Practical Nursing, Vocational Nursing and Nursing Assistants at Central Lakes College-Brainerd

Central Lakes College-Brainerd's practical nursing program graduates earn roughly $7,300 below the Minnesota median—a significant gap that places it in the bottom quarter of similar programs statewide. While the $35,623 first-year salary covers basic expenses, nearby alternatives like Dakota County Technical College ($48,973) and Lake Superior College ($47,190) deliver substantially higher starting pay. That earnings difference—nearly $13,000 annually compared to top Minnesota programs—compounds over a career and directly impacts your ability to pay down debt and build financial stability.

The $18,600 in typical debt sits right at Minnesota's median for these programs, which means the real issue is the lower earnings rather than excessive borrowing. The debt-to-earnings ratio of 0.52 is manageable, and graduates do see 20% income growth by year four. However, even with that growth trajectory, earnings remain below what you'd start with at several other Minnesota community colleges offering the same credential.

Given the small sample size here, these numbers might not tell the full story, but the pattern is concerning enough to warrant comparison shopping. Before committing, request placement data and compare tuition costs—if Central Lakes offers substantially lower tuition than higher-earning alternatives, that could offset the earnings gap. Otherwise, your child would likely be better served applying to one of Minnesota's stronger-performing practical nursing programs, particularly those in the Twin Cities area where both training outcomes and job markets appear more robust.