Lake Area Technical College Reports Record Fall Enrollment in Watertown, South Dakota

Northeast Radio SD News – Watertown, SD - Lake Area Technical College is celebrating another year of record enrollment, Vice President Cam Corey told the Watertown School Board during Monday night’s meeting. LATC enrolled 2,387 students for the Fall 2026 semester — a 3% increase over last year and the third record‑setting fall in the past five years.

“To put that into perspective, our fall enrollment has moved from 2,179 in 2023 to 2,387 this fall,” Corey said. “That is some good movement upon some of our goals.”

More Recent High School Graduates Choosing LATC

Corey highlighted a key metric: enrollment among recent high school graduates.

·         633 recent graduates enrolled this fall

·         Up from 595 last year

·         A 6.4% increase

·         498 of those students are from South Dakota — 34 more than last year

“Not only are they enrolling in college, but they are enrolling in programs that are directly related to South Dakota’s workforce needs,” Corey said.

LATC continues to be a major contributor to the state’s labor pipeline. “A large number of them — in fact 83% — stay in South Dakota,” he added.

Growing Graduating Class and Workforce Placement

The college’s most recent graduating class included 849 graduates, a 6.8% increase from the previous year.

Corey reported a 99.8% placement rate, meaning nearly all graduates are employed, continuing their education, or serving in the military within six months of graduation.

“They are also starting with a fantastic average starting wage of $57,013 in their first job right out of college,” Corey said. Some programs, he noted, see starting wages in the mid‑ to high‑$70,000s.

Students Represent Nearly All South Dakota Counties

LATC’s reach continues to expand across the region:

·         Students come from 64 of South Dakota’s 66 counties

·         The student body includes learners from 17 states and Canadian provinces

“That tells me we have a very strong presence across South Dakota,” Corey said, adding that LATC retains a portion of out‑of‑state students who choose to stay and work in South Dakota after graduation.

Retention Remains a Priority

While enrollment growth is important, Corey emphasized that retention is the college’s primary focus.

“We are retaining at about 83.5 to 84% of our students,” he said. “If we can increase that retention 1 to 2%, which is a goal, we can achieve greater results here in South Dakota.”

Board Notes Statewide Enrollment Trends

Board members briefly discussed statewide higher‑education trends, noting that most colleges saw increases this fall except the University of South Dakota and South Dakota State University, which reported declines.

Corey acknowledged the reports: “I read something very similar through the news.”

Lieutenant Governor to Visit for Constitution Day

Before concluding, Corey announced that Lieutenant Governor Tony Ben Huizen will visit LATC on Thursday at 11:30 a.m. for Constitution Day, with the event held on Level Four of the campus.

Upcoming Joint Work Session

The board also noted that a joint work session with the LATC Strategic Advisory Council is scheduled for October 26, coinciding with the Higher Learning Commission’s 10‑year review. The exact time will be announced once the commission’s schedule is finalized.