At $2,065/yr net price, Oglala Lakota College graduates earn $22,517/yr within 10 years of enrollment.
Cost vs. Outcomes
| Metric | Value |
|---|---|
| Average Net Price (per year) | $2,065 |
| Estimated 4-Year Cost | $8,260 |
| Median Earnings (10yr post-entry) | $22,517/yr |
| Earnings Premium vs. HS Diploma | $-11,483/yr |
| Graduation Rate (6-year) | 11.5% |
What You'll Actually Pay
Average net price by family income
| Family Income | Estimated Net Price |
|---|---|
| $0 - $30,000 | $2,188/yr |
| $48,001 - $75,000 | $5,749/yr |
The Risk Factor
11.5% of students at Oglala Lakota College graduate within 6 years. Fewer than half of students complete their degree. If you don't graduate, the financial investment may not pay off.
Analysis
Oglala Lakota College costs almost nothing to attend, and that's the whole financial case. Net price sits at about $2,000 a year, so you can walk out with little or no debt. But the earnings on the other side are grim: ten years after enrolling, the median graduate makes roughly $22,500 a year, barely above what a full-time minimum-wage job pays. The return here is not about high pay. It's about spending so little that even low earnings don't bury you.
The risk is finishing at all. Just over half of first-year students come back for a second year, and only about 12 out of 100 students graduate. If you enroll and drop out, you leave with no degree and, best case, very little debt because the price was low to begin with. That low cost is your protection against the biggest risk this school carries.
No bachelor-level program earnings are listed here, so there's no way to say which majors pay off and which don't at this school specifically. Choose your program based on the local job market in and around Pine Ridge, since that's where most graduates work and where those low median earnings come from.
The net price barely moves across income levels. If your family earns under $30,000, you pay about $2,200. Between $48,000 and $75,000, you pay closer to $5,700. Either way, the sticker cost stays low enough that money is not the reason to walk away.
This school fits you if staying close to home and the Lakota community matters and you want to avoid debt. If you're chasing high earnings and need strong odds of graduating on time, look elsewhere.
Frequently Asked Questions
Is Oglala Lakota College worth the cost?
Oglala Lakota College has one of the lowest net prices in the country at $2,065 per year, but graduates earn only $22,517 annually ten years after enrollment. The extremely low graduation rate of 11.5% means most students don't finish their degrees.
What is the return on investment for Oglala Lakota College graduates?
The ROI is poor compared to most colleges, with graduates earning about $22,500 annually after ten years. However, the low cost of attendance means students typically graduate with minimal debt.
Do Oglala Lakota College students get good financial aid?
Students pay only about $2,000 per year on average, indicating strong financial aid packages. The low net price makes this one of the most affordable colleges in the nation.
What are the biggest risks of attending Oglala Lakota College?
The main risk is not graduating at all, with only 11.5% of students completing their programs. Even those who do graduate face limited earning potential in the local job market.