Location: Brainerd, MN•In-State Tuition: $6,209
Est. Earnings (1yr)
$36,591
Est. from national median (124 programs)
Est. Median Debt
$19,750
Est. from MN median (7 programs)

Analysis

An estimated $19,750 in debt for an associate's degree is manageable when weighed against typical earnings, but this program's projected first-year income of $36,591 falls short of what peer business programs in Minnesota usually deliver. Similar schools across the state report a median of $40,226—a gap of nearly $4,000 that compounds over time. While the debt-to-earnings ratio of 0.54 suggests graduates could reasonably pay down loans within a few years, comparable programs at Century College and Anoka-Ramsey place students closer to $40,000 out of the gate.

The uncertainty here matters. With only 15% of students receiving Pell grants and no actual graduate outcomes reported, there's limited visibility into how Central Lakes College-Brainerd students specifically fare in Minnesota's job market. Business associate's degrees vary widely in quality and employer recognition, and without hard data, you're relying on assumptions drawn from national patterns rather than evidence from this campus.

If your child is set on staying local or has strong ties to the Brainerd area, this program could work—but press the school for placement rates and employer partnerships. Given what nearby community colleges achieve with similar programs, expect outcomes in that $40,000 range or consider whether the credential justifies the investment when actual results remain unknown.

Where Central Lakes College-Brainerd Stands

Earnings vs. debt across all business/commerce associates's programs nationally

Central Lakes College-Brainerd (estimated ±10%)Other business/commerce programs

Dashed lines show national medians. Upper-left = best value.

Compare to Similar Programs in Minnesota

Business/Commerce associates's programs at peer institutions in Minnesota (23 total in state)

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SchoolIn-State TuitionEarnings (1yr)*Earnings (4yr)Median Debt*Debt/Earnings
Central Lakes College-BrainerdBrainerd$6,209$36,591*—$19,750*—
Century CollegeWhite Bear Lake$6,182$40,489*—$19,750*0.49
Anoka-Ramsey Community CollegeCoon Rapids$5,682$39,962*$46,752$20,750*0.52
National Median—$36,591*—$13,437*0.37
* Estimated from similar programs

Career Paths

Occupations commonly associated with business/commerce graduates

Sales Managers

Plan, direct, or coordinate the actual distribution or movement of a product or service to the customer. Coordinate sales distribution by establishing sales territories, quotas, and goals and establish training programs for sales representatives. Analyze sales statistics gathered by staff to determine sales potential and inventory requirements and monitor the preferences of customers.

$138,060/yrJobs growth:Bachelor's degree

Industrial Production Managers

Plan, direct, or coordinate the work activities and resources necessary for manufacturing products in accordance with cost, quality, and quantity specifications.

$121,440/yrJobs growth:Bachelor's degree

Quality Control Systems Managers

Plan, direct, or coordinate quality assurance programs. Formulate quality control policies and control quality of laboratory and production efforts.

$121,440/yrJobs growth:Bachelor's degree

Geothermal Production Managers

Manage operations at geothermal power generation facilities. Maintain and monitor geothermal plant equipment for efficient and safe plant operations.

$121,440/yrJobs growth:Bachelor's degree

Biofuels Production Managers

Manage biofuels production and plant operations. Collect and process information on plant production and performance, diagnose problems, and design corrective procedures.

$121,440/yrJobs growth:Bachelor's degree

Biomass Power Plant Managers

Manage operations at biomass power generation facilities. Direct work activities at plant, including supervision of operations and maintenance staff.

$121,440/yrJobs growth:Bachelor's degree

Hydroelectric Production Managers

Manage operations at hydroelectric power generation facilities. Maintain and monitor hydroelectric plant equipment for efficient and safe plant operations.

$121,440/yrJobs growth:Bachelor's degree

Construction Managers

Plan, direct, or coordinate, usually through subordinate supervisory personnel, activities concerned with the construction and maintenance of structures, facilities, and systems. Participate in the conceptual development of a construction project and oversee its organization, scheduling, budgeting, and implementation. Includes managers in specialized construction fields, such as carpentry or plumbing.

$106,980/yrJobs growth:Bachelor's degree

Administrative Services Managers

Plan, direct, or coordinate one or more administrative services of an organization, such as records and information management, mail distribution, and other office support services.

$106,880/yrJobs growth:Bachelor's degree

Facilities Managers

Plan, direct, or coordinate operations and functionalities of facilities and buildings. May include surrounding grounds or multiple facilities of an organization's campus.

$106,880/yrJobs growth:Bachelor's degree

Security Managers

Direct an organization's security functions, including physical security and safety of employees and facilities.

$106,880/yrJobs growth:Bachelor's degree

Chief Executives

Determine and formulate policies and provide overall direction of companies or private and public sector organizations within guidelines set up by a board of directors or similar governing body. Plan, direct, or coordinate operational activities at the highest level of management with the help of subordinate executives and staff managers.

$105,350/yrJobs growth:Bachelor's degree
About This Data

Source: U.S. Department of Education College Scorecard (October 2025 release)

Population: Graduates who received federal financial aid (Title IV grants or loans). At Central Lakes College-Brainerd, approximately 15% of students receive Pell grants. Students who did not receive federal aid are not included in these figures.

Earnings: Median earnings from IRS W-2 data for graduates who are employed and not enrolled in further education, measured 1 year after completion. Earnings are pre-tax and include wages, salaries, and self-employment income.

Debt: Median cumulative federal loan debt at graduation. Does not include private loans or Parent PLUS loans borrowed on behalf of students.

Estimated Earnings: Actual earnings data is not available for this program (typically due to privacy thresholds when fewer than 30 graduates reported earnings). The estimate shown is based on the national median of 124 similar programs. Actual outcomes may vary.