From its conception in 1971, our college's mission has been to provide the educational credentials to our students so that they could compete for employment opportunities on the Pine Ridge Indian Reservation. As a result of having a college on the reservation; Lakota people are now employed in teaching, nursing, human services, business, computer, and vocational educational positions on the Pine Ridge reservation.
Oglala Lakota College was one of the first tribally controlled colleges in the United States.
From its initial status as a community college, Oglala Lakota has grown to now offer Baccalaureate degrees and a Master's degree in Lakota Leadership along with certificates and A.A. degrees. The enrollment is around 1,000 students with a full time equivalency of 650-700 students per semester.
