Central Lakes College-Brainerd campus
Central Lakes College-Brainerd logo

Central Lakes College-Brainerd

Type 2 year, Public
Campus locale Town: Remote
Degrees offered Undergraduate
Calendar system Semester
Student body size Small
Student to faculty ratio 18 to 1
Students retention rate 58%
On-time graduation rate 48%

Located in Brainerd, Minnesota, Central Lakes College-Brainerd is a public, institution that offers undergraduate degrees. The college operates on a semester-based calendar system, providing students with structured academic terms.

One of the notable aspects of Central Lakes College-Brainerd is its open admission policy. This means that all high school graduates and individuals who hold a GED qualification are eligible to apply for admission. This inclusive approach allows a wide range of students to pursue their higher education goals, regardless of their academic background.

Central Lakes College-Brainerd is accredited by the Higher Learning Commission, ensuring that the institution meets certain standards of quality and effectiveness. This accreditation also allows students to transfer credits to other accredited institutions if they choose to continue their education elsewhere.

The student-to-faculty ratio at Central Lakes College-Brainerd is 18-to-1, which is slightly higher than both the state and national averages. The state average student-to-faculty ratio in Minnesota is 16-to-1, while the national average is 17-to-1. A lower student-to-faculty ratio generally allows for more personalized attention and interaction between students and faculty.

While the on-time graduation rate at Central Lakes College-Brainerd is reported to be 48%, it is essential to consider the context of this statistic. For comparison, Minnesota state's graduation rate for the 2021-2022 was 55% whereas the national average was 35%.

The retention rate of students at Central Lakes College-Brainerd is 58% , which is lower than both the state and national averages. The state average retention rate in Minnesota is 72%, while the national average is 61%. This indicates that a significant proportion of students who enroll at Central Lakes College-Brainerd do not continue their studies after the first year.


  • Accredited by: Higher Learning Commission

In-State Tuition & Fees

$5,954

Cost of attendance at Central Lakes College-Brainerd in 2022 for students from Minnesota.

See how the college's in-state sticker price compares to 2 year , public colleges in the state as well as nationally.

Minnesota's average $11,262
National average $4,604

Out-of-State Tuition & Fees

$5,954

Cost of attendance at Central Lakes College-Brainerd in 2022 for the out-of-state and international students

See how the college's out-of-state sticker price compares to 2 year , public colleges in the state as well as nationally.

Minnesota's average $16,133
National average $8,757

Average Grant & Scholarships

In 2022, 79 of freshman students at Central Lakes College-Brainerd received on average $4,719 in grant and scholarships from the college, the state and/or the federal government. Below is detail stats of the aid provided to full-time, freshman students.

$4,719
Students Receiving Aid Average Amount Total Amount
Pell Grant 150 43% $3,826 $573,840
Other Federal Grant 234 67% $3,628 $848,875
State Grant/Scholarships 187 54% $1,972 $368,784
Institutional Grant/Scholarships 94 27% $801 $75,315
Total Grant & Scholarships 274 79% $4,719 $1,292,974

Graduation Rate

The following chart shows the graduation rate of Central Lakes College-Brainerd students who enrolled in 2018 and after. The stat covers all undergraduates registered as full-time students to study a 4-year bachelor's degree program for the first time.

The breakdown shows the graduation rate by race/ethnicity of US students. All international students are represented under one group.

As of August 31, 2021, the average graduation rate of Central Lakes College-Brainerd students is 47.6%. Female students graduated at a rate of 45.6%, whereas male students graduated at a rate of 48.8%.

47.6%

  • white 52.0% 199 students
  • unknown 100.0% 2 students
  • hispanic 35.7% 5 students
  • Mixed Race 26.9% 7 students

Athletic Associations

  • NJCAA
    National Junior College Athletic Association (NJCAA)

Service Offerings

Central Lakes College-Brainerd provides the following additional services to its students
  • On-campus day care for students' children
  • Remedial services
  • Placement services for graduates
  • Academic/career counseling services
  • Employment services for students

Educational Offerings

Central Lakes College-Brainerd offers educational programs in the following categories. Check the programs section to learn more about specific programs that you are interested in.
  • Academic
  • Occupational
  • Adult basic remedial or high school equivalent

Special Learning Opportunities

  • Study abroad

Veteran Services

  • Dedicated point of contact for support services for veterans, military service-members, and their families
  • Recognized student veteran organization
  • Credit for military training
  • Yellow Ribbon Program (officially known as Post-9/11 GI Bill, Yellow Ribbon Program)