Head-to-head comparison
Central Lakes College-Brainerd vs Northwest Technical 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 Bemidji, MN
Northwest Technical College
- Net price / year
- $10,996
- Earnings, 10 years
- $42,930
- 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 $42,930 at Northwest Technical College. (Scorecard, 2026 · our math.)
| Measure | Central Lakes College-Brainerd | Northwest Technical College |
|---|---|---|
| Net price / yr | $13,869 | $10,996 |
| Total net cost | $27,738 | $43,984 |
| Median earnings, 10 yrs | $42,162 | $42,930 |
| Median debt | $11,000 | $15,000 |
| Payback | — | — |
| 20-year net return | -$151,698 | -$152,584 |
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 Northwest Technical College?
Northwest Technical College, at $10,996 a year after aid versus $13,869 — a gap of $2,873 a year, or $16,246 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 Northwest Technical College graduates earn more?
Northwest Technical College graduates report a median $42,930 ten years after entry, $768 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 Northwest Technical College?
Central Lakes College-Brainerd: its completers carry a median $11,000 in federal loans versus $15,000 at Northwest Technical College, a difference of $4,000. 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?
53% of students finish at Central Lakes College-Brainerd, against 50% at Northwest Technical 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.