Central Lakes College-Brainerd is a public institution offering associate degrees based in Brainerd, Minnesota. It enrolls 1,614 students (a mid-sized student body), according to IPEDS 2023-24 data. Below you'll find verified data on admissions, cost, student outcomes, programs offered, and what graduates typically earn, all pulled from the U.S. Department of Education's College Scorecard and IPEDS.
US College Data scores each college on four pillars (outcomes, value, affordability, and selectivity) on a 0–100 scale, ranked within its peer group (2-Year). Scores are calculated from verified College Scorecard and IPEDS data, not opinion or paid placement. Where data is missing, that pillar isn't scored.
Good
60/100
UCD Score · 2-Year
Outcomes56
Value42
Affordability22
Selectivity—
Admissions & Acceptance Rate
As a two-year college, Central Lakes College-Brainerd generally admits all qualified applicants.
Acceptance Rate
Open
SAT Range (25th–75th)
—
Not reported
ACT Range (25th–75th)
—
Not reported
Cost & Financial Aid
The real cost of attending Central Lakes College-Brainerd isn't the sticker price. It's the net price,which is what most students actually pay after grants and scholarships. According to College Scorecard 2023-24 data, the average net price is $13,869 per year. That's below the typical net price for public colleges nationally.
Average Net Price
$13,869
Per year, after typical aid
Receive Pell Grants
14%
Need-based federal aid
Receive Federal Loans
12%
Borrowing to attend
Full Cost Breakdown
Published cost of attendance, the sticker price before grants and scholarships. Most students underestimate room & board and other expenses.
Tuition & Fees
$6,249
Room & Board (off-campus)
$9,459
Books & Supplies
$1,000
Other Expenses (off-campus)
$6,292
Total Cost of Attendance
$19,543
Net Price by Family Income
Aid is need-based, so net price varies by family income. Here's what each bracket typically pays after grants and scholarships.
Under $30,000
$12,264
$30,001 – $48,000
$10,454
$48,001 – $75,000
$12,970
$75,001 – $110,000
$15,489
Over $110,000
$18,686
Debt at Graduation
Cumulative federal-loan debt across the full borrowing distribution. The 10th and 90th percentiles bracket the typical range; the median sits in the middle.
$2,45010%percentile
$4,75025%percentile
$11,000Medianpercentile
$15,00075%percentile
$26,18790%percentile
Median Debt by Student Type
Median federal-loan debt at graduation broken down by demographic. Each slice's size is proportional to the dollar amount that group typically borrows.
GroupDebtvs Median
Pell recipients $9,500
↓ $1,500
No Pell $5,500
↓ $5,500
Dependent students $6,500
↓ $4,500
Independent students $10,500
↓ $500
Female students $9,500
↓ $1,500
Male students $6,500
↓ $4,500
Worth knowing:
Students who don't finish leave with a median debt of $5,798, less than completers ($11,000), but still a meaningful obligation without a degree in hand.
Graduation Rate & Retention
38% of full-time students who enrolled at Central Lakes College-Brainerd graduate within six years, and 67% return for their second year, per IPEDS 2023-24 completion data.
6-Year Graduation Rate
38%
Of students who graduate within six years
First-Year Retention
67%
Returning for their second year
What this means:
Lower than typical completion. Worth asking the school how they support students who fall behind.
After Graduation: Earnings & Outcomes
According to College Scorecard 2023-24 data, students who entered Central Lakes College-Brainerd earn a median of $42,162 ten years after first enrolling. That's close to the national median for U.S. colleges.
Median Earnings (10 yrs)
$42,162
Earning > $25K
67%
10 yrs after entry
Earnings Growth After Graduation
Median annual earnings 6, 8, and 10 years after students first enrolled.
Earnings by Demographic
Mean annual earnings 10 years after entry, segmented by demographic. Reveals gaps the headline median can't show.
By Gender
Female graduates
$31,800
Median earnings for female grads ten years after first enrolling here.
Male graduates
$43,600
Median earnings for male grads ten years after first enrolling here.
By Family Income at Entry
Family income (lowest third)
$32,600
Earnings of grads from the bottom-third of family incomes at entry.
Family income (middle third)
$39,700
Earnings of grads from the middle-third of family incomes at entry.
Family income (highest third)
$42,800
Earnings of grads from the top-third of family incomes at entry.
The gender gap:
Male graduates earn $11,800, about 27% more than female graduates ten years out. The gap reflects industry mix, role choice, and structural pay differences that exist across most US colleges.
Loan Repayment Progression
Share of completer-cohort borrowers paying down at least $1 of principal at the 1-, 3-, 5-, and 7-year mark. Climbing rates show graduates settling into careers and managing debt; flat or declining rates are a warning.
Climbing: graduates increasingly paying down debt ↑
19.9 pts
across 6 years
What this signals:
Strong. 81% of graduates are actively reducing their debt seven years out.
Who Studies Here
Central Lakes College-Brainerd is home to 1,614 students, a mid-sized community. Some distinctive traits: 32% are first-generation college students, 40% study part-time.
Total Enrolled
1,614
Part-Time
40%
First-Generation
32%
Race & Ethnicity Breakdown
Undergraduate student body composition reported to the US Department of Education.
GroupShareStudents
White 81.5%1,316
Other 6.3%102
Black 5.3%86
Hispanic 4.1%66
Asian 0.6%10
International 0.1%2
Student Life & Campus Culture
Where students live, learn, and connect at Central Lakes College-Brainerd. The campus setting, housing profile, and signals that shape day-to-day life here.
Setting
Town: RemoteBrainerd, Minnesota
Housing
Commuter campusNo on-campus housing
Adult Learners
12%of students are 25 or older
Athletics
NCAAathletic-conference member
Academic Calendar
Semesterscheduling structure
What You Can Study
Central Lakes College-Brainerd offers
an extensive catalog of programs:
44 distinct programs across
19 majors.
Below are its strongest majors, each with flagship programs and typical earnings.
Open a major to explore it in depth, or browse the full program catalog.
The student-to-faculty ratio at Central Lakes College-Brainerd is 18:1, on the higher side.
Student : Faculty
18:1
Students per instructional faculty member
Instruction / Student
$11,636
Annual instructional spending per enrolled student
Endowment
$9.6M
Modest endowment
Avg Faculty Salary
$78,640
9-month equivalent across all ranks
Faculty by Rank
79 instructional faculty across 1 ranks.
The rank mix shows how many senior faculty are teaching versus contingent or junior staff, with average salary equated to a 9-month contract.
Rank
Faculty Count
Share
Avg Salary
Instructors
79
100%
$78,640
Pros & Cons of Central Lakes College-Brainerd
A quick at-a-glance summary of how Central Lakes College-Brainerd tends to stack up for prospective students,weighing its data, size, setting, and cost profile together.
PROS
Below-average net price
Open admissions
Low typical debt at graduation
CONS
Class sizes are on the higher side
Low completion rate, many students don't graduate within six years
First-year retention is below typical
Predominantly serves middle- and upper-income families
Best for:
Based on the data, Central Lakes College-Brainerd is a fit for
students who want a clear path to start college without a competitive admissions barrier; working adults or students needing part-time study options.
Frequently Asked Questions about Central Lakes College-Brainerd
Quick answers to the questions most students and parents ask. Every answer below is calculated from verified government data about Central Lakes College-Brainerd.
Is Central Lakes College-Brainerd hard to get into?
Central Lakes College-Brainerd has open or near-open admissions. Most qualified applicants are accepted.
What is the acceptance rate at Central Lakes College-Brainerd?
Central Lakes College-Brainerd has an acceptance rate of 0%, according to College Scorecard 2023-24 admissions data.
How much does Central Lakes College-Brainerd cost?
The average net price after aid at Central Lakes College-Brainerd is $13,869 per year, this is what students typically pay after grants and scholarships are applied. Net price data: College Scorecard 2023-24.
Is Central Lakes College-Brainerd worth it?
Solid return on investment. Graduates earn a median of $42,162 ten years after entering, against an average net price of $13,869 per year. That's roughly 3.0x earnings-to-cost. Source: College Scorecard 2023-24.
What is Central Lakes College-Brainerd known for?
Central Lakes College-Brainerd is best known for its programs in Liberal Arts, Nursing, Agricultural Business and Management. These are the most popular fields by completed degrees, per IPEDS 2023-24 completion data.
What do Central Lakes College-Brainerd graduates earn?
Median earnings 10 years after entering Central Lakes College-Brainerd are $42,162, based on College Scorecard 2023-24 federal earnings data for Title IV recipients.
Is Central Lakes College-Brainerd accredited?
Yes. Central Lakes College-Brainerd is accredited by the Higher Learning Commission.
How many students attend Central Lakes College-Brainerd?
Central Lakes College-Brainerd enrolls 1,614 students, per IPEDS 2023-24 fall enrollment data.
What is the graduation rate at Central Lakes College-Brainerd?
Central Lakes College-Brainerd graduates 38% of full-time students within six years, per IPEDS 2023-24 completion data.
Is Central Lakes College-Brainerd a public or private college?
Central Lakes College-Brainerd is a Public institution.
Where is Central Lakes College-Brainerd located?
Central Lakes College-Brainerd is located in Brainerd, Minnesota.
What programs does Central Lakes College-Brainerd offer?
Central Lakes College-Brainerd offers 44 distinct programs. The most popular include Liberal Arts, Nursing, Agricultural Business and Management.
What is the student-to-faculty ratio at Central Lakes College-Brainerd?
The student-to-faculty ratio at Central Lakes College-Brainerd is 18:1, per IPEDS 2023-24 data.
Related Colleges in Minnesota
Other colleges in Minnesota share the same applicant pool, regional economy, and academic landscape. Comparing nearby options puts admissions, costs, and outcomes in context, useful when weighing your fit against local alternatives.
Liberal Arts
Nursing
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