Head-to-head comparison
Central Lakes College-Brainerd vs Nova Academy of Cosmetology: 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 Rochester, MN
Nova Academy of Cosmetology
- Net price / year
- $21,473
- Earnings, 10 years
- $32,156
- 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 $32,156 at Nova Academy of Cosmetology. (Scorecard, 2026 · our math.)
| Measure | Central Lakes College-Brainerd | Nova Academy of Cosmetology |
|---|---|---|
| Net price / yr | $13,869 | $21,473 |
| Total net cost | $27,738 | $85,892 |
| Median earnings, 10 yrs | $42,162 | $32,156 |
| Median debt | $11,000 | $9,424 |
| Payback | — | — |
| 20-year net return | -$151,698 | -$409,972 |
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 Nova Academy of Cosmetology?
Central Lakes College-Brainerd, at $13,869 a year after aid versus $21,473 — a gap of $7,604 a year, or $58,154 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 Nova Academy of Cosmetology graduates earn more?
Central Lakes College-Brainerd graduates report a median $42,162 ten years after entry, $10,006 more than the $32,156 at Nova Academy of Cosmetology. 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 Nova Academy of Cosmetology?
Nova Academy of Cosmetology: its completers carry a median $9,424 in federal loans versus $11,000 at Central Lakes College-Brainerd, a difference of $1,576. 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?
77% of students finish at Nova Academy of Cosmetology, 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.