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Head-to-head comparison

Central Lakes College-Brainerd vs Summit Academy Opportunities Industrialization Center: which has better ROI?

Public, Brainerd MN · vs · Private nonprofit, Minneapolis MN

By the Degree Dividend editorial data teamEvery figure verified against its federal source — methodologyData updated June 2026

Option A Brainerd, MN

Central Lakes College-Brainerd

Net price / year
$13,869
Earnings, 10 years
$42,162
Payback
No payback

Option B Minneapolis, MN

Summit Academy Opportunities Industrialization Center

Net price / year
$17,649
Earnings, 10 years
$22,606
Payback
No payback
The verdict

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 $22,606 at Summit Academy Opportunities Industrialization Center. (Scorecard, 2026 · our math.)

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Head to head
MeasureCentral Lakes College-BrainerdSummit Academy Opportunities Industrialization Center
Net price / yr$13,869$17,649
Total net cost$27,738$70,596
Median earnings, 10 yrs$42,162$22,606
Median debt$11,000—
Payback——
20-year net return-$151,698-$585,676

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 Summit Academy Opportunities Industrialization Center?

Central Lakes College-Brainerd, at $13,869 a year after aid versus $17,649 — a gap of $3,780 a year, or $42,858 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 Summit Academy Opportunities Industrialization Center graduates earn more?

Central Lakes College-Brainerd graduates report a median $42,162 ten years after entry, $19,556 more than the $22,606 at Summit Academy Opportunities Industrialization Center. 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 graduates more of its students?

64% of students finish at Summit Academy Opportunities Industrialization Center, 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.

Central Lakes College-Brainerd vs Summit Academy Opportunities Industrialization Center: frequently asked questions

Is Central Lakes College-Brainerd or Summit Academy Opportunities Industrialization Center a better value?
Central Lakes College-Brainerd comes closer, but neither clears its cost on institution-wide earnings — the field you study decides it here more than the school.
Which is cheaper, Central Lakes College-Brainerd or Summit Academy Opportunities Industrialization Center?
Central Lakes College-Brainerd: $13,869/yr net price after aid versus $17,649/yr at Summit Academy Opportunities Industrialization Center — a difference of $3,780 a year, or about $42,858 over four years.
Do Central Lakes College-Brainerd or Summit Academy Opportunities Industrialization Center graduates earn more?
Central Lakes College-Brainerd graduates earn a median $42,162 ten years after entry, versus $22,606 at Summit Academy Opportunities Industrialization Center — a $19,556 gap. This blends every major, so a specific field can flip it.