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E.B. Bobb HouseE.B. Bobb House · Photo: Magicpiano · CC BY-SA 4.0
Colleges in and near Mitchell

Mitchell is home to two colleges, with 1,755 students on campus

Mitchell Technical College (936 students on campus) and Dakota Wesleyan University (819) are inside the city. About 3% of Mitchell’s residents are enrolled in college, below South Dakota (5%).

From the U.S. Department of Education (College Scorecard, June 2026; IPEDS fall 2023 enrollment) and the Census Bureau’s American Community Survey, 2020–24. Straight-line distances from the center of Mitchell. Colleges are described, not graded.

Within 15 miles
2
1,755 students on campus
Nearest college
2.2 mi
Dakota Wesleyan University
Residents in college
3%
Below SD (5%)
Nearest community college
3.3 mi
Mitchell Technical College · $7,524 tuition
Nearest public university
74.6 mi
South Dakota State · $9,299 in-state
Median household income
$59K
prices below start here

What stands out about college in Mitchell

Facts about the town and its distance to campus; each college’s own figures follow.

A university in MitchellDakota Wesleyan University has 819 students on campus in Mitchell, 48% of whom graduate within six years.A community college 3.3 miles awayMitchell Technical College in Mitchell: tuition and fees $7,524 a year for South Dakota residents.In-state price at South Dakota StateLiving in South Dakota, South Dakota State University charges $9,299 in tuition and fees; from out of state, $12,809. State residency rules decide which a new arrival pays.Students are 3% of residentsBelow South Dakota (5%). The Census counts anyone enrolled, including part-time and online students.
Every college

Colleges within 15 miles of Mitchell

One private college within 2.2 miles, and Mitchell Technical College 3.3 miles away. The nearest public four-year college, South Dakota State University, is 74.6 miles away.

5 mi10 mi15 miMitchell Technical CollegeDakota Wesleyan UniversityMitchell
University or collegeCommunity college
Dakota Wesleyan UniversityUniversity or college · Private nonprofit · 819 on campus · In Mitchell73%admitted$20knet price48%graduate$54kearningsMitchell Technical CollegeCommunity college · Public · 936 on campus · In Mitchell$13knet price76%graduate$51kearningsTuition and fees: $7,524 a year. The net price counts housing and food at full cost.

Degree-granting colleges with 100 or more students on campus (fall 2023 enrollment, minus students who study only online). Admitted: share of applicants offered a place. Net price: the average a year after grants, for students on federal aid. Graduate: within 6 years (4-year colleges) or 3 (2-year). Earnings: median, 10 years after starting.

What it costs

What would your family pay?

The average a year after grants, for families on federal aid, at the colleges within 15 miles and the nearest public four-year college. Pick your family’s income.

Family income

Starts at $48–75k, where Mitchell’s median household income ($58,620) falls.

Mitchell Technical CollegeIn Mitchell · sticker $16,994 · tuition $7,524$12,945a year
Dakota Wesleyan UniversityIn Mitchell · sticker $43,864$15,927a year
South Dakota State University74.6 mi · Brookings · sticker $24,636$18,073a year

The average a year after grants and scholarships, for first-time, full-time students on federal aid, from the College Scorecard. Your own price depends on your aid package; every college has a net price calculator. For community colleges the net price counts housing and food at full cost, so tuition is shown beside it. “—”: not reported for that income.

Outcomes

Do students finish, and does it pay?

Each dot is a college: across is the share who graduate, up is what they earn ten years after starting.

$0$20k$40k$60k$80k0%25%50%75%100%Graduate →Dakota Wesleyan UniversityMitchell Technical CollegeSouth Dakota State
South Dakota State University62% graduate$55k earnings$23k typical debt
Mitchell Technical College76% graduate$51k earnings$12k typical debt
Dakota Wesleyan University48% graduate$54k earnings$27k typical debt

Graduation: first-time, full-time students within 6 years (4-year colleges) or 3 years (2-year). Earnings: median, 10 years after starting, for students who got federal aid.

Majors

What students study in Mitchell

Share of bachelor’s and associate degrees by field across Mitchell’s 2 colleges, weighted by undergraduates; then the biggest programs.

Construction trades 22%Health professions 20%Business 16%Agriculture 11%Education 7%Engineering tech 5%Everything else 18%

Biggest programs

Electrical and Power Transmission InstallersMitchell Technical College · 57 graduates a year
$71k4 yrs out
Registered Nursing, Nursing Administration, Nursing Research and Clinical NursingDakota Wesleyan University · 35 graduates a year
$77k4 yrs out
Agricultural MechanizationMitchell Technical College · 27 graduates a year
$59k4 yrs out
Building/Construction Finishing, Management, and InspectionMitchell Technical College · 26 graduates a year
$49k4 yrs out
Industrial Production Technologies/TechniciansMitchell Technical College · 19 graduates a year
$53k4 yrs out
Allied Health Diagnostic, Intervention, and Treatment ProfessionsMitchell Technical College · 19 graduates a year
$73k4 yrs out
Allied Health and Medical Assisting ServicesMitchell Technical College · 16 graduates a year
$38k4 yrs out
Agricultural Production OperationsMitchell Technical College · 15 graduates a year
$50k4 yrs out

College Scorecard: degree shares (PCIP; each college’s six largest fields are kept, the rest count as everything else) and the field-of-study file, median earnings 4 years after graduating.

Questions about college in Mitchell

Is Mitchell a college town?

No. About 3 of every 100 Mitchell residents are enrolled in college (Census, 2020–24), below South Dakota (5). The largest campus in the city, Mitchell Technical College, has 936 students on campus.

What colleges are in Mitchell?

Mitchell Technical College and Dakota Wesleyan University are inside the city.

What is the closest community college to Mitchell, and what does it cost?

Mitchell Technical College in Mitchell, 3.3 miles away. Tuition and fees are $7,524 a year for South Dakota residents; the federal net price, $13,460, counts housing and food at full cost.

How much does South Dakota State University cost if we live in South Dakota?

Tuition and fees are $9,299 a year in-state and $12,809 from out of state. After grants, families on federal aid paid an average of $14,266 (under $30,000 income) to $21,886 (over $110,000), housing and food included.

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Colleges: U.S. Department of Education College Scorecard and IPEDS (Scorecard 06/10/2026 · IPEDS 2024 · fall 2023 enrollment). “On campus” is fall enrollment minus students who study only online. Distances are straight-line from the center of Mitchell. Residents in college, age, rent and poverty (including poverty without college students, table B14006): U.S. Census Bureau, American Community Survey 2020–24. Colleges are described, not graded; the College town label marks towns where 15% or more of residents are enrolled. How TownRatings describes colleges →