Central Lakes College-Brainerd vs. Pine Technical & Community College

Comparable Facts

Compare Central Lakes College Brainerd in Brainerd, MN with Pine Technical & Community College in Pine City, MN on tuition, admissions, graduation, earnings, and student body data using the table above.

Central Lakes College Brainerd is larger than Pine Technical & Community College based on total student enrollment (4,981 students vs. 1,794 students)

Location, institution type, and student-faculty ratio

• Central Lakes College Brainerd is located in Brainerd, MN (Remote Town setting); Pine Technical & Community College is in Pine City, MN (Remote Town setting).
• Central Lakes College Brainerd is a public, non-profit 2-year institution. Pine Technical & Community College is a public, non-profit 2-year institution.
• Student-to-faculty ratio: Central Lakes College Brainerd 20:1; Pine Technical & Community College 21:1.

Central Lakes College-Brainerd vs. Pine Technical & Community College Cost Comparison

Which college is more expensive, Central Lakes College-Brainerd or Pine Technical & Community College? Published tuition is the sticker price; many students pay less after aid (see average net price below).

• The typical actual cost that students pay to attend (average net price) is less at Pine Technical & Community College than Central Lakes College-Brainerd ($11,760 vs. $13,691).
• Living costs (room and board or off-campus housing budget) at Central Lakes College Brainerd are 3.3% lower than at Pine Technical & Community College ($9,459 vs. $9,786).
• Central Lakes College Brainerd is 31.9% more expensive for in-state tuition than Pine Technical & Community College (about $1,511 more per year; $6,249.00 vs. $4,738.00).
• Out-of-state tuition is 31.9% higher at Central Lakes College-Brainerd than at Pine Technical & Community College (about $1,511 more per year; $6,249.00 vs. $4,738.00).
• A larger share of students receive grant aid at Pine Technical & Community College than at Central Lakes College Brainerd (81% vs. 77%).
• The average total grant financial aid received by Pine Technical & Community College students is 9.8% larger than aid received by Central Lakes College Brainerd students ($6,124 vs. $5,579).

Central Lakes College-Brainerd vs. Pine Technical & Community College Admissions comparison

Which college is harder to get into, Central Lakes College-Brainerd or Pine Technical & Community College? Typical SAT and ACT scores (same estimates as in the table above), middle 50% test ranges where reported, test score submission policy, deadlines, and acceptance rates summarize admission difficulty between Pine Technical & Community College and Central Lakes College-Brainerd.

• Both colleges report an open admissions policy; selectivity can still vary by program or major.
• Submitting SAT or ACT scores: Central Lakes College-Brainerd - Open admission; Pine Technical & Community College - Open admission.

Central Lakes College-Brainerd vs. Pine Technical & Community College Graduation Outcomes Comparison

How do outcomes compare for Central Lakes College-Brainerd and Pine Technical & Community College? Graduation rate, earnings, and student loan debt are common indicators. The bullets below summarize the same federal outcomes fields as the comparison table (College Scorecard / IPEDS where applicable).

• Graduates from Central Lakes College Brainerd earn a median of about $3,200 more per year than Pine Technical & Community College graduates about ten years after starting college ($35,600 vs. $32,400), per the same Scorecard earnings definition.
• Among federal student loan borrowers, Central Lakes College Brainerd graduates have a $8,500 lower median loan debt than Pine Technical & Community College graduates ($10,500 vs. $19,000).
• Among borrowers, Central Lakes College-Brainerd graduates have an estimated $88 lower median monthly federal student loan payment than Pine Technical & Community College graduates ($108 vs. $196).
• More Central Lakes College-Brainerd graduates are actively paying back their federal student loan debt than former Pine Technical & Community College students, three years after graduation. (47% vs. 39%)

Sources: U.S. Department of Education https://nces.ed.gov IPEDS and College Scorecard https://collegescorecard.ed.gov/. Values reflect the most recent year available in our dataset.