Sept. 27, 2022

Fall enrollment is up 3 percent at Southeast Technical College.

The Sioux Falls college also is reporting a 4 percent increase in credits compared with last year. Additionally, Southeast Tech was ranked seventh nationally and first in South Dakota by Niche in its 2023 ranking of 906 two-year institutions.

According to Niche, the rankings are based on academic, financial and student life data from the U.S. Department of Education and reviews from students and alumni.

“This fall’s increased enrollment and top Niche ranking are a testament to the quality of our academic programs and support services and demonstrate the strong commitment of our faculty and staff to our workforce mission,” Southeast Tech president Bob Griggs said in a statement.

“Also, we continue to engage with our industry partners to evaluate our academic programs, develop new programs when needed and implement innovative education pathways for both traditional and nontraditional students.”

Twenty percent of degree-seeking Southeast Tech students this fall are from out of state, and 18 percent are non-white. Almost 90 percent of graduates choose to live and work in South Dakota.

“This is an exciting time at Southeast Technical College,” Griggs said. “We’re proud to be a talent-importer for our region. We see a growing interest in our academic programs, and it’s great to see an increase in diversity of our student body.”