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Central Lakes College-Brainerd

501 West College Drive
Brainerd, MN 56401

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Top Ranked (2025): View Rankings

Tel: (218) 855-8000

www.clcmn.edu

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Central Lakes College is a full-service, comprehensive community and technical college. We offer a mix of technical college and community college programs and courses from campuses in Brainerd and Staples. As a comprehensive two-year college, we promote success for our students, businesses, and communities. Our dedicated and competent employees provide opportunities for students to prepare for the future by learning the knowledge, skills and attitudes necessary for living and earning. Some graduates of Central Lakes College transfer to Minnesota state universities or other colleges to complete four-year degrees. Other students at our college take a career path from more than 60 professional programs leading immediately to rewarding employment. We are part of the Minnesota State Colleges and Universities system, which is a network of 32 two-year and four-year state colleges and universities serving over 374,000 students in credit & non-credit courses on 53 campuses in 46 communities across Minnesota.

School Highlights

Central Lakes College-Brainerd serves 5,825 students (28% of students are full-time).

The college's student:teacher ratio of 46:1 is higher than the state community college average of 22:1.

Minority enrollment is 16% of the student body (majority Black and Hispanic), which is less than the state average of 42%.

Quick Stats (2025)

Enrollment: 5,825 students
In-state tuition: $5,757
Out-state tuition: $5,757
Student:teacher ratio: 46:1
Minority enrollment: 16%
Source: Verified school update

Top Rankings

Central Lakes College-Brainerd ranks among the top 20% of public schools in Minnesota for:

School Overview

The teacher population of 126 teachers has stayed relatively flat over five years.

Central Lakes College-Brainerd

(MN) Community College Avg.

Carnegie Classification

Associate's Colleges: Mixed Transfer/Career & Technical-High Nontraditional

Associate's Colleges: Mixed Transfer/Career & Technical-Mixed Traditional/Nontraditional

Institution Level

At least 2 but less than 4 years

Institution Control

Public

Total Faculty

126 staff

153 staff

This chart displays total faculty of Central Lakes College-Brainerd and community college average number of faculty in Minnesota by year, with the latest 2022-23 school year data.

School Calendar

Link to School Calendar

Student Body

The student population of Central Lakes College-Brainerd has grown by 33% over five years.

The student:teacher ratio of 46:1 has increased from 36:1 over five years.

The Central Lakes College-Brainerd diversity score of 0.29 is less than the state average of 0.63. The school's diversity has grown by 13% over five years.

Total Enrollment

5,825 students

2,555 students

This chart displays the total enrollment of Central Lakes College-Brainerd and community college average number of enrollment of Minnesota by year, with the latest 2023-24 school year data.

Student : Teacher Ratio

46:1

22:1

This chart displays the student staff ratio of Central Lakes College-Brainerd and community college average student staff ratio of Minnesota by year, with the latest 2022-23 school year data.

# Full-Time Students

1,629 students

915 students

This chart displays the total number of Full-time students enrollment of Central Lakes College-Brainerd and average number of community college Full-time students enrollment of Minnesota by year, with the latest 2023-24 school year data.

# Part-Time Students

4,196 students

1,808 students

This chart displays the total number of Part-time students enrollment of Central Lakes College-Brainerd and average number of community college Part-time students enrollment of Minnesota by year, with the latest 2023-24 school year data.

This chart displays the Full-time students and Part-time students enrollment breakdown of Central Lakes College-Brainerd.

This chart displays community college average Full-Time students and Part-Time students enrollment breakdown of Minnesota.

# Enrollment Undergraduate

582 students

372 students

# Full-Time Undergraduate Students

1,629 students

842 students

This chart displays the total number of Full-time undergraduate students enrollment of Central Lakes College-Brainerd and average number of community college Full-time undergraduate students enrollment of Minnesota by year, with the latest 2023-24 school year data.

# Full-Time Graduate Students

n/a

38 students

# Part-Time Undergraduate Students

4,196 students

1,771 students

# Part-Time Graduate Students

n/a

12 students

Total Dormitory Capacity

n/a

116 students

% American Indian/Alaskan

% Asian

% Hispanic

% Black

15%

% White

84%

58%

This chart displays the percentage of White students in Central Lakes College-Brainerd and the percentage of White community college students in Minnesota by year, with the latest 2022-23 school year data.

% Hawaiian

n/a

% Two or more races

% Non Resident races

n/a

This chart displays the percentage of Non Resident students in Central Lakes College-Brainerd and the percentage of Non Resident community college students in Minnesota by year, with the latest 2023-24 school year data.

% Unknown races

This chart displays the percentage breakdown of students of all ethnic groups in Central Lakes College-Brainerd.

This chart displays the percentage breakdown of students of all ethnic groups in Minnesota.

0.29

0.63

This chart displays the diversity score of Central Lakes College-Brainerd and the community college average diversity score of Minnesota by year, with the latest 2022-23 school year data.

College Completion Rate (Students who graduate in less than 4 years)

0.4684%

0.3421%

This chart displays completion rates for First-Time of Full-time students of Central Lakes College-Brainerd and community college average completion rates for First-Time of Full-time students of Minnesota by year, with the latest 2023-24 school year data.

College Completion Rate (Students who graduate in 4 years or more than 4 years)

n/a

0.5652%

Average Graduate Earnings (10 Years)

$34,800

$36,900

This chart displays average graduate earnings (10 Years) of Central Lakes College-Brainerd and community college average graduate earnings (10 Years) of Minnesota by year, disaggregated by student subgroups with the latest 2012-13 school year data.

Tuition and Acceptance Rate

The public in-state tuition of $5,757 is more than the state average of $5,489. The in-state tuition has stayed relatively flat over four years.

The public out-state tuition of $5,757 is less than the state average of $6,145. The out-state tuition has stayed relatively flat over four years.

In-State Tuition Fees

$5,757

$5,489

This chart displays tuition fees for an in-state student of Central Lakes College-Brainerd and the public community college average tuition fees for an in-state student of Minnesota by year, with the latest 2023-24 school year data.

Out-State Tuition Fees

$5,757

$6,145

This chart displays tuition fees for an out-of-state student of Central Lakes College-Brainerd and the public community college average tuition fees for an out-of-state student of Minnesota by year, with the latest 2023-24 school year data.

Tuition Notes

Based on a 15 credits per term for two terms.

% Students Receiving Some Financial Aid

85%

89%

This chart displays the percent of students who is receiving some financial aid in Central Lakes College-Brainerd and the percent of community college students who is receiving some financial aid in Minnesota by year, with the latest 2022-23 school year data.

Median Debt for Graduates

$10,473

$12,264

This chart displays median debt for students who have completed a certificate or degree in Central Lakes College-Brainerd and average median debt for community college students who have completed a certificate or degree in Minnesota by year, with the latest 2022-23 school year data.

Median Debt for Dropouts

$6,102

$6,747

This chart displays median debt for students who have not completed a certificate or degree in Central Lakes College-Brainerd and average median debt for community college students who have not completed a certificate or degree in Minnesota by year, with the latest 2022-23 school year data.

Acceptance Rate

n/a

94%

SAT Reading

n/a

625

SAT Math

n/a

600

SAT Writing

n/a

565

ACT Composite

n/a

ACT English

n/a

ACT Math

n/a

ACT Writing

n/a

Sports

Total Sports Offered

5 sports

Sports

Baseball, Basketball, Football, Softball, Volleyball

Extracurriculars

Total ExtracurricularsTotal Extra-curric.

30 extracurriculars

ExtracurricularsExtra-curric.

Club or Organization:
Accounting Club, Art Club, Astronomy Club, Civic Engagement Club, CLC Computer Club, CLC Lions Club, Creative Imaging Club, Diesel Technicians Club, Diversity Club, Equality Coalition, Fishing Club, Global Connectsion Club, Heavy Equipment Club, Horticulture Club, Marine and Powersports, Marine Trades Club, Medical Assistants Club, Natural Resources Club, Nursing Club, Phi Theta Kappa, PN Nursing Club, PSeO Club, Psychology Club, Right Brain Media Club, Robotics Club, Sociability and Friends, Welding Club

Arts and Music Programs:
Choir

Recreational Athletic Programs:
Intramural Basketball, Trap Shooting Club

Source: 2024 (or latest year available) Integrated Postsecondary Education Data System (IPEDS) , School Administrators

School Notes

With a knowledgeable, caring faculty and modern, results-oriented programs in comfortable facilities, CLC is the college of choice for seekers of success. Our roots are deep in a tradition dating to 1938 in Brainerd and 1950 in Staples. Communities across central Minnesota are filled with our graduates. While maintaining quality in degrees (Associate in Arts, Associate in Applied Science, Associate in Science), CLC responds to student need by scheduling relevant courses at convenient times and locations. Access is crucial to provide the service students deserve. The college offers more than 70 degrees and career education programs recognized through industry standards. The North Central Association of Colleges and Schools, following a site team evaluation in 2002, accredited CLC for 10 more years.

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Frequently Asked Questions

How much does Central Lakes College-Brainerd cost?

Central Lakes College-Brainerd's tuition is approximately $5,757 for In-State students and $5,757 for Out-State students.

What sports does Central Lakes College-Brainerd offer?

Central Lakes College-Brainerd offers 5 interscholastic sports: Baseball, Basketball, Football, Softball and Volleyball.

What is Central Lakes College-Brainerd's ranking?

Central Lakes College-Brainerd ranks among the top 20% of community college in Minnesota for: Least debt for graduating students.

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Quick Stats (2025)

Enrollment: 5,825 students
In-state tuition: $5,757
Out-state tuition: $5,757
Student:teacher ratio: 46:1
Minority enrollment: 16%
Source: Verified school update

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Did You Know?

For Minnesota public community colleges, the average tuition is approximately $5,489 per year for in-state students and $6,145 for out-of-state students. For private community colleges, the average yearly tuition is approximately $17,208 per year. Read more about average community college tuition costs across the country.

The average community college acceptance rate in Minnesota is 89%. Read more about national community college acceptance rates.

Minnesota community colleges have a of 0.63, which is higher than the national average of 0.00. The most diverse community college in Minnesota is Academy College. Read more about community college diversity statistics in the USA.