Head-to-head comparison
Central Lakes College-Brainerd vs Bethany Lutheran College: which has better ROI?
Option A Brainerd, MN
Central Lakes College-Brainerd
- Net price / year
- $13,869
- Earnings, 10 years
- $42,162
- Payback
- No payback
Option B Mankato, MN
Bethany Lutheran College
- Net price / year
- $20,148
- Earnings, 10 years
- $46,110
- Payback
- No payback
Neither clears its cost on institution-wide earnings, but Bethany Lutheran College comes closer — median earnings $46,110 against a $80,592 total, vs $42,162 at Central Lakes College-Brainerd. (Scorecard, 2026 · our math.)
| Measure | Central Lakes College-Brainerd | Bethany Lutheran College |
|---|---|---|
| Net price / yr | $13,869 | $20,148 |
| Total net cost | $27,738 | $80,592 |
| Median earnings, 10 yrs | $42,162 | $46,110 |
| Median debt | $11,000 | $23,000 |
| Payback | — | — |
| 20-year net return | -$151,698 | -$125,592 |
College Scorecard (2026), institution-level · payback and returns are our math. Figures blend all majors.
The short answer
Which is cheaper, Central Lakes College-Brainerd or Bethany Lutheran College?
Central Lakes College-Brainerd, at $13,869 a year after aid versus $20,148 — a gap of $6,279 a year, or $52,854 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 Central Lakes College-Brainerd or Bethany Lutheran College graduates earn more?
Bethany Lutheran College graduates report a median $46,110 ten years after entry, $3,948 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, Central Lakes College-Brainerd or Bethany Lutheran College?
Central Lakes College-Brainerd: its completers carry a median $11,000 in federal loans versus $23,000 at Bethany Lutheran College, a difference of $12,000. 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?
55% of students finish at Bethany Lutheran College, 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.