Head-to-head comparison
Capella University vs Central Lakes College-Brainerd: which has better ROI?
Option A Minneapolis, MN
Capella University
- Net price / year
- $17,956
- Earnings, 10 years
- $42,189
- Payback
- No payback
Option B Brainerd, MN
Central Lakes College-Brainerd
- Net price / year
- $13,869
- Earnings, 10 years
- $42,162
- Payback
- No payback
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 $42,189 at Capella University. (Scorecard, 2026 · our math.)
| Measure | Capella University | Central Lakes College-Brainerd |
|---|---|---|
| Net price / yr | $17,956 | $13,869 |
| Total net cost | $71,824 | $27,738 |
| Median earnings, 10 yrs | $42,189 | $42,162 |
| Median debt | $14,968 | $11,000 |
| Payback | — | — |
| 20-year net return | -$195,244 | -$151,698 |
College Scorecard (2026), institution-level · payback and returns are our math. Figures blend all majors.
The short answer
Which is cheaper, Capella University or Central Lakes College-Brainerd?
Central Lakes College-Brainerd, at $13,869 a year after aid versus $17,956 — a gap of $4,087 a year, or $44,086 across the full degree. These are net prices after grants and scholarships, not sticker prices, so they reflect what an aided student pays.
The short answer
Do Capella University or Central Lakes College-Brainerd graduates earn more?
Capella University graduates report a median $42,189 ten years after entry, $27 more than the $42,162 at Central Lakes College-Brainerd. 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.
The short answer
Which leaves students with less debt, Capella University or Central Lakes College-Brainerd?
Central Lakes College-Brainerd: its completers carry a median $11,000 in federal loans versus $14,968 at Capella University, a difference of $3,968. The figure counts students who finished; it excludes private loans and anyone who left before graduating.
The short answer
Which graduates more of its students?
53% of students finish at Central Lakes College-Brainerd, against 20% at Capella University. 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.