Learn About
The Education System
Brainerd Public Schools is a fantastic Independent School District (ISD) 181 that caters to the educational needs of not only the interconnected twin cities of Brainerd and Baxter but also to all other smaller communities in the area. With over 6,800 students in the Brainerd Public Schools district and surrounding communities like Nisswa to Merrifield, every town along with their respective townships has access to quality education. It's safe to say that there's no shortage of educational opportunities here!
In addition to the vast number of adult community education options offered through Brainerd Public Schools, there are several institutes of higher learning in the Brainerd Lakes Area.
In Brainerd itself, you have Central Lakes College, a community and technical college with an average full-time enrollment of 2,341. Students at Central Lakes College can earn an associate’s degree in a variety of programs like theatre performance, applied engineering technology, and communication art and design.
Some of the four-year colleges and universities near Brainerd are:
Saint Cloud Technical College (about 54 miles away in Saint Cloud, MN, with a full-time enrollment of 2,740)
College of Saint Benedict (about 56 miles away in Saint Joseph, MN, with a full-time enrollment of 2,057)
Saint Cloud State University (about 56 miles away in Saint Cloud, MN, with a full-time enrollment of 12,908)
Bemidji State University (about 85 miles away in Bemidji, MN, with a full-time enrollment of 3,658)