Head-to-head comparison
Central Lakes College-Brainerd vs Fond du Lac Tribal and Community 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 Cloquet, MN
Fond du Lac Tribal and Community College
- Net price / year
- $12,677
- Earnings, 10 years
- $45,665
- Payback
- No payback
Neither clears its cost on institution-wide earnings, but Fond du Lac Tribal and Community College comes closer — median earnings $45,665 against a $25,354 total, vs $42,162 at Central Lakes College-Brainerd. (Scorecard, 2026 · our math.)
| Measure | Central Lakes College-Brainerd | Fond du Lac Tribal and Community College |
|---|---|---|
| Net price / yr | $13,869 | $12,677 |
| Total net cost | $27,738 | $25,354 |
| Median earnings, 10 yrs | $42,162 | $45,665 |
| Median debt | $11,000 | $14,181 |
| Payback | — | — |
| 20-year net return | -$151,698 | -$79,254 |
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 Fond du Lac Tribal and Community College?
Fond du Lac Tribal and Community College, at $12,677 a year after aid versus $13,869 — a gap of $1,192 a year, or $2,384 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 Fond du Lac Tribal and Community College graduates earn more?
Fond du Lac Tribal and Community College graduates report a median $45,665 ten years after entry, $3,503 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 Fond du Lac Tribal and Community College?
Central Lakes College-Brainerd: its completers carry a median $11,000 in federal loans versus $14,181 at Fond du Lac Tribal and Community College, a difference of $3,181. 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 26% at Fond du Lac Tribal and Community 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.