Oglala Lakota College
Oglala Lakota College — Earnings vs Cost (vs National Average)
Oglala Lakota College at a Glance
Oglala Lakota College (OLC) is a public tribal land-grant community college in Kyle, South Dakota. It enrolls 1,456 students enrolled part- and full-time. OLC serves the Pine Ridge Indian Reservation, which has a population of about 26,000 and covers 3,468 square miles in southwestern South Dakota.
1971
55 years old
1,400
Identity
Is Oglala Lakota College Worth It?
At a value score of 30/100, Oglala Lakota College is a below-average value relative to its cost. Graduates earn $22,517 — 58% below average — while paying $1,895/year. Consider alternatives with better earnings-to-cost ratios.
The investment pays for itself in just 0.3 years — among the fastest payback periods of any college we track.
A 10% graduation rate is a serious red flag — fewer than 1 in 10 students finish. Those who don't graduate may still carry student debt without the higher-earning credential to show for it.
Bottom line: consider whether the specific program you're interested in at Oglala Lakota College has outcomes that justify the cost — the institution-wide numbers suggest caution.
How Oglala Lakota College compares to peer public colleges of similar tier nationally
Ranked #4 of 7 on value score. Peers are matched by size, median earnings, SAT, and admission rate — not just geography.
| Rank | College | Value | Net price / yr | Median earnings |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| #1 | Northern Marianas College | 100 | $2,789 | $27,836 |
| #2 | Escuela de Artes Plasticas y Diseno de Puerto Rico | 43 | $5,669 | $21,790 |
| #3 | Guam Community College | 40 | $4,106 | $27,820 |
| #4 | Oglala Lakota College | 30 | $1,895 | $22,517 |
| #5 | College of Micronesia-FSM | 29 | $6,789 | $24,651 |
| #6 | Navajo Technical University | 20 | $5,338 | $26,364 |
Peer group: public colleges within ±60% of Oglala Lakota College's student body size and within a similar academic tier (SAT ±80, admit rate ±10pp, median earnings ±25%). 1 in SD.
Best Programs at Oglala Lakota College
Program-level earnings data isn't available for Oglala Lakota College. When evaluating whether to attend, research outcomes for your specific major using the Department of Education's College Scorecard or ask the admissions office for placement rates.
As a general rule: STEM, nursing, accounting, and computer science programs tend to deliver the strongest ROI regardless of institution. Humanities and arts programs can still be worthwhile, but require more intentional career planning to achieve financial payoff.
Return on Investment
Estimated 4-Year Cost
Based on $1,895/yr net price × 4 years
Earnings Premium
vs. national average of $53,787/yr
Payback Period
Time to recoup the total cost through higher earnings
10-Year Net Gain
Median earnings over 10 years minus total cost of attendance
Similar Colleges in SD
Quick Facts
- Institution Type
- public
- Location
- Kyle, SD
- Student Body
- 1,097 students
- Graduation Rate
- 10%
- Net Price (Annual)
- $1,895
- Median Earnings (10yr)
- $22,517