Central Lakes College-Brainerd vs Summit Academy Opportunities Industrialization Center: 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 $22,606 at Summit Academy Opportunities Industrialization Center. (Scorecard, 2026 · our math.)
| Measure | Central Lakes College-Brainerd | Summit Academy Opportunities Industrialization Center |
|---|---|---|
| Net price / yr | $13,869 | $17,649 |
| Total net cost | $27,738 | $70,596 |
| Median earnings, 10 yrs | $42,162 | $22,606 |
| Median debt | $11,000 | — |
| Payback | — | — |
| 20-year net return | -$151,698 | -$585,676 |
College Scorecard (2026), institution-level · payback and returns are our math. Figures blend all majors.
Which is cheaper, Central Lakes College-Brainerd or Summit Academy Opportunities Industrialization Center?
Central Lakes College-Brainerd, at $13,869 a year after aid versus $17,649 — a gap of $3,780 a year, or $42,858 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 Summit Academy Opportunities Industrialization Center graduates earn more?
Central Lakes College-Brainerd graduates report a median $42,162 ten years after entry, $19,556 more than the $22,606 at Summit Academy Opportunities Industrialization Center. 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 graduates more of its students?
64% of students finish at Summit Academy Opportunities Industrialization Center, against 53% at Central Lakes College-Brainerd. 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.