mental Health Officer.

Scale indicators7 records

Recent moves6 records

Expansion highlights6 records

Regional players

• Ridgewater College: Minnesota public two-year technical and community college with similar career-focused programs in agriculture, trades, and healthcare. Comparable in program breadth and regional student profile.
• Central Lakes College: Minnesota public two-year college offering technical programs in healthcare, trades, and manufacturing. Comparable in scale, program mix, and rural Midwestern footprint, but serves a different geography.
• Dakota State University: South Dakota public university with strong technology and cybersecurity programs. Overlaps with LATC's computer information systems and electronics e-degree offerings within the same state.
• North Dakota State College of Science: Two-year public college in Wahpeton, ND focused on technical and transfer programs. Comparable in mission (career-focused associate degrees) and Upper Midwest geography, but serves a different state.

Direct peers

• Southeast Technical College: South Dakota public technical college in Sioux Falls with similar career-focused programs in healthcare, trades, and business. Direct competitor for in-state technical education students and employer relationships.
• Mitchell Technical College: South Dakota public technical college offering associate degrees and diplomas in trades, healthcare, and energy. Directly comparable two-year technical institution in the same state, competing for the same student pool and employer partnerships.
• Western Dakota Technical College: South Dakota public technical college in Rapid City offering certificate and associate degree programs in trades and healthcare. Closest in-state peer by mission and program mix.

Others

• Black Hills State University: South Dakota public university with applied science and business programs. Partial overlap with LATC's technical/business programs, but focused on bachelor's-level credentials.
• Build Dakota Scholarship Program: South Dakota state-funded scholarship program that channels students into technical college programs like LATC's. Functions as a critical ecosystem enabler driving LATC enrollment rather than a competitor.

Broad incumbents

• University of South Dakota: South Dakota's flagship public university offering four-year and graduate programs. Provides broader higher-ed competition for in-state students but does not focus on technical/trade associate degrees.

Market position

Strengths5 records

Weaknesses5 records

Competitive moat4 records

Key risks6 records

Key highlights7 records

Customer concentration

• Xx.com/lakeareatech
• Facebookfacebook.com/37890102753
• LinkedInlinkedin.com/company/lake-area-technical-institute

Compliance4 records

Revenue estimate

Valuation estimate

Number of profiles

Profiles6 records

Funding overview

Funding rounds

Investors

Funding detail is available on the Subscription and Enterprise plan.Contact sales →

M&A

Investments

M&A and investment is available on the Subscription and Enterprise plan.Contact sales →

Frequently asked questions about Lake Area Technical Institute