Riverland Community College vs. Central Lakes College-Brainerd

Comparable Facts

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

Central Lakes College Brainerd is larger than Riverland Community College based on total student enrollment (4,981 students vs. 3,959 students)

Location, institution type, and student-faculty ratio

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

Riverland Community College vs. Central Lakes College-Brainerd Cost Comparison

Which college is more expensive, Riverland Community College or Central Lakes College-Brainerd? 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 Riverland Community College than Central Lakes College-Brainerd ($8,017 vs. $13,691).
• Living costs (room and board or off-campus housing budget) at Riverland Community College are 0.1% lower than at Central Lakes College Brainerd ($9,452 vs. $9,459).
• Riverland Community College is 0.8% more expensive for in-state tuition than Central Lakes College-Brainerd (about $49 more per year; $6,298.00 vs. $6,249.00).
• Out-of-state tuition is 0.8% higher at Riverland Community College than at Central Lakes College Brainerd (about $49 more per year; $6,298.00 vs. $6,249.00).
• A larger share of students receive grant aid at Riverland Community College than at Central Lakes College Brainerd (78% vs. 77%).
• The average total grant financial aid received by Riverland Community College students is 18.2% larger than aid received by Central Lakes College Brainerd students ($6,593 vs. $5,579).

Riverland Community College vs. Central Lakes College-Brainerd Admissions comparison

Which college is harder to get into, Riverland Community College or Central Lakes College-Brainerd? 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 Central Lakes College-Brainerd and Riverland Community College.

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

Riverland Community College vs. Central Lakes College-Brainerd Graduation Outcomes Comparison

How do outcomes compare for Riverland Community College and Central Lakes College-Brainerd? 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 $400 more per year than Riverland Community College graduates about ten years after starting college ($35,600 vs. $35,200), per the same Scorecard earnings definition.
• More Central Lakes College-Brainerd graduates are actively paying back their federal student loan debt than former Riverland Community College students, three years after graduation. (47% vs. 46%)

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.