5 schools · South Dakota
Auto and diesel mechanic schools in South Dakota
5 schools in South Dakota offer auto and diesel mechanic programs (5 of them public), with 2 certificate and 5 associate programs between them.
All auto and diesel mechanic programs in South Dakota
Sorted by earnings one year after graduation. Click a heading to sort; tuition is the school's yearly tuition and fees (2025-26), in-state for public schools.
| School | Type | Credential | Graduates (2023-24) | Earnings 1 yr after | Earnings 4 yrs after | Median debt | School tuition |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Lake Area Technical CollegeWatertown, SD | Community college | Associate degree | 143 | $55,690 | $60,763 | $12,000 | $7,622 |
| Southeast Technical CollegeSioux Falls, SD | Community college | Associate degree | 47 | $51,758 | $60,041 | $12,000 | $8,365 |
| Western Dakota Technical CollegeRapid City, SD | Community college | Associate degree | 21 | $48,464 | $54,948 | $12,000 | $8,526 |
| Lake Area Technical CollegeWatertown, SD | Community college | Certificate | 16 | n/a | $50,334 | $5,500 | $7,622 |
| Mitchell Technical CollegeMitchell, SD | Community college | Certificate | 4 | n/a | n/a | n/a | $7,854 |
| Mitchell Technical CollegeMitchell, SD | Community college | Associate degree | 7 | n/a | n/a | n/a | $7,854 |
| Oglala Lakota CollegeKyle, SD | Community college | Associate degree | 4 | n/a | n/a | n/a | $2,684 |
Cities with the most programs: Watertown (1), Sioux Falls (1), Rapid City (1), Mitchell (1), Kyle (1).
What counts: vehicle maintenance and repair: auto, diesel, collision, small engine and motorcycle.
Frequently asked questions
How many auto and diesel mechanic schools are in South Dakota?
5 schools in South Dakota awarded auto and diesel mechanic certificates or associate degrees recently, according to the U.S. Department of Education: 2 certificate and 5 associate programs.
Which auto and diesel mechanic program in South Dakota has the highest earnings?
Lake Area Technical College in Watertown, where associate degree graduates earned a median of $55,690 one year after finishing (programs with at least 5 graduates).
What is the cheapest auto and diesel mechanic school in South Dakota?
By yearly tuition and fees, Oglala Lakota College in Kyle charges $2,684 (2025-26, in-state). Program fees, tools and licensing exams can add to that, so ask the school.
More in South Dakota: all trade schools · colleges
Other trades: Welding · HVAC · Electrician · Construction trades · Cosmetology and barbering · Culinary arts · Medical assistant · LPN and CNA · Dental assisting and hygiene · Phlebotomy and medical lab · EMT, surgical tech and imaging · Medical billing and coding · Massage therapy
Auto and diesel mechanic schools nationwide
Source: U.S. Department of Education, College Scorecard (institution and field of study files), data release of October 15, 2026. Earnings are for graduates who received federal aid and were working, not enrolled. What each figure covers.