Head-to-head comparison
Central Lakes College-Brainerd vs Minnesota State College Southeast: 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 Winona, MN
Minnesota State College Southeast
- Net price / year
- $16,140
- Earnings, 10 years
- $43,613
- 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 $43,613 at Minnesota State College Southeast. (Scorecard, 2026 · our math.)
| Measure | Central Lakes College-Brainerd | Minnesota State College Southeast |
|---|---|---|
| Net price / yr | $13,869 | $16,140 |
| Total net cost | $27,738 | $64,560 |
| Median earnings, 10 yrs | $42,162 | $43,613 |
| Median debt | $11,000 | $12,971 |
| Payback | — | — |
| 20-year net return | -$151,698 | -$159,500 |
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 Minnesota State College Southeast?
Central Lakes College-Brainerd, at $13,869 a year after aid versus $16,140 — a gap of $2,271 a year, or $36,822 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 Minnesota State College Southeast graduates earn more?
Minnesota State College Southeast graduates report a median $43,613 ten years after entry, $1,451 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 Minnesota State College Southeast?
Central Lakes College-Brainerd: its completers carry a median $11,000 in federal loans versus $12,971 at Minnesota State College Southeast, a difference of $1,971. 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 47% at Minnesota State College Southeast. 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.