Marketing at Lake Area Technical College

Watertown, SD · Public · Associate Degree

with a smaller student body of 1,710 in Watertown, SD.

Program Analysis

Starting salaries of $32,043/yr fall 27% below the $43,860 national median for Marketing. The financial case depends heavily on whether tuition compensates.

The 29.5x earnings multiple means ten-year projected earnings exceed tuition cost by an order of magnitude. Trade programs often deliver strong ratios, and this one is a standout.

AI risk is moderate — 54% task exposure — and the 18% scenario spread suggests disruption would dent but not destroy the earnings outlook for Marketing graduates.

At $12,000 in median debt against $32,043 in first-year earnings, graduates can expect to clear their loan balance quickly — a hallmark of affordable trade programs.

At #24 out of 26 programs, Lake Area Technical College's financial outcomes for Marketing trail the majority of peers. The value case depends on other factors.

The five-year earnings trajectory from $32,043 to $39,495 shows 23% growth, reflecting steady but unremarkable salary progression.

52 /100
TradeSchoolOutlook Score
46
Low End
52
Score
54
High End
Earnings $32,043/yr (-27% vs median)
AI-Proof Exposed (46% shielded)
Job Market Very Large (204,300 openings/yr)

Earnings Overview

Projected 10-Year Earnings
$410K
5.4% annual growth
Earnings Multiple
30.5x
10-year earnings ÷ tuition
Viable Career Paths
9 of 9
Occupations with strong AI resilience

Projected 10-Year Earnings

Based on actual graduate salary data and Bureau of Labor Statistics growth projections.

Program Tuition
$13,436
Median Debt at Graduation
$12,000
4.5 months of Year 1 earnings
Reported Earnings (5 Year)
$39,495
23% growth from Year 1

Top Career Paths

Top career paths for Marketing graduates by median salary.

Career Path Median Salary Growth AI-ProofAI
Marketing managers $161,030 +6.6% 50%
Sales managers $138,060 +4.7% 55%
Advertising and promotions managers $126,960 -2.2% 52%
Marketing managers
$161,030
+6.6% growth 50% AI-proof
Sales managers
$138,060
+4.7% growth 55% AI-proof
Advertising and promotions managers
$126,960
-2.2% growth 52% AI-proof

View all 9 career paths with full salary data →

Marketing Career Guide

Marketing opens doors to multiple career tracks. Our pillar guide covers every mapped occupation with salary data and AI resilience ratings.

Read the full Marketing career guide →

Compare & Explore

Marketing Overview

Marketing at Other Schools

Other Majors at Lake Area Technical College

Considering a 4-Year Degree Instead?

Compare how bachelor's degree graduates fare on earnings, ROI, and AI resilience.

Frequently Asked Questions

What does a 52/100 TradeSchoolOutlook Score mean for Marketing at Lake Area Technical College?
At 52/100, the score looks reasonable — but Marketing is a high-scoring trade overall. Compared to peers, this program's earnings and ROI fall below the median.
What's the AI risk for Marketing graduates from Lake Area Technical College?
The 54% AI task exposure score is above average. Our model shows this affecting job availability more than salaries — Lake Area Technical College graduates may face stiffer competition for fewer positions.
Why are Marketing earnings lower at Lake Area Technical College?
Lower starting pay at Lake Area Technical College may reflect local labor market conditions rather than program quality. Many graduates see convergence with national averages within 3-5 years.
Is there demand for Marketing workers?
At 204,300 annual openings, Marketing has a very large employment base. Lake Area Technical College graduates benefit from broad demand, particularly given consistent replacement demand and industry growth.
Data from College Scorecard, BLS, and AI resilience research. Methodology & sources →