Head-to-head comparison
South Central College vs Central Lakes College-Brainerd: which has better ROI?
Option A North Mankato, MN
South Central College
- Net price / year
- $9,082
- Earnings, 10 years
- $45,068
- 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 South Central College comes closer — median earnings $45,068 against a $18,164 total, vs $42,162 at Central Lakes College-Brainerd. (Scorecard, 2026 · our math.)
| Measure | South Central College | Central Lakes College-Brainerd |
|---|---|---|
| Net price / yr | $9,082 | $13,869 |
| Total net cost | $18,164 | $27,738 |
| Median earnings, 10 yrs | $45,068 | $42,162 |
| Median debt | $12,000 | $11,000 |
| Payback | — | — |
| 20-year net return | -$84,004 | -$151,698 |
College Scorecard (2026), institution-level · payback and returns are our math. Figures blend all majors.
The short answer
Which is cheaper, South Central College or Central Lakes College-Brainerd?
South Central College, at $9,082 a year after aid versus $13,869 — a gap of $4,787 a year, or $9,574 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 South Central College or Central Lakes College-Brainerd graduates earn more?
South Central College graduates report a median $45,068 ten years after entry, $2,906 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, South Central College or Central Lakes College-Brainerd?
Central Lakes College-Brainerd: its completers carry a median $11,000 in federal loans versus $12,000 at South Central 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 39% at South Central 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.