Central Lakes College-Brainerd — ROI, Cost & Payback
Central Lakes College-Brainerd charges a net price of $13,869/yr after aid — a 2-year total of $27,738. Median earnings ten years after entry are $42,162, below the $48,360 high-school baseline, so on this institution-wide metric the degree does not clear its cost. Program choice is what changes that. (Scorecard, 2026 · our math.)
On institution-wide earnings, Central Lakes College-Brainerd does not clear its cost — it ranks #54 of 68 Minnesota colleges we track by ROI. The specific program you pick moves this more than the school average.
| Measure | Value | Source |
|---|---|---|
| Net price (after aid) | $13,869/yr | Scorecard, 2026 |
| Total net cost (2 yrs) | $27,738 | our math |
| Median earnings, 10 yrs after entry | $42,162 | Scorecard, 2026 |
| Earnings premium over HS baseline | -$6,198/yr | our math |
| Median debt (completers) | $11,000 | Scorecard, 2026 |
| Payback | does not clear | our math |
| 20-year net return | -$151,698 | our math |
College Scorecard (2026 release), institution-level · payback and returns are our math.
The arithmetic, on Central Lakes College-Brainerd's own numbers. Net price $13,869 × 2 years = $27,738 total. Median earnings $42,162 fall $6,198 short of the $48,360 high-school baseline, so the premium this formula divides by is not positive and no break-even year exists on institution-wide pay. A programme here earning $58,360 would clear the $27,738 bill in about 2.8 years — the gap, not the price, is what blocks payback. Full method.
How much debt do Central Lakes College-Brainerd students graduate with?
A median $11,000 in federal loans among completers, or 26% of the $42,162 its graduates earn ten years out — our math. The figure excludes private loans and students who left before finishing.
What share of Central Lakes College-Brainerd students graduate?
53% finish their degree — 47% leave carrying the cost without the credential. Spread the $27,738 bill across that completion rate and the cohort pays $52,336 per graduate produced — our math, and the figure a payback number never shows.
Is Central Lakes College-Brainerd expensive compared with other Minnesota colleges?
Its $13,869 net price runs $2,952 below the $16,821 median across the 68 Minnesota colleges we profile, and $5,903 less across the full degree.