1540 Northway Drive, St. Cloud, MN · Public, 2-year
- Trade grads 2023-24
- 161
- In-state tuition/yr 2025-26
- $6,362
- Median pay 10 yrs, all
- $53,305
Central Lakes College-Brainerd
Brainerd, Minnesota. In the 2023-24 award year this school reported 128 awards in the trades we track: heavy equipment operator, welding, diesel mechanic, auto mechanic, machining and CNC.
- Address
- 501 West College Drive, Brainerd, MN 56401
Open in Maps - Website
- www.clcmn.edu
- Phone
- (218) 855-8000
- Type
- Public, 2-year
- Accreditor
- Higher Learning Commission
- Federal student aid
- Eligible (Title IV)
- Undergrads (all programs)
- 1,614
Trade programs and graduates
Awards (certificates and degrees) conferred July 2023 to June 2024, first majors, as reported to IPEDS.
| Trade | Program (CIP) | Award levels | Awards |
|---|---|---|---|
| Heavy Equipment Operator | Construction/Heavy Equipment/Earthmoving Equipment Operation (49.0202) | Certificate, 2 to 4 years (48) | 48 |
| Welding | Welding Technology/Welder (48.0508) | Certificate, 1 to 2 years (35); Associate degree (10) | 45 |
| Diesel Mechanic | Diesel Mechanics Technology/Technician (47.0605) | Certificate, 1 to 2 years (19); Associate degree (5) | 24 |
| Auto Mechanic | Automobile/Automotive Mechanics Technology/Technician (47.0604) | Certificate, 1 to 2 years (8); Associate degree (1) | 9 |
| Machining and CNC | Machine Tool Technology/Machinist (48.0501) | Certificate, 1 to 2 years (1); Associate degree (1) | 2 |
What it costs
Published charges for 2025-26, as reported to College Scorecard.
| In-state tuition and fees, per year | $6,476 |
| Books and supplies | $1,000 |
| Cost of attendance, per year (incl. living costs) | $23,000 |
| Average net price after grants (aided students) | $15,556 |
Estimate your own price with the school's net price calculator.
Outcomes
College Scorecard field-of-study results for graduates who received federal aid. Fields are the broader 4-digit program family, so welding and machining share "Precision Metal Working". Earnings are medians for graduates working and not enrolled; cohorts lag several years. Scorecard reports outcomes under the school's federal aid ID, which can combine several branch campuses, so counts can exceed this campus's own graduates.
| Field | Credential | Median pay, 1 yr | Median pay, 5 yrs | Median federal debt |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Vehicle Maintenance and Repair Technologies/Technicians (47.06) | Undergraduate certificate | $50,611 n=40 | $55,835 | $5,500 |
| Vehicle Maintenance and Repair Technologies/Technicians (47.06) | Associate degree | $55,701 n=21 | n/a | n/a |
| Precision Metal Working (48.05) | Undergraduate certificate | $49,087 n=28 | $54,105 | $5,500 |
| Precision Metal Working (48.05) | Associate degree | n/a | $61,412 | n/a |
| Ground Transportation (49.02) | Undergraduate certificate | $62,827 n=60 | $68,279 | $9,500 |
School-wide College Scorecard measures (all programs, and all campuses that share the federal aid ID):
- Completion rate within 150% of normal time (first-time, full-time students, all programs): 56%
- Median earnings 10 years after entering, all students and programs: $46,663
- Median federal debt of completers, all programs: $9,500
College Scorecard recordCollege Navigator record
Nearby schools with the same trades
Compare more
- Auto Mechanic Schools in Minnesota
- Diesel Mechanic Schools in Minnesota
- Machining and CNC Schools in Minnesota
- Welding Schools in Minnesota
Sources: IPEDS Completions 2023-24 (C2024_A) and Directory (HD2024), NCES; College Scorecard institution data (2025-26 charges, released Nov 2, 2026) and field-of-study data (Oct 15, 2026); FMCSA Training Provider Registry (as of 2026-11-02); BLS Occupational Employment and Wage Statistics, May 2025. Checked 2026-11-02. IPEDS unit ID 173203. How we build this list.