Head-to-head comparison
Minnesota State Community and Technical College vs Central Lakes College-Brainerd: which has better ROI?
Option A Fergus Falls, MN
Minnesota State Community and Technical College
- Net price / year
- $12,556
- Earnings, 10 years
- $45,591
- Payback
- No payback
Option B Brainerd, MN
Central Lakes College-Brainerd
- Net price / year
- $13,869
- Earnings, 10 years
- $42,162
- Payback
- No payback
Neither clears its cost on institution-wide earnings, but Minnesota State Community and Technical College comes closer — median earnings $45,591 against a $25,112 total, vs $42,162 at Central Lakes College-Brainerd. (Scorecard, 2026 · our math.)
| Measure | Minnesota State Community and Technical College | Central Lakes College-Brainerd |
|---|---|---|
| Net price / yr | $12,556 | $13,869 |
| Total net cost | $25,112 | $27,738 |
| Median earnings, 10 yrs | $45,591 | $42,162 |
| Median debt | $12,000 | $11,000 |
| Payback | — | — |
| 20-year net return | -$80,492 | -$151,698 |
College Scorecard (2026), institution-level · payback and returns are our math. Figures blend all majors.
The short answer
Which is cheaper, Minnesota State Community and Technical College or Central Lakes College-Brainerd?
Minnesota State Community and Technical College, at $12,556 a year after aid versus $13,869 — a gap of $1,313 a year, or $2,626 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 Minnesota State Community and Technical College or Central Lakes College-Brainerd graduates earn more?
Minnesota State Community and Technical College graduates report a median $45,591 ten years after entry, $3,429 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, Minnesota State Community and Technical College or Central Lakes College-Brainerd?
Central Lakes College-Brainerd: its completers carry a median $11,000 in federal loans versus $12,000 at Minnesota State Community and Technical College, a difference of $1,000. 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 47% at Minnesota State Community and 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.