Central Lakes College-Brainerd vs Pine Technical & Community College: 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 $41,232 at Pine Technical & Community College. (Scorecard, 2026 · our math.)
| Measure | Central Lakes College-Brainerd | Pine Technical & Community College |
|---|---|---|
| Net price / yr | $13,869 | $12,798 |
| Total net cost | $27,738 | $51,192 |
| Median earnings, 10 yrs | $42,162 | $41,232 |
| Median debt | $11,000 | $14,392 |
| Payback | — | — |
| 20-year net return | -$151,698 | -$193,752 |
College Scorecard (2026), institution-level · payback and returns are our math. Figures blend all majors.
Which is cheaper, Central Lakes College-Brainerd or Pine Technical & Community College?
Pine Technical & Community College, at $12,798 a year after aid versus $13,869 — a gap of $1,071 a year, or $23,454 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 Pine Technical & Community College graduates earn more?
Central Lakes College-Brainerd graduates report a median $42,162 ten years after entry, $930 more than the $41,232 at Pine Technical & Community College. 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 Pine Technical & Community College?
Central Lakes College-Brainerd: its completers carry a median $11,000 in federal loans versus $14,392 at Pine Technical & Community College, a difference of $3,392. 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 36% at Pine Technical & Community College. 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.