What Is It Known For?
Southeast Technical College began in 1968 as a small vocational school with just a handful of courses. Over the decades, it has grown into a thriving institution offering more than 65 career-focused programs in cutting-edge fields. What started with 118 students has now reached a record-breaking enrollment of 2,659 for the fall 2024 semester. A testament to its reputation for quality education and career readiness.
The college specializes in fast-track programs designed to get students job-ready in 24 months or less. With a focus on practical skills and industry connections, graduates are well-prepared to step into roles with some of the region’s top employers.
Degrees & Certifications
Southeast Technical College awards several types of credentials, including associate degrees, diplomas, certificates, and non-degree coursework. Students can choose from programs across major career fields in:
- Construction
- Healthcare
- Business
- Transportation Technology
- Human Services
- And Many More!
Class Schedules
Southeast Technical College makes education accessible through flexible learning options that fit your schedule. You can choose from traditional daytime classes, evening sessions, or weekend courses. The college also offers fully online and hybrid programs, letting you blend virtual learning with campus visits.
For healthcare students, the experience goes beyond the classroom. Programs include hands-on clinical rotations and externships at local medical facilities, where you’ll work alongside healthcare professionals while building real-world skills.
Is It a Good School?
Yes. Southeast Technical College is a good/legitimate school. The school is accredited by the Higher Learning Commission (HLC).
Acceptance Rate
Southeast Technical College in Sioux Falls, South Dakota, has an open admissions policy, accepting all qualified applicants who meet the program requirements.
How Much Does Tuition Cost?
For the 2024-2025 academic year, tuition and fees are structured as follows:
- Base Tuition: $124 per credit hour
- Institute Fees (facility and program costs): $89 per credit hour
- State Fees: $42 per credit hour
Students taking online courses will pay an additional $50 per credit hour for those specific classes. This online fee applies only to fully online courses, not evening or hybrid formats unless marked as Online Hybrid or Online Evening. To get a clear picture of your total program costs, we suggest using the school’s net price calculator, which factors in all applicable fees for your chosen program.
Programs & Courses
Business
- Business Administration
- Accounting
- Bookkeeping
- Entrepreneurship
- Human Resource Management
- Marketing
Criminal Justice & Law
- Law Enforcement Science
Healthcare
- Veterinary Technician
- Dental Assisting
- Emergency Medical Technician Course
- Medical Assistant
- Medical Lab Technician
- Nursing: Certified Nursing Assistant Course
- LPN
- RN
- Paramedic Science
- Respiratory Therapy
- Phlebotomy Technician
- Sonography
- Surgical Technology
Real Estate
- Real Estate Pre-Licensing Course
Skilled Trades
- Diesel Technology
- Construction Programs
- Electrician
- HVAC/R Technology
- Plumbing Technology
- Welding
- Land Surveying Science Technology
- Automotive Technology
- Mechatronics
- Collision Repair and Refinish Technology
- Commercial Driver's License Training
Technology
- Computer Programming
- IT
- Network Security
Campus Locations
57107 2320 N Career Ave Sioux Falls, SD 57107
Reviews
Based on reviews in Google, Southeast Technical College (STC) presents a highly conflicted student experience. Recent, strong criticisms focus on financial deception and administrative failure to support students with documented learning needs, starkly contrasting with brief positive remarks about specific instructors and the campus.
Overall Score: 3.5/5 Stars
Common Praises
Quality of Instruction (Inconsistent): Some students provide recent praise for specific instructors, calling them “great” and noting they enjoyed the “hands on” learning experience.
Positive Campus Environment: Recent, brief reviews express simple satisfaction, with students stating they “love going there” and enjoyed a “great place to learn.” The facilities themselves are described as “very nice” for a two-year college.
Common Criticisms
Financial Deception and Nightmares: This is the most serious and consistent complaint, particularly in the last year. Students warn that the school provides money they imply is part of financial aid but is actually a loan from the college itself, leading to threats of wage garnishment when they cannot pay it back. Another complaint mentions a student receiving a loan, but the school “kept half,” leaving the student short on funds for necessary supplies.
Failure to Accommodate Learning Disabilities: Multiple students with documented learning disabilities report that the school lied about providing necessary assistance. Students state they struggled because promised support never materialized.
Harsh and Inflexible Academic Policies: The school is criticized for being unforgiving, with one student being told they could not return after failing a single class, despite having a documented learning disability and a recent family death. Furthermore, the CDL training course is called a “rip off” for requiring students to sign a separate contract with only one chance to pass the driving test, resulting in a wasted financial investment if they fail.
Perceived Low-Value Education: Some critics claim that the instruction is ineffective, that the curriculum uses material easily found online for free, and that the administration is generally chaotic, with “nobody knows what’s going on.”
Momentum
The momentum is currently dominated by intense and recent negative feedback regarding financial practices (the school’s private loans and the Build Dakota Scholarship warning) and the failure to support vulnerable students (learning disabilities and inflexible academic policies). While the school consistently responds to negative reviews, the recurrence of serious, high-impact issues across financial, administrative, and academic departments suggests deep, systemic problems that are not being effectively resolved, creating a highly volatile student experience.