Practical Nursing, Vocational Nursing and Nursing Assistants at Mitchell Technical College

Mitchell Technical College's practical nursing program delivers middling outcomes that fall short of both national standards and stronger South Dakota alternatives. Graduates earn $38,287 in their first year—about $6,000 below the national median and landing in just the 24th percentile nationally. Within South Dakota, this places Mitchell slightly below the state median of $38,446, while competitors like Western Dakota Tech and Lake Area Technical produce graduates earning $4,000-$5,000 more annually.

The debt picture is manageable at $16,856, creating a debt-to-earnings ratio of 0.44 that means borrowers should be able to handle repayment. However, when you're already starting with below-average earnings, that affordability matters less—you're still taking on meaningful debt for a career that pays less here than at peer institutions. With only 7 LPN programs in South Dakota, it's worth noting that Mitchell ranks in the bottom half for graduate outcomes.

The small sample size (under 30 graduates) adds uncertainty to these numbers, but the pattern is clear: if your child is considering practical nursing in South Dakota, Lake Area Technical or Western Dakota Technical offer substantially better earning potential for similar debt levels. Unless location is a major constraint, those programs represent stronger investments in this competitive but modest-paying healthcare field.