Central Lakes College
Central Lakes College is a public community college with campuses in Brainerd and Staples, Minnesota. It is part of the Minnesota State Colleges and Universities System. The college was formed from the merger of three different colleges: Brainerd Community College, Brainerd Technical College, and Staples Technical College.
Campuses
Brainerd Campus
Central Lakes College in Brainerd includes courses in the liberal arts and sciences with an Associate in Arts degree and Minnesota Transfer Curriculum for transfers to a four-year college. It also offers Associate in Science degrees, and technical programs that have Associate in Applied Science degrees, diplomas and certificates to get students in the work world in a short amount of time. The college also included many unique degrees such as Underwater Diving along with an assortment of "green" environmental and ecological courses.Staples Campus
Staples community college is mostly technical programs with Associate in Applied Science degrees, diplomas and certifications including robotics, heavy equipment operation, and diesel technology as well as a smaller liberal arts program Associate in Arts.Athletics
Central Lakes College is home of the Raiders. There is NJCAA Volleyball, Football, Basketball, Baseball, Softball, and Clay Target. The Raiders compete in the Minnesota College Athletic Conference.Academics
The college offers the Associate in Arts, Associate in Science, and Associate in Applied Science degrees. It also offers diploma and certificate programs. It is also accredited for its concurrent enrollment programs by the National Alliance of Concurrent Enrollment Partnerships.Central Lakes College in Brainerd collaborated with Southwest Minnesota State University to establish a 2 + 2 articulation agreement in Theatre Arts.