Central Lakes College Brainerd

Central Lakes College Brainerd serves as a comprehensive two-year public institution located in the lakes region of central Minnesota, approximately 130 miles northwest of Minneapolis. The main campus sits on the banks of the Mississippi River in Brainerd, featuring modern classroom facilities and technical training spaces spread across a suburban campus setting. The college maintains a strong focus on career and technical education programs, including nursing, heavy equipment operations, and natural resources technology, while also offering liberal arts transfer pathways. Students can access on-campus housing through the Central Lakes Apartments adjacent to the main campus, making it one of the few Minnesota community colleges to offer residential options. The institution also operates a second campus in nearby Staples, which houses additional technical programs and the Central Lakes Agriculture and Energy Center.