Do Students Succeed at Central Lakes College-Brainerd?
A data-driven look at student outcomes at Central Lakes College-Brainerd — completion rates, transfers, and enrollment status.
Student Success at Central Lakes College-Brainerd at a Glance
Central Lakes College-Brainerd is a public institution offering at least 2 but less than 4 years programs located in Brainerd, MN. Current enrollment is 4,981 students.
- 53.2% overall graduation rate (IPEDS)
- 41% of all entering students earn their award within 8 years
- 65% of exiters from its largest program (Communication Studies Transfer Pathway) were employed within 6 months — verified by the U.S. Department of Labor
- DOL-verified median earnings of $5,037 per quarter after exiting Communication Studies Transfer Pathway
- 894 graduates across 106 programs in 2024
- VA-approved for GI Bill benefits — 93 students used them here
Program-Level Results · Verified by the U.S. Department of Labor
Verified Program Outcomes
Completion and employment results reported to the U.S. Department of Labor for Central Lakes College-Brainerd programs on the state Eligible Training Provider List. Missing values ("—") mean the state suppressed or did not report that metric — they never mean zero.
| Program | Completion rate | Employed 6 mo after exit | Employed 1 yr after exit | Median quarterly earnings |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Communication Studies Transfer Pathway | 52% | 65% | 72% | $5,037 |
| Economics Transfer Pathway | 52% | 65% | 72% | $5,037 |
| History Transfer Pathway | 52% | 65% | 72% | $5,037 |
| Liberal Arts/General Education | 52% | 65% | 72% | $5,037 |
| Psychology Transfer Pathway | 52% | 65% | 72% | $5,037 |
| Sociology Transfer Pathway | 52% | 65% | 72% | $5,037 |
| Spanish Transfer Pathway | 52% | 65% | 72% | $5,037 |
| Health Sciences Broad Field | — | 83% | 83% | $7,065 |
| Nursing | 77% | 91% | 89% | $13,492 |
| Advanced Farm Business Management | 41% | 37% | 36% | $10,257 |
| Applications in Farm Business Management | 41% | 37% | 36% | $10,257 |
| Current Issues in Farm Business Management | 41% | 37% | 36% | $10,257 |
| Essentials of Farm Business Management | 41% | 37% | 36% | $10,257 |
| Heavy Equipment Operation and Maintenance | 85% | 76% | 81% | $12,086 |
| Business Management | 31% | 72% | 75% | $6,343 |
| Criminal Justice | 29% | 77% | 78% | $6,070 |
| Robotic Welding | 73% | 70% | 76% | $7,909 |
| Welding and Fabrication | 73% | 70% | 76% | $7,909 |
| Welding Technology | 73% | 70% | 76% | $7,909 |
| Accountant | 38% | 79% | 79% | $7,224 |
| Healthcare Accounting | 38% | 79% | 79% | $7,224 |
| Honors | 13% | 71% | 73% | $5,539 |
| Diesel Equipment Technician | 75% | 84% | 88% | $10,261 |
| Computer Information Technology | 32% | 78% | 73% | $5,882 |
| Dental Assisting | 86% | 92% | 89% | $7,336 |
| Law Enforcement Skills | 81% | 83% | 87% | $8,016 |
| Natural Resources Technology | 50% | 65% | 74% | $3,510 |
| Practical Nursing | 98% | 92% | 94% | $8,239 |
| Robotics/Automated Systems Technology | 64% | 68% | 73% | $13,777 |
| Graphic Design | 40% | 82% | 82% | $4,843 |
| Natural Resource Law Enforcement | 21% | 77% | 78% | $5,613 |
| Marine and Powersports | 63% | 67% | 67% | $7,827 |
| Automotive Technology | 68% | 81% | 82% | $6,454 |
| Horticulture | 46% | 59% | 56% | $4,537 |
| Automation Technologies | 89% | 67% | 66% | $13,852 |
| Mechatronics | 89% | 67% | 66% | $13,852 |
| Occupational Skills | 81% | 58% | 62% | $2,500 |
| Robotic Human Machine Interface Advanced | 89% | 67% | 66% | $13,852 |
| Robotic Manufacturing | 89% | 67% | 66% | $13,852 |
| Robotic Offline Programming Advanced | 89% | 67% | 66% | $13,852 |
| Robotic Vision Advanced | 89% | 67% | 66% | $13,852 |
| Robotic Welding Advanced | 89% | 67% | 66% | $13,852 |
| Business Entrepreneurship | 69% | 56% | 66% | $6,982 |
| Individualized Studies | 24% | 52% | 61% | $7,365 |
| Videography Production | 45% | 76% | 80% | $4,859 |
| Early Childhood Education | 24% | 69% | 69% | $3,595 |
| Healthcare Administrative Specialist | 36% | 73% | 75% | $7,077 |
| Agricultural Commodities Marketing | 22% | 26% | 31% | $9,353 |
| Phlebotomy Technician | 58% | 89% | 88% | $6,474 |
| Medical Assistant | 63% | 90% | 90% | $7,212 |
| Pre-Social Work Transfer Pathway | — | 70% | 80% | $3,323 |
| Deaf Studies | 84% | 59% | 76% | $3,376 |
| Bookkeeping | 88% | 70% | 68% | $7,483 |
| Emergency Medical Response Technician | 100% | 88% | 100% | $10,480 |
| CNC Technologies | 35% | 73% | 78% | $9,209 |
| Exercise Science Transfer Pathway | — | 53% | 58% | $5,167 |
| Graphic Design - Media Technologies | 37% | 67% | 52% | $4,789 |
| Specialty Crops Management | — | 37% | 37% | $11,377 |
| Medical Scribe | 42% | 84% | 84% | $7,056 |
| Machine Operations | 82% | 79% | 88% | $10,850 |
| Sustainable Greenhouse Production | 62% | 65% | 58% | $2,757 |
| Sustainable Local Food | 82% | 59% | 58% | $3,334 |
| Business Assistant | 68% | 63% | 79% | $4,515 |
| Early Childhood Education Transfer Pathway | 50% | 83% | 83% | $5,314 |
| Microsoft Office Professional | 77% | 68% | 67% | $7,259 |
| Sustainable Landscaping | 50% | 67% | 75% | $3,778 |
| Master Video Producer | 71% | 86% | 71% | $2,200 |
| Social Media Producer | 71% | 86% | 71% | $2,200 |
| Agricultural Science | — | 77% | 92% | $4,913 |
| Natural Resources Conservation Services | 29% | 50% | 70% | $3,672 |
| Wildlife Tourism | 79% | 53% | 71% | $3,472 |
| Culinary Arts | 33% | 78% | 89% | $5,114 |
| Engineering | 33% | 50% | 50% | $3,882 |
| Environmental Studies | — | 83% | 83% | $1,446 |
Source: U.S. Department of Labor, WIOA participant outcomes (trainingproviderresults.gov), PY 2023.
College-Wide Statistics · IPEDS Federal Survey
What Are the Student Outcomes at Central Lakes College-Brainerd?
Unlike the program-level results above, the figures below cover all students at Central Lakes College-Brainerd, tracked over eight years by the federal IPEDS survey.
Overall Completion Rate
41%
Working Student Success
41.8%
Transfer Out Rate
23.3%
Still Enrolled Rate
0.3%
How Central Lakes College-Brainerd Compares
Central Lakes College-Brainerd's 41% completion rate is right in the typical band for trade and vocational schools — most peer institutions land somewhere in the 30–50% range. Another 23% transfer out and 0% remain enrolled; these together usually account for the bulk of the cohort, with only a smaller share leaving without a clear next step.
What Happens After Students Enroll at Central Lakes College-Brainerd?
Eight-Year Student Outcomes
Eight-year outcomes for students who entered Central Lakes College-Brainerd. This shows what happened to students in their cohort by the end of the tracking period.
Understanding These Outcomes
Completed: Students who earned a certificate, diploma, or degree from this institution.
Still Enrolled: Students who remain enrolled at this institution after the tracking period.
Transferred Out: Students who transferred to another institution and may have completed there.
No Award: Students who left without earning a credential and are not enrolled elsewhere.
Combined completion and transfer rate of 52.1% indicates strong student success pathways.
These outcomes track what happened to students eight years after they first enrolled. Completion rates include certificates, diplomas, and degrees earned at this institution. Transfer rates show students who continued their education at other colleges. Understanding these pathways helps prospective students set realistic expectations and plan their educational journey.
What Are the Transfer and Continuation Patterns at Central Lakes College-Brainerd?
Success Rates by Student Entry Pathway
Comparing completion rates across different student entry pathways helps understand which groups succeed and how transfer experience impacts outcomes.
Key Insights
First-time and transfer students achieve similar completion rates, indicating equitable support regardless of entry pathway.
Combined 20.0% transfer-out rate suggests this institution may serve as a stepping stone for students continuing their education elsewhere.
Cohort Composition
Understanding Student Pathways
First-Time Students: Beginning postsecondary education for the first time at this institution.
Transfer-In Students: Previously attended another postsecondary institution before enrolling here.
Continuing Students: Returned to this institution after a break in enrollment.
Completion rates tracked over 8 years from initial entry.
Different student entry pathways lead to varying success rates. First-time students enter directly from high school or are starting college for the first time. Transfer students bring prior college experience and credits. Understanding these patterns helps you identify which pathway aligns best with your situation and predict your likelihood of success.
What Are the Completion Rates by Student Type at Central Lakes College-Brainerd?
What does this mean for you? These completion rates show how different types of students succeed at this institution. Notably, part-time students have a higher success rate here (41.8% vs 40.6% for full-time), which is great news if you plan to work while studying. This pattern is common at trade colleges where programs are designed to accommodate working adults. First-time students are those new to college, while transfer students have attended another institution before.
What Are the Cohort Outcomes Over Time at Central Lakes College-Brainerd?
Tracking outcomes for the 2015-16 cohort of 1,042 students
After 4 Years
After 6 Years
After 8 Years (Final)
Final Student Status
Completion Breakdown by Cohort
Part-time First-time Transfer Students
Part-time First-time Students
All First-time Transfer Students
All First-time Students
Full-time First-time Transfer Students
Full-time First-time Students
Part-time Non-first-time Transfer Students
All Non-first-time Transfer Students
Time to Completion
About This Data
Outcome measures data tracks student cohorts over 4, 6, and 8-year periods. Data is sourced from IPEDS (Integrated Postsecondary Education Data System) and reflects the most recent available reporting year.