Central Lakes College-Brainerd
A good fit for families looking for lower cost and students who want small classes and close faculty access. no major red flags in the data. a public school with 1,614 students.
About This School
Central Lakes College-Brainerd is a public institution located in Brainerd, Minnesota with approximately 1,614 undergraduate students enrolled. The average net price after financial aid is $13,869 per year. The graduation rate is 51%, and the typical graduate earns $37,700 within 10 years of enrollment.
Worth considering if you're looking for an affordable start — graduates carry just $8,439 in median debt, which is impressively low compared to most two-year schools. The $37,700 median earnings 10 years out is modest, so this path makes the most sense as a stepping stone to a four-year transfer or a specific career-track program like nursing or skilled trades rather than a general degree. The small enrollment and regional location mean limited campus life and fewer program options, so make sure your intended major is actually offered here before committing.
Popular Programs
Percentage of degrees awarded. Source: College Scorecard.
Admissions
SAT Scores
ACT Scores
Cost & Financial Aid
Net Price by Family Income
Average annual cost after grants/scholarships, by household income. Source: U.S. Department of Education College Scorecard.
Financial Aid
Full Cost
After Graduation
Earnings 6 Years After Enrollment, by Gender
Gap: 25% less for female graduates. National avg ~16%.
What Each Major Actually Earns
Median earnings four years after graduation, by major, next to the national median for that same major at every college. The school-wide average hides this: at most schools the spread between the best- and worst-paying majors is far wider than the gap between schools.
Central Lakes College-Brainerd graduates earn most above the national rate in Criminal Justice and Corrections ($57,688 vs $46,706 nationally), and most below it in Business Administration, Management and Operations ($37,753 vs $48,733).
| Major | Grads | Here | National | Diff |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Liberal Arts and Sciences, General Studies and Humanities | 298 | $43,480 | $44,125 | −$645 |
| Registered Nursing, Nursing Administration, Nursing Research and Clinical Nursing | 82 | $77,488 | $80,813 | −$3,325 |
| Precision Metal Working | 11 | $60,088 | $56,451 | +$3,637 |
| Criminal Justice and Corrections | 10 | $57,688 | $46,706 | +$10,982 |
| Business Administration, Management and Operations | 3 | $37,753 | $48,733 | −$10,980 |
U.S. Department of Education, College Scorecard field-of-study data. Median earnings of graduates working and not enrolled four years after completing an associate's degreehere. Majors with too few graduates to report are omitted for privacy, so this is not the school's full program list.
Will This School Pay Off?
Strong return. Graduates earn well above their debt load.
Earnings data from the U.S. Department of Education College Scorecard. These are means across all graduates, not specific to any major.
Student Body
Source: U.S. Department of Education College Scorecard (1,614 undergraduates).
Contact & Location
Address
Central Lakes College-Brainerd
501 West College Drive
Brainerd, MN 56401-3900
Official Links
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See How Colleges Compare
Central Lakes College-Brainerd is one of thousands of colleges in our data studies, each built from the same U.S. Department of Education data shown on this page. Compare schools head to head:
Frequently Asked Questions
How much does Central Lakes College-Brainerd cost?
The average net price at Central Lakes College-Brainerd is about $13,869 per year after grants and scholarships, based on federal data. Your actual cost depends on your family's finances and aid package.
What is the graduation rate at Central Lakes College-Brainerd?
Central Lakes College-Brainerd has a graduation rate of 51%, according to U.S. Department of Education data.
Sources & Methodology
Primary data source: U.S. Department of Education College Scorecard. Accessed via automated sync. Latest values may come from different reporting years depending on the metric.
- Earnings figures are institution-level averages, not major-specific.
- Some metrics are based on Title IV financial aid recipients only.
- Some values may be privacy-suppressed or rolled up by the Department of Education.
- Contact the school directly for current admissions requirements and costs.
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