Public
Accredited · Higher Learning Commission
Brainerd, Minnesota
Central Lakes College-Brainerd — Admission Snapshot 2026
A complete at-a-glance picture of every metric that matters for your 2026 application
$18,003Annual Cost
$42,162Grad Salary
14.6%Pell Grant
Selectivity
Open Enrollment
Institution Type
Public
Campus
Main Campus
Accredited By
Higher Learning Commission
SAT Middle 50%
-40–30
Avg Net Price
$12,829
Need-Based Aid
14.6% receive Pell
Central Lakes College-Brainerd, founded in 1938 in Minnesota, offers programs in renewable energy, nursing, and advanced manufacturing. The campus includes wind turbine training sites.
CLC is unranked but vital to central Minnesota's workforce. Its lakeside location supports unique environmental programs.
Central Lakes College-Brainerd Acceptance Rate
Admission at Central Lakes College-Brainerd is inclusive by design: 100% of applicants who meet basic eligibility are accepted.
What to Expect
- Eligibility First: A high school diploma or GED typically clears the main bar.
- Plan Ahead for Placement: Placement tests can shape which courses you start in — worth preparing for.
Selectivity at a Glance
Open Enrollment
Selectivity scale: Open Enrollment — rate not reported
Most Selective (0%)Open Enrollment (100%)
A GPA a bit under the average isn't disqualifying at this tier — a solid test score or clear leadership record can offset it.
Source: IPEDS & College Scorecard (Nov 2025).
Central Lakes College-Brainerd Application Deadlines & Admission Dates 2026
Central Lakes College-Brainerd follows a Rolling Admissions policy, meaning applications are reviewed as they arrive and there is no single fixed deadline.
Key Admission Dates
Rolling Admissions — Apply Anytime
Central Lakes College-Brainerd reviews applications continuously throughout the year. Seats and scholarships are awarded on a first-come, first-served basis, so applying early gives you a significant advantage for both admission and financial aid.
Deadlines are verified from official institutional sources but may change each cycle. Always confirm final dates on the official website.
Check Your Admission Chances at Central Lakes College-Brainerd
Admission Chance Predictor
Built from Central Lakes College-Brainerd's own verified admissions data — adjust the sliders below
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Calculating Profile...
Adjust the sliders to see how every decimal point affects your outcome.
Your SAT Score 1200
Your Unweighted GPA 3.00
⚠️ Note: Predicting based on regional averages as this institution does not publicly report full score datasets.
Calculated via College Portal's Human-Intelligence (HI) Methodology & Editorial Standards. Verified by Sohaib Ahmad Khan.
Central Lakes College-Brainerd Test Requirements
Scores aren't just a formality at Central Lakes College-Brainerd — landing within or above the 2026 admitted class's middle 50% keeps you fully competitive, even where submission is optional.
Can I Get Into Central Lakes College-Brainerd Without SAT or ACT?
Central Lakes College-Brainerd's test-score policy isn't published. As a default, submit your score only if it's at or above the state/national average — a below-average score can work against you.
Your 2026 Admissions Roadmap for Central Lakes College-Brainerd
Inclusive Strategy: Success & Transfer
Getting into Central Lakes College-Brainerd is the easy part — what matters next is using placement testing, advising, and available resources to set up a strong first year.
Match the Campus to the Program, Not Just Convenience
CLC operates two campuses with different specializations: Brainerd (liberal arts/transfer curriculum, Honors Program, and the Advanced Standing LPN-to-RN Nursing pathway) and Staples (technical/career programs, Heavy Equipment training on a 360-acre West Campus, the Practical Nursing Diploma, and the Ag & Energy Center). A student assuming "Central Lakes College" is one interchangeable campus risks enrolling in the wrong site for a specific technical or nursing track - confirm the exact campus location for the intended program before registering.
Front-Load the HSRT for Nursing
Advanced Standing Nursing (the LPN-to-RN track at Brainerd) requires the Health Science Reasoning Test (HSRT) by April 1 for Fall cohort consideration, plus a minimum 2.75 GPA across at least 5 of the 8 required general education courses. Priority goes to applicants with documented Licensed Practical Nurse experience - an LPN applicant should lead with that documentation prominently rather than relying on academic GPA alone to stand out in a capacity-limited cohort.
Use the Ag & Energy Center's Applied Research as a Genuine Differentiator
CLC's Ag & Energy Center manages over 2,000 acres of active research in auto-steer technology, drone-based field monitoring, smart irrigation, and corn/soybean/edible bean variety trials - infrastructure most two-year colleges simply don't have, and it's open to public tours. A student interested in precision agriculture or ag-business should name a specific research area or technology from the Center directly in an application or scholarship essay, rather than writing generically about "liking farming."
Consider the Underwater Diving Degree for Niche Trade Interest
CLC offers an unusual Underwater Diving associate degree alongside a broader lineup of "green"/environmental and ecological program offerings - a genuinely rare credential path for a community college. For a student with interest in commercial diving or marine-adjacent trades, naming this specific program demonstrates real program research that a generic "technical college" application wouldn't.
Expert Insight:
A common and avoidable mistake: assuming CLC's nursing tracks are interchangeable across campuses. The Practical Nursing Diploma runs entirely at the Staples campus, while Advanced Standing (LPN-to-RN) Nursing runs at Brainerd - and missing the April 1 HSRT deadline for the Fall Advanced Standing cohort effectively pushes a student's start date back a full academic year.
Central Lakes College-Brainerd Profile
Full Name
Central Lakes College-Brainerd
City
Brainerd
State
Minnesota
ZIP Code
56401-3900
Type
Public
Campus
Main Campus
Official Website
Accredited By
Higher Learning Commission (NCACHE)
Is a Central Lakes College-Brainerd Degree Worth It?
At $18,003/year against a $42,162 median graduate salary, Central Lakes College-Brainerd is worth weighing against your specific program and financial situation — the numbers below give you a real basis for that decision.
Admitted students' families report a median household income around $51,800, and graduates see a 3.54% unemployment rate.
How much does a degree from Central Lakes College-Brainerd Cost?
Listed tuition runs $18,003/year at Central Lakes College-Brainerd; factor in Pell and federal grant aid and most students land closer to $12,829.
At Central Lakes College-Brainerd, 14.6% receive a Pell Grant and 12.3% carry federal loans. Filing FAFSA early and naming Central Lakes College-Brainerd on it improves your shot at both.
How much does a Central Lakes College-Brainerd Graduate earn?
Ten years out from enrollment, Central Lakes College-Brainerd graduates report a median income of $42,162, about 4% above the U.S. median graduate income.
Degree Programs at Central Lakes College-Brainerd
Associate Degree Programs
Frequently Asked Questions About Central Lakes College-Brainerd Admissions
Central Lakes College-Brainerd graduates earn a lower median salary of $42,162/year, especially outside technical fields.
Tuition at Central Lakes College-Brainerd is relatively affordable, around $18,003/year.
14.6% receive a Pell Grant here, below the ~35% national average — Central Lakes College-Brainerd skews toward higher-income students, though merit aid may still be worth checking.
Central Lakes College-Brainerd follows Rolling Admissions — applications are reviewed year-round, so applying early is your best strategy.
Central Lakes College-Brainerd charges an application fee of 20; ask admissions about waiver eligibility if cost is a barrier.
Transferring in is a well-trodden path here. Line up your transcripts, recommendations, and a strong personal statement before applying.
The biggest levers are academic performance, a clear extracurricular focus, and essays that stand out — plus a solid test score where the school considers one.
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