Head-to-head comparison
Saint Paul College vs Central Lakes College-Brainerd: which has better ROI?
Option A Saint Paul, MN
Saint Paul College
- Net price / year
- $11,495
- Earnings, 10 years
- $38,399
- 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 Central Lakes College-Brainerd comes closer — median earnings $42,162 against a $27,738 total, vs $38,399 at Saint Paul College. (Scorecard, 2026 · our math.)
| Measure | Saint Paul College | Central Lakes College-Brainerd |
|---|---|---|
| Net price / yr | $11,495 | $13,869 |
| Total net cost | $45,980 | $27,738 |
| Median earnings, 10 yrs | $38,399 | $42,162 |
| Median debt | $10,925 | $11,000 |
| Payback | — | — |
| 20-year net return | -$245,200 | -$151,698 |
College Scorecard (2026), institution-level · payback and returns are our math. Figures blend all majors.
The short answer
Which is cheaper, Saint Paul College or Central Lakes College-Brainerd?
Saint Paul College, at $11,495 a year after aid versus $13,869 — a gap of $2,374 a year, or $18,242 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 Saint Paul College or Central Lakes College-Brainerd graduates earn more?
Central Lakes College-Brainerd graduates report a median $42,162 ten years after entry, $3,763 more than the $38,399 at Saint Paul College. 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, Saint Paul College or Central Lakes College-Brainerd?
Saint Paul College: its completers carry a median $10,925 in federal loans versus $11,000 at Central Lakes College-Brainerd, a difference of $75. 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 40% at Saint Paul 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.