Central Lakes College-Brainerd vs Minneapolis College of Art and Design: which has better ROI?
Neither clears its cost on institution-wide earnings, but Central Lakes College-Brainerd comes closer — median earnings $42,162 against a $27,738 total, vs $40,873 at Minneapolis College of Art and Design. (Scorecard, 2026 · our math.)
| Measure | Central Lakes College-Brainerd | Minneapolis College of Art and Design |
|---|---|---|
| Net price / yr | $13,869 | $29,926 |
| Total net cost | $27,738 | $119,704 |
| Median earnings, 10 yrs | $42,162 | $40,873 |
| Median debt | $11,000 | $27,000 |
| Payback | — | — |
| 20-year net return | -$151,698 | -$269,444 |
College Scorecard (2026), institution-level · payback and returns are our math. Figures blend all majors.
Which is cheaper, Central Lakes College-Brainerd or Minneapolis College of Art and Design?
Central Lakes College-Brainerd, at $13,869 a year after aid versus $29,926 — a gap of $16,057 a year, or $91,966 across the full degree. These are net prices after grants and scholarships, not sticker prices, so they reflect what an aided student pays.
Do Central Lakes College-Brainerd or Minneapolis College of Art and Design graduates earn more?
Central Lakes College-Brainerd graduates report a median $42,162 ten years after entry, $1,289 more than the $40,873 at Minneapolis College of Art and Design. Both are institution-wide medians from federal tax records, so a high-paying major at the lower school can beat the average at the higher one.
Which leaves students with less debt, Central Lakes College-Brainerd or Minneapolis College of Art and Design?
Central Lakes College-Brainerd: its completers carry a median $11,000 in federal loans versus $27,000 at Minneapolis College of Art and Design, a difference of $16,000. The figure counts students who finished; it excludes private loans and anyone who left before graduating.
Which graduates more of its students?
53% of students finish at Central Lakes College-Brainerd, against 51% at Minneapolis College of Art and Design. Completion matters to the ROI arithmetic because a degree that is never finished still carries its cost and its debt, but earns none of the graduate premium above the $48,360 high-school baseline.