Career Training Path › Minnesota › Central Lakes College-Brainerd
Central Lakes College-Brainerd
Brainerd, Minnesota · Public community college · Training programs available:
Address: 501 West College Drive, Brainerd, MN 56401 · Phone: (218) 855-8000 · School website ↗ · Verify on College Scorecard ↗
No accreditor sanctions in the last 36 months
Central Lakes College-Brainerd is a public trade school in Brainerd, MN offering heavy equipment operator, welding, and auto mechanic programs, accredited by the Higher Learning Commission.
Central Lakes College-Brainerd has a 53.2% completion rate, above the Minnesota state average of 48.2%, with median graduate debt of $11,000 and median earnings of $42,162 ten years after entry, per the U.S. Department of Education College Scorecard.
Annual cost of attendance is not reported for this campus in federal data. Federal financial aid can be used here, and about 14.4% of students receive Pell Grants.
What these trades pay once you're working
| Occupation | Starting (10th pct) | Median | Experienced (75th) |
|---|---|---|---|
| Operating engineers and other construction equipment operators | $55,960 | $79,130 | $95,740 |
| Welders, cutters, solderers and brazers | $45,690 | $60,280 | $65,410 |
| Automotive service technicians and mechanics | $38,310 | $58,390 | $73,250 |
| Dental assistants | $46,960 | $65,270 | $74,410 |
| Bus and truck mechanics and diesel engine specialists | $49,810 | $66,840 | $78,600 |
| Chefs and head cooks | $48,400 | $62,600 | $75,960 |
| Emergency medical technicians | $31,340 | $48,090 | $52,940 |
| Licensed practical and licensed vocational nurses | $51,700 | $63,750 | $71,270 |
| Medical assistants | $40,110 | $50,480 | $58,540 |
| Machinists | $46,550 | $61,140 | $74,650 |
| Nursing assistants | $38,010 | $46,680 | $49,330 |
| Phlebotomists | $38,740 | $46,000 | $48,760 |
U.S. Bureau of Labor Statistics wages for everyone employed in the occupation in Minnesota (May 2025; national where the state figure is not published). The program table below shows what this campus's own graduates earned in their first year, whatever job they took.
Trade programs at this campus
| Program | Credential | Grads / yr | Earnings, yr 1 | Earnings, yr 2 | Median debt |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Ground Transportation | Certificate, 2–4 years | 49 | $51,968 | $48,563 | $10,952 |
| Precision Metal Working | Certificate, 1–2 years | 28 | $35,344 | $44,468 | $5,500 |
| Vehicle Maintenance and Repair Technologies/Technicians | Certificate, 1–2 years | 19 | $38,812 | $39,286 | $6,500 |
| Vehicle Maintenance and Repair Technologies/Technicians | Certificate, 1–2 years | 18 | $38,812 | $39,286 | $6,500 |
| Allied Health Diagnostic, Intervention, and Treatment Professions | Certificate, 300–899 hours | 14 | not reported | not reported | not reported |
| Culinary Arts and Related Services | Certificate, 300–899 hours | 14 | not reported | not reported | not reported |
| Dental Support Services and Allied Professions | Certificate, 1–2 years | 14 | not reported | $27,669 | not reported |
| Practical Nursing, Vocational Nursing and Nursing Assistants | Certificate, 1–2 years | 11 | not reported | not reported | not reported |
| Dental Support Services and Allied Professions | Associate degree | 9 | not reported | $35,060 | not reported |
| Precision Metal Working | Associate degree | 6 | $43,734 | $44,021 | not reported |
| Allied Health and Medical Assisting Services | Certificate, 1–2 years | 4 | not reported | not reported | not reported |
| Practical Nursing, Vocational Nursing and Nursing Assistants | Certificate, under 300 hours | 3 | not reported | not reported | not reported |
| Precision Metal Working | Associate degree | 3 | $43,734 | $44,021 | not reported |
| Vehicle Maintenance and Repair Technologies/Technicians | Certificate, 1–2 years | 3 | $38,812 | $39,286 | $6,500 |
| Clinical/Medical Laboratory Science/Research and Allied Professions | Certificate, 300–899 hours | 2 | not reported | not reported | not reported |
| Culinary Arts and Related Services | Certificate, 1–2 years | 2 | not reported | not reported | not reported |
| Precision Metal Working | Certificate, 300–899 hours | 2 | $35,344 | $44,468 | $5,500 |
| Vehicle Maintenance and Repair Technologies/Technicians | Associate degree | 2 | not reported | not reported | not reported |
| Precision Metal Working | Certificate, 1–2 years | 1 | $35,344 | $44,468 | $5,500 |
| Vehicle Maintenance and Repair Technologies/Technicians | Associate degree | 1 | not reported | not reported | not reported |
| Vehicle Maintenance and Repair Technologies/Technicians | Associate degree | 1 | not reported | not reported | not reported |
Earnings are median wages and self-employment income reported to the IRS (W-2 and Schedule SE) for graduates who received federal aid and were working and not enrolled, measured in the calendar year after finishing. They are pay only: health insurance, retirement contributions and other benefits are not included.
Graduates per year from the Integrated Postsecondary Education Data System (IPEDS) 2022-23 Completions survey. Earnings and debt are College Scorecard field-of-study medians for graduates of this program at this campus (reported at the 4-digit program level, so closely related programs share a figure); "not reported" means too few graduates were counted to publish a figure.
About this school
Central Lakes College-Brainerd is a public trade and career training campus in Brainerd, Minnesota. It is accredited by the Higher Learning Commission, with additional programmatic accreditation from the American Dental Association's Commission on Dental Accreditation and the National League for Nursing's Commission for Nurse Education Accreditation. Federal financial aid, including FAFSA and Pell Grants, can be used here since the school participates in Title IV programs. Among its 21 program families, the campus awards the most credentials in heavy equipment operator training (49), welding (36), and auto mechanic programs (23).
Federal data shows a completion rate of 53.2%, which is above the Minnesota state average of 48.2%. Graduates carry a median debt of $11,000, and median earnings ten years after entry are reported at $42,162. About 14.4% of students receive Pell Grants. Annual cost of attendance is not reported for this campus in federal data.
With a trade completer count of 206 out of 1,614 undergraduate students, and a locale described as a remote town, this campus may suit students seeking hands-on, shorter-duration trade programs such as welding or heavy equipment operation, as well as those pursuing longer allied-health pathways like dental assisting or nursing. Career changers should confirm specific program lengths and schedules directly with the school. Prospective students can verify accreditation status and outcome data through the U.S. Department of Education College Scorecard or by contacting the college directly.
Questions students ask
What trade and career programs does this campus offer?
Central Lakes College-Brainerd offers 21 program families, with the most completers in heavy equipment operator training (49), welding (36), and auto mechanic programs (23). Other program families include dental assisting, diesel mechanics, culinary arts, EMT training, LPN programs, medical assisting, CNC machining, CNA classes, and phlebotomy.
Is this school accredited, and by whom?
Yes, the school is accredited by the Higher Learning Commission. It also holds programmatic accreditation from the American Dental Association's Commission on Dental Accreditation and the National League for Nursing's Commission for Nurse Education Accreditation.
Can I use federal financial aid (FAFSA, Pell Grants) at this school?
Yes, this school participates in Title IV federal financial aid programs, so students can use FAFSA and Pell Grants.
What share of students finish their program here, and how does that compare to the state?
The completion rate is 53.2%, which is above the Minnesota state average of 48.2%, per federal data.
How much debt do graduates of this school typically carry?
Graduates carry a median debt of $11,000, per federal data.
What do graduates of this school earn?
Median earnings ten years after entry are reported at $42,162, per federal data.
How much does it cost to attend for a year?
Annual cost of attendance is not reported for this campus in federal data; contact the school directly for current tuition figures.
Is this a public, non-profit, or for-profit school, and why does that matter?
Central Lakes College-Brainerd is a public institution, which typically means lower tuition for state residents and eligibility for state-based aid programs, though specific tuition figures are not reported here.
How long do the programs here take to complete?
Program lengths are not reported in the data provided; contact the school directly or check its website for details on specific programs.
How do I verify this school's accreditation and outcomes myself?
You can verify accreditation and outcome data through the U.S. Department of Education College Scorecard at https://collegescorecard.ed.gov/school/?173203, or by contacting the college directly.
Is this school a good fit for an adult changing careers?
The campus offers a mix of short-term trade programs, such as welding and heavy equipment operation, and longer allied-health programs, which may suit career changers depending on program length and format; contact the school to confirm scheduling and format details.
What license or certification will I need after finishing a program here?
Licensing or certification requirements are not reported in this data; contact the school directly to learn about specific program credentialing.
How do I contact the school or apply?
You can reach Central Lakes College-Brainerd at (218) 855-8000 or visit https://www.clcmn.edu/ for application details.
How does this campus compare with other schools offering the same trade nearby?
Comparative data on nearby schools is not reported in this dataset; use the College Scorecard link to compare outcomes across institutions.
Nearby trade and career schools in Minnesota
- M State WadenaWadena, MN
- Hennepin Technical CollegeBrooklyn Park, MN · 42% completion
- Century CollegeWhite Bear Lake, MN · 31% completion
- Saint Paul CollegeSaint Paul, MN · 40% completion
- Anoka Technical CollegeAnoka, MN · 67% completion
- Minnesota West Community and Technical CollegeGranite Falls, MN · 52% completion
- Dakota County Technical CollegeRosemount, MN · 58% completion
- Minnesota State Community and Technical CollegeFergus Falls, MN · 47% completion
See all trade and career schools in Minnesota or search by ZIP code.
Data: Integrated Postsecondary Education Data System (IPEDS) 2022-23 Completions survey; College Scorecard June 2026; Database of Accredited Postsecondary Institutions and Programs (DAPIP), September 2026. Figures are the U.S. Department of Education's official measures, not Career Training Path's opinion. Tuition, schedules and program availability change — confirm with the school before enrolling.