Head-to-head comparison
Central Lakes College-Brainerd vs Crown 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 Saint Bonifacius, MN
Crown College
- Net price / year
- $26,672
- Earnings, 10 years
- $48,057
- Payback
- No payback
Neither clears its cost on institution-wide earnings, but Crown College comes closer — median earnings $48,057 against a $106,688 total, vs $42,162 at Central Lakes College-Brainerd. (Scorecard, 2026 · our math.)
| Measure | Central Lakes College-Brainerd | Crown College |
|---|---|---|
| Net price / yr | $13,869 | $26,672 |
| Total net cost | $27,738 | $106,688 |
| Median earnings, 10 yrs | $42,162 | $48,057 |
| Median debt | $11,000 | $22,500 |
| Payback | — | — |
| 20-year net return | -$151,698 | -$112,748 |
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 Crown College?
Central Lakes College-Brainerd, at $13,869 a year after aid versus $26,672 — a gap of $12,803 a year, or $78,950 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 Crown College graduates earn more?
Crown College graduates report a median $48,057 ten years after entry, $5,895 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 Crown College?
Central Lakes College-Brainerd: its completers carry a median $11,000 in federal loans versus $22,500 at Crown College, a difference of $11,500. 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 45% at Crown 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.