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Dakota County Technical College

Rosemount, MN · official site ↗

PublicAssociate's: High Career-Technical-High TraditionalTwo-year, small
68
Fin. Resilience
Resilience score

vs. 62 peers in its group

Dakota County Technical College is a public institution in Rosemount, MN, classified by Carnegie as “Associate's: High Career-Technical-High Traditional.”

It enrolls about 2,168 undergraduates and is benchmarked here against 62 peer institutions (Associate's: High Career-Technical-High Traditional · Public).

On Ibex's Financial Resilience score it rates 68 out of 100 within that peer group, a transparent composite of endowment per undergraduate, net tuition revenue per student, and instructional spend per student.

Its strongest standing relative to peers is median earnings, low-income students (10-yr) ($46,081, 96th percentile).

Its weakest is return on net assets (-0.6%).

Peer group

Associate's: High Career-Technical-High Traditional · Public

62 institutions

No cross-metric risk flags triggered.
Policy & demographic exposure

How exposed Dakota County Technical College is to the structural shifts reshaping higher ed: a composite structural-risk index plus the 2025 federal budget law’s endowment excise tax, Grad PLUS elimination, new Parent PLUS borrowing cap and new Workforce Pell short-term-credential opportunity, and the demographic enrollment cliff. Only signals that apply to this institution are shown.

Structural risk indexAn indicative 0–100 structural-risk index (higher = more pressure) blending operating margin, months of cash cushion, tuition dependency and the home-state enrollment cliff. Screens for the financial and demographic strain that precedes closures and mergers, directional, not a prediction.
36
Elevated
Workforce Pell exposureShare of this school's measured credentials that are undergraduate certificates, the sub-associate tier the 2025 budget law's new Workforce Pell Grant makes Pell-eligible from July 2026 (short-term programs of 150–600 clock hours over 8–15 weeks). An opportunity signal: higher = more of what the school already produces could draw new federal grant aid. Source: College Scorecard Field-of-Study; an upper-bound proxy since the certificate tier spans varying lengths.
51.3%
Certificate-intensive
Higher than 41% of schools nationally
Enrollment cliff (home state)Projected change in the institution's home-state high-school graduates from 2025 to 2041 (WICHE). The U.S. total falls about 13%; a directional feeder-market signal, not an enrollment forecast.
-13.3%
Steep decline

Indicative signals, not forecasts, see each metric’s definition and the methodology. Endowment-tax, Grad PLUS, Parent PLUS and Workforce Pell figures appear only where the institution is actually exposed; “nationally” compares against all schools that report each signal.

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Financial Health Index
4.6
on a −4 to 10 scale
Financial Health IndexStable

NACUBO Composite Financial Index, the balance-sheet health score accreditors and institutional boards use to gauge financial health; bond-rating agencies track similar ratios. 65th percentile of 62 peers.

Primary reserve 35%6.3 mo
Reserves vs. debt 35%5.28×
Return on net assets 20%-0.6%
Operating result 10%-3.3%

Composite of four ratios on a strength-factor scale (−4 weak → 10 strong): below 3 falls short of the threshold for financial health, below 1 signals acute stress, and above 6 is strong. Computed from IPEDS FY2022-23, the most recent finance release (it lags the current year by 2–3 years). Branch campuses that report finances at a parent/system level can show distorted ratios. For informational benchmarking, not a credit rating or financial advice.

Revenue composition
Where the money comes from $37.7M total revenue · IPEDS FY2022-23

Government appropriations is the largest single source at 41% of revenue.

Government appropriations41.2%
Tuition & fees26.8%
Government grants & contracts22.5%
Auxiliary enterprises4.3%
Other revenue3.5%
Private gifts & grants0.9%
Investment return0.8%

Where each dollar of revenue comes from, as a share of total positive revenue. Sources are standardized across public (GASB) and private (FASB) reporting; a net investment loss in a down market is shown as 0% and excluded from the mix.

Net price by income
Average net price by family income After grant & scholarship aid · Scorecard 2024-25
$0–30K$9,549
$30–48K$9,835
$48–75K$12,371
$75–110K$14,517
$110K+$18,089

Average annual net price (total cost minus grant and scholarship aid) paid by federal-aid recipients in each family-income band. Lower-income bands often pay less where need-based aid is strong.

Financial Health
Net tuition revenue / FTETuition revenue per full-time-equivalent student after institutional aid/discounts, what tuition actually nets.
Strong
$5,266
89th percentile in peer grouppeer median $2,874
62 peers
Instructional spend / FTESpending on instruction per FTE student, how much of the budget reaches the classroom.
Strong
$9,163
69th percentile in peer grouppeer median $7,908
62 peers
Endowment (end of year)Total endowment value at year end, long-term invested wealth that funds operations and cushions shocks.
Average
$2.5M
41st percentile in peer grouppeer median $4M
51 peers
In-state tuition & feesPublished in-state tuition and fees before aid (sticker price).
$6,679
87th percentile in peer grouppeer median $4,788
62 peers
Out-of-state tuition & feesPublished out-of-state tuition and fees before aid (sticker price).
$6,679
26th percentile in peer grouppeer median $7,861
62 peers
Avg annual cost of attendanceAverage total annual cost, tuition, fees and living costs, before aid.
$18,552
69th percentile in peer grouppeer median $15,640
62 peers
Avg monthly faculty salaryAverage monthly salary of full-time faculty (IPEDS) – a proxy for faculty investment.
Strong
$9,498
89th percentile in peer grouppeer median $6,849
62 peers
Average monthly salary of full-time faculty, as reported to IPEDS.
Average net priceAverage yearly price families actually pay after grants and scholarships.
Below peers
$13,548
84th percentile in peer grouppeer median $8,572
62 peers
Endowment per undergradEndowment divided by undergraduate headcount, endowment wealth behind each undergrad.
Average
$1,165
45th percentile in peer grouppeer median $1,263
51 peers
Net price, low-income families (under $30K)Average yearly cost after all grant and scholarship aid for students from families earning under ~$30,000. Lower is better.
Average
$9,549
67th percentile in peer grouppeer median $7,576
2024-2560 peers
Average annual net price (cost of attendance minus all grant and scholarship aid) paid by students whose families earn under about $30,000 a year (College Scorecard, FY2024-25). This is what the neediest admitted students actually pay, often far below the sticker price. Read it beside the overall net price and the high-income net price: a low figure here signals strong need-based aid. Lower is better.
Net price, high-income families (over $110K)Average yearly cost after grant aid for students from families earning over ~$110,000. Shown as context, not quality.
$18,089
80th percentile in peer grouppeer median $14,772
2024-2549 peers
Average annual net price paid by students whose families earn more than about $110,000 a year (College Scorecard, FY2024-25), close to the full-pay cost since little need-based aid applies. Reported as context: the gap between this and the low-income net price shows how steeply the school discounts by family income. Not a measure of quality.
Net price, middle-income families ($30K-$48K)Average yearly cost after all grant and scholarship aid for students from families earning roughly $30,000 to $48,000. Lower is better.
Average
$9,835
64th percentile in peer grouppeer median $7,297
2024-2561 peers
Average annual net price (cost of attendance minus all grant and scholarship aid) paid by students whose families earn roughly $30,000 to $48,000 a year (College Scorecard, FY2024-25). It is the middle rung of the income net-price ladder: read it together with the low-income (under ~$30K) and high-income (over ~$110K) net prices to see how steeply the school discounts as family income rises. Lower is better.
Net price, upper-middle families ($48K-$75K)Average yearly cost after all grant and scholarship aid for students from families earning roughly $48,000 to $75,000. Lower is better.
Below peers
$12,371
74th percentile in peer grouppeer median $9,134
2024-2562 peers
Average annual net price (cost of attendance minus all grant and scholarship aid) paid by students whose families earn roughly $48,000 to $75,000 a year (College Scorecard, FY2024-25). It is the fourth rung of the five-rung income net-price ladder: read it with the low, middle, upper and high-income net prices to see how steeply the school discounts as family income rises. Lower is better.
Net price, upper-income families ($75K-$110K)Average yearly cost after all grant and scholarship aid for students from families earning roughly $75,000 to $110,000. Lower is better.
Below peers
$14,517
72nd percentile in peer grouppeer median $11,792
2024-2560 peers
Average annual net price (cost of attendance minus all grant and scholarship aid) paid by students whose families earn roughly $75,000 to $110,000 a year (College Scorecard, FY2024-25). It is the fifth rung of the income net-price ladder, just below the full-pay tier: read it with the lower rungs and the high-income net price to see the full cost gradient by family income. Lower is better.
Operating marginNet surplus as a share of total revenue, whether the institution runs in the black.
Thin
4%
31st percentile in peer grouppeer median 8.5%
FY2022-2361 peers
Net surplus as a share of total revenue (IPEDS FY2022-23): (total revenues − total expenses) ÷ total revenues. A surplus above 4% is strong; a thin surplus near 0% leaves little margin for shocks.
Tuition dependencyTuition's share of total revenue, how exposed the budget is to enrollment swings.
26.8%
85th percentile in peer grouppeer median 13%
FY2022-2361 peers
Tuition & fees as a share of total revenue (IPEDS FY2022-23). Higher = more exposed to enrollment swings.
State appropriations shareState appropriations' share of total revenue, material for public institutions, near zero for private.
40.8%
72nd percentile in peer grouppeer median 27.7%
FY2022-2361 peers
State appropriations as a share of total revenue (IPEDS FY2022-23). Material for public institutions; ~0 for private.
Months of operating cushionMonths of operating expenses covered by expendable reserves, the institution's cash cushion.
Strong
6.3 mo
61st percentile in peer grouppeer median 5.5 mo
FY2022-2351 peers
How many months of operating expenses the institution could cover from expendable reserves (IPEDS FY2022-23 primary reserve ratio × 12). About 5 months, one semester, is the accreditor benchmark for solid footing; below ~3 months is thin. A negative figure means expendable reserves are themselves negative.
Reserves vs. debtExpendable reserves divided by long-term debt, whether reserves could cover the debt.
Strong
5.28×
72nd percentile in peer grouppeer median 2.02×
FY2022-2339 peers
Expendable reserves ÷ plant-related debt (IPEDS FY2022-23 viability ratio). At or above 1.25×, reserves fully cover long-term debt. Shown blank when the institution carries little or no plant debt.
Return on net assetsChange in net assets over the year, whether the institution grew wealthier.
Weak
-0.6%
10th percentile in peer grouppeer median 7.4%
FY2022-2351 peers
Change in total net assets ÷ net assets (IPEDS FY2022-23) – whether the institution grew wealthier over the year. 2–4% is adequate; above 4% is strong.
Endowment per FTE studentEndowment per full-time-equivalent student, the FTE-correct measure of endowment wealth per student.
Average
$1,369
45th percentile in peer grouppeer median $1,758
FY2022-2351 peers
End-of-year endowment ÷ 12-month FTE enrollment, endowment wealth per full-time-equivalent student. The FTE-correct companion to endowment-per-undergraduate; FTE counts graduate and part-time load, so research universities look less wealthy on this basis than on a headcount basis.
Avg Parent PLUS loanAverage Parent PLUS loan originated per recipient family.
$8,492
35th percentile in peer grouppeer median $9,602
2024-2540 peers
Average federal Parent PLUS loan per recipient (U.S. Dept. of Education, FSA Direct Loan Dashboard, AY2025-26 YTD). Parent PLUS faces new aggregate borrowing caps under the 2025 budget law; a high average shows how far families currently borrow above other federal aid. Companion to the Grad PLUS and Parent PLUS cap-gap signals. Context, not a quality measure.
Structural risk indexAn indicative 0–100 structural-risk index (higher = more pressure) blending operating margin, months of cash cushion, tuition dependency and the home-state enrollment cliff. Screens for the financial and demographic strain that precedes closures and mergers, directional, not a prediction.
Elevated
36
– percentile in peer group
2024-2561 peers
An indicative 0–100 structural-risk index (higher = more pressure), an equal-weight blend of the stress signals we measure: thin or negative operating margin, low months of operating cushion, high tuition dependency, and a shrinking home-state high-school-graduate pipeline (enrollment cliff). Averaged over whichever signals are available (at least two required). It screens for the financial and demographic pressures that precede closures and mergers, a directional indicator, NOT a prediction that any institution will close, and not a credit rating.
Net-cost payback periodEstimated years to recoup the four-year net cost from the annual earnings premium over a high-school graduate in this state.
Strong
4.5 yrs
33rd percentile in peer grouppeer median 7.2 yrs
2024-2536 peers
Four-year net price divided by the median 10-year earnings premium over a typical high-school graduate in the institution's state (College Scorecard earnings and net price; U.S. Census Bureau ACS state baselines). A simple value-for-cost gauge: fewer years is stronger. Shown only where net price and earnings are both reported and earnings exceed the state high-school baseline; it ignores aid timing, debt and non-completion, so read it as a directional comparison, not a financial projection.
Graduation & completion
Graduation rate · first-time, full-time
–

Not reported, this institution has no first-time, full-time bachelor's-degree cohort, so the graduation rate does not apply. See the all-students completion rate.

Completion rate · all students
53%

53% earned a degree or certificate within 8 years (IPEDS Outcome Measures)
The broader cohort, also counts part-time entrants and transfer-ins, and any credential. More inclusive, so it can run higher than the graduation rate.

Why two numbers? They measure different students over different windows, so they are not directly comparable. The graduation rate is the standard federal headline but tracks only first-time, full-time students through a bachelor's; the all-students completion rate adds the part-time and transfer students it leaves out, over a longer window. Read each for what it covers. Source: U.S. Department of Education, IPEDS Graduation Rates & Outcome Measures, via College Scorecard.

Enrollment & Pipeline
Undergraduate enrollmentNumber of degree-seeking undergraduates (IPEDS fall headcount). A size measure, not a quality signal.
2,168
48th percentile in peer grouppeer median 2,240
62 peers
First-year retentionShare of first-time, full-time students who return for a second year, an early signal of student fit and support. Reported for two-year and less-than-two-year institutions.
Strong
73.9%
86th percentile in peer grouppeer median 63.3%
59 peers
Graduation rate (150% of normal time)Of first-time, full-time degree- or certificate-seeking students, the share who completed within 150% of the program's normal time (about three years for a two-year program), per College Scorecard. This is the two-year analogue of the six-year graduation rate shown for four-year colleges.
Strong
57.7%
85th percentile in peer grouppeer median 38.8%
59 peers
Share of first-time, full-time degree/certificate-seeking students who completed within 150% of the program's normal time (about three years for a two-year program), per College Scorecard. The two-year analogue of the six-year rate shown for four-year colleges.
Graduation rate (on-time)Of first-time, full-time degree- or certificate-seeking students, the share who completed within the program's normal time (100%, on-time), per College Scorecard. Reported for two-year and less-than-two-year institutions.
Strong
52.2%
88th percentile in peer grouppeer median 27.1%
59 peers
Share of first-time, full-time degree/certificate-seeking students who completed within the program's normal time (100%), per College Scorecard. Reported for two-year and less-than-two-year institutions.
Pell recipient shareShare of undergraduates on a federal Pell Grant, a proxy for the share from lower-income families.
27.3%
8th percentile in peer grouppeer median 38.8%
62 peers
Completion rate (all students · 8-yr)Of ALL entering degree-seeking undergraduates, full- and part-time, first-time and transfer-in, the share who earned a degree or certificate at this institution within eight years (IPEDS Outcome Measures). Broader than the graduation rate, which counts only first-time, full-time students, so the two are measured on different students and are not directly comparable.
Strong
53%
87th percentile in peer grouppeer median 36.4%
2024-2562 peers
Share of ALL entering degree-seeking undergraduates, full- and part-time, first-time and transfer-in, who earned a degree or certificate at this institution within eight years (IPEDS Outcome Measures, via College Scorecard). Broader and more inclusive than the graduation-rate figures, which count only first-time, full-time students entering a bachelor's program, so the two are measured on different groups of students and are not directly comparable.
First-generation studentsShare of undergraduates who are the first in their family to attend college.
31.2%
6th percentile in peer grouppeer median 47.2%
2024-2562 peers
Share of undergraduates who are first-generation college students (College Scorecard, FY2024-25). An access signal, not a measure of quality: a higher share often reflects a stronger commitment to serving students whose parents did not attend college.
Adult learners (25+)Share of undergraduates aged 25 or older.
29.5%
61st percentile in peer grouppeer median 27.4%
2024-2562 peers
Share of undergraduates aged 25 or older (College Scorecard, FY2024-25). Read as context on the student mix: schools serving many working adults look different on persistence and part-time measures than traditional-age campuses, and neither is inherently better.
Part-time undergraduatesShare of undergraduates enrolled part-time.
35.9%
35th percentile in peer grouppeer median 44.9%
2024-2562 peers
Share of undergraduates enrolled part-time (College Scorecard, FY2024-25). Context, not quality: a high part-time share is common at community and commuter institutions and affects graduation-rate comparisons, which are based only on full-time, first-time students.
Median family incomeMedian family income of students at this institution.
$39,514
89th percentile in peer grouppeer median $21,756
2024-2562 peers
Median family income of students at this institution (College Scorecard, FY2024-25). An affordability and access signal, not a measure of quality: a lower figure typically means the school enrolls more students from modest-income families.
Low-income students (under $30K)Share of students from families earning under about $30,000 a year.
38.2%
11th percentile in peer grouppeer median 62.5%
2024-2562 peers
Share of students whose families earn under roughly $30,000 a year (College Scorecard, FY2024-25). A direct low-income access signal: a higher share usually reflects a school enrolling more students from modest-income households, and pairs naturally with the Pell recipient share.
Women (share of undergraduates)Share of undergraduates who are women.
43.2%
15th percentile in peer grouppeer median 60.4%
2024-2562 peers
Share of undergraduates who are women (College Scorecard, FY2024-25). Reported as context on the student mix, not a measure of quality.
Middle-income students ($30K-$75K)Share of students from families earning roughly $30,000 to $75,000 a year.
35%
84th percentile in peer grouppeer median 29.1%
2024-2555 peers
Share of students whose families earn roughly $30,000 to $75,000 a year (College Scorecard, FY2024-25), the two middle income bands combined. Reported as context on the student mix: together with the low-income (under ~$30K) and upper-income (over ~$75K) shares it sketches the full family-income picture, and the three bands sum to about 100%.
Upper-income students (over $75K)Share of students from families earning more than about $75,000 a year.
26.9%
90th percentile in peer grouppeer median 12.6%
2024-2548 peers
Share of students whose families earn more than roughly $75,000 a year (College Scorecard, FY2024-25), the two upper income bands combined. Reported as context on the student mix, not a measure of quality: together with the low-income (under ~$30K) and middle-income (~$30K-$75K) shares it sketches the full family-income picture, and the three bands sum to about 100%.
8-year completion (all students)Share of all entering students, including part-time and transfer-in, who earn an award within 8 years. Higher is better.
Strong
53%
87th percentile in peer grouppeer median 36.4%
2024-2562 peers
Share of ALL entering students, full-time and part-time, first-time and transfer-in, who complete an award within eight years (College Scorecard Outcome Measures, FY2024-25). It is a broader, more representative completion signal than the first-time-full-time graduation rates, because it counts the part-time and returning students those rates exclude. Higher is better.
12-month FTE enrollmentFull-time-equivalent enrollment over the full year, the denominator for per-student finance measures.
1,845
48th percentile in peer grouppeer median 1,928
2022-2362 peers
Full-time-equivalent enrollment over the full 12-month year (IPEDS 12-month enrollment, 2022-23). Counts part-time students at their fractional load, so it runs above fall full-time headcount and is the denominator used for per-student finance measures.
Student-faculty ratioStudents per instructional faculty member, lower usually means smaller classes and more contact.
22:1
95th percentile in peer grouppeer median 16:1
2022-2362 peers
Students per instructional faculty member (IPEDS, fall 2023). Lower generally means smaller classes and more faculty contact, though the measure mixes undergraduate and graduate teaching and is institution-reported.
Fully online studentsShare of students enrolled exclusively in distance-education (online) courses.
22%
37th percentile in peer grouppeer median 27%
2024-2562 peers
Share of students enrolled exclusively in distance-education courses (IPEDS, Fall 2023). Describes delivery model, not quality; online-heavy institutions look different on residential measures.
Applicant-pool diversity shiftProjected change in the non-white share of the home state's public high-school graduating class, class of 2025 to 2037.
+7.1%
– percentile in peer group
WICHE 2024 (11th ed.)59 peers
Percentage-point change in the non-white share of the institution's home-state public high-school graduating class between the class of 2025 (the national peak) and 2037 (WICHE, Knocking at the College Door, 11th ed., public-school race detail). A forward look at who the future applicant pool will be: a positive value means the state's graduating class is projected to grow more racially diverse. Strategic recruiting context, not a forecast of any one school's enrollment, and a college recruits from many states.
Program concentration (HHI)How concentrated a school's annual completions are across academic fields, as a Herfindahl-Hirschman Index (10,000 = one field, lower = many). Higher means more reliance on a few fields; lower means a diversified program portfolio.
Diversified
1,459
– percentile in peer group
2022-2357 peers
How concentrated the institution's degree and certificate output is across academic fields (CIP 2-digit families), as a Herfindahl-Hirschman Index on the latest year's completions: 10,000 means every completion is in one field; lower means output is spread across many. A higher value means the school leans on fewer fields and is more exposed to demand shifts in them; a lower value reflects a broad program portfolio. Shown for institutions reporting at least 100 annual completions. A structural-diversification signal, not a measure of quality.
Enrollment cliff (home state)Projected change in the institution's home-state high-school graduates from 2025 to 2041 (WICHE). The U.S. total falls about 13%; a directional feeder-market signal, not an enrollment forecast.
Steep decline
-13.3%
– percentile in peer group
2024-2559 peers
Projected change in the number of high-school graduates in the institution's HOME STATE from the class of 2025 (the national peak) to 2041, per WICHE's Knocking at the College Door, 11th Edition (Dec 2024). The 'enrollment cliff' is the post-2008 birth decline reaching college age; the U.S. total is projected to fall about 13% over this window. A college recruits from many states, so its home-state projection is an indicative directional signal of feeder-market pressure, not a forecast of that institution's own enrollment.
Workforce Pell exposureShare of this school's measured credentials that are undergraduate certificates, the sub-associate tier the 2025 budget law's new Workforce Pell Grant makes Pell-eligible from July 2026 (short-term programs of 150–600 clock hours over 8–15 weeks). An opportunity signal: higher = more of what the school already produces could draw new federal grant aid. Source: College Scorecard Field-of-Study; an upper-bound proxy since the certificate tier spans varying lengths.
Certificate-intensive
51.3%
– percentile in peer group
2024-2558 peers
Share of the institution's measured credentials that are undergraduate certificates, the sub-associate tier that the 2025 budget law's new Workforce Pell Grant makes Pell-eligible from July 1, 2026. Workforce Pell extends the Pell Grant to short-term workforce programs of 150 to 600 clock hours offered over 8 to 15 weeks, subject to state-workforce-board and accreditor approval and to job-placement, completion and earnings-value guardrails. This is an opportunity signal: a higher share means more of what the school already produces could draw new federal grant aid, and the upside is greatest where Pell reliance (shown separately) is also high. Computed as undergraduate-certificate completions divided by all credential completions in the College Scorecard Field-of-Study file (most recent release). Scorecard's 'Undergraduate Certificate' level spans certificates of varying length, so the statutory 150-600 clock-hour window is a subset of this tier, read this as an upper-bound exposure proxy, not a count of qualifying programs. Shown only for institutions that confer such certificates above a minimum completions floor.
Enrollment momentum (CAGR)Enrollment momentum (CAGR).
Strong
0.5%
81st percentile in peer grouppeer median -1.8%
2024-2562 peers
Compound annual growth rate of undergraduate enrollment over the years the tool tracks (College Scorecard, roughly 2016-2024). Positive means the school is growing; negative means it is shrinking, the leading indicator of demand stress ahead of the demographic cliff. Banded against the school's peer group.
Net-price momentum (CAGR)Net-price momentum (CAGR).
Average
3.1%
66th percentile in peer grouppeer median 1.9%
2024-2561 peers
Compound annual growth rate of net tuition revenue per full-time-equivalent student over the tracked years. A high positive rate means the school's real net price is climbing faster than peers, which can strain affordability and yield. Banded against the school's peer group. Lower is better.
States recruited fromNumber of distinct US states sending at least one first-time student.
Average
6
63rd percentile in peer grouppeer median 5
Fall 202259 peers
How many distinct US states the school's first-time degree-seeking class is drawn from (IPEDS Residence & Migration, Fall 2022). A higher count signals broader geographic reach and less dependence on any single state's shrinking pool of high school graduates; a low count means the school recruits from a narrow region and is more exposed to that region's demographic decline. Banded against the school's peer group.
Foreign first-time shareShare of first-time students whose legal residence is a foreign country.
0%
69th percentile in peer grouppeer median 0%
Fall 202262 peers
Share of the school's first-time degree-seeking class whose legal residence is outside the United States (IPEDS Residence & Migration, Fall 2022). A measure of international reach in the entering class. Neither high nor low is inherently better; it is context for tuition-revenue mix and exposure to visa and geopolitical risk. Banded against the school's peer group.
Direct competitors within 100 miNumber of same-type institutions (same Carnegie class and control) within 100 miles.
Below peers
2
82nd percentile in peer grouppeer median 1
2024-2562 peers
How many institutions of the same type (same Carnegie classification and control, i.e. the schools competing for the same students) sit within roughly 100 miles. A higher count means a more crowded local market and a harder yield fight, which matters most as the regional pool of high school graduates shrinks; a low count means the school has its catchment largely to itself. Distance is straight-line from campus coordinates. Banded against the school's peer group. Fewer is better for recruiting leverage.
Hybrid (some online) enrollmentShare of students enrolled in some but not all courses online (hybrid), Fall 2023.
24%
31st percentile in peer grouppeer median 29.5%
Fall 202362 peers
Share of all students taking some, but not all, of their courses at a distance (IPEDS, Fall 2023). This is the hybrid middle ground between the fully online share and the fully in-person share, and it signals how far a school has moved coursework online without going exclusively remote. Context metric, not better or worse. Banded against the school's peer group.
Transfer-in share (undergraduate)Transfer-in students as a share of undergraduate enrollment, Fall 2023.
14.8%
92nd percentile in peer grouppeer median 7%
Fall 202362 peers
Transfer-in students as a share of all undergraduates (IPEDS, Fall 2023). A high share means the school depends on transfer pipelines rather than first-time freshmen, which changes both recruitment strategy and melt/retention risk. Context metric, not better or worse. Banded against the school's peer group.
Graduate share of enrollmentGraduate students as a share of total enrollment, Fall 2023.
0%
100th percentile in peer grouppeer median 0%
Fall 202362 peers
Graduate students as a share of total headcount enrollment (IPEDS, Fall 2023). It separates research-intensive universities with large graduate bodies from undergraduate-focused institutions. Context metric, not better or worse. Banded against the school's peer group.
Women share of facultyWomen as a share of instructional staff (full- and part-time), Fall 2023.
47.5%
11th percentile in peer grouppeer median 54.6%
2023-2462 peers
Women as a share of all instructional staff, full- and part-time combined (IPEDS Human Resources, Fall 2023). A gender-composition signal for the teaching workforce. Context metric, not better or worse. Banded against the school's peer group.
Faculty of color shareU.S. faculty of color as a share of instructional staff, Fall 2023.
4.9%
26th percentile in peer grouppeer median 15.1%
2023-2462 peers
Instructional staff who are American Indian/Alaska Native, Asian, Black, Hispanic, Native Hawaiian/Pacific Islander, or two-or-more races, as a share of all instructional staff (IPEDS Human Resources, Fall 2023). Nonresident and race-unknown staff are excluded from the numerator. Context metric, not better or worse. Banded against the school's peer group.
Enrollment forecast (5-yr)Projected change in total enrollment about five years out, from the school's own trend.
Strong
-2.2%
84th percentile in peer grouppeer median -18.6%
2024-2029 projection62 peers
Projected cumulative change in total enrollment roughly five years out, modeled by a least-squares log-linear fit on the school's own enrollment history (2016-2024). It uses the full multi-year series, so a single shock year (such as 2020) does not drive the result. This is a naive trend extrapolation, not a demographic model, and is capped at plus or minus 60 percent; treat it as direction-of-travel, not a precise count. Banded against the school's peer group; higher means projected growth.
Varsity athlete shareVarsity athletes as a share of total enrollment (EADA, 2024-25).
8.6%
59th percentile in peer grouppeer median 7.7%
2024-2532 peers
Student-athletes on varsity rosters as a share of total enrollment, from the federal Equity in Athletics Disclosure Act filing (2024-25). At small athletics-driven schools this share is large and athletics recruiting is a core part of the enrollment funnel; at big universities it is small. Context metric, not better or worse. Banded against the school's peer group.
Athletics revenue (total)Total intercollegiate-athletics revenue reported under EADA, 2024-25.
$889,564
47th percentile in peer grouppeer median $917,173
2024-2532 peers
Total revenue attributed to the school's intercollegiate-athletics program, from the federal Equity in Athletics Disclosure Act filing (2024-25). It indicates the scale of the athletics enterprise, which at some schools is a major brand and enrollment driver. Context metric, not better or worse. Banded against the school's peer group.
On-campus crime rateOn-campus criminal offenses per 1,000 students, 2024 (Clery Act).
Below peers
0.3 per 1k
70th percentile in peer grouppeer median 0 per 1k
2024 (Clery)61 peers
Criminal offenses reported on campus in 2024 (murder, manslaughter, the four sex-offense categories, robbery, aggravated assault, burglary, motor-vehicle theft and arson) per 1,000 students, from the school's federal Clery Act filing. Counts and enrollment are summed across the institution's campuses. A higher number does not always mean a more dangerous school: thorough reporting and dense residential campuses raise it. Lower is generally safer. Banded against the school's peer group.
In-state HS graduatesPublic + private high-school graduates in the school's state, class of 2025.
67,216
56th percentile in peer grouppeer median 57,865
Class of 2025 (WICHE)59 peers
The size of the school's home-state high-school graduating class in 2025 (WICHE Knocking at the College Door, public and private combined). It is the near-term in-state feeder market, the complement to the enrollment-cliff projection, which shows the direction that market is heading. Context metric, not better or worse. Banded against the school's peer group.
Metro-area unemployment rateUnemployment rate in the school's metro area, ACS 2019-23.
Strong
3.9%
23rd percentile in peer grouppeer median 5.4%
ACS 2019-2356 peers
The civilian unemployment rate in the school's metropolitan or micropolitan area (US Census ACS 2019-23, mapped by the school's federal CBSA code). It is a proxy for local labor demand: a lower rate means a tighter job market, a stronger near-term destination for graduates and a smaller pool of working adults to recruit. It describes the local economy, not the school. Schools outside any metro area are not scored. Banded against the school's peer group.
Student body
Undergraduate race & ethnicity IPEDS 2024-25
White62.5%
Hispanic/Latino14.7%
Black10.9%
Two or more races5.6%
Asian3.3%
Unknown1.7%
American Indian/Alaska Native0.5%
International0.5%
Native Hawaiian/Pacific Islander0.1%

Undergraduate enrollment by race and ethnicity, as reported to IPEDS (College Scorecard). “International” denotes nonresident students; “Unknown” means race/ethnicity was not reported.

Student Outcomes & Risk
Median earnings (10 yr)Median earnings of former students ten years after first enrolling (working, federally-aided students).
Strong
$51,938
95th percentile in peer grouppeer median $36,623
62 peers
Median debt at graduationMedian federal loan debt graduates carry at the point they complete.
Average
$11,000
58th percentile in peer grouppeer median $10,993
50 peers
3-yr cohort default rateShare of borrowers who default within three years of entering repayment. Lower is better.
Strong
10.9%
30th percentile in peer grouppeer median 13.5%
FY2017 cohort54 peers
Share of borrowers who defaulted within three years of entering repayment (U.S. Dept. of Education official cohort default rate). Shown for the FY2017 borrower cohort, the most recent cohort whose full three-year default window closed before the 2020-23 federal student-loan payment pause. More recent cohorts are reported by the College Scorecard at essentially 0%, but that reflects the payment pause (no payments were due, so almost no one could default), not borrower health, so the pre-pause cohort is the last meaningful reading. Lower is better.
Share taking federal loansShare of students taking out federal loans, a borrowing-reliance signal.
25.2%
74th percentile in peer grouppeer median 16.4%
62 peers
Full-time faculty shareShare of faculty employed full-time, higher generally means more availability and continuity.
Below peers
38.6%
21st percentile in peer grouppeer median 50%
62 peers
Debt-to-earnings ratioMedian graduate debt divided by median earnings, how heavy the debt load is versus what graduates earn. Lower is better.
Strong
0.21×
18th percentile in peer grouppeer median 0.27×
50 peers
Loan repayment rate (3-yr)
52.1%
78th percentile in peer grouppeer median 41.2%
2024-2549 peers
Share of student-loan borrowers who had repaid at least $1 of their loan principal within three years of entering repayment (College Scorecard, FY2024-25). Read it as context, not a simple good/bad score: a low rate can mean borrowers are struggling, but it can also mean many graduates have postponed payments while enrolled in graduate or professional school, which is common at selective schools and pushes their rate down. Unlike the cohort default rate, it is not distorted by the 2020-23 federal payment pause. Reported only where enough borrowers exist.
Earn more than a HS grad (6-yr)Share earning more than $28,000 (about a high-school graduate's wage) six years after entry.
Strong
67.4%
95th percentile in peer grouppeer median 41.5%
2024-2562 peers
Share of students earning more than $28,000 a year, roughly what a typical high-school graduate earns, six years after entering this institution (College Scorecard, FY2024-25). A direct read on whether attending beats not attending, and conceptually aligned with the 2025 budget law's program-level earnings-premium test.
Working 10 years after entryShare of the no-longer-enrolled cohort who are working ten years after entering.
Strong
88.7%
87th percentile in peer grouppeer median 82.6%
2024-2562 peers
Share of students who are working (not still enrolled) ten years after entering this institution, of those whose employment status is known (College Scorecard, FY2024-25). A coarse employment signal; it does not capture earnings level or job quality.
Withdrew by year 2Share of entrants who had withdrawn by their second year. Lower is better.
Strong
40.9%
27th percentile in peer grouppeer median 47.1%
2024-2562 peers
Share of students who had withdrawn from this institution by the end of their second year (College Scorecard, FY2024-25). An early-attrition signal, where lower is better; high part-time or adult-learner enrollment can raise it without reflecting institutional quality.
Loan repayment rate (5-yr)Share of borrowers who repaid at least $1 of principal within five years of entering repayment.
Strong
59.3%
80th percentile in peer grouppeer median 42.7%
2024-2549 peers
Share of student-loan borrowers who had repaid at least $1 of their loan principal within five years of entering repayment (College Scorecard, FY2024-25), a longer-horizon companion to the three-year repayment rate. As with the three-year figure, a low rate can reflect graduates deferring payments while in further schooling rather than financial distress.
Median earnings (6 yr)Median earnings of working former students six years after they first enrolled.
Strong
$46,398
92nd percentile in peer grouppeer median $32,939
2024-2561 peers
Median earnings of former students who are working and were federally aided, measured six years after they first enrolled (College Scorecard, FY2024-25). A shorter-horizon companion to the ten-year earnings figure; early-career pay tends to run below the ten-year mark, so read the two together rather than in isolation.
Earn more than a HS grad (10-yr)Share earning more than $28,000 (about a high-school graduate's wage) ten years after entry.
Strong
67.6%
86th percentile in peer grouppeer median 52.6%
2024-2557 peers
Share of students earning more than $28,000 a year, roughly what a typical high-school graduate earns, ten years after entering this institution (College Scorecard, FY2024-25). The long-horizon companion to the six-year figure and the closest public analogue to the 2025 budget law's program-level earnings-premium test.
Median debt (did not complete)Median federal loan debt of students who left without completing. Lower is better.
Average
$5,500
65th percentile in peer grouppeer median $5,500
2024-2551 peers
Median federal loan debt carried by students who withdrew from this institution without completing a credential (College Scorecard, FY2024-25). The counterpart to debt at graduation, and often the higher-risk group: borrowing with no degree to show for it. Lower is better, but compare it against the school's completion and withdrawal rates rather than on its own.
Loan repayment rate (1-yr)Share of borrowers who repaid at least $1 of principal within one year of entering repayment.
Strong
47.6%
72nd percentile in peer grouppeer median 37.3%
2024-2550 peers
Share of student-loan borrowers who had repaid at least $1 of their loan principal within one year of entering repayment (College Scorecard, FY2024-25), the earliest point on the repayment curve. As with the longer-horizon rates, a low figure can reflect borrowers deferring payments while in further schooling rather than financial distress.
Loan repayment rate (7-yr)Share of borrowers who repaid at least $1 of principal within seven years of entering repayment.
Strong
68.1%
85th percentile in peer grouppeer median 50.5%
2024-2548 peers
Share of student-loan borrowers who had repaid at least $1 of their loan principal within seven years of entering repayment (College Scorecard, FY2024-25), the longest horizon reported. Together with the one-, three-, and five-year rates it traces how repayment progresses over time.
Median debt (first-generation students)Median federal loan debt of students who are the first in their family to attend college. Lower is better.
Below peers
$8,274
71st percentile in peer grouppeer median $7,405
2024-2549 peers
Median cumulative federal loan debt carried by first-generation students, those whose parents did not complete college (College Scorecard, FY2024-25). Read it beside the all-students median debt: a gap between the two is an equity signal about who shoulders the borrowing. Lower is better, but weigh it against completion and earnings.
Median debt (Pell recipients)Median federal loan debt of Pell Grant recipients, the lowest-income aided students. Lower is better.
Below peers
$9,053
82nd percentile in peer grouppeer median $7,879
2024-2549 peers
Median cumulative federal loan debt carried by Pell Grant recipients (College Scorecard, FY2024-25), the lowest-income federally-aided students at the school. Compare it with the all-students median debt and the Pell share: it shows how much the neediest students borrow to attend. Lower is better.
Loan repayment rate, completers (3-yr)Share of borrowers who COMPLETED and had paid down at least $1 of principal within 3 years. Higher is better.
Strong
67.7%
73rd percentile in peer grouppeer median 58.6%
2024-2548 peers
Three-year loan repayment rate among borrowers who completed their program (College Scorecard, FY2024-25): the share who, three years after entering repayment, are not in default and have paid down at least a dollar of principal. Read it beside the all-borrower loan repayment rate and the non-completer rate: completers almost always repay at higher rates, so a low figure here is a strong warning sign. Higher is better.
Loan repayment rate, non-completers (3-yr)Share of borrowers who LEFT WITHOUT a credential and had paid down at least $1 of principal within 3 years. Higher is better.
Strong
43.5%
73rd percentile in peer grouppeer median 36.2%
2024-2548 peers
Three-year loan repayment rate among borrowers who left WITHOUT completing (College Scorecard, FY2024-25), the group at the highest risk of default since they carry debt without the credential. Pair it with the non-completer median debt: together they show how heavily a school's dropouts are burdened. Higher is better.
Median earnings, low-income students (10-yr)Median earnings 10 years after entry for students who came from families earning under ~$30,000. Higher is better.
Strong
$46,081
96th percentile in peer grouppeer median $35,778
2024-2546 peers
Median earnings ten years after entering, measured only for students who came from the lowest family-income tier, under about $30,000 a year (College Scorecard, FY2024-25). Read it beside the overall median earnings: a school whose low-income students go on to earn near the all-student figure is delivering real upward mobility, while a large gap signals the payoff is not reaching its neediest students. Higher is better.
Median earnings, middle-income students (10-yr)Median earnings 10 years after entry for students who came from families earning roughly $30,000 to $75,000. Higher is better.
Strong
$55,895
93rd percentile in peer grouppeer median $44,640
2024-2546 peers
Median earnings ten years after entering, measured only for students from middle-income families, roughly $30,000 to $75,000 a year (College Scorecard, FY2024-25). It is the middle rung of the earnings-by-family-income ladder: read it beside the low-income (under ~$30K) and high-income (over ~$75K) figures to see whether the school's payoff is even across backgrounds or tracks who students were when they arrived. Higher is better.
Median earnings, high-income students (10-yr)Median earnings 10 years after entry for students who came from families earning over ~$75,000. Higher is better.
Strong
$59,005
85th percentile in peer grouppeer median $49,190
2024-2546 peers
Median earnings ten years after entering, measured only for students from higher-income families, over about $75,000 a year (College Scorecard, FY2024-25). It is the top rung of the earnings-by-family-income ladder: the gap between this and the low-income figure shows how much the school's earnings payoff depends on family background. A narrow gap signals strong upward mobility. Higher is better.
Return on credentialMedian 10-year earnings divided by the four-year cost of attendance (annual cost × 4) – a rough payback ratio for the degree.
Strong
0.70×
69th percentile in peer grouppeer median 0.60×
2024-2562 peers
Median 10-year earnings divided by the four-year cost of attendance (average annual cost × 4). A rough payback ratio: 1.0× means a graduate's annual 10-year earnings roughly equal the full four-year sticker cost. Earnings reflect federally-aided students; cost of attendance is the published sticker price before aid, so this is conservative relative to what families net of aid pay.
Field-demand outlook (10-yr)Employment-weighted 10-year BLS job-growth projection for the occupations this school's program mix feeds (U.S. all-occupations benchmark +3.1%). An indicative broad-field demand signal, not a program-specific or placement guarantee.
Outpaces job-market average
+3.9%
21st percentile in peer group
BLS EP 2024-3456 peers
Projected 10-year (2024-34) change in U.S. employment for the occupations this institution's degrees and certificates feed, blended across its program mix. Built by mapping each CIP 2-digit field to its occupations via the NCES CIP-SOC crosswalk, taking the employment-weighted average of each occupation's BLS-projected percent change, then weighting fields by the institution's latest-year completions. The U.S. all-occupations benchmark is 3.1%, so a higher value means the school's graduates concentrate in faster-growing labor markets. An INDICATIVE field-level signal at broad-field granularity, not a program-specific or graduate-specific projection, and not a placement or earnings guarantee. Shown where at least 50% of completions fall in fields with a coherent occupational mapping and the school reports 100+ annual completions.
Programs below earnings benchmarkShare of program completions in fields whose graduate earnings currently fall below the state earnings benchmark used by the 2025 budget law's earnings-premium test.
Strong
0%
30th percentile in peer grouppeer median 5.1%
2024-2543 peers
Share of this school's measured program completions in programs whose median earnings four years after completion fall below the state benchmark (a high-school graduate's earnings for undergraduate credentials, a bachelor's for graduate credentials). This is the same early-warning screen behind our OBBBA Compliance Watchdog leaderboard, computed on public College Scorecard Field-of-Study data, not the official federal determination. Shown only where at least four programs report earnings. Lower is less exposure.
Net-value indexComposite 0-100 of earnings, completion, net price and debt vs peers.
Strong
60.0
82nd percentile in peer grouppeer median 52.0
2024-2562 peers
A 0-100 composite of student value relative to the peer group: the average of peer percentile ranks for median earnings ten years out, graduation rate, net price (lower counts as better value) and median debt (lower is better). Built only where at least two components are reported. Higher means more outcome per dollar. Banded against the school's peer group.
Debt-to-earnings rateMedian program-level debt-to-earnings rate (annual loan payment / earnings).
Strong
0.2%
24th percentile in peer grouppeer median 0.3%
Scorecard FoS (indicative)34 peers
The school's median program-level debt-to-earnings rate: the annual payment on graduates' median loan debt as a share of their median earnings, the core measure in the Department of Education's gainful-employment framework (a program is flagged above 8%). This is INDICATIVE: it applies ED's methodology to public College Scorecard field-of-study data because ED has not yet published its official determinations. Computed where the school has at least three evaluated programs. Lower means debt is smaller relative to earnings. Banded against peer group.
Earnings spread
Earnings 10 years after entry: the middle 50% Working, federally-aided former students · Scorecard 2024-25
25th percentile$32,416
Median$51,938
75th percentile$73,399

Annual earnings of working former students measured ten years after they first enrolled (College Scorecard), shown as a range rather than a single number. The middle half of this school’s graduates earn between the 25th- and 75th-percentile figures; the Median bar matches the headline earnings figure. A wider gap means more variation in how graduates fare. Bars are scaled to the highest value shown.

Top fields of study (all levels)

Dakota County Technical College’s largest fields by completions, with graduate earnings (4 years out) and debt benchmarked against the same field at its peer group. Sparklines show the 8-year completions trend.

FieldCompletions / yrMedian earnings, 4 yrs outMedian debtEarnings premiumRisk score
Health Professions & Clinical Sciences167$51,655
55th pct · 42 peers
$9,088
43th pct · 35 peers
Above benchmark +29%Low · 32
Business, Management & Marketing96$56,929
100th pct · 8 peers
$16,769
62th pct · 8 peers
Above benchmark +42%Low · 17
Business, Management & Marketing83$50,973
84th pct · 32 peers
$17,757
93th pct · 27 peers
Above benchmark +28%Moderate · 36
Mechanic & Repair Technologies79$67,312
75th pct · 16 peers
$12,000
100th pct · 12 peers
Above benchmark +68%Low · 16
Construction Trades63$82,544
62th pct · 8 peers
$12,000
100th pct · 7 peers
Above benchmark +107%Low · 0
Precision Production58$59,643
88th pct · 26 peers
$5,500
38th pct · 16 peers
Above benchmark +49%Low · 19
Mechanic & Repair Technologies45$65,334
100th pct · 20 peers
$11,200
85th pct · 13 peers
Above benchmark +63%Low · 0
Engineering Technologies39$73,442
73th pct · 30 peers
$14,750
78th pct · 23 peers
Above benchmark +84%Low · 30
Health Professions & Clinical Sciences38$48,537
14th pct · 51 peers
$8,234
4th pct · 46 peers
Above benchmark +21%Moderate · 48
Visual & Performing Arts37–$17,596–High · 68

All 9 top fields shown clear the MN state earnings-premium benchmark (indicative).

Earnings-premium status is an indicative estimate: median graduate earnings four years out vs the MN state median earnings of a high-school graduate (undergraduate credentials) or a bachelor’s-degree holder (graduate credentials) from the U.S. Census Bureau’s American Community Survey (2022 ACS 5-year). The official U.S. Department of Education determination uses its own cohort definition and may differ.

The risk score (0–100) is an indicative blend of earnings-premium margin and the five-year completions trend, higher means a field pays closer to (or below) the benchmark and is shrinking. A directional screen, not an official determination.

Major-level detail (CIP 4-digit)
Health Professions & Clinical Sciences – 4 CIP programs (4-digit), 3 with earnings
Major (CIP 4-digit)Compl./yrEarn 4yrEarn 1yr% > thresholdMedian debtDebt/earnEarnings premium2 of 3 yrs
Practical Nursing, Vocational Nursing and Nursing AssistantsCIP 5139 ›116$52,977 n=136–83% 5yr$9,5000.18×Above benchmark +33%Clears all 2 yrs
Allied Health and Medical Assisting ServicesCIP 5108 ›22$41,355 n=35–69.2% 5yr$9,5000.23×Above benchmark +3%Below benchmark 1 of 2 yrs
Dental Support Services and Allied ProfessionsCIP 5106 ›22$54,981 n=45–68.9%$6,5000.12×Above benchmark +38%Below benchmark 1 of 2 yrs
Health and Medical Administrative ServicesCIP 5107 ›7–––––––

Major-level earnings, debt and threshold pass-rates are reported by College Scorecard only where enough graduates exist to protect privacy, so 3 of 4 majors show an earnings figure; the rest read “–”. % > threshold is ED’s own share of graduates out-earning the federal earnings threshold (the do-no-harm pass rate), drawn from the best available measurement window (4-, 5- or 1-year) pooled across all nine College Scorecard Field-of-Study releases; a small chip marks any figure not on the 4-year window, and hovering names the cohort size and source release. 2 of 3 yrs flags fields below the earnings-premium benchmark in two of the latest three reported cohort-years, the statutory trigger under the 2025 test (effective July 1, 2026). Indicative; the Department of Education’s official determination may differ. Source: U.S. Department of Education, College Scorecard Field of Study (2014–15 through 2022–23 cohorts + most-recent snapshot), accessed March 2026.

Business, Management & Marketing – 6 CIP programs (4-digit), 2 with earnings
Major (CIP 4-digit)Compl./yrEarn 4yrEarn 1yr% > thresholdMedian debtDebt/earnEarnings premium2 of 3 yrs
Business Administration, Management and OperationsCIP 5202 ›43$52,903 n=19–70.4% 5yr$14,7500.28×Above benchmark +32%Clears all 2 yrs
Human Resources Management and ServicesCIP 5210 ›32$62,340 n=21–76.9% 5yr$19,4820.31×Above benchmark +56%Clears all 2 yrs
Entrepreneurial and Small Business OperationsCIP 5207 ›11–––––––
Accounting and Related ServicesCIP 5203 ›6–––––––
Business Operations Support and Assistant ServicesCIP 5204 ›2–––––––
General Sales, Merchandising and Related Marketing OperationsCIP 5218 ›2–––––––

Major-level earnings, debt and threshold pass-rates are reported by College Scorecard only where enough graduates exist to protect privacy, so 2 of 6 majors show an earnings figure; the rest read “–”. % > threshold is ED’s own share of graduates out-earning the federal earnings threshold (the do-no-harm pass rate), drawn from the best available measurement window (4-, 5- or 1-year) pooled across all nine College Scorecard Field-of-Study releases; a small chip marks any figure not on the 4-year window, and hovering names the cohort size and source release. 2 of 3 yrs flags fields below the earnings-premium benchmark in two of the latest three reported cohort-years, the statutory trigger under the 2025 test (effective July 1, 2026). Indicative; the Department of Education’s official determination may differ. Source: U.S. Department of Education, College Scorecard Field of Study (2014–15 through 2022–23 cohorts + most-recent snapshot), accessed March 2026.

Business, Management & Marketing – 6 CIP programs (4-digit), 2 with earnings
Major (CIP 4-digit)Compl./yrEarn 4yrEarn 1yr% > thresholdMedian debtDebt/earnEarnings premium2 of 3 yrs
Business Administration, Management and OperationsCIP 5202 ›34$53,631 n=47–78.7% 5yr$18,5990.35×Above benchmark +34%Clears all 2 yrs
Accounting and Related ServicesCIP 5203 ›20$46,455 n=24–77.5% 5yr$16,3250.35×Above benchmark +16%Clears all 2 yrs
MarketingCIP 5214 ›15–––––––
Management Information Systems and ServicesCIP 5212 ›7–––––––
Construction ManagementCIP 5220 ›6–––––––
Business Operations Support and Assistant ServicesCIP 5204 ›1–––––––

Major-level earnings, debt and threshold pass-rates are reported by College Scorecard only where enough graduates exist to protect privacy, so 2 of 6 majors show an earnings figure; the rest read “–”. % > threshold is ED’s own share of graduates out-earning the federal earnings threshold (the do-no-harm pass rate), drawn from the best available measurement window (4-, 5- or 1-year) pooled across all nine College Scorecard Field-of-Study releases; a small chip marks any figure not on the 4-year window, and hovering names the cohort size and source release. 2 of 3 yrs flags fields below the earnings-premium benchmark in two of the latest three reported cohort-years, the statutory trigger under the 2025 test (effective July 1, 2026). Indicative; the Department of Education’s official determination may differ. Source: U.S. Department of Education, College Scorecard Field of Study (2014–15 through 2022–23 cohorts + most-recent snapshot), accessed March 2026.

Mechanic & Repair Technologies – 3 CIP programs (4-digit), 2 with earnings
Major (CIP 4-digit)Compl./yrEarn 4yrEarn 1yr% > thresholdMedian debtDebt/earnEarnings premium2 of 3 yrs
Vehicle Maintenance and Repair Technologies/TechniciansCIP 4706 ›60$60,744 n=77–87.8% 5yr$12,0000.20×Above benchmark +52%Clears all 2 yrs
Heavy/Industrial Equipment Maintenance Technologies/TechniciansCIP 4703 ›18$89,205 n=19–85.7% 5yr$12,0000.14×Above benchmark +123%Clears all 2 yrs
Heating, Air Conditioning, Ventilation and Refrigeration Maintenance Technology/Technician (HAC, HACR, HVAC, HVACR)CIP 4702 ›1–––––––

Major-level earnings, debt and threshold pass-rates are reported by College Scorecard only where enough graduates exist to protect privacy, so 2 of 3 majors show an earnings figure; the rest read “–”. % > threshold is ED’s own share of graduates out-earning the federal earnings threshold (the do-no-harm pass rate), drawn from the best available measurement window (4-, 5- or 1-year) pooled across all nine College Scorecard Field-of-Study releases; a small chip marks any figure not on the 4-year window, and hovering names the cohort size and source release. 2 of 3 yrs flags fields below the earnings-premium benchmark in two of the latest three reported cohort-years, the statutory trigger under the 2025 test (effective July 1, 2026). Indicative; the Department of Education’s official determination may differ. Source: U.S. Department of Education, College Scorecard Field of Study (2014–15 through 2022–23 cohorts + most-recent snapshot), accessed March 2026.

Construction Trades – 1 CIP program (4-digit), 1 with earnings
Major (CIP 4-digit)Compl./yrEarn 4yrEarn 1yr% > thresholdMedian debtDebt/earnEarnings premium2 of 3 yrs
Electrical and Power Transmission InstallersCIP 4603 ›63$82,544 n=50–86.7% 5yr$12,0000.14×Above benchmark +107%Clears all 2 yrs

Major-level earnings, debt and threshold pass-rates are reported by College Scorecard only where enough graduates exist to protect privacy, so 1 of 1 major shows an earnings figure; the rest read “–”. % > threshold is ED’s own share of graduates out-earning the federal earnings threshold (the do-no-harm pass rate), drawn from the best available measurement window (4-, 5- or 1-year) pooled across all nine College Scorecard Field-of-Study releases; a small chip marks any figure not on the 4-year window, and hovering names the cohort size and source release. 2 of 3 yrs flags fields below the earnings-premium benchmark in two of the latest three reported cohort-years, the statutory trigger under the 2025 test (effective July 1, 2026). Indicative; the Department of Education’s official determination may differ. Source: U.S. Department of Education, College Scorecard Field of Study (2014–15 through 2022–23 cohorts + most-recent snapshot), accessed March 2026.

Precision Production – 1 CIP program (4-digit), 1 with earnings
Major (CIP 4-digit)Compl./yrEarn 4yrEarn 1yr% > thresholdMedian debtDebt/earnEarnings premium2 of 3 yrs
Precision Metal WorkingCIP 4805 ›58$59,643 n=72–86.9% 5yr$5,5000.09×Above benchmark +49%Clears all 2 yrs

Major-level earnings, debt and threshold pass-rates are reported by College Scorecard only where enough graduates exist to protect privacy, so 1 of 1 major shows an earnings figure; the rest read “–”. % > threshold is ED’s own share of graduates out-earning the federal earnings threshold (the do-no-harm pass rate), drawn from the best available measurement window (4-, 5- or 1-year) pooled across all nine College Scorecard Field-of-Study releases; a small chip marks any figure not on the 4-year window, and hovering names the cohort size and source release. 2 of 3 yrs flags fields below the earnings-premium benchmark in two of the latest three reported cohort-years, the statutory trigger under the 2025 test (effective July 1, 2026). Indicative; the Department of Education’s official determination may differ. Source: U.S. Department of Education, College Scorecard Field of Study (2014–15 through 2022–23 cohorts + most-recent snapshot), accessed March 2026.

Mechanic & Repair Technologies – 3 CIP programs (4-digit), 1 with earnings
Major (CIP 4-digit)Compl./yrEarn 4yrEarn 1yr% > thresholdMedian debtDebt/earnEarnings premium2 of 3 yrs
Vehicle Maintenance and Repair Technologies/TechniciansCIP 4706 ›32––86.7% 5yr$11,200–––
Heating, Air Conditioning, Ventilation and Refrigeration Maintenance Technology/Technician (HAC, HACR, HVAC, HVACR)CIP 4702 ›11$65,334 n=20–94.4% 1yr––Above benchmark +63%–
Heavy/Industrial Equipment Maintenance Technologies/TechniciansCIP 4703 ›2–––––––

Major-level earnings, debt and threshold pass-rates are reported by College Scorecard only where enough graduates exist to protect privacy, so 1 of 3 majors show an earnings figure; the rest read “–”. % > threshold is ED’s own share of graduates out-earning the federal earnings threshold (the do-no-harm pass rate), drawn from the best available measurement window (4-, 5- or 1-year) pooled across all nine College Scorecard Field-of-Study releases; a small chip marks any figure not on the 4-year window, and hovering names the cohort size and source release. 2 of 3 yrs flags fields below the earnings-premium benchmark in two of the latest three reported cohort-years, the statutory trigger under the 2025 test (effective July 1, 2026). Indicative; the Department of Education’s official determination may differ. Source: U.S. Department of Education, College Scorecard Field of Study (2014–15 through 2022–23 cohorts + most-recent snapshot), accessed March 2026.

Engineering Technologies – 4 CIP programs (4-digit), 2 with earnings
Major (CIP 4-digit)Compl./yrEarn 4yrEarn 1yr% > thresholdMedian debtDebt/earnEarnings premium2 of 3 yrs
Civil Engineering Technologies/TechniciansCIP 1502 ›14–––––––
Drafting/Design Engineering Technologies/TechniciansCIP 1513 ›14$62,459 n=16––––Above benchmark +56%–
Electromechanical Technologies/TechniciansCIP 1504 ›10$88,817 n=18–92.3% 5yr$14,7500.17×Above benchmark +122%Clears all 2 yrs
Energy Systems Technologies/TechniciansCIP 15171–––––––

Major-level earnings, debt and threshold pass-rates are reported by College Scorecard only where enough graduates exist to protect privacy, so 2 of 4 majors show an earnings figure; the rest read “–”. % > threshold is ED’s own share of graduates out-earning the federal earnings threshold (the do-no-harm pass rate), drawn from the best available measurement window (4-, 5- or 1-year) pooled across all nine College Scorecard Field-of-Study releases; a small chip marks any figure not on the 4-year window, and hovering names the cohort size and source release. 2 of 3 yrs flags fields below the earnings-premium benchmark in two of the latest three reported cohort-years, the statutory trigger under the 2025 test (effective July 1, 2026). Indicative; the Department of Education’s official determination may differ. Source: U.S. Department of Education, College Scorecard Field of Study (2014–15 through 2022–23 cohorts + most-recent snapshot), accessed March 2026.

Health Professions & Clinical Sciences – 3 CIP programs (4-digit), 2 with earnings
Major (CIP 4-digit)Compl./yrEarn 4yrEarn 1yr% > thresholdMedian debtDebt/earnEarnings premium2 of 3 yrs
Dental Support Services and Allied ProfessionsCIP 5106 ›15$53,196 n=26–85.7% 5yr$6,5000.12×Above benchmark +33%Below benchmark 1 of 2 yrs
Health and Medical Administrative ServicesCIP 5107 ›14–––––––
Allied Health and Medical Assisting ServicesCIP 5108 ›9$40,772 n=19–80% 5yr$10,5000.26×Above benchmark +2%Below benchmark 1 of 2 yrs

Major-level earnings, debt and threshold pass-rates are reported by College Scorecard only where enough graduates exist to protect privacy, so 2 of 3 majors show an earnings figure; the rest read “–”. % > threshold is ED’s own share of graduates out-earning the federal earnings threshold (the do-no-harm pass rate), drawn from the best available measurement window (4-, 5- or 1-year) pooled across all nine College Scorecard Field-of-Study releases; a small chip marks any figure not on the 4-year window, and hovering names the cohort size and source release. 2 of 3 yrs flags fields below the earnings-premium benchmark in two of the latest three reported cohort-years, the statutory trigger under the 2025 test (effective July 1, 2026). Indicative; the Department of Education’s official determination may differ. Source: U.S. Department of Education, College Scorecard Field of Study (2014–15 through 2022–23 cohorts + most-recent snapshot), accessed March 2026.

Visual & Performing Arts – 2 CIP programs (4-digit), 0 with earnings
Major (CIP 4-digit)Compl./yrEarn 4yrEarn 1yr% > thresholdMedian debtDebt/earnEarnings premium2 of 3 yrs
Design and Applied ArtsCIP 5004 ›31––67.7% 5yr$17,596–––
Film/Video and Photographic ArtsCIP 5006 ›6–––––––

Major-level earnings, debt and threshold pass-rates are reported by College Scorecard only where enough graduates exist to protect privacy, so 0 of 2 majors show an earnings figure; the rest read “–”. % > threshold is ED’s own share of graduates out-earning the federal earnings threshold (the do-no-harm pass rate), drawn from the best available measurement window (4-, 5- or 1-year) pooled across all nine College Scorecard Field-of-Study releases; a small chip marks any figure not on the 4-year window, and hovering names the cohort size and source release. 2 of 3 yrs flags fields below the earnings-premium benchmark in two of the latest three reported cohort-years, the statutory trigger under the 2025 test (effective July 1, 2026). Indicative; the Department of Education’s official determination may differ. Source: U.S. Department of Education, College Scorecard Field of Study (2014–15 through 2022–23 cohorts + most-recent snapshot), accessed March 2026.

See the interactive dashboard for all fields and credential levels (associate through doctoral). Source: College Scorecard Field of Study.

Frequently asked
How financially healthy is Dakota County Technical College?
On the NACUBO Composite Financial Index, the −4 to 10 balance-sheet score accreditors and institutional boards use – Dakota County Technical College scores 4.6 (Stable), computed from its IPEDS FY2022-23 finances. This is informational benchmarking, not a credit rating.
What is Dakota County Technical College's student-faculty ratio?
Dakota County Technical College reports a student-faculty ratio of 22:1 (IPEDS, fall 2023) – that is, about 22 students for every instructional faculty member.
How much does Dakota County Technical College cost?
The average published cost of attendance is $18,552 and the average net price after aid is $13,548 (College Scorecard).
How much do Dakota County Technical College graduates earn?
Median earnings ten years after entry are $51,938 (College Scorecard), measured across students who received federal aid.
Are Dakota County Technical College's programs at risk under the federal earnings-premium test?
Indicatively, at Dakota County Technical College, all 9 of the largest fields with available earnings data clear the MN state earnings-premium benchmark used by the 2025 federal test (effective July 1, 2026) – median graduate earnings (four years out) exceed those of a typical worker without the credential. This is an estimate using College Scorecard earnings vs ACS medians; the official Department of Education determination may differ.
Which schools are Dakota County Technical College's peers?
Dakota County Technical College is benchmarked against 62 institutions in the Associate's: High Career-Technical-High Traditional · Public peer group; all percentiles and medians on this page are computed within that group.
Compare with peers
Wor-Wic Community CollegeState Technical College of MissouriSoutheast Technical CollegeNorth Dakota State College of ScienceBridgeValley Community & Technical CollegeAllegany College of Maryland

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Source: U.S. Department of Education, College Scorecard & IPEDS (most recent releases), with the U.S. Census Bureau (ACS), the U.S. Bureau of Labor Statistics (Employment Projections, field-demand outlook) and WICHE (enrollment-cliff projections). Figures lag the current academic year by roughly two to three years. Percentiles and medians are computed within the institution's peer group. Financial Resilience is a transparent composite, see each component above. Compiled by Ibex Insights.